Mike Carlson has spent over two decades specializing in investment real estate. He is an expert in wealth building through strategic income-property investment and is the Founder, President & Principal Broker of Realty Yield.
Mike has been the lead broker and advisor on several-hundred million dollars’ worth of real estate transactions. Mike also invests in the properties he recommends, often alongside (jointly) with his clients. Mike has developed a variety of proprietary financial-investment analysis tools used by his firm, private investors and real estate service professionals.
Mike started his real estate career on the financing (mortgage) side in the late 1990’s and joined a regional commercial-investment real estate firm in 2002. In 2003, he followed his entrepreneur spirit and founded The Carlson-Johnston Group with a continued focus on income-property brokerage and mortgage financing. In 2007, Mike spun off from The Carlson Johnston Group and established The Carlson Company as its sole principal to allow more time to work one-on-one with clients. In October 2011, Mike Carlson Companies began conducting its professional real estate activities under the business name REALTY YIELD.
His professional history includes positions in the technology field (IBM, Motorola), various small business endeavors; and since 1998, a full-time focus in the investment real estate and finance arena.
Born Michael David Carlson on January 11, 1963 in San Jose, California. Carlson demonstrated a natural talent for athletics, academics and business early in his childhood. Mike started his first business in 1974, (age 11) tying fishing flies and selling to both individuals and regional sporting good stores. During his youth and teens, Mike balanced and excelled in academics, athletics and work/business. By age 15, Carlson had started to file his own tax returns.
Mike has a B.S., Oregon State University, 1985 (areas of study – applied mathematics and marketing).
His father David worked as a marketing and sales executive with IBM, Tektronix and Mentor Graphics before retiring in 1990. His mother, Ludye was an elite swimmer, homemaker and State of Oregon employee before retiring in 2002. Mike has a son and daughter. His son Cory joined Realty Yield in 2016. His daughter Madison also joined Realty Yield in 2020.
Mike is the very definition of the modern-day entrepreneur demanding that one's vocation and avocation not need be mutually exclusive. He is personally involved in everything that his name represents.
Mike currently resides (splits time) between Portland and Bend, Oregon. In his idle time, Mike enjoys getting outside (skiing, hiking, fishing) and spending time with family and friends.