Are Diamonds Discovered? Or Built?
As real estate investors & developers, we are always on the hunt for that next “diamond in the rough.” But what if the most valuable diamonds aren’t found? What if they’re made?
That’s the difference between a standard investor and an investor with a developer’s vision.
An investor with “Developer’s Vision” creates the Best Deal Possible.
It’s the ability to look at an empty lot, an outdated motel, or an underperforming property and see not just what is, but what could be. It’s a strategic foresight that goes far beyond blueprints and budgets; it’s about identifying an unmet need in the market and having the courage to build the solution.
This vision is the engine that creates value from the ground up. It’s how an investor moves from competing over the same scarce deals to creating an entirely new, high-demand asset class.
From Vision to a Niche Asset: The Large-Group STR
We explored this very concept in a recent episode of the REI Diamonds podcast with Andrew Llewellyn on the topic of Large-Group Short-Term Rental Investments.
This is a masterclass in developer’s vision.
Andrew doesn’t just buy a big house and hope a large group rents it. He dives deep into a specific market gap: the need for properties designed from the ground up to host large groups like family reunions, corporate retreats, and milestone celebrations.
This vision dictates every decision:
- Acquisition: Finding land or properties that can be legally and physically transformed.
- Design: Creating layouts with ample bedrooms, massive common areas, and unique, “wow-factor” amenities that groups can’t get anywhere else.
- Operations: Building a management system that can handle the unique challenges and logistics of large-group turnovers.
By developing a product for a specific, underserved customer, Andrew’s vision allows him to create an asset that commands premium rates and faces far less competition than a standard 3-bed, 2-bath vacation rental. He isn’t just in the real estate business; he’s in the experience business.
Listen to the Full Episode
To get the full blueprint on how Andrew Llewellyn identifies these opportunities and executes his developer’s vision in the short-term rental market, you won’t want to miss this conversation.
Listen Now: Large Group Short-Term Rental Investment with Andrew Llewellyn
The key takeaway is this: A true “REI Diamond” isn’t just a property; it’s a well-executed strategy.
What unmet need do you see in your market? What could you build that everyone else is overlooking?
Cultivate your developer’s vision to spot value where others do not.
Have anything like this for sale? I am Buying:
(I Need a $3M-$9M purchase to close by year end.)
- Industrial & Commercial Property, 10K sq. ft. – 250K sq. ft.
- Mobile Home Communities (50 pad minimum)
- Well located Retail Development Sites
- Residential MFR & SFR
- Located anywhere in the U.S.
- Value Add Required-There MUST be a path to push the value
- Ideally long term rented asset with below market rents
Recent Portfolio Exit Volume
- 2021 $54,615,000
- 2022 $54,547,000
- 2023 $57,489,000
- 2024 $52,164,000
- 2025 YTD $48,034,000
