A Foundation Built Over Time
I began investing in real estate within a year of completing my undergraduate studies at UNC Chapel Hill. I began by learning how to serve people, solve problems, connect and create communities, and build results that last. During graduate studies I acquired and invested more. My first multifamily property arrived in 1997. Still own it, just put in new windows.
I was taught early Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever you do, do it (your work) WHOLEHEARTEDLY as unto the Lord, not (merely) unto men(23). Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ (24).” Excellence was our reasonable service to a cosmic designer – what some might call the creator of DNA that we call God.
For this 2nd born son to Charlie and Tamra Snider, that meant leading worship by the 5th grade, assisting in worship in the orchestra, bands, recordings, live ensembles, recording on records, traveling in a Christian band for a bit while in high school and college. An early summer during university studies I got the opportunity to lease up a commercial office buiding with key-man suites, and learned that summer from a successful executive search consultant company operator, an insurance company operator/agent, a CPA staff of accountants, an Attorney – Smaller Firm, and others in one of the largest new commercial office buildings in downtown Greensboro NC. This taught me to MENTOR from those who were at the top of their field in every area and aspect of life.
As I worked my way through my undergraduate studies I became an intern with Northwestern Mutual Life, mentored under their top producers, then was made a College Unit Director to recruit and manage 20 interns at NCSU while I attended UNC Chapel Hill. This team of 20 finished in the Top 5 Teams Nationally 2 years in a row while I led this team. Here is a video explaining a bit about the internship program for NML, as I served before youtube existed and before digital recording videos were common: Day in the Life of an Intern | Northwestern Mutual Careers – YouTube.
During graduate studies I mentored under innovative worship leaders in NY, IL, CA, Australia, NC. I formed the habit of learning from the best mentors I could find for any role, any responsibility. For more than two decades, my path has moved through ministry, executive search, residential and multifamily real estate, long-standing involvement in community and civic organizations, and now multifamily investing while improving lives and communities where people rent apartment homes. Each stage shaped how I think about leadership, risk, responsibility, and stewardship.
While the roles have changed, the principles have remained consistent.
This page shares the foundation behind the work I do today.
Early Foundations
Growing up, I learned the value of work, responsibility, and community. Real estate was never just about property — it was about creating stability and opportunity. My young years taught me quite a bit about inflation and its effects. More on this on another page.
My early years in ministry reinforced that leadership begins with service. That perspective still informs how I approach investing and business decisions today.
Learning to Evaluate People and Performance
My career in executive search sharpened a different set of skills — evaluating talent, assessing risk, understanding what makes organizations resilient, how to navigate through 2008 and economic crashes, COVID lockdowns, hurricanes, storms, companies working hard to survive and thrive in challenging circumstances.
Working with high-performing professionals taught me how to ask better questions, think long-term, and identify sustainable growth over short-term noise. I learned from some of the strongest, most brilliant minds in our country in the commercial HVAC industry, who often interestingly were building multifamily apartment complexes. They taught me so much, and I can never thank these business owners enough across America who make payroll every week for their tribes. You all have my deepest heart-felt thanks.
Those disciplines translate directly into how I evaluate investment opportunities today.
From Hands-On Residential to Scalable Strategy
For more than twenty-five years, I’ve invested in, renovated, and managed residential and multifamily real estate — navigating changing markets and learning firsthand how value is created and preserved. For investors and operators alike, it’s a great strategy to offset and even harness inflation.
Over time, I saw multifamily housing as a natural progression — an opportunity to apply the same disciplined principles at scale while serving a broader community.
This shift wasn’t a departure from my principles — it was an evolution of how I apply them.
Principles That Guide My Work
Conservative underwriting
Opportunities must withstand stress-testing, not just optimistic projections.
Long-term value creation
We improve communities and residents appreciation – belonging to drive down turnover costs, marketing costs, and develop a waiting list, producing stronger NOI, stronger investor returns, stronger community engagement. Improving lives, strengthening belonging is vital to our values.
Tax-efficient strategy
Our USA Tax Code offers numerous incentives, tax-breaks, deferral strategies to maximize returns and reward those who invest in housing people wisely with purpose.
Respect for investor capital
I have paid five figures monthly to investors and public and private lenders and investors over decades consistently.
Commitment to community impact
We improve residents’ lives/enjoyment/appreciation/belonging and investor returns by doing so.