Real Estate King Grant Cardone Funds LA Section 8 Deal (Wild Pick)

Los Angeles is one of the greatest real estate markets on Earth…
But it’s also one of the hardest to win in.
In this episode, Real Estate King Grant Cardone pulls up to Los Angeles, California to hear deal pitches from local investors trying to earn full funding and a life-changing partnership.

And in the end…

Grant makes the call that shocks everyone.

00:15 Real estate is the greatest wealth generator (Grant’s opener)
00:42 “Find me a great property” (Grant’s rule)
01:12 Why LA is one of the best markets (barriers to entry)
01:32 LA housing crisis: renters + rent burden reality
02:25 Only the best partners get fully funded
02:45 Deal #1: Bel Air luxury rental mansion pitch (big income)
03:21 Mansion tour + production rental angle
03:54 Grant likes instant income but hates “one door risk”
04:10 Risk: short-term rental laws could kill the deal
04:42 Grant’s rant: “I hate the word depends”
05:36 Property could lose $4M overnight (law change risk)
06:22 Homework: bring comps + 2 years rental validation
06:42 Deal #2: Downtown LA co-working hotel pitch ($15M ask)
07:54 “The negatives are the location… location… location”
08:15 COVID killed the cash flow + building sits empty
09:19 Grant breaks it down: no safety = no money
09:56 Grant kills it: “Hell no. F no.”
10:16 Deal #3: South Park warehouse conversion (R5 zoning)
11:19 Bird poop moment + reality check
12:06 Grant: needs 300 units for it to work (not 30)
12:22 Grant gives Paulie a second chance to find cash flow
13:32 LA market insights with Brandon Williams
14:32 $1.2B sales in a bad market (competition fading)
14:59 Deal #4: Pico Union 44-unit former hotel (Section 8 play)
15:18 Ready-to-issue permits + fully vacant building
16:34 Section 8 waitlist is massive (guaranteed demand)
17:25 Grant: hates government red tape but likes the mission
17:58 Grant homework: rehab cost, timeline, debt, real numbers
18:32 Deal #5: Southeast LA 9 units → 32 units development pitch
19:57 Grant gets offended: “You want me to be a bank”
21:19 Grant shuts it down hard (no equity = no deal)
21:40 Deal #6: Pico Union 68-unit micro-studio building (Carla)
22:32 No kitchens + “hostel style” concerns
23:08 Only 50% done… owner running out of money
23:26 Rehab cost per unit is solid + real tenants already paying
24:04 Grant wants owner motivation + real rent potential
24:44 Deal #7: Studio City restaurant real estate pitch
25:49 Grant: not enough housing, too many restaurants
28:04 Liquor license value is huge… still a no
28:26 Deal #8: Mid-Wilshire 10-unit cash-flow building (Paulie)
29:48 $600 rent lift potential + $25K/unit rehab
30:25 Grant worries: seller has no pain = may not sell
31:29 Boardroom begins (final decision time)
32:05 Bel Air deal numbers + uncertainty still too high
33:03 Section 8 risk: government contract + rehab timeline
33:35 Carla vs Eli comparison (cost per unit difference)
35:55 Paulie self-destructs in the boardroom
36:33 Eli calls out Carla’s downtown proximity risk
37:53 Grant eliminates the mansion deal
38:32 Carla eliminates Eli (Section 8 complications)
39:25 Timeline debate: 3–6 months vs 1 year+
39:43 Eli asks: $3M equity + 80/20 split
40:03 Carla proposes recap + investor cleanup (Grant dislikes that)
40:38 Grant wants the deal where institutional money already moved
41:06 FINAL PICK: Grant chooses Eli (numbers win)
41:23 Grant praises preparation + hints bigger reward than 80/20
41:56 Mission: help affordable housing + do more LA deals
42:11 LA is forever (weather wins even when politics don’t)