Why Passive Real Estate Investing Doesn't Exist w/ John McNellis

Real Estate Investing with RealDealCrew · Aug 16, 2026 · 32m · transcript

Developer John McNellis says passive real estate investing doesn't exist, and he explains why.

Summary:

John McNellis has developed close to 100 properties over more than 45 years, shifting from a corporate lawyer to a shopping center developer to, today, a specialist in small quick-serve restaurant ground leases with tenants like Chick-fil-A. In this conversation he walks through the two mistakes that wipe out most beginning developers, the deal that nearly cost him everything, and why he thinks the phrase "passive real estate investment" is one of the biggest lies in the business. He also…