• mySigEp
  • Shop
  • Giving Opportunities

Sigma Phi Epsilon

Building Balanced Men

  • About SigEp
    • Mission Statement
    • Our Chapters
    • Who We Are
      • National Fraternity
        • National Board of Directors
        • Committees and Task Forces
        • District Governors
      • Educational Foundation
      • SigEp National Housing
      • Headquarters Staff
      • Chapter Support
    • Strategic Plan
    • History & Facts
    • Prominent Alumni
    • Get Involved
    • Job Opportunities
    • Contact Us
  • The SigEp Experience
    • Balanced Man Program
    • SigEp Learning Communities
    • National Programs
      • Monthly Executive Development
      • Springboard: A Series to Launch You Into SigEp Leadership
      • National Transition Retreat
      • Carlson Leadership Academies
      • Ruck Leadership Institute
      • Tragos Quest to Greece
      • Career Coaching
      • Life After College
      • Grand Chapter Conclave
      • Live Your Oath
      • Volunteer Training & Resources
    • Service-learning
    • Membership Perks
      • Alumni
        • PCI Oral History Publication
      • Undergraduates
    • Awards
      • 2020-2021 Award Recipients
      • 2021 Conclave Award Recipients
  • Foundation
    • Give
    • Giving Options
      • Annual Fund
      • Board of Governors
      • Founders Day of Giving
      • Stock, Mutual Fund Gifts
      • Matching Gifts
      • Legacy Society
      • IRA Gifts
      • Donor Advised Fund Gifts
    • Grants & Scholarship Funds
      • Balanced Man Scholarships
      • Tuition Scholarships
      • Chapter Investment Funds (CIFs)
  • Resources
    • Chapter Officers
    • Volunteers
      • Volunteer Training & Resources
    • Parents
    • SigEp National Housing
    • Recruitment
      • Vice President of Recruitment
      • Mentor for Recruitment
      • Substance-free Facilities
    • Substance-free Facilities
    • Member Safety
    • Officer Elections & Transitions
    • Standards & Bylaws
    • Off Script, On Purpose
    • Marketing & Branding
    • Social Media
  • Journal
    • Features
    • Fraternity News
    • Red Door Notes
    • Our Very Own Balanced Men
    • Chapter News
    • Alumni & Volunteer News
    • Educational Foundation
    • Commentary
    • In Memoriam
    • Press Releases
  • Search
  • Give
  • /
  • Volunteer
  • /
  • Join
  • /
  • Learn More
  • About SigEp
    • Mission Statement
    • Our Chapters
    • Who We Are
      • National Fraternity
        • National Board of Directors
        • Committees and Task Forces
        • District Governors
      • Educational Foundation
      • SigEp National Housing
      • Headquarters Staff
      • Chapter Support
    • Strategic Plan
    • History & Facts
    • Prominent Alumni
    • Get Involved
    • Job Opportunities
    • Contact Us
  • The SigEp Experience
    • Balanced Man Program
    • SigEp Learning Communities
    • National Programs
      • Monthly Executive Development
      • Springboard: A Series to Launch You Into SigEp Leadership
      • National Transition Retreat
      • Carlson Leadership Academies
      • Ruck Leadership Institute
      • Tragos Quest to Greece
      • Career Coaching
      • Life After College
      • Grand Chapter Conclave
      • Live Your Oath
      • Volunteer Training & Resources
    • Service-learning
    • Membership Perks
      • Alumni
        • PCI Oral History Publication
      • Undergraduates
    • Awards
      • 2020-2021 Award Recipients
      • 2021 Conclave Award Recipients
  • Foundation
    • Give
    • Giving Options
      • Annual Fund
      • Board of Governors
      • Founders Day of Giving
      • Stock, Mutual Fund Gifts
      • Matching Gifts
      • Legacy Society
      • IRA Gifts
      • Donor Advised Fund Gifts
    • Grants & Scholarship Funds
      • Balanced Man Scholarships
      • Tuition Scholarships
      • Chapter Investment Funds (CIFs)
  • Resources
    • Chapter Officers
    • Volunteers
      • Volunteer Training & Resources
    • Parents
    • SigEp National Housing
    • Recruitment
      • Vice President of Recruitment
      • Mentor for Recruitment
      • Substance-free Facilities
    • Substance-free Facilities
    • Member Safety
    • Officer Elections & Transitions
    • Standards & Bylaws
    • Off Script, On Purpose
    • Marketing & Branding
    • Social Media
  • Journal
    • Features
    • Fraternity News
    • Red Door Notes
    • Our Very Own Balanced Men
    • Chapter News
    • Alumni & Volunteer News
    • Educational Foundation
    • Commentary
    • In Memoriam
    • Press Releases
  • Search
  • mySigEp
  • Shop
  • Giving Opportunities
Home / Features / Journal: Twin Cities renovators wrap season one of reality show

November 27, 2013

Journal: Twin Cities renovators wrap season one of reality show

Categories: Features

By John Kowalski, Virginia Commonwealth '12

When the housing market crashed in 2007 and demand for rental housing grew, Drew Levin, Florida ’05, and Danny Perkins, Florida ’05, saw the investment opportunity. The entrepreneurial duo knew it was the time to buy.

Levin and Perkins, who met at freshman orientation and joined SigEp together, recently wrapped up the first season of their new show on HGTV, Renovate to Rent. The show follows their latest business venture, D&D Real Estate Holdings, LLC. They buy houses in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, fix them up, and rent them out.

“All of a sudden in 2007, everything crashed, light bulbs went off, and we decided it was a good time to buy,” said Levin. Rather than trying to turn a quick profit by selling, they believe the long-term investment of renting these properties will give them a much greater return. The rental market in the area is driven by college students and young professionals – segments the two know very well.

“Our strategy has always been a long term one,” said Perkins. “We make sure every property stands alone and has cash flow. We felt there was a real opportunity to acquire properties and have cash flow for years to come.”

This is not the first business Levin and Perkins have operated. Their first venture was a social networking site, YFly.com. YFly had a celebrity focus and included content from Rihanna, the Jonas Brothers, Paris Hilton and others. Unfortunately, the site’s usage outgrew the technology to keep the site running.

“Drew and I are not tech guys,” said Perkins. “[We] didn’t actually build the site and relied on someone else, which was a great lesson. You have to know every aspect of your business.” He added that your career should be your passion. “Success will follow if you enjoy what you do,” he explained.

Levin believes success is all about finding your niche. “Anyone can get into real estate in so many ways,” he said. “Find your niche, keep your blinders on and stick with it until it doesn’t work for you anymore.”

And that’s exactly what they did. The two had worked for carpenters, and their family members were involved in real estate. They bought their first property in 2007, and shortly purchased two more. Then Levin got his real estate license in 2008. With the help of a private investor, Levin and Perkins acquired more properties, and their business exploded. They now own over 50 rental properties in the Twin Cities.

“We didn’t have deep pockets,” said Levin. “We got bank financing before that cut off. We didn’t have money to buy 50 properties, but we developed a model that works and found someone with deep pockets willing to invest. We showed him it could work. You have to do it one property at a time and make good by your investors. As long as they’re happy, they’ll do more business with you.”

Their investor helped them to expand their business and got them connected with Magnetic Productions. They filmed a “sizzle reel” and began showing it to networks. HGTV bought a pilot episode in 2011, and one month later, the network purchased seven more episodes to complete an entire season. Filming for Renovate to Rent began in late 2012 and lasted six months. They filmed five to six days a week, and about eight hours of footage represented five minutes of actual show time.

The cameras took some getting used to, but it sets their rental properties apart from anything else in the area.

“When I’m showing tenants a place and cameras are there, it increases the appeal,” said Levin. “It makes it easier to advertise and rent these places. People see it’s an HGTV home and think it’s awesome.”

When asked what the SigEp experience did for them, Levin and Perkins noted how it created lasting bonds and strengthened their relationship.

“Danny and I might not have been able to cultivate our relationship as much without the experience of living together and being SigEp brothers,” said Levin. “I’m sure it helped in our business relationship down the road.” 

 

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome to the SigEp Journal Online

SigEp’s online source for Fraternity news, feature stories and how-to articles for you and your chapter.

Features

Fraternity News

Red Door Notes

Our Very Own Balanced Men

Chapter News

Alumni & Volunteer News

Conclave Chronicle

Training in 10

Educational Foundation

Commentary

In Memoriam

Press Releases

Want to make a submission?

Have a story to tell? Please submit news today!

To have a brother or volunteer recognized in SigEp's In Memoriam section, please submit an obituary.

Recent Posts

  • Chapter Eternal: Spring 2022
  • Twelve: Founders Day of Giving 2021
  • SigEp City: San Antonio
  • Soaring to the Top in the MileHigh City
  • SigEp celebrates pandemic-era chapter anniversaries

Questions?

For questions regarding the SigEp Journal Online, please contact our Marketing & Communications Team.

For questions regarding the SigEp Journal, please contact Journal Editor Tyya Turner.

Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity

310 South Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 353-1901

Contact our staff.

About SigEp

  • Mission Statement
  • Who We Are
  • Our Chapters
  • Chapter Support

The SigEp Experience

  • Awards
  • History & Facts
  • Programs

Resources

  • Chapter Officers
  • Volunteers
  • Help Documentation