Mike Azzam (@mike_azzam)

We are looking to grow our team! 🤩 If this is you and you see yourself aligned with our vision and what The Azzam Group is offering our real estate agents, reach out and let’s connect! 💪🤝 We’re ready to close this year strong and be set up for success in 2025! 🎇 #nowhiring #clevelandrealestate…

I thought this elevator was just for show… for over three years😂 Turns out, it actually works—and apparently, it’s the oldest operating elevator in Cleveland. The chessboard blocking it off didn’t exactly give that away. Just when I think I know a building, it surprises me. Would you take a ride…

Hiring across nine countries taught me to rethink how I build my team🤓 With roughly 30 virtual assistants across nine countries, recruiting can become a job of its own. That’s why I’ve shifted toward working with recruitment agencies instead of handling every hire directly. I also keep key…

If your team keeps asking the same questions, you might be the bottleneck! Every repeat question pulls you away from work that needs your attention. Before blaming your team, ask yourself: Have I given them clear processes, accessible answers, and the confidence to make decisions? As leaders…

If every task needs you, your business can only grow so far. Around 2016–2017, I realized how much of the business depended on me reacting to whatever came up next. We started documenting the work-from onboarding leads to ordering title and getting listing signs installed. Then we coached the…

If your client has to ask “What’s next?” you’ve left a gap! Every email, text, and call should end with a clear next step. What needs to happen? Who’s responsible? When will you follow up? Your CRM and action plans help you stay consistent. AI and automation can support the process, but your…

If everything stops when you step away, can your business really scale? Growth needs more than a good week or a few wins. Your team needs a process they can follow consistently, clear next steps, and the ability to move forward without waiting for one person to make every decision. That’s how you…

If you’re still doing everything yourself, you may be the bottleneck. One of the biggest mindset shifts in business is realizing that just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. Know what your time is worth. Then look at the tasks filling your day and ask: Is this really the best…

Your database doesn’t need another generic email. It needs to see you. One thing I shared at Summer Masterminds: recording the video is only the first step. We give our agents a clear framework, hold them accountable for getting it done, and then turn those videos into something we can use again…

One thing I’ve learned: not every listing is worth taking🤔 We can invest $500–$700 or more in a property before it ever sells. That’s why seller expectations, motivation, pricing, and cooperation matter from day one. A good listing should be a partnership—not an uphill battle. Agents, what do you…

STOP CHASING. START BUILDING. It’s easy to get caught up chasing the next deal, the next milestone, or the next level of growth. But real growth comes from building systems and processes that create consistency—so the business can grow without everything depending on you. What are you building…

I’D SELL THE SYSTEM. If I had to rebuild from scratch, I wouldn’t start over. I’d take what I’ve already learned, turn it into a repeatable system, and help others build it faster. The goal isn’t just to build a successful business. It’s to build something that can be replicated. Could your…

THE WRONG LENDER CAN KILL A DEAL Sometimes the biggest obstacle isn’t the deal—it’s having the wrong financing partner. When lenders add unnecessary hurdles, investors can lose opportunities or get pushed into financing that doesn’t support the value-add strategy. The right resources matter just…

I WANTED FREEDOM. I didn’t get into real estate because I had everything figured out. I was in college, coaching basketball, and working a job I didn’t like when I came across an opportunity in real estate. What kept me in the industry wasn’t just the business—it was the freedom to build something…

CONTROL THE ASSET. THEN DECIDE. We don’t always know the best strategy when we first find a property. Once we control the asset, we can look at the numbers and decide what makes the most sense—flip it, rent it, Airbnb it, wholesale it, or keep it. The strategy can change. That’s the advantage…

THE DEAL ISN’T JUST A PROPERTY👀 A great property doesn’t automatically make a great deal. Financing terms, holding costs, and your exit strategy can change the numbers completely. The right structure gives you the time and flexibility to make the right move. Are you looking at the financing—or…

THE DEAL COMES FIRST🤝 We don’t limit ourselves to one zip code. We look for deals where the numbers make sense, while knowing which risks aren’t worth taking. As you grow as an investor, you also learn that your time has a value. What makes you walk away from a deal? #RealEstateInvesting…

WE BUILT THE WHOLE ECOSYSTEM🔥 We don’t just operate in one part of real estate. From property management and construction to acquisitions, wholesale, and sales, being involved across the industry allows us to create more opportunities and see how everything connects. Last year, our 10-agent team…

SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE! Being involved in different parts of the real estate industry gives you a bigger picture of how everything connects. For us, that perspective—and the ability to operate across different parts of the business—has been a major driver of growth. How are you diversifying your…

I WAS IGNORING THE NUMBERS. For years, I ran a successful business without fully understanding the numbers behind it. Once I started tracking the financials down to the dollar, I realized how much more potential the business had. You can’t improve what you don’t understand. Do you really know your…

Part 3 of the roof-shingle saga… At this point, I’m convinced that if I pick the wrong roof color, the neighbors are going to throw me out of the neighborhood. 😂 No pressure—it’s only a decision I’ll have to look at every day for the next 25 years. The overthinking continues… #RoofReplacement…

Part 2 of the great roof-shingle debate… and somehow, we’re no closer to a decision. 😂 Every sample looks different depending on the lighting, the angle, the house—and apparently the phase of the moon. At this point, I’ve spent so much time analyzing roofs that I can identify shingle colors while…

Nobody warns you that one of the hardest parts of replacing a roof is picking the shingles. 😂 There are approximately 47 shades that all look the same—but somehow completely different. And the online photos? Absolutely useless. After way too much research, second-guessing, and staring at…

Smart renovations aren't always about replacing everything—they're about making the right improvements. Walkthrough Series | Part 5: Basement Systems Assessment When we evaluate an investment property, we always take a close look at the major systems. This is where we determine what's in good…

A basement can reveal more about a property than you might think. Walkthrough Series | Part 4: Basement Assessment The basement is one of those spaces that can tell us a lot about a property's condition. When we walk through a basement, we're looking for both opportunities and potential issues…

A great kitchen isn't always about making it bigger—it's about making it work better. 🍽️ Walkthrough Series | Part 3: Kitchen Assessment The kitchen is one of the first spaces we pay close attention to because it can have a big impact on both functionality and resale value. When we walk through a…

Once we step inside, that's where the real evaluation begins. Walkthrough Series | Part 2: Interior Assessment Now that we're inside, it's time to take a closer look. This is where we start evaluating the details that help us understand the scope of the renovation. We look at factors such as the…

What does the exterior tell us about this investment? 👀 When we walk a property, we always start with the exterior. Before we talk about renovations or run the numbers, we want to understand what the property's exterior is telling us. The roof, siding, windows, landscaping, and overall curb appeal…

What looks harmless today can become a very expensive problem tomorrow. I came across a property with a massive tree sitting right next to the house. And it got me thinking... At some point, someone approved the plans. Someone built the house. And someone looked at that tree and thought it…

One of the biggest advantages investors have isn't finding better properties. It's finding better ways to execute. Recently, I needed new front doors. Instead of going through a traditional company charging massive markups, I found a manufacturer online and customized everything myself: ✔ Wood…