J. Scott Scheel went from a broke twenty-something living in his mom’s basement to a nationally known commercial real estate investor and educator whose mantra—“one deal, one time can change your life forever”—has helped 100,000+ entrepreneurs get into the game. Raised in Cleveland with humble beginnings and a faith-first compass, Scott learned to turn adversity into advantage, master creative finance, and build a community where integrity leads.

This episode explores:

• Growing up in Cleveland, family hardship, and the Blizzard of ’77 moment that changed everything
• From “Big Man Words” with dad to the power of communication and leadership
• Early hustle to first business at 14—and the lessons (and lines) not to cross
• Losing it all in his 20s, moving into the basement, and rebuilding from zero
• The 24-unit apartment deal that produced ~$850K tax-free in 18 months (and how he structured it)
• Seller financing, options, wraparounds, subject-to, and master-lease plays explained simply
• Why immigrants often “see” U.S. real estate more clearly—and how land ownership changes outcomes
• How to add value if you have time but no money (and vice versa)
• The current CRE landscape: banks, auctions, cap rates, and why creative finance wins now
• Building Commercial Academy’s diverse, pay-it-forward community (and how to plug in with integrity)
• Mindset over mechanics: authenticity, starting small, and taking the first step—today

This episode is about resilience, ethical deal-making, and compressing time with the right strategy and people. Scott’s story will challenge you to stop “thinking with your wallet,” start thinking with your plan, and use integrity-based collaboration to change your financial trajectory, one signature at a time.

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🔗 Connect with J. Scott Scheel

Website: Commercial Academy

Instagram: @officialjscottscheel

Follow REAL Mentors Podcast

Instagram: @realmentorspodcast

Host Sean Martin: @theseanmartin

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🔥 About the Guest – J. Scott Scheel

J. Scott Scheel is a commercial real estate investor, educator, and entrepreneur from Cleveland, Ohio. A proud capitalist who leads with service and faith, Scott has built and repositioned assets across multifamily, retail, office, and land—often using creative finance to unlock value where others see roadblocks. He’s the founder of Commercial Academy, a training and deal-making community that has guided 100,000+ students with a practical, integrity-first approach to acquiring, financing, and managing commercial property. Scott’s “One Deal, One Time” framework demystifies complex deals into actionable steps, helping everyday operators, W-2 earners, and seasoned investors compress years of progress into months—without betting the farm.

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Tags & Keywords

J. Scott Scheel, Commercial Academy, Sean Martin, REAL Mentors Podcast, one deal one time, commercial real estate, creative finance, seller financing, master lease, options, subject-to, triple-net (NNN), due diligence, cap rates, interest rates, immigrant mindset, resilience, ethical capitalism, leadership, mentorship, Huge Profits Podcast, Cleveland success story, wealth building, financial independence