OUR TEAM
Jim Pagano Jr.
Apartment syndicator and Investor
When I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business management, I began my career at various financial institutions as an investment operations accountant and computer desktop technician. But deep down, I knew this wasn’t my calling. My true passion was in real estate.
The turning point came when I realized I didn’t want my future dictated by a company. I needed to take control of my destiny and create a path to financial freedom. That’s when I made a bold decision: I stepped away from the traditional career path to become a full-time real estate investor.
At first, in 2001, I focused on acquiring and managing single-family rental properties in my hometown of Philadelphia. Over the years, I owned over 30 single-family homes, ventured into rehabs, flips, and even wholesaling. It was an exciting journey, but I knew I needed to focus on a strategy that could build lasting, generational wealth.
That’s when I discovered the power of multifamily (value-add) apartment buildings. This singular focus transformed everything for me. I immersed myself in learning, partnered with experienced operators, and aligned myself with top-notch educators in the field.
Fast forward to today, I’m proud to be part owner of a 90-unit apartment complex in Nashville, TN, which we purchased for $24.6M in 2022. This investment has been life-changing, providing me with the financial stability and freedom I always dreamed of Passive Income that has allowed me to step back, focus on what truly matters, and live life on my terms.
But this journey isn’t just about me. I’m on a mission to help others experience the same transformation. I know what it’s like to feel tied to a job, constantly worrying about job security. That’s why I’m committed to empowering busy professionals to start investing passively in apartments.
Here’s the truth: you don’t have to quit your job to begin building wealth. With the right strategy, you can create passive income streams that allow you to retire earlier, achieve financial independence, and leave a legacy for your family.
I firmly believe multifamily real estate will remain one of the best asset classes to invest in, especially in emerging markets across the Southeast. And I’m excited to help others take that first step toward their financial freedom.
If you’ve ever considered investing in real estate but didn’t know where to start, I’d love to connect. Let’s explore how you can create a brighter future, one that’s not just financially secure but truly fulfilling.
Tim Mai
Tim Mai is the embodiment of the American Dream. Having survived a childhood that included war, a dramatic escape from pirates at sea, and languishing in a refugee camp, he arrived in Houston, Texas, at age 12, with his 19-year-old brother, speaking no English and with nothing more than the shirt on their back.
Tim seized the opportunities America presented him with by hustling his way through high school, college and eventually realizing his dream of financial independence through real estate.
He is an industry leader who has acquired and exited well over $50M worth of real estate and is currently a General Partner (GP) and Limited Partner (LP) in over 2800 units of multifamily apartments.
Tim has taught thousands of people how to get started in real estate investing. And has also partnered with many passive investors to help them earn passive income and build wealth.
As the founder of HERO Wealth Partners and HERO Wealth Fund, Tim strives to provide his investors with stable cash flow and long-term capital appreciation by buying multifamily and other commercial real estate assets.
Along with his many business accomplishments, he has also been very active with several charity organizations in Houston and has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities.
Tim is also the founder of the Teen Millionaire Challenge, which teaches young people how to build wealth through real estate investing.
Tim lives in Sugar Land, TX with his, high school sweetheart, wife, and two amazing teenage boys.
Jeremy Dyer
Jeremy Dyer is the VP of Capital Formation for Rise48 Equity. With a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from the Carlson School of Management, having consistently attained Top Sales Professional designation as a high performing sales associate prior to launching a passive real estate investing company, Jeremy is uniquely positioned to drive the dynamic fulfillment of Rise48 Equity’s vision.
When investing in real estate, you are putting your faith and trust into the competence, credibility and effectiveness of the sponsors. They must have years of experience in order to identify a deal worth pursuing, resourcefulness to overcome the challenges as they inevitably emerge, and integrity when being entrusted with the fiduciary responsibility of handling other people’s money.
Jeremy has extensive experience in real estate, both as an active and passive investor. Jeremy is a passive Limited Partner investor in over 4,000 multifamily doors, 29 passive real estate deals in process, and a passive equity investor in over $550M in total assets. Jeremy resides with his wife Marlene, their four children (Jack, Mitch, Jett and Juliana), and dog Bosco in Lake Elmo, MN. He enjoys coaching his children in sports, traveling, date nights, challenging his mind and body, and thought-provoking conversation.
We look forward to welcoming you to our investor community.
JEP Real Estate Inc.
A real estate investment and property management company with a focus on multifamily apartments.