Manage episode 518250853 series 3563837
In this Paradyme Shift episode, Ryan Garland sits down with Brian Koons, a seasoned ADU developer and investor whose career spans more than 500 accessory dwelling unit (ADU) projects across Southern California. Together, they unpack how legislation, zoning reform, and creative financing have reshaped residential development—and why the next wealth wave is being built in backyards.
The conversation blends strategic investing lessons with raw operator insight, diving into:
- The evolution of the ADU movement and how California’s housing crisis turned regulation into opportunity.
- Lessons from scaling from single-lot flips to multi-unit infill projects—and the painful mistakes that came with growth.
- The power of partnerships, transparency, and setting up protective fund structures to safeguard investors and operators alike.
- Why focus, patience, and legal preparedness define the new generation of developers.
- Real-world stories: from 2.5x exits on value-add properties to the deals nearly lost to divorces and legal battles.
Ryan and Brian peel back the layers of entrepreneurship, showing that success in real estate isn’t about luck or timing—it’s about discipline, due diligence, and building systems that outlast hype. This is an inside look at how Paradyme and its network of visionaries are shaping the next era of intelligent, community-driven development.
For more information on Brian: https://hkdevelopmentgroup.com/
Chapters
1. Meet Brian Koons And ADUs (00:00:00)
2. Storage Campus Vision And Pandemic Pivot (00:04:00)
3. Discovering San Diego And Re-Densification (00:08:45)
4. House Hacking To First Fourplex (00:13:25)
5. Cracking The Bonus ADU Code (00:18:50)
6. 1031 Win And Hard Lessons (00:24:30)
7. Design-Build Gap And Feasibility (00:30:15)
8. Financing ADUs And Cost Reality (00:35:00)
9. Setbacks, Meters, And Site Nuance (00:40:10)
10. Partnership Pitfalls And Divorce Risk (00:44:40)
11. Litigation, Neighbors, And Legal Budgets (00:50:30)
12. Three-Story Builds And Urban Infill (00:56:05)
29 episodes