Class is in session: Howie Mandel transformed 2 acres of dirt into his 'best investment' besides showbiz. Follow his lead and get rich now

“I would have to say this building that we're sitting in,” Mandel said. “I made this little man cave that happens to be inhabited by other people who are creative, and tech companies, and other creations which cohabitate together.”

He said that this commercial property, which he rents out to other creatives, “happens to be a good investment from a real estate point of view,” while also being a positive career and creative investment.

But that building is just one of many Mandel owns, and he noted gas stations really “became the big business” in his portfolio.

Building a gas station empire

Mandel told Bensinger about the real estate empire he built in Las Vegas, starting in the 80s, when Vegas was still growing at a rapid pace. Initially, he invested in warehouses, but soon realized there was a larger opportunity in front of him.

“I couldn't build fast enough to sell them out because all this building was going on, and because of the tax benefits of Nevada, people started moving there,” he said.

Noticing that home developers in the area were buying dirt to build on, but that the surrounding area wasn’t developed, he decided to focus on commercial real estate in the same area.

“I'd go see where the land was subdivided before the houses were built,” Mandel said. “I'd buy two acres of dirt that would lead into whatever the main artery into this new subdivision was — and people would say, ‘For what?’ And I'd go, ‘These are 2,000 families. Where are they going to get gas? Where are they going to buy their groceries?’”

The potential was obvious.

“So, I'd put a little strip mall of a gas station, a little AMPM store, a car wash, and this became — I knew that I was going to be serviced by 2,000 homes.”

After developing eight successful gas stations in the area, he was eventually bought out, but real estate has remained an essential part of his portfolio ever since.

How to invest like Howie

If you find Mandel’s gas station empire interesting and want to make real estate a bigger part of your portfolio, there are ways to do so without the complications that come with being a landlord.

Rental income can provide a steady cash flow that adjusts to inflationary pressures, offering a hedge against the declining value of fiat currency.

You can tap into this market by investing in shares of vacation homes or rental properties through Arrived.

Backed by world-class investors, including Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of vacation and rental properties, earning a passive income stream without the extra work that comes with being a landlord of your own rental property.

To get started, simply browse through their selection of vetted properties, each picked for its potential appreciation and income generation. Once you choose a property, you can start investing with as little as $100, potentially earning quarterly dividends.

Even better — for a limited time — when you open an account and add $1,000 or more, Arrived will credit your account with a 1% match.

But there are plenty of real estate investment opportunities out there, so long as you know where to look. Plenty of opportunities are marketed to accredited investors, but not all opportunities are created equal.

For instance, you could leverage multifamily real estate investing. In a report prepared by JPMorgan, Al Brooks — the firm’s vice chair of Commercial Banking — said, "I think multifamily housing is absolutely where you want to be as an investor (2).”

For accredited investors looking to diversify further, Bonaventure offers access to institutional-grade multifamily real estate investments in high-growth markets with a minimum investment of $25,000.

Bonaventure focuses on income-producing apartment communities, offering potential tax advantages through structures like 1031 exchanges and UPREITs, allowing you to build passive income and wealth while the company manages the properties.

Plus, Bonaventure has a fully-loaded resource center that teaches you everything you need to evaluate multifamily investments. Sign up today, explore your options and construct your real estate portfolio.

And if you’re already managing multiple properties, you’re probably dealing with tax season headaches. Keeping track of every deduction isn’t easy, but it is essential if you want to ensure your profits remain as high as they can be.