If you’ve spent any time analyzing deals in the historic neighborhoods of West Allis or tracking property values across the South Side of Milwaukee, you already know that every house tells a story. For Milwaukee REIA Advisory Board Member Jeff Bertrandt, uncovering those hidden narratives is second nature—but his path to real estate investing looks a bit different than most.

Before dissecting local property data and managing construction timelines, Jeff spent over 20 years as a school teacher. His deep passion for history didn't just keep him in local classrooms; it took him across the globe. He had the distinct honor of working with world-renowned historic institutions, including the National World War II Museum in New Orleans and Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.

Today, he’s taking that same structural discipline, love for historical details, and global perspective and applying it directly to residential real estate right here in Greater Milwaukee.

 

Rebuilding With Purpose

For Jeff, real estate isn’t a passive hobby; it’s an active pursuit to build lasting flexibility and freedom. 

When analyzing his own portfolio, Jeff focuses heavily on two core wealth-building pillars: Buy & Hold (The BRRRR Method) and Wholesaling, with a hyper-focus on the South and West Sides of Milwaukee. His core motivation is rooted directly in his family.

Kesha’s core strategy is the BRRRR method (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat), wi ... Read More…

Real estate is about more than just property; it's about the people and the purpose behind the portfolio. This month, we are continuing our series to highlight the incredible people who make the Milwaukee REIA possible.

We are thrilled to feature Kesha Wilkinson, a dedicated member who perfectly balances a passion for "Active Starting" with a unique professional background in horticulture and holistic wellness.

 

The Strategy: Building with Purpose and Passion

For Kesha, real estate isn’t just a career; it’s a mission to restore the city she loves. She describes herself as an "Active Starter," currently navigating the 1–3 deal range while diligently building the systems that will scale her business.

Kesha’s core strategy is the BRRRR method (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat), with a hyper-focus on Milwaukee County. Her "why" is rooted in community standards and tenant advocacy:

"It breaks my heart to see the condition of MKE and how some landlords treat their tenants," Kesha shares. "I want to be a part of rebuilding my city and providing clean and safe housing."

Her "ideal deal" right now is specific and strategic: duplexes in the 53210 and 53216 zip codes. She looks for properties where she can tackle the big items—plumbing and electrical—rather than just a "lipstick" renovation. Her target is a total cost (purchase and rehab) of $200k for duplexes or $300k for 4-plexes, with a preference for the classic Mil ... Read More…