There’s no shortcut in real estate that doesn’t come back around later. The market will test you, your systems, your boundaries, and your ability to say “no” to people who promise you the world.
In this episode of Bow Tied in Real Estate, Illinois attorney Mahmoud Faisal Elkhatib — The Bow Tie Attorney — sits down with Chicago broker Jamie McDaniel of EJC Real Estate Services for a candid conversation about what it really takes to build an investor-focused business in a tough market.
Jamie works with investors buying, rehabbing, and holding property in Chicago and the south suburbs, moving easily between on-market and off-market deals. Together, she and Mahmoud talk about the bruises you take early on, the scams and power plays that show up around assignments, and why local tools like CHA mobility areas and opportunity zones are still wildly underused.
Who Is The Bow Tie Attorney?
Mahmoud isn’t just a podcast host. As The Bow Tie Attorney, he:
Represents investors, rehabbers, landlords, and wholesalers in Illinois.
Reviews and negotiates contracts, assignments, JVs, and listing agreements.
Steps in when deals go sideways: title problems, code violations, tax issues, and pre-foreclosure stress.
On this show, he brings the legal and ethical lens: what’s actually allowed, what’s dangerous, and what will come back as a lawsuit, bar complaint, or regulatory headache two years down the road.
Investing in Chicago real estate? Get Bow Tied before you sign.
Whether you’re buying rentals, partnering with wholesalers, or listing rehabs, Mahmoud “The Bow Tie Attorney” Elkhatib helps Chicago investors review contracts, spot scams, and structure deals that actually match their strategy.
Meet Jamie McDaniel: Investor-Focused Broker in Chicago
Jamie McDaniel is a licensed real estate broker and investor-focused advisor who runs EJC Real Estate Services. She works heavily on the south side of Chicago and nearby suburbs, serving:
- Investors buying their first or fifth rental.
- Out-of-state investors trying to make sense of Chicago blocks and neighborhoods.
- Wholesalers who need trustworthy boots on the ground to walk properties.
- Landlords looking for tenant placement, management help, or listing strategies.
Jamie’s business is built on relationships and repeat clients. She knows the streets, the inspectors, the lenders, and the quiet opportunities that never hit a big-name portal.
But none of that came easy.
Scams, Power Plays, and Protecting Your Contract
As Jamie started doing more off-market deals, she ran into a familiar pattern in the investor world:
Someone sees that she has a good contract and suddenly wants to “partner,” “help dispo,” or “bring their buyers.”
Sometimes that’s legitimate collaboration. Other times, it’s a power play:
- Pushing for you to assign your contract away for pennies.
- Trying to lock you out of direct communication with the seller.
- Moving behind your back to re-contract the property without you.
Mahmoud and Jamie walk through what these situations look like in real time and why your instinct often starts screaming long before your brain has put the pieces together.
Jamie’s rules now:
- Trust your gut. If something feels off, it usually is.
- Protect your paper. Don’t casually send your full contract or seller info to people you barely know.
- Have your own attorney. Someone in the deal needs to be looking out for you, not just “getting it closed.”
Mahmoud explains how he’s seen these scenarios play out in court and why being sloppy with contracts can cost far more than a single lost assignment fee.
Licensed Broker + Off-Market Investor Work: How Jamie Blends Both
Unlike many wholesalers, Jamie is a licensed broker and intentionally uses that to serve investors better.
She doesn’t just hand-wave at deals. She:
- Walks properties for out-of-state partners, giving real, block-level feedback.
- Advises investors on ARV, rent ranges, and realistic rehab budgets based on the actual neighborhood.
- Helps structure flat-fee or limited-service listings once an investor is done with renovations.
- Moves comfortably between MLS deals, off-market opportunities, and tenant placement, depending on what the investor actually needs.
For Mahmoud, this blend is powerful: investors get someone who understands both the rules and the workarounds—without cutting corners that get people in trouble.
CHA Mobility Areas: Higher Rents Where Investors Didn’t Expect Them
One of the most valuable parts of the episode is Jamie’s explanation of CHA mobility areas.
Most investors hear “Section 8” and picture one specific kind of neighborhood. Jamie spends a lot of time breaking that mental model.
Mobility areas are designated parts of the city and suburbs where:
- The CHA will pay higher voucher amounts for the same bedroom count.
- The goal is to open up higher-opportunity neighborhoods to voucher holders.
- Landlords can earn strong, stable rents in areas they might not have realized were eligible.
Jamie has investors who were shocked to learn that:
- Neighborhoods like Beverly and other strong pockets on the south side fall into mobility or high-opportunity categories.
- Their existing or planned rehabs could support voucher rents far above what they were projecting.
She helps clients run the numbers correctly:
- Quality rehab + mobility area rent + good screening = a powerful, stable hold.
Mahmoud’s perspective is simple: this is the kind of local knowledge that changes a deal from marginal to exceptional—and it has nothing to do with some secret nationwide list. It’s Chicago-specific, public, and underused.
Opportunity Zones, Enterprise Zones, and Free Money People Ignore
Alongside mobility areas, Jamie and Mahmoud talk about how few investors actually leverage:
- Opportunity zones
- Enterprise zones
- Local grants and tax incentives for improvements
Jamie points out examples where:
- Investors could get cash back or tax relief for building improvements.
- Rehab budgets could have been offset by available programs—if anyone had bothered to check.
Instead, many buyers leave free money on the table because they’re moving too fast, don’t know who to ask, or assume those programs are only for big developers.
The lesson for investors:
Slow down long enough to see what the city, county, or state is willing to give you to improve housing stock. It can completely change your returns.
The Emotional Side: Identity, Boundaries, and Saying No
Real estate isn’t just spreadsheets.
Jamie talks openly about:
- Trying to prove herself in male-dominated investor spaces.
- Feeling pressure to say yes to every opportunity so she wouldn’t “miss out.”
- The emotional hangover of getting burned and still having to show up for her family and her clients.
Over time, she’s learned that boundaries are a business tool:
- Saying no to shady JV offers.
- Firing clients who don’t respect her time or expertise.
- Choosing to work with investors who actually fit her values and long-term goals.
Mahmoud relates this to what he sees from the legal side. Many of the worst cases that land in his office started with one person ignoring their gut because they were afraid of losing a deal.
Sharp in law. Invested in your next block.
From mobility areas and opportunity zones to off-market contracts and JV agreements, The Bow Tie Attorney helps Chicago investors and landlords turn local knowledge into protected, profitable deals.
FAQ — Illinois/Cook County Foreclosure
What is an “investor-focused” real estate broker?
An investor-focused broker understands that clients aren’t just buying a home—they’re buying an income stream or a long-term wealth-building tool. They speak the language of ARV, rent ranges, rehab costs, cash-on-cash return, and exit strategy, and they’re comfortable working with both on-market and off-market properties.
What are CHA mobility areas and why do they matter to investors?
CHA mobility areas are neighborhoods and suburbs where the Chicago Housing Authority pays higher voucher amounts to encourage families to move into higher-opportunity areas. For landlords and investors, that can mean stronger, more stable rents in places they might not have realized were eligible for vouchers at all.
How can opportunity zones or enterprise zones help my Chicago real estate deals?
Depending on the property and program, these zones can offer tax benefits, fee reductions, or even direct grants for certain improvements. Instead of funding every dollar of a rehab yourself, you may be able to leverage existing programs to reduce total cost and increase your return.
How do I avoid being scammed in a joint venture or assignment?
Work with people who have real reputations, not just big promises. Keep control of your contract, be careful about sharing seller info, and always have your own attorney review JV agreements, assignments, and side letters. If someone is pushing you to move fast and sign blind, that’s a red flag.
Why should I involve an attorney if I already have a broker or wholesaler on my team?
Brokers and wholesalers can bring you deals; an attorney helps make sure those deals are structured, documented, and closed in a way that protects you. In Illinois, a single bad clause or missing disclosure can turn a profitable deal into a long, expensive problem.
Can out-of-state investors work with Jamie and The Bow Tie Attorney in Chicago?
Yes. Many of Jamie’s clients and Mahmoud’s investor clients live outside Illinois. With boots-on-the-ground brokerage support and an attorney who understands local courts, codes, and practices, out-of-state investors can move from guessing to making informed decisions in the Chicago market.
