My 10 Worst Real Estate Nightmares

My 10 Worst Real Estate Nightmares

Author: Brad Johnson March 21, 2026 Duration: 7:08

In this episode, Brad Johnson shares ten real-world real estate nightmares that show why rental properties are far from passive. Drawing from over $150 million of investment experience, he walks through costly mistakes, unexpected risks, and operational headaches that investors rarely see coming. Brad also explains why these experiences ultimately led him to shift toward more passive, income-focused investments.


Book a Call

https://zpr.io/czXpQcCXKQLX

Evergreen Capital

info@evergreencap.com

Connect with Brad Johnson

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradleyjohnson/


Key topics:

• Why real estate is often far more operationally intensive than investors expect

• The hidden risks that can turn “passive income” into active problem-solving

• How natural disasters can create unexpected repair costs and insurance battles

• Tenant-related risks, from property damage to eviction challenges

• Legal exposure and how small issues can turn into lawsuits

• Infrastructure failures and environmental risks in real estate investing

• The financial impact of rare but severe events like flooding and system failures

• How employee issues and fraud can affect property performance

• Why unpredictable expenses can erode returns over time

• Why many investors eventually shift toward more passive income strategies


Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

00:20 - Tornado Damage

01:10 - Unauthorized Dog Breeding

01:34 - Hoarding and Hazmat Cleanup

01:50 - Hurricane Scare

02:06 - The “Professional Tenant”

02:47 - Lawsuit Over a One-Inch Curb

03:14 - Lift Station Failure

03:48 - Ice Dam and Flood

05:03 - Employee Theft

05:43 - Massive Water Leak

06:29 - Why I Moved to More Passive Investments


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


For those looking beyond the ticker symbols, The Alternative Investor explores the tangible and often complex world of assets that don't trade on a public exchange. Host Brad Johnson, drawing from his experience at Evergreen Capital, believes a well-rounded portfolio often exists outside the daily noise of the stock market. This podcast digs into the practicalities of private equity, real estate, venture capital, and other non-traditional avenues. While these opportunities can offer different paths to growth, they come with their own unique set of questions and due diligence. Each conversation is geared towards demystifying that process. You'll hear detailed discussions on how these investments actually work, the structures involved, and the long-term mindset they require. The aim isn't to offer quick tips, but to provide a clearer framework for evaluation. Johnson breaks down real-world cases and strategies, focusing on the critical factors that can influence an outcome. It’s a resource for anyone considering how to allocate capital towards assets that aren’t as easily quoted or sold, with the understanding that higher potential returns often walk hand-in-hand with increased complexity. Tune in for a straightforward take on building resilience and potential through alternative holdings.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Alternative Investor
Podcast Episodes
We Talk about a Purchase Agreement [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:52
After 2 ½ years of looking for a software business to buy with my partner, I think we’re finally getting towards the end! And at the end of the due diligence process when you’re going to buy a company… you’ve got to sign…
What is a Cap Rate? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:31
Today is going to be our all-encompassing, definitive episode all about on cap rates! What are they? How they are used? What’s the whole deal here? Tune in to find out!We discuss how they relate to interest rates, what t…
Investors Need Love Too [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:06
In this episode we’re going to be talking about investor relations — i.e. staying in touch with your investors and maintaining good relationships with them. Investors are people too, y’know! Just like your friends or spo…
How to Read a K-1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:28
Today’s episode is all about taxes! Specifically, we’re going to be talking about K-1s. A K-1 is a tax form that you get from private investment (typically an LLC.) on an investment you’ve made. This is the tax form you’…
Productivity Porn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:45
Productivity and how you get things done on a day-to-day basis is an ever-present issue for most everyone — including those in investing and alternative investing. There’s lots to do on a daily basis and you’ve got lots…
How to Raise Debt for a Real Estate Project [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:43
We’ve talked about finding deals, sourcing deals, putting a pitch deck together, raising money, and all that stuff — but we haven’t yet talked about how to go about raising debt for a real estate project.So today, we’re…
The Three Most Important Investment Metrics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:39
We’re getting technical today — so fasten your seatbelts, buckle up, take an extra sip of coffee and get ready for today’s show. We’re going to be diving into the topic of the three most important investment metric:; NPV…
What Should Go In Your Private Equity Pitch Deck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:05
We’ve talked about sourcing and analyzing deals — but, we’ve yet to really get into the details of what goes into the pitch deck. The pitch deck is the document you’re going to send out to your investors to let them know…
We Talk To A Guy With An Innovative Apartment Investment Strategy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:08
This week on the show, we’ve invite on a real estate expert: Moses Kagan! Moses is a partner of Adaptive Realty — a property management company in Los Angeles.Adaptive Realty has a unique strategy with apartment building…
You Just Bought Real Estate, Now What? - EP.39 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:55
We’ve spent a lot of time on this podcast telling you how to find alternative investments — how to buy them, how to raise money for them, and more — but we haven’t talked a lot about what to do after you close. It’s real…