In this episode of The Industrial Real Estate Show, Chad Griffiths welcomes returning guest Deren Huang, an industrial investor based in Tulsa. The interview kicks off with a fun lightning-round game where Deren challenges Chad to blindly rank various investments (from gold and Bitcoin to Olive Garden leases and drive-thru wedding chapels). The playful setup leads to insightful discussions about risk tolerance, asset classes, and how personal experience and logic influence investment preferences. Chad consistently favors predictable, scalable investments like the S&P 500 and industrial real estate, while expressing skepticism about novelty concepts and collectibles like vintage guitars.

The conversation then shifts into a deeper dive on Darren’s evolution from owning over 100 single-family homes to now managing over 200,000 square feet of industrial real estate in Tulsa. He shares candid lessons from early mistakes (such as overvaluing clear height at the expense of location and functionality) and emphasizes key attributes like geometry, site coverage, and access. Darren outlines his buy-box, investment strategy, and how he creatively financed properties during volatile interest rate shifts. He also discusses his transition from residential to industrial, the operational benefits of triple net leases, and his plans to pursue infill development. The interview closes with thoughtful advice to aspiring investors: start by learning the fundamentals, get to know your local market, and always remember that even in commercial real estate, you’re still dealing with people.

Connect with Deren:

Website: https://www.derenhuang.com/tulsa

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derenhuang

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