Welcome to GRID LA Investor Club
meetup.com/grid-la-investor-club
meetup.com/grid-la-investor-club
Who we are
Founded August 2024
Welcome! GRID LA Investor Club is a real estate investment community based in Los Angeles, California—built by investors for investors. We are a group of real people doing real deals in our local marketplace.
Our core mission is to connect to, learn from, and collaborate with like-minded people interested in growing their businesses and creating long-term wealth.
We welcome investors of all experience levels. We are life-long learners and believe everyone has value to share.
How it works
We meet once a month, 12 months a year, on the same day, week, and time of the month.
Each month we cover a different investing topic in the lifecycle of an investor—ranging from wholesaling to rehabbing to becoming a bank through private lending.
Our meetings are not sales pitches.
They are opportunities for us to dive deep into a real estate topic, connect with local experts in our marketplace, and build long-term relationships with other doers.
Meet your GRID Community Leaders
About Nicholas
Nick Despotidis is a licensed REALTOR®, specializing in buying, selling and investing in Los Angeles California. Ranked in the Top 1.5% of Realtors in the Nation for five consecutive years, Nick’s dedication to his clients shines through in every transaction.
With licenses in California, Maryland, and DC, Nick Despotidis has helped over 1,455 families and guided $935M in sales as VP of Sales for Eng Garcia Properties.
His background as a "reformed banker" includes key roles at PNC Bank, Citi Bank, and the FDIC, where he was deeply involved in Dodd-Frank oversight and analyzed Significantly Important Financial Institutions (SIFIs). This unique experience gives him a strong financial foundation that directly benefits his clients, especially when navigating real estate investments and risk management.
Nick is proud to have earned the trust of his clients by being someone they feel comfortable and well-educated with throughout the entire process. Whether buying, selling, or investing, Nick ensures his clients fully understand the next steps and feel confident in their decisions.
He specializes in:
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
1031 Exchanges
Value-Add Investing
Flipping & Rehabbing
Buy-Hold & Landlord Strategies
House Hacking & Airbnb
Buy Renovate Rent Refinance (BRRRR)
One memorable achievement? Helping a veteran buy a 4-unit property with $0 out of pocket, securing a $56K closing cost credit on a $1.5M deal—all while ensuring the rental income covered most of the mortgage.
Nick’s educational journey includes earning an MBA from Johns Hopkins University, where he was involved in the Student Government Association, and leading the Hellenic Association during his time at Saint Joseph’s University. This leadership experience, paired with his business background, allows him to handle complex transactions while always prioritizing his clients’ best interests.
Outside of real estate, Nick’s biggest joys are his two daughters, ages 3 and 1, who inspire him every day. He also leads the GRID LA Investor Club, a meetup for real estate entrepreneurs focused on networking, learning, and growing wealth.Nick enjoys giving back, whether it’s fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis, March of Dimes, Autism or running with the homeless for Back on My Feet. When he's not working or spending time with his family, you can find Nick on the basketball court, channeling his New Jersey roots.
About Jason
Born in Los Angeles, California, Jason Malabute, an MBA, is a seasoned Real Estate Investor, an active Philanthropist, and a CPA (Certified Public Accountant).
Despite being born with a condition called Cerebral Palsy that affects speech and muscle movement, Jason Malabute never took it as an excuse. Instead, he used his disability as motivation. When asked about his motivation, he said, “I want to be a role model to kids with disabilities and kids from low-income neighbourhoods of what is possible.”
Jason Malabute started his real estate journey in 2018 and studied real estate for 1 whole year before finally investing in three rentals in the first year of 2019, in Indianapolis. After successfully following the investment strategy called BRRRR (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, and Repeat) for multiple properties, Mr Malabute took the leap from single-family to multifamily investing under the mentorship of Sterling White. Sterling White is the founder of Sonders Investment Group and is involved with both buying and selling over 100 single-family homes. Mr White has recently scaled his portfolio to just under 500 multi-family apartment units.
Following the footsteps of Sterling White, today, Jason Malabute is the proud owner of Malabute Properties LLC and has recently exited out from all the single-family homes in 2021. He has now totally submerged into the multifamily investing in Indianapolis and Kansas City areas, where his prime interest remains in acquiring 6-30 unit apartment buildings.
While talking about his favourite books, Jason Malabute tenderly mentions “Long-Distance Real Estate Investing; How to Buy, Rehab, and Manage Out-of-State Rental Properties” by David Greene; The 10x Rule by Grant Cardone, and Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki. Apart from reading and learning more about real estate, Jason is highly interested in working out, travelling, attending sports events, blogging (on Bigger Pockets), and spending time with friends and family. “Sky’s the limit”, is what he truly believes in and strives to show by his work.
Watch our event playbacks on YouTube
What people are saying
Participating in the real estate conference hosted by Smith Real Estate Ventures was a transformative experience for me! The organizers went above and beyond, delivering invaluable insights and networking possibilities that surpassed all expectations.
— Garrett Montgomery
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The real estate workshop hosted by Brown Realty Enterprises was truly a game-changer for me! The organizers surpassed all expectations, offering exceptional insights and networking opportunities that were immensely valuable.
— Cassidy Johnson
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Attending the real estate seminar organized by Johnson Properties was a complete game-changer! The event far exceeded my expectations, offering incredibly valuable insights and networking chances. GRID is exactly the kind of group I had been looking for as a new investor with a lot of questions and not sure who to trust for answers.
— Michael Dorita
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
