From W-2 Engineer to Full-Time Investor: Adjusting After Interest-Rate Spikes with Lane Kawaoka

The Moonlight Real Estate Side Hustles and Syndications Show · May 1, 2025 · 17m

Lane Kawaoka’s Journey: From Engineer to Syndicator

Lane Kawaoka began investing in real estate while working full-time as a civil engineer. Over time, he transitioned into full-time investing and found significant success in the syndication space. However, when interest rates surged and lending tightened, he had to make critical adjustments to his strategy.

Faced with higher borrowing costs, Lane paused new acquisitions, revisited every assumption, and pivoted from quick cosmetic rehabs to ground-up multifamily development 🏗️. By building units at approximately $150K and targeting exit…