Success in real estate investing isn’t just about having money to put into properties. It’s about knowing where, when, and how to invest. The right strategies and market knowledge make the difference between a profitable investment and a financial misstep. Whether you’re an investor, a broker, or someone looking to enter the market, understanding how acquisitions work is key to long-term success.

I had the special opportunity to sit down with Zihao Wang, the CEO of Motiva Holdings, on a recent episode of my podcast. Zihao shared incredible insights about real estate acquisitions, market trends, and investment strategies. His expertise in multifamily property investing and long-term vision make him an excellent resource for those looking to learn about successful real estate investing.

Watch the full podcast episode here.

Today, I’ll break down the biggest lessons from our conversation. We’ll cover how Zihao evaluates deals, the challenges of today’s market, and why relationships are everything in real estate investing.

Let’s dive in!

Motiva Holdings and Zihao’s Role in the Business

Zihao runs Motiva Holdings, a real estate private equity firm that operates as part of his family office. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, a family office is a private wealth management structure that manages a single family’s investments, assets, and financial planning.

Zihao’s family originally made their money in the fashion industry, but since 2008, they’ve shifted their focus almost entirely to real estate investments. Now, their firm is deeply involved in multifamily real estate in several key markets in the US.

Zihao himself started young—he was just 13 years old when he began learning about property management. He spent years gaining hands-on experience in rent collection, property maintenance, and operations. Eventually, he transitioned to focusing on real estate acquisitions and capital markets.

Today, he is responsible for sourcing deals, securing financing, and managing relationships with brokers, agents, and lenders.

Mastering Real Estate Acquisitions: Zihao’s Winning Strategies

Success in real estate acquisitions doesn’t happen by chance. It takes careful planning, deep market understanding, and strong industry connections. Here’s how Zihao does it.

Investment Focus and Strategy

Zihao specializes in multifamily real estate investments. His firm takes two key approaches:

• Value-Add Acquisitions – Buying existing properties, investing in upgrades, increasing rents, and improving cash flow.
• Ground-Up Development – Building new multifamily properties from scratch.

His firm has completed 35 projects, of which 31 were value-add deals and 4 were new developments.

How Motiva Holdings Sources and Evaluates Deals

A major key to success in real estate is finding the right deals. Zihao gets 99% of his deal flow from brokers and agents. His firm has built strong long-term relationships with top producers in every market they invest in.

When evaluating deals, Zihao looks at key metrics like:

• Cap rate – Aiming for 5.25% to 5.5% in Southern California.
• Price per unit – Prefers deals in the $200K-$230K per unit range.
• Price per square foot – Targets properties around $350-$370 per sq. ft.
• Rental upside – Seeks deals with 20-30% rental growth potential.
• Internal rate of return (IRR) – Aims for 16-18% IRR within a 5-year hold period.

Navigating Market Challenges and Current Trends

Real estate investors face challenges, and pricing mismatches between buyers and sellers are a big one. Many sellers are still expecting high prices, while buyers need discounts to make the numbers work.

Interest rates have also increased borrowing costs, making financing more expensive and slowing deal flow. Rental growth isn’t what it was during COVID, so investors have to adjust expectations.

Zihao’s team remains patient and only moves forward when the numbers make sense.

Expanding Beyond Southern California

While Motiva Holdings started in Los Angeles, they have since expanded into Florida, North Carolina, and now, Texas. Zihao believes in geographical diversification to reduce risk and increase opportunities.

For him, Texas, in particular, presents a great opportunity in 2025 and 2026. He expects a wave of distressed assets as properties that were overpaid for in 2020-2021 come back onto the market at steep discounts.

Building Long-Term Relationships with Brokers and Agents

Relationships make or break success in real estate investing. Zihao stresses the importance of building strong, long-term connections with brokers and agents who provide access to off-market deals, as well as other family offices and private investors for joint ventures.

In my opinion, realtors should also establish connections with other industry professionals. Mortgage brokers and real estate attorneys, for example, can give you the financial and legal support you need.

Leveraging Tools for Efficiency and Growth

Zihao uses HubSpot CRM to stay organized but relies heavily on his ability to analyze deals quickly. After years in the business, he can vet a deal in five minutes based on key financial metrics.

From my own perspective, real estate podcasting has also been a game-changer. Through my podcast, I’ve built valuable relationships, grown my network, and learned from top experts, like Zihao.

If you’re in real estate, consider sharing your knowledge publicly—it could open doors you never expected.

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Zihao’s insights are incredibly valuable for anyone serious about real estate investing. His strategic approach, focus on long-term relationships, and ability to spot great deals are what make him successful.

Want to learn from more top-performing real estate professionals, like Zihao? Subscribe to Leads & Leverage: Real Estate Team Leader’s Lounge!

And, if you’re looking to buy, sell, or invest in real estate in Central Florida, my team at GPG Home is here to help. Contact us today and let’s talk about your real estate goals!