Client Testimonials

Mike Carlson has the ability to analyze and plan a strategy which takes advantage of market conditions, incorporates the best financing options and most importantly, maximizes the return on your equity.

I have been working with Mike on multi-family investments for over eight years. The reasons are simple: experience, depth of knowledge and advocacy.

He has a wealth of both experience and knowledge in multi-family brokerage and in the greater Portland market. He also has the ability to assemble and present your financing package to the lending community as well. And, all with superior results.

He advocates for your position whether representing you in a purchase/sale transaction or working with your lender for the best possible terms. Mike is the real deal, honest, trustworthy and highly capable. I am happy to recommend him to anyone looking for assistance with their multi-family portfolio.

For anyone with real estate investments, Mike Carlson’s services are a necessity in order to achieve top results. Mike Carlson is very astute and knowledgeable in not only all aspects of real estate investment and wealth management but also in a wide scope business matters in general.

Mike Carlson and his company are great - very professional, experienced and comfortable to work with. They took me, a private investor, and calmly, carefully and completely took me through the whole purchase process - analysis of my portfolio, investment scenarios, identification and purchase of appropriate properties and follow-up management. I couldn't have done it without them!

Mike’s analysis and technical abilities is top drawer! Carlson is a master at sophisticated computer real estate analysis. He knows how to evaluate portfolios and properties to determine the best investment strategy.

Mike Carlson’s brokerage and negotiation skills are very polished and effective. As an experienced professional, Carlson did a much better job representing my interests than I could have myself.

Mike’s handling of my 1031 Exchange couldn't have been less stress free. Carlson made my sale contingent upon first finding suitable exchange property. I had plenty of time to find just the right new property.

Make no mistake about it; there is a distinct advantage in utilizing an experienced financing liaison. Carlson not only found good properties but also good financing. He made the entire deal work!

Analysis skills..."Mike has been what I was looking for in a commercial realtor. He has the unique ability to apply financial numbers to a project and not let the emotions of a property cloud the analysis. His years of experience were valuable when looking at Cap Rates and ROI. These are important definitions and Mike really knows how to explain and evaluate each. Patience and clarity from Mike have kept me in the hunt for additional income producing properties.

Value as buyer's agent..."Working with Mike has always been about good communication and he does a great job. When you do finally find a property worth pursuing he is not pressuring you to make the offer and get the commission. It's more about the long-term relationship. He reassured me that if he does a good job on this deal I will probably be back for more and sure enough I am in the hunt again.

My experience as a first time investment property buyer..."I thought the whole process of picking an income property would be easy, especially in a down market. This is not the case. Be ready for a cautious and lengthy endeavor. Mike has been willing to put in the time to analyze and pursue quality properties. His experience is invaluable because what looks good on a cut sheet is not always as it seems. It saves time to use a person like Mike who knows what good prospects look like.

My perception going in versus coming out..."I bought my first investment property in November 2009 and sure enough I had some issues with the tenant right away. I called Mike hoping to get some insight and he was willing and helpful. In the end, his counsel helped navigate a tricky situation. It is refreshing to be able to call him and talk to a real person who has years of experience.

Mike's skills as a negotiator..."I have always been a bit skeptical of realtors and negotiation at deal time. But, I must say, Mike has built a trust with me and "keeps my cards close to his chest.

Mike thanks for all your hard work. You really saved my bacon. I almost lost a lot of money on this deal. Without your expertise and negotiation skills my property would have lost value. Keep up the great work. I enjoy working with you. Thanks again for all you do.

Mike showed considerable competence in negotiating with the various buyers of our duplexes which culminated in the sale of the duplexes and purchase of our apartment property.

In the event of another real estate transaction, we would not hesitate to contact Mike to oversee the sale of our current property and negotiate the purchase of a new property.

You explained and made the 1031 exchange understandable.

I found that Mike’s skills as a financing liaison benefited me financially. He provided the lowest rate that I reviewed. His knowledge and contacts within the banking system worked to our advantage.

We were so pleased with Mike’s handling of the sale, purchase and financing of our real estate that we referenced Mike as a contact for our children and our attorney if we should die and the children were to be left with the apartments. We knew that Mike would be honorable and not take advantage of them in settling our real estate holdings.

I have had the privilege of having a close personal friendship with Mike Carlson for nearly 30 years. As a friend, Mike is a standout. He is a loyal, honest, considerate, and supportive individual who has the ability to see and understand things from another person's perspective. Mike's candor and business savvy merely scratches the surface of his character. As he would for me, I would do anything to help him or his family.

He's a great guy to work with. Mike and I hit it off the minute we met in 2002 and I have all the trust in the world in him and I think that's very important for this line of work. I wouldn't work with anybody else.

He does a great job with complex 1031 Exchanges. He sold all eight of my smaller apartment properties simultaneously and made sure they all closed at the proper time. At the same time he was selling my current properties he identified a larger replacement property. This advance planning eliminated the stress that often goes along with completing 1031 Exchanges. I don’t know of any other Broker that has the experience and expertise to competently execute an exchange with this many properties. I know he has done the same for many other clients.

A+ on Mike's investment analysis skills. I've never had anybody do as in-depth of analysis as Mike did. His knowledge is greater than anybody I know and he's always doing research and learning. Mike is a good confidence builder.

I have been working with Mike since 2002. He is the driving force behind the investment real estate strategies implemented leading to our wealth gain over the last 8 years. He has handled all of our significant transactions and loans. When I contacted Mike in late 2008 and told him I thought I wanted to retire and sell my properties, he actually talked me out of it. How many brokers have you ever met that passed on a significant commission because he knew the market timing was not right? He told me the same thing again in 2009. If this doesn’t show his integrity and prove that he always has his client’s best interest in mind, I don’t know what does. I will act when he tells me its time.

Mike Carlson possesses an amazing range of skills and abilities from a constant understanding of the big picture to meticulous management of all the details of complex investment real estate transactions.

For anyone with real estate investments, Mike Carlson's services are a necessity in order to achieve top results.

Mike Carlson is very astute and knowledgeable in not only all aspects of real estate investment and wealth management but also in a wide scope business matters in general.

In the past working with brokers I have always been on the defensive simply because it became clear in the beginning that they were out for only one thing, their commission. Working with Mike I was immediately impressed with his ability to understand the scope and economics of the deal. He understands that long-term relationships are what make you successful not quick commission checks. I will continue to work with Mike in the future in whatever capacity I can. I find him trustworthy and moreover very knowledgeable.

If you own real estate, sooner or later you will go on a search for 1031 exchange options. Mike Carlson is both a road map and personal tour guide. He is thorough, sticks strictly to 1031 time-line rules, and is an excellent negotiator. Mike has both knowledge and experience in creating private TIC opportunities.

When I was first contacted by Mike Carlson in 2004 we had already started the refinance process on one of our properties and had been told our requested loan amount could not be obtained. Not only did Mike Carlson secure the desired loan amount, he ultimately secured it through the lender that had already told us no.

We have owned several mid-sized investment properties for many years. I thought we had the financing and refinancing process figured out. I have since learned otherwise.

Mike Carlson is much more than a mortgage broker. He is a full service financing resource. His services have proven to be invaluable.Mike Carlson has shown us that the rate, terms and loan amount of a commercial loan can be effectively "negotiated". Anyone would be well served in utilizing his services.When it comes to knowledge of investment property financing Mike Carlson is at the top of my list.

Mike Carlson's financial/investment analysis skills are impressive. Whether looking to secure a commercial loan or strategizing about investment real estate in general he is a great resource.

I was first contacted and asked if I would be interested in a no cost analysis of my current rental properties to determine if I might be able to increase the returns they were generating. I figured there was nothing to lose so I accepted their offer. After having met with them I knew they were professional, highly competent brokers. But when I saw the in depth analysis they prepared I knew I had found the right advisors to work with on my real estate. The bottom line, Mike handled the simultaneous sale 6 small properties and acquired an 84-unit apartment. They even orchestrated the loan for me. Most importantly, I doubled my annual returns, and freed up hours of personal time I used to spend paying bills. I’m fishing a great deal more these days.

Their analysis was extremely sharp... we ended up with almost exactly the results they projected, and they delivered the whole package; start to finish. I wouldn’t go anyplace else.

Well, over the last 25 years I have been able to develop a close friendship with Mike. As a good friend, Mike has your back. He is there for encouragement, feedback, and support. We all need this from somebody we trust.

My friendship with Mike has spanned over 40 years. We grew up together, played sports together and were roommates at Oregon State University. After graduation we were in each other’s weddings and even had kids at the same time. Mike is a very loyal friend whom you can count on no matter what. Mike is an extremely bright, self-confident and highly competitive person accustomed to succeeding at whatever he does. For Mike, a college diploma was only the beginning of his education. He has spent years reading self-improvement books, researching new business ideas and is always ready to adapt to a changing business climate.

I found that Mike’s skills as a financing liaison benefited me financially.  He provided the lowest rate that I reviewed. His knowledge and contacts within the banking system worked to our advantage.

You explained and made the 1031 exchange understandable. In the event of another real estate transaction, we would not hesitate to contact Mike to oversee the sale of our current property and negotiate the purchase of a new property.

We were so pleased with Mike’s handling of the sale, purchase and financing of our real estate that we referenced Mike as a contact for our children and our attorney if we should die and the children were to be left with the apartments.  We knew that Mike would be honorable and not take advantage of them in settling our real estate holdings.

Mike showed considerable competence in negotiating with the various buyers of our duplexes which culminated in the sale of the duplexes and purchase of our apartment property.

Cory Carlson was and will be an invaluable member of my investment team. He helped us purchase our first home which happens to be an owner-occupied duplex! Cory provided amazing analysis documentation to back up why he believed a property was worth purchasing.
On the flip side, he was always willing to explain everything in his analysis so that everyone understood. His attention to detail and willingness to fulfill my requests was perfect. Honestly, we cannot say enough good things about Cory. He was also willing to tell me when something was a bad idea and I really value that. We were far more than just a commission to him. I recommend him to anyone I can that wants to build wealth through real estate. Already looking forward to working with Cory on our next deal! Thanks again for everything you did Cory!

Big thanks to Cory Carlson for helping us sell our single-family home while also purchasing a triplex. As new real estate investors, we were determined to find a great deal that met our criteria. Cory joined us in the hunt and brought to the table some off-market deals, lots of in-depth investment analysis, and several creative financing ideas. Cory is a skilled broker, communicator, and real estate investment advisor I would highly recommend to anyone who is serious about building wealth through real estate.

Cory helped my boyfriend and I purchase our first house together. As first time home buyers we had a lot of questions about the home buying process. Cory helped us find the perfect home, and he helped convince the sellers to accept our offer $20,000 under asking! Thanks for making our home buying process a dream come true!

We were continuously amazed with Cory's ability to clearly communicate everything we needed to know and set great expectations for next steps. He immediately got back to us, answered all our questions, and is extremely knowledgeable. Cory is supportive, trustworthy, and hardworking. He went above and beyond to meet our needs. We felt reassured through each step we took. He has an adaptability as an investment broker, advisor, and is eager to make the process a positive and successful experience. Cory truly exceeded all our expectations.

I respect Cory for his hard work, integrity and drive. I admire Cory’s dedication to his family and ability to put others needs ahead of his own. Over the last 7 years, I have witnessed his dependability both personally and professionally.

I have had a close personal relationship with Cory for over 10 years. I admire Cory’s character, empathy, ambition and desire to help others. I have the pleasure of not only friendship with Cory but utilizing him for purchasing our first home and will attest to his business savvy and reliability.

I was impressed with Cory’s ability to communicate and execute the sale of our duplex in pre-foreclosure with a very tight timeframe. He was respectful, professional and really made the transaction a pleasurable experience for my family.

Cory Carlson was instrumental in the acquisition of our four-plex. His analysis skills, professionalism and productive communication while searching for our investment provided my wife and I confidence through the entire process. His connection with local lenders and understanding of the principles of finance prove Cory really is your one-stop investment broker and advisor.

Cory has been helping my wife and I purchase our first small multi-family investment property. I found and connected with him through the BiggerPockets real estate community. I honestly was not sure what I was looking for in a broker when I reached out to him, but knew I needed someone that could help us find and analyze investment properties through the lens of an investor. Cory has been helping us successfully navigate the purchase of a 4-unit apartment building that we will owner occupy. This transaction has involved the sale of our single-family home and negotiating the purchase of the 4-plex that has been a far cry from straight forward. At every turn, Cory has proven to wield a wide breadth of knowledge in negotiating, capital reallocation, financial analysis of the property, market conditions and communication with my wife and I. We attribute the success of our first real estate deal to his hard work, honesty, and willingness to chase down every angle of our purchase. He put together an expansive analysis outlining the upside and limitations to our value-add project. Cory has met and greatly exceeded our expectations.

I had the pleasure of working with Madison at Mutual of Omaha and know Madison to be highly professional. Madison is very responsible and knowledgeable about what she recommends to the client and always works on the side of the client. Madison left her role as an advisor at Mutual of Omaha to pursue her passion in investment real estate, and the upside opportunity she saw in the real estate market. I highly recommend Madison as your Investment Real Estate and Mortgage Broker.

I worked with Madison prior to her role at Realty Yield. Her drive and passion has always been evident in everything that she does. She truly is invested in her job and clients best interests. I would highly encourage anyone in need of guidance and expertise in investment real estate to consider Madison and the Realty Yield team.

I’ve known Madison for many years and I find Madison to be one of the most capable and professional people I know. Madison’s ability to read people and offer RE advice, will continue to launch her forward exponentially.