When it comes to multitasking, Michael Glaspie is a model of proficiency. In 2014, during an eight-year stint in the U.S. Army Special Forces, the Texas native purchased his first investment property — a single-family home that sparked a passion for real estate. He
continued renovating and selling homes, eventually earning his broker’s license in 2018.
But his true passion was in commercial real estate. While transitioning out of the military, Glaspie dove headfirst into CRE education, including classes at CCIM Institute while also pursuing his MBA at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which he earned in December
2020. Now, after completing his coursework for the CCIM Designation, Glaspie submitted his application for final review with the hopes of earning the pin this year.
In addition to all this, he started a consulting firm and hosts the Military Cashflow podcast, which aims to help active and retired members of the armed forces improve their financial well-being. We caught up with Glaspie to discuss his road to the CCIM
Designation, how his experiences have shaped him, and where he finds motivation.
CIRE: What experience,
professionally and personally, led you to seek the CCIM Designation? What was
the aha! moment when you knew it was worth the time and effort?
Michael Glaspie: Starting off in real estate with no formal experience presents its own challenges. Starting in commercial real estate with no experience and no mentors presents even greater challenges. I sought as much education as I could. While pursuing education through formal
training and informal mentorships, a common recurring suggestion kept popping up: Consider CCIM Institute.
Some of the top players in my market didn’t have the CCIM Designation. However, they had been selling CRE for over 30 years. Although I was still performing, I knew that the CCIM Designation would provide credibility. You not only have to perform actively in CRE, but you also
have to pursue the education. I made a commitment to focus on CRE, so I knew this would be the natural next step in my professional progression.
CIRE: Have you been able
to put your education to use? How has the Designation curriculum impacted your
professional abilities?
Glaspie: I have been able to use the information not only in my representation of clients, but in my personal investments as well. As I progressed in both transactional and investment real estate, I was able to meet and partner with other individuals in the same
space.
I co-founded a private equity firm focused on opportunistic and value-add hospitality assets. I was able to take the financial analysis and market research material and apply it to an asset class that was said to be struggling during the height of the pandemic. Using what I
was taught, we were able to see opportunities that others didn’t.
CIRE: What support
structures have helped you during this process? Have you received help from
colleagues, mentor figures, etc.?
Glaspie: I had a colleague attend the courses with me. This allowed us to study together if needed and have a sounding board for questions outside of the class. In the class itself, the instructors were always helpful and diligent in responding to questions during
class and after.
CIRE: How does your
military service fit with your current career? What lessons have you brought to
commercial real estate from your time in the U.S. Army?
Glaspie: I feel that most military members, both past and present, are equipped with resourcefulness. We didn’t always have what we’d like to have to complete our missions, but we were always able to figure out how to complete them. I am a firm believer that it’s not about your
resources — it’s about your resourcefulness. This applies to solving client issues, as well as personal investments and day-to-day life. Being a veteran in CRE means bringing a work ethic, dedication, and level of transparency that I am accustomed to in the CRE space.
Everything I do is for a reason. I believe that if you have value you can provide someone, then you should.
CIRE: As a consultant,
investor, podcaster, volunteer, etc., how do you determine where to allocate
your time? Obviously not much of it is going to waste, so what keeps you
motivated?
Glaspie: Everything I do is for a reason. I believe that if you have value you can provide someone, then you should. My information isn’t valuable to everyone, but it could mean the world of difference for some. The investing is for my family and my future; the podcast
and volunteering are ways to give back to those who serve, educating them on options outside of the military to protect their mental and financial well-being; the consulting is to help others grow their income and lifestyles.
As far as time management, I use a few methods to balance me out. I block out times throughout the week in advance to make sure I have adequate time to handle the various tasks. I also have business partners who can share the workload and an executive assistant to
round it out.
I also choose how and where I expand based on the ability to integrate it into my current operations. For example, on the podcast, I educate active military and veterans how to replace their income through investing in real estate. This could lead to potential referrals or donation
events for the charities we support. Aligning the interests of the companies means little wasted time between tasks.
CIRE: Is there a
particular deal that has been especially interesting or unique in your recent
career? What made it so special or interesting?
Glaspie: My first midsize apartment complex of 32 units. It was just after my one-year anniversary as a licensed REALTOR® that I was able to secure this property for my buyer client. Up to this point, my progress was based on self-education — a few coffee meetings with local CRE
brokers and a lot of YouTube. From top to bottom, I was able to screen my client, run the analysis on the property, help secure financing, negotiate the deal, and manage the transaction.
This may not seem important, but before this, I was selling 10- to 20-unit deals at a much lower price point. This was my first true belief check. I realized that commercial simply scales in size, but the processes remain the same. This one deal led me to several more,
including 57-unit and 112-unit hotel acquisitions.
For more on the CCIM Designation process and curriculum, visit
Earning the CCIM Designation.