Matt Bigach began his real estate career in 2015 after working as a physical therapy assistant. Motivated by a desire for financial freedom and lifestyle flexibility, he transitioned into real estate full-time. His first wholesale real estate deal generated a $13,500 assignment fee, more than his monthly salary, confirming that real estate could deliver the outcomes he was seeking.
By 2017, Matt partnered with Zach to form Nexus Homebuyers, a Knoxville-based investment company. They started by wholesaling single-family homes before expanding into flipping houses and rental properties. Today, Nexus focuses on two main strategies:
Matt shares how he transitioned from wholesaling to multifamily investing, what drives his decisions in the current market, and the numbers behind his recent apartment BRRRR projects.
In late 2023, Matt and his team made the decision to stop acquiring single-family rentals. Knoxville’s housing market had started to shift, with inventory levels rising and homes staying on the market longer. Mortgage rates remained elevated, and no significant rate cuts were expected in the near future.
These conditions prompted a strategic pivot. Instead of buying homes where values were tied to comparable sales, Matt focused on apartments where valuation is driven by net operating income and cap rates.
“Apartment buildings give us more control. When we raise rents through renovations, we increase the value—regardless of market comps.”
BRRRR (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) is a strategy that allows investors to grow rental portfolios by acquiring distressed properties, improving them, placing tenants, and then refinancing to recover invested capital.
While the BRRRR method is commonly used for single-family homes, Matt applies it to small and mid-sized apartment buildings. This approach offers greater scalability and financial control because apartment values are determined by the property's income, not by comparable sales.
“By improving units and increasing rents, we can directly influence the asset’s value, regardless of broader market trends.”
Both properties were acquired with significant value-add potential. The units were under-rented and in need of substantial improvements, allowing Nexus to increase income and prepare for long-term agency financing.
Lenders typically offer refinancing at 70% of the stabilized appraised value, though this may vary based on borrower experience and market conditions.
Example: If a property is worth $2 million post-renovation, a 70% loan-to-value refinance would yield approximately $1.4 million, allowing the investor to recover most or all of their initial capital.
Refinancing is a critical part of the BRRRR model. It frees up capital for the next project while allowing the investor to retain ownership of the asset.
Matt's earlier apartment acquisitions were listed on the MLS, but today he focuses on off-market deals. His team identifies motivated sellers by analyzing:
Nexus uses high-quality data, filtered for motivation, and reaches out using direct mail and, more recently, cold email.
“We look for owners who might be facing refinance pressure. That’s often where real opportunities begin.”
While multifamily investing is the long-term focus, wholesaling remains a core cash-flow engine for Nexus. This allows the business to operate sustainably without relying solely on passive rental income.
Matt emphasizes that wholesaling allows for reinvestment into larger projects without external capital.
“Active business income enables us to buy more assets, hire the right people, and invest in scalable systems.”
Nexus uses a multi-channel marketing strategy to maintain a consistent lead flow:
This layered strategy ensures that marketing spend is efficient and that the team reaches the most motivated sellers.
Matt’s goal was never just to build a large portfolio, but it was to create freedom of time. Real estate gave him the opportunity to travel, support his fiancée’s choice to reduce full-time work, and build a business that aligns with their lifestyle.
“I could wholesale two deals a month and earn a good living. But to create real freedom, I needed systems that could scale and generate consistent income.”
That approach informs every decision: focusing on quality over volume, building infrastructure before scaling, and investing in only what he understands.
Matt and Zach are exploring acquisitions in industries that align with their real estate operations, such as:
These businesses not only add revenue streams but also reduce costs on their own projects.
“We’re focused on acquiring businesses we already understand—trades that complement our rental portfolio.”
Looking ahead, Nexus is focused on:
“We’re not trying to become the biggest wholesaler. We’re focused on building a sustainable business that funds long-term growth.”
BRRRR stands for Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat. It's a strategy for acquiring undervalued properties, improving them, renting them out, and refinancing to recover capital for the next investment.
Yes. BRRRR can be scaled to multifamily properties. The investor increases property value by improving units and raising rents, then refinances based on the improved net operating income.
Knoxville offers strong rental demand, limited multifamily supply, and a shifting single-family market—making it favorable for value-add multifamily strategies.
Focus on properties with:
Both strategies serve different purposes. Wholesaling generates active income, while buy-and-hold builds long-term wealth. Many successful investors use wholesaling to fund their long-term investments.
Matt’s approach demonstrates how real estate investors can scale from wholesaling to owning income-producing assets using a disciplined, strategic model. By combining business income with long-term equity growth, he’s built a company that supports both financial and personal goals.
“Start with active cash flow. Use that income to invest in long-term assets. Stay focused on systems and sustainability. That’s how you scale.”