Jason Cohen

Consistency. You can’t be all things to all people, and you can’t be hot one day and cold another. In this business, the tortoise wins the race.

 

Jason Cohen is a third-generation real estate investor and entrepreneur from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For over a decade, he has steadily grown as an expert in the local market. He is a licensed Associate Broker with the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission and has worked in various other parts of the United States as well, including the Midwest.

Jason Cohen graduated with a degree in Finance in 2002. Afterward, he started his real estate ventures humbly by investing in cheap, dilapidated properties throughout the Pittsburgh area. In the beginning, he could only make limited repairs with the limited funding he had. Determined to grow both his knowledge and resources, Jason kept reaching for new heights, eventually being able to purchase properties with high potential in thriving areas. He made extensive repairs on them and continues that work today. He will purchase the properties, oversee extensive renovations, and reposition them in their neighborhoods to bring more life into the growing communities of Pittsburgh. Jason Cohen now has dozens of assets (reclamation properties) throughout some of the most popular neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, including South Side, Oakland, Mt. Lebanon, Shadyside and Regent Square.

With education and work experience that gave him a solid background in Pittsburgh’s real estate market, Jason Cohen wanted to spread that knowledge to others while also learning from other professionals in his local area. To achieve this, in 2003 he founded ‘Jason Cohen Pittsburgh,’ a forum to evaluate, collaborate and effectuate JV and other partnership opportunities with friends and family and others interested in real estate investing with a niche focus in multifamily. Members of the group are able to help one another make the right decisions for their own specific investment processes. Because Jason had a humble start in the real estate industry, he hopes his Jason Cohen Pittsburgh forum can serve to help others as they’re beginning their own journey by highlighting a systematic approach.

Jason Cohen has lead investment strategies for a variety of properties, such as vacation rentals, large apartment complexes, and multi-unit communities. He is also well-versed in the vital role that property management can play in the investing process. The team at Jason Cohen Pittsburgh has also worked extensively on “green” improvements and is proud to contribute to eco-friendly neighborhoods throughout Pittsburgh.

In addition to real estate, Jason Cohen and his family take pride in supporting the local community of Pittsburgh.

Where did the idea for your company come from?

The idea for Jason Cohen Pittsburgh came from a constant flow of friends and family asking for advice in Real Estate. Through the forum, we can all help each other and celebrate one another’s individual successes.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

Much of my day is consumed by answering emails and checking on my projects that are in various stages of development. I make it productive by creating systems to monitor multiple areas at one time.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Collaboration with my team is a huge asset for helping my ideas come to fruition. I also find it helpful to pull from my own past experience.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I’m very excited that the economy is doing so well right now.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

Consistency. You can’t be all things to all people, and you can’t be hot one day and cold another. In this business, the tortoise wins the race.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would tell myself: “It’s the people stupid.” The people that make up your team will make or break you. If they’re not working out for you, let them go. If they are, train them up.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

Accountability of others must be one of your highest priorities. This is true for both accomplishments and failures.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

I believe everyone should learn how to create systems that prevent them from repeating mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, but those mistakes are only useful if they teach a lesson.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

I’ve followed my own advice and created systems that prevent me from repeating the same mistakes I’ve made in the past. Nothing I’ve done has failed to teach me something new about myself.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

My biggest failure has been letting bad employees stay well past their welcome. I’ve overcome that by learning to cut ties early when I see familiar warning signs.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

With the collapse of brick and mortar, everything is moving online. That said, there is a large tranche of our population that does not know how to use technology. I believe a walk-in service and/or do-it-yourself classes that teach people to order things online would meet a niche that is not currently served.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

An Excel training course. An investment in yourself will always be the best investment money can buy.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

AppFolio is a cloud-based software that handles most of our business needs. It’s our property management software.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. It can apply to both personal and business life. The basic fundamentals on how to conduct yourself in life here are priceless.

What is your favorite quote?

“If you think you can or if you think you can’t, you’re right either way.”

Connect:

linkedin.com/in/jasoncohenpittsburgh