251: Finding Highly Vetted and Diversified Assets For Your Capital with Mark Khuri

In this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan welcomes Mark Khuri, co-founder of SMK Capital Management, for a focused conversation on passive investing, diversification, and risk reduction through strategic fund structures. With over 20 years of experience, Mark has developed a methodical approach to building real estate portfolios that emphasizes steady returns, low volatility, and long-term growth. Mark shares how he began his career working on residential value-add deals, managing flips and rentals alongside family. As he gained experience, he realized that owning and managing properties directly wasn’t sustainable at scale. That realization led to the creation of SMK Capital, which now specializes in private real estate funds that span multiple asset types, operators, and geographic markets. Jonathan and Mark examine how this model enables investors to spread risk across a range of properties, including mobile home parks, triple-net lease retail, and industrial, and discuss why diversification can lead to more stable returns over time. They also touch on the benefits of private lending and fixed-income strategies, which help generate early-stage cash flow while larger value-add projects are being stabilized. A key part of SMK’s success hinges on operator selection. Mark outlines the firm’s criteria for choosing partners, from their communication style to track record and approach to capital management. He emphasizes the need for transparency and alignment, noting that clear expectations and regular updates are essential to building trust with investors. Jonathan shares his insights on what passive investors should consider when evaluating both funds and single-asset syndications. The discussion provides a clear framework for those seeking more consistency in their returns and less exposure to operational risk. You’ll come away with a better understanding of how fund structures work, how to evaluate sponsors and investment opportunities, and how smaller, under-the-radar assets can complement more traditional real estate investments. For anyone looking to build wealth through passive real estate, this episode is a practical guide to lowering risk and thinking more holistically about long-term investing. In this episode, you will hear: Building wealth through diversification across assets, locations, and timelines Shifting from residential investing to private commercial funds Why funds can outperform single-asset syndications in volatile markets Using private debt and fixed-income strategies to generate early cash flow Real-world examples of risk mitigation across asset classes Evaluating operators and building trust through consistent communication How fund structures support passive investors with long-term goals Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: SMK Capital Management - www.smkcap.com Connect with Mark Khuri on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/mark-khuri-7543821 Website - www.streamlined.properties YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@trustgreene Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/StreamlinedReal Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/TrustGreene Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties Email - [e-mail] Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.