In the world of real estate investing, competition is often seen as the default state. But what if collaboration could replace rivalry and lead to growth for everyone involved? This question was central to an insightful discussion featuring Pace Morby and Jamil Damji, two highly successful real estate investors in Phoenix, Arizona, and Elizabeth Navarrete, an investor making waves in Houston, Texas. Together, they pulled back the curtain on how fostering an abundance mindset and a collaborative approach has transformed their markets.
Why Collaboration Beats Competition
Many industries operate with a “crabs in a bucket” mindset—where instead of helping each other succeed, people pull one another down. Picture a bucket of crabs: when one tries to climb out, others tug it back. This analogy often applies to competitive markets, where fear and mistrust prevent growth.
But Jamil and Pace argue that flipping this mentality is key. When investors operate in an ecosystem where everyone wants each other to win, success flows naturally. Instead of competing for scraps, collaborators can build larger opportunities together. Ultimately, this approach benefits everyone—from wholesalers and buyers to the service providers supporting the deals.
Building Ecosystems That Foster Success
Pace and Jamil credit much of their success to the environment they’ve built in Phoenix. By collaborating within their market, they’ve created an ecosystem where investors share resources, insights, and opportunities. For example, when Pace’s team secured a $1.3 million property but lacked a buyer, Jamil stepped in with his extensive network to close the deal. Mutual trust, respect, and alignment turned a stagnant contract into a win for everyone involved.
The takeaway is clear: surround yourself with people who are truly like-minded. Look for those who aren’t threatened by your success but who actively encourage it. This kind of ecosystem isn’t built overnight, but it pays off in volume and longevity.
Addressing the Fear of Sharing Leads
For many wholesalers, the idea of sharing property details before securing a deal feels risky. What if the person you collaborate with uses that information to undercut you? Jamil and Pace debunk this fear by demonstrating how integrity and transparency can safeguard collaboration.
Jamil explains that when wholesalers trust his team with property addresses to run comps or assess values, they’re rewarded with solid advice and deal structure. The key is mutual respect: wholesalers understand that Jamil’s team won’t poach their deal, and in return, they gain a partner committed to making the deal work. Collaboration isn’t about blindly trusting anyone—it’s about aligning with individuals and teams that operate with honesty.
Why Daisy-Chaining Is Bad for Business
Daisy-chaining—a practice where investors forward deals from others without permission to claim a middleman fee—was also addressed. Jamil and Pace were clear: this undermines trust and damages reputations. Instead, they advocate for transparent communication. If you want to market someone else’s deal to your buyers, pick up the phone, and ask for permission. Most wholesalers will welcome the opportunity to work together if you approach them directly. Collaboration built on honesty creates repeat business, while daisy-chaining burns bridges.
Creating a Tribe That Drives Growth
One of the most important lessons shared was the concept of building a “tribe.” A tribe isn’t just a network—it’s a group of people who support each other at every stage, who work together to solve problems and achieve common goals. Your tribe isn’t limited to fellow investors. It includes service providers like attorneys, title companies, and lenders, who play integral roles in closing deals.
For Pace, forming strong relationships with people like attorneys and loan officers has been transformational. In one instance, an attorney he worked with significantly grew her business thanks to his referrals. This collaborative spirit strengthens the entire market, creating a ripple effect of opportunity.
Using Collaboration to Scale Your Business
Scaling is a hot topic for real estate investors, and collaboration is often the missing piece of the puzzle. For example, Jamil revealed that roughly 50% of his company’s deals come from collaboration—up to 40 deals a month. Such high volume wouldn’t be possible without working closely with others in the market.
Through tools like shared buyers’ lists, comp analysis, and joint ventures, market leaders can help new investors learn the ropes while boosting deal flow. If newer investors embrace collaboration, they not only scale their businesses faster but also gain invaluable mentors to guide them.
Practical Steps for Real Estate Collaboration
If you’re wondering how to collaborate in your own market, Pace and Jamil offered actionable advice:
- Reach Out: Call fellow investors and introduce yourself. Be transparent about how you’d like to collaborate on deals.
- Offer Value: Don’t just ask for help—offer something in return. Bring a deal, a buyer, or even just your time to add value to others.
- Be Transparent: Always operate with full disclosure. Let others know your intentions, and gain permission before marketing a deal that isn’t yours.
- Leverage Local Events: Attend meetups and mastermind sessions. These events are ideal for forming relationships and learning from market leaders.
Social media platforms like Instagram offer incredible opportunities to build relationships. Both Pace and Jamil use Instagram to connect with investors, answer questions, and share resources. They encourage others to take advantage of this tool to open doors and start conversations.
For more in-depth collaboration, platforms like Propelio provide a powerful way for investors to connect, generate leads, run comps, and build websites. Tools like this streamline the business side of collaboration, making it easier to focus on relationship-building.
Learning From the Phoenix Model
The Phoenix real estate community stands out as an example of what’s possible when collaboration replaces competition. Leaders like Steve Trang and Brandon Simmons helped lay the foundation for this collaborative market by hosting free meetups and masterminds where investors could connect and share knowledge. These events are catalysts for trust and growth, allowing participants to form relationships that extend far beyond the classroom.
Final Advice for New and Experienced Investors
Whether you’re new to real estate or a seasoned pro, the lessons shared by Pace, Jamil, and Elizabeth apply universally:
- For New Investors: Focus on building relationships before deals. Attend events, meet local players, and learn from the best. Integrity may not yield overnight results, but it will create a solid foundation for growth.
- For Experienced Investors: Regularly reassess your circle. Are you surrounded by collaborators, or are you stuck in a crabs-in-a-bucket situation? If the latter, it may be time to work with people who share your values.
Conclusion
Collaboration isn’t just a feel-good concept—it’s a smart, scalable strategy for building a thriving real estate business. By trusting the right people, sharing resources, and adding value to your market, you can turn competitors into allies and set the stage for long-term growth. Whether you’re in Phoenix, Houston, or anywhere else, the message is clear: when the tide rises, all boats go up. Find your tribe, build trust, and start collaborating to achieve success.
