Neveo Mosser

Listen more, talk less, trust your gut, and be prepared to push the envelope within reason.

 

As Chief Executive Officer of Mosser Companies, Neveo Mosser has built a game-changing real estate investment and property management firm that has thrived in America’s most competitive market for over three decades. Neveo Mosser also serves as Co-Founder and Chairman of the company’s private equity arm, Mosser Capital, which manages over $1.3 billion in assets. Neveo’s extensive experience in the real estate investment and property management market have enabled Mosser’s long-term success and continued growth.

At Mosser, Neveo Mosser focuses on acquiring and managing renovated apartments in emerging neighborhoods throughout San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles. He currently manages over 3,000 units and, through the founding of Mosser Capital, Neveo has developed a profitable real estate investment engine for institutional and high net-worth individuals. Managing a diverse portfolio of apartment assets, Neveo spearheaded a proven investment model that mitigates risk through internal ownership and a vertically-integrated structure. He’s developed two high-growth, profitable businesses, while simultaneously putting the needs of Bay Area residents first and foremost. A San Francisco resident himself, a desire to better serve his community has sculpted his life’s work.

With a focus on building an effective business while keeping a conscientious eye on responsible citizenship, Neveo Mosser and the entire Mosser Organization are able to thoughtfully accommodate the needs of California’s major urban centers with equal amounts of knowledge and care. In his years in the most competitive real estate markets in the nation, Neveo Mosser has never faltered in his mission to provide the greatest value for those with whom he conducts business. That commitment ensures that Mosser Companies provide not just pieces of property, but peace of mind for their clients, tenants, and all who choose to do business with them. After more than three decades in the industry, Neveo Mosser has built something he, his family, and his team can all be proud of.

Where did the idea for your company come from?

Creating Mosser Capital was a matter of uniting two great assets: Mosser Companies’, a long time owner, operator, and investor of urban multifamily real estate, established quality in the San Francisco and Oakland markets and Jim Farris’ background in mortgage finance. Our goal was to grow the Mosser brand through innovation in order to suit a dynamically changing real estate field.

Our two skills sets merged together perfectly: my real estate prowess and Jim’s financing know-how produced a winning combination. It’s this grouping that forms the strong base from which we’re growing this company.

By combining our strengths, Mosser was in a better position to take on new challenges and continue to scale our business. With Jim’s finance expertise and my intimate knowledge of the market, we were able to create a whole new instrument under the Mosser name.

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

I wake up my wife around 5am and run through the day’s tasks. During my daily exercise, I’ll go through emails in between repetitions. Then, most days, I dive right into back to back meetings with company’s senior leadership: anything from property management to construction related meetings to structuring new deals and opportunities with investment partners. Once my meetings are through, it’s more correspondence, crafting deals, or hitting the pavement to check out properties. Every day’s schedule is packed, so staying productive is never an issue.

How do you bring ideas to life?

With over 30 years of experience, I’ve seen both great success and failure within our industry and have been able to analyze issues that have led to both. Having performed nearly all positions in the operating business — from sweeping floors up to being the CEO — I have a thorough understanding of what each position in the company requires and what it will take to implement. I try to collaborate and discuss ideas with various team members and empower them to move forward themselves. I actively listen in on staff discussions and help to rally everyone around a good idea. I’m also happy to roll up my sleeves to get it done myself when needed.

What’s one trend that excites you?

Home automation. The idea of a property that runs exactly how we want, without having to lift a finger, is incredibly intriguing.

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

Hard work, selflessness and the ability to motivate and empower others towards a common goal.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Listen more, talk less, trust your gut, and be prepared to push the envelope within reason. And don’t wait 30 years to hire an EA.

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

That I’m always right! But in all seriousness, I find that agreement can be a mixed blessing in business. I generally like to hear opposing viewpoints on crucial decisions, and from there the group can almost always come to a profitable conclusion.

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

Fully think through all scenarios before acting. It never hurts to take every possible scenario into account.

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

Leaving my ego at home. Even though I’m the CEO, I’ve put together a team that I can trust will always do their homework before presenting opportunities for growth. Even if I don’t agree with them, I’ll at least hear them out and take their positions into account. This can only happen when you trust in others.

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

Walking away from a deal I wish I had closed, since I ended up paying four times that price for it a decade later. Looking back, I was limiting myself and not looking at the big picture: that macro growth beats micro every time. It’s not about winning every battle, you’re trying to win the war. That’s been an incredibly valuable lesson.

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

A quality haircut and shave from my trusted, longtime barber. The rare moments of quiet and calm helps my mind feel free and uncluttered.

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

Microsoft Office 365, I use it every day personally and professionally.

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

The Autobiography of Dwight Eisenhower. He was a great leader for our country, his Presidential farewell speech was prophetic and amazing coming from a man with his military background.

What is your favorite quote?

My father Charles Mosser liked to say: “You have three ways to get rich: you marry it, you inherit it, or you earn it, and the first two aren’t going to happen.” It always stood as a reminder that I was going to have to sweat to get what I wanted. It was the best advice I ever got.

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