NICK STAGEBERG
Owner & Principal
A career technologist with over 15 years experience in the software development, architecture, and management space, Nick Stageberg developed an interest in real estate investment at the age of 14 when he needed to secure safe housing due to family health issues. With no parental support, no income, and no job, he bargained with some family friends to clean out and rehab their basement in exchange for free housing. Although that was his first and only live-in flip, it gave him an interest in leveraging value-add opportunities. After college, he designed and built a custom home in Edmond, OK, and house-hacked by renting out rooms to former college roommates, all of whom are lifelong friends to this day.
He began his real estate investment career in earnest in early 2014. With the help of a trusted Realtor, he and Elaine purchased their first real estate investment - a single family home foreclosure in Oklahoma City that had been vacant for a number of years and was in need of extensive rehabilitation. Using their own capital and labor, Nick and Elaine transformed the home from boarded-up to occupied in less than 4 weeks, refinanced out, and deployed that capital to secure their next asset. He is now the owner of a multi-million dollar real estate portfolio.
He expanded his real estate horizons in late 2017 by obtaining a real estate license in the State of Minnesota and works with Keller Williams Premier Realty-Rochester to represent Black Swan Real Estate, other investors, and home buyers/sellers in real estate transactions. He operates nearly all of our day-to-day activities, including project sourcing and representation, rehab and contractor management, property and resident management, and financial management. Using skills gained from working for 10 years at a software development start-up which grew from $12 million in private venture capital to $100 million in equity valuation and his employment in software architecture at a large and prestigious hospital system, Nick is able to deploy both technical and relationship skills to grow and scale Black Swan Real Estate while remaining true to our personal, business, and investment values.
Nick is a passionate advocate for Lean and Agile management methodologies in Software and uniquely applies these same cutting-edge practices to real estate. Below is a recording of a talk he gave to 250 software engineers on the topic.
His number one priority is his relationship with his two children and his wife, Elaine. Together they are building the financial groundwork for long-term financial stability and freedom for his family and are fervent about teaching others how to do the same.
ELAINE STAGEBERG
Owner & Principal
With a background as a psychiatrist and health care administrator, Elaine brings both a relationship and business focus to Black Swan Real Estate. Elaine developed a passion for real estate upon renting out her single family home in the post-2008 crash. Learning that she truly enjoyed working with residents and providing high quality housing and service, she partnered with Nick to purchase and rehab their first investment property in Oklahoma City in 2014.
Since then, as the Co-Owner and Principal of Black Swan Real Estate, she’s been pivotal to growing the business steadily while developing the brand and culture of the company. With an understanding of the particular time and attention demands on physicians, she envisioned expansion of Black Swan Real Estate in 2018 through the use of private, passive investment dollars to grow the portfolio while providing lucrative and stable returns to investors with limited time or desire to actively invest in real estate. Since then, she has secured seven figures of investment dollars with 100% successful return of capital and interest.
Coming from a desire to share the opportunity for financial stability and freedom with others, Elaine developed a coaching service at Black Swan Real Estate to use their knowledge, expertise, and experience to help others who are ready to achieve the same life-changing level of personal and financial growth.
STEFANIE COUTLEY
Director of Operations
Stefanie joined the Black Swan Team at Keller Williams in March 2020. Driven by a desire to help others Stefanie obtained both a bachelors and masters degree in Social Work with minors in psychology and sociology as well as a certificate in child welfare from Florida Atlantic University.
After several years in hospitality management Stefanie wanted to find a career that involved her local community more which is how she found our Black Swan Family! Stefanie brings a unique background with her social work and hospitality experiences to our team which has only grown by her motivation of being fully engaged with our entire portfolio of tenants and real estate clients.
Stefanie's favorite quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson reads "It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that you cannot sincerely try to help another without helping yourself."
REILLY BRENNAN
Director of Growth
Reilly joined Black Swan Real Estate having already proven himself a capable leader through his service in the United States Marine Corps, where he served from 2006 to 2014. His military career highlight was serving as an operations director for a 200+ personnel company. After his military service, he rejoined the civilian world with a strong focus on real estate investment and entrepreneurship to further the investment career that he began in 2015 with one single family rental. Having earned his Minnesota real estate license in 2019, he joined the Black Swan Team at Keller Williams Premier Realty-Rochester. In addition to transactional real estate representation, he provides full service property management for a massive portfolio of single family and small multi-family homes, including three doors of his own! With a background in operations and recruiting, he thrives on not only meeting client expectations, but doing so on time. He's heavily involved in all aspects of operations, including leasing and tenant management, maintenance and service, investor relations, and contractor management.
As an active real estate investor, Reilly loves to evaluate opportunities and find creative paths forward, generating superb outcomes for all parties involved. He is persistent in sourcing both on and off market deals, helping ensure continuous growth. Reilly has been a project manager or participant for multiple $50,000+ rehabs including cosmetic, mechanical, and structural renovations and excels with vendor relations.
Guided by deeply held values of transparency, service, honesty, open communication and with a commitment to creating mutually advantageous solutions, he keeps his ear to the ground and consistently looks for ways to grow himself as an investor, improve company processes, and create positive paths forward for all with whom he interacts.
Real estate agent. Investor. Property manager. With skills and experience in the entire life cycle of real estate investment and entrepreneurship, Reilly is a crucial member of Black Swan Real Estate Team.
MARK GRAHAM
Leasing and Operations Specialist
Mark was born and raised in Rochester and attended Century high school where he played lacrosse and hockey. Mark has always been passionate about creating life-long relationships with those around him. Combined with his love of business, and knowledge of Rochester, it made it very clear that being a licensed real estate agent was the right choice. Mark is very interested in real estate investing, which lead him to the Black Swan Team. He is the newest member of the team and very excited to learn and grow.
RYAN MURPHY
Licensed Real Estate Agent
Ryan's drive for excellence started at a young age after winning the USA Powerlifting national championships at the age of 18. Becoming more of an academic, he received his bachelor's degree in exercise physiology from The College of St. Scholastica and his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the Mayo School of Health Sciences.
Working closely with the terminally ill and their families as a physical therapist, he realized the uncertainty and fragile nature of life. His investing interest began after re-evaluating his use of limited time, and getting back to what is truly important. Ryan began to realize that investing in real estate could provide more opportunities for his future family while providing a valuable services to others.
Ryan earned his real estate license in February 2020 as his first steps in his investing and real estate career. On the Black Swan Team, Ryan has been a private investor, agent, and provided coverage to ensure the needs of tenants and customers are met.
SAM HILL
Licensed Real Estate Agent
Sam is a very gifted young man, and at the age of 16 began attending college through a post secondary option program. This allowed him to obtain his Associates Degree in Science before even graduating High School!
At the age of 19 Sam realized he wanted to have complete control over his career and professional life, which led him to become a licensed real estate agent. Within 6 months of obtaining his license, Sam became a member of the Black Swan Team at Keller Williams as a licensed agent and now works with Nick to represent their clients. Sam is ambitious about real estate, not afraid to leave his comfort zone, and always working on his own personal development.
Sam has already acquired, renovated, and rented an investment property in Rochester—making him one of, if not the most successful real estate investor in Rochester his age!