Chris Hake was the founder and driving force behind the rise of Madison REIA, which he launched in August 2012. In 2021, he merged Madison REIA with WiscoREIA, expanding its reach to ELEVEN monthly REIA meeting locations across Wisconsin and growing its community base of guests and members to over 1000 active investors and entrepreneurs.
With more than 30 years of hands-on experience in real estate, Chris is passionate about giving back. He continues to lead monthly meetings in Madison and frequently shares the lessons he's learned from decades "in the trenches." Chris is most energized by helping new investors discover if real estate is the right path for them, and if so, guiding them to the best possible start for long-term success. He speaks regularly at events throughout Wisconsin and across the U.S., covering topics on real estate investing, business, and personal growth.
A lifelong Madisonian, Chris began his investing journey with a house hack in 1994 and since been involved in hundreds of flips and rental properties. Over the years, he has raised more than $20 million to fund deals and has trained thousands of students through his local coaching programs. From 2006 to 2010, he also taught the Real Estate Investing course at Madison Area Technical College, where hundreds more learned the fundamentals from his real-world approach.
Today, Chris focuses much of his energy on growing Just Simple Storage LLC, a storage investment company he founded that now owns 900 units across 9 facilities in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan.
Outside of real estate, Chris is a devoted husband to his wife, Suzanna, and a proud father to their three boys: Tyler, Tanner, and Trelan. He’s also a fan of classic muscle cars (especially Corvettes and Mustangs), and enjoys outdoor adventures like golf, fishing, and pickleball. At his core, Chris is committed to living out his Life and Business Vision each day, guided by strong values and a passion for helping others succeed.
Feel free to reach out to Chris at chrishake@gmail.com