Robert Pekarek is a 2021 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and an active-duty Air Force officer, having cross-commissioned in the summer of 2023. He also holds a master’s degree from Purdue University, which he completed in May 2023.

Investment Journey & Shift to Passive Multifamily

Robert’s investment journey began by embracing the “Financial Independence, Retire Early” (FIRE) movement. He started by maximizing retirement accounts like his Roth IRA and TSP. Looking for additional tax-advantaged opportunities, a friend encouraged him to explore real estate. This led to a “house hack” in Indiana during graduate school, where Robert purchased a property, lived in one room, and rented out the others.

However, he soon realized that managing single-family properties—even with a property manager—involved more hands-on work than he wanted. Phone calls about broken dryers or water heaters conflicted with the demands of his full-time military career. This experience pushed him to find a way to capture the incredible returns of real estate without the headaches of being an active landlord. That search led him to multifamily real estate as a scalable, passive path to wealth—free from 2 a.m. toilet calls.

From Limited Partner to General Partner

Robert first entered the multifamily space as a Limited Partner (LP), investing passively in real estate syndications. As he observed the General Partners (GPs) operate, he identified opportunities to contribute—particularly in areas like building slide decks and streamlining online systems. Adopting a “give first” mindset, he offered his help to the GPs at no cost.

That value-driven approach paid off. Through his consistent effort to support the team, Robert was invited to join as a General Partner on a 24-unit apartment complex—where he played a key role in raising over $500,000 and managing investor communications.