Episode 515: How This Top Agent Turned a Referral-Based Business into a Media Empire with Deidre Quinn

July 09, 2025•2 min read

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In this episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I’m joined by Tait Duryea, a seasoned airline pilot turned real estate investor and the founder of Turbine Capital. We explore how he’s helping fellow pilots and high-income professionals break free from the paycheck-to-paycheck grind by building generational wealth through alternative investments.

Tait unpacks why he launched a private equity firm tailored for pilots, how his team scouts high-quality operators across diverse asset classes, and the key mindsets and strategies investors need to thrive in today’s turbulent commercial real estate market. From multifamily syndications to water-rights-backed tiny home ventures, this is one conversation packed with eye-opening insights!

Key Talking Points of the Episode

[0:00] - Introducing Tait Duryea and the Passive Income Pilots podcast

[2:32] - Tait’s journey from aspiring entrepreneur to pilot and real estate investor

[5:18] - Why airline pilots need better financial strategies

[6:30] - Turbine Capital’s unique asset-agnostic approach

[7:43] - Exploring high-risk, high-reward ventures through Skunkworks

[10:23] - Mitosis Living: The Tesla of luxury tiny homes

[16:09] - Water rights, land, and asymmetric risk in alternative investments

[18:02] - Why diversification and passive investing matter more than ever

[19:27] - The harsh lessons from 2021–2022 commercial deals

[21:08] - How to vet syndications and think like a savvy LP

[23:13] - Asset allocation insights from Tiger 21