Than Merrill Review (2023): Best Real Estate Investing Seminars?

Updated On: November 23, 2023
Welcome to my Than Merrill review. My goal is to answer common questions like: how much it costs, if it's a scam, and if you can actually make money with it. The end goal is to help you understand if it's a good fit for you personally, and if there are any better alternatives out there.
Than Merrill Review

This Than Merrill review has been throughly researched with information and testimonials that are available online to anyone in the public. Any conclusions drawn by myself are opinions.

Table of Contents

Program At A Glance

What I liked
Than's training is informative and rewarding.
Than has more than 15 years of experience in real estate investing.
Than is knowledgable in many aspects of real estate investing.
What I Didn’t Like
Many upsells.
Not for experienced real estate investors.
It's only a three-day workshop.

This is just another one of those “make money online” seminars focusing on marketing a service that purports to generate money by renting out homes.

But hey, if you wanna jump into an EXPENSIVE market right before it crashes…

Don’t come crying to us when you lose THOUSANDS and your parents give you a hard time.

It’s supposed to show you how to become a 6-figure real estate mogul…but it’s truly out of reach for most people like you, constrained by budgets and student loans.

That’s just the truth…you won’t get rich by purchasing one property that only profits a couple hundred a month with loads of liabilities and bad tenants.

And while I have to be honest for this review…

Than Merill is a course that teaches you about real estate investing.

If you’ve read my other articles on real estate investing, you’ll know there are 3 primary ways to invest:

Wholesaling, buy-and-hold, and flipping.

While each has pros and cons, there is a ton of potential for success investing in real estate.

Real estate has created some of the largest fortunes in world history.

That being said, you should take some time to seriously think about something:

Is now the best time for YOU to get into real estate investing?

Because despite the potential upside, investing in properties or land takes a lot of capital, and is very labor-intensive.

That means if you:

  1. Have less than 3 hours per day, OR
  2. Aren’t sitting on $20K+ in disposable income

This may not be the best time for you to start investing in physical real estate.

Don’t get me wrong, real estate investing can be an amazing way to protect your assets while generating cash – but there’s a time and a place for it.

But there’s good news!

All you need is a system to generate the cash (& free time) you need to be ready for real estate investing.

My preferred method of getting there is by becoming a Digital Landlord

It takes the benefits of real estate investing, but removes many of the barriers (& annoyances), like::

  • Small cash flow on properties
  • Having to take out debt
  • Dealing with repairs and upkeep
  • Dealing with tenants

The cool part is that the income is mostly recurring (AKA semi-passive).

You could make anywhere from $2,000-$10,000+ per month doing it.

You can build it as big (or small) as you feel like, without the annoyances I listed above.

If that sounds interesting, you might want to think about using the Digital Rental Method.

Then, you can take the profits and start investing in physical real estate a year or two from now.

If you wanna see what Than Merill looks like on the inside, keep reading.

What Is Than Merrill’s Net Worth?

Than Merrill Net Worth

Among the first questions investors ask when considering someone’s investment advice is, “What is their net worth?”

In addition, it’s a good idea. Why bother listening to someone if they’re not making as much money as you are?

Based on Merrill, he’s made $300 million in the last three years, in addition to a total of one billion dollars since setting up his real estate profession, resulting in the following net worth figures:

  • $40M as of June 2014
  • $75M as of February 2017
  • $100M as of July 2020 

Merrill’s original capital came through his period as an experienced football player in the NFL. He went on to produce a bestselling book & appear on prime-time TV from 2007 to 2009.

He used this money on real estate, which continues to be the main driver of his increasing net worth.

Remember, Merill or his associates did not confirm these figures. These are best estimates according to his published contracts as well as his known real estate portfolio.

Who Is Than Merrill Married To?

Than Merrill And Wife Cindy Philips

Originally from Fresno, California, Nathaniel “Than” Merrill is a 43-year-old business owner. He and his wife Cindy Philips, whom he married in 2010, live in San Diego, California. Sky and Tyce are their two children.

Who Did Than Merrill Play For?

Merill had a distinguished career in various professions before being well-known in the real estate sector. After completing his undergraduate studies at Yale, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him in the first round of the 2001 NFL draft and signed him as a football player.

In 2003, after playing for several clubs in the European NFL tier, he was forced to retire due to a knee injury.

Many people would have given up on their life; Merrill showed strong will and persevered despite the injury that would defeat anybody mentally.

How Than Merill Turned Into A Well-Known Figure In Real Estate Investing

Than Merrill Real Estate Class Review

After recognizing he wouldn’t be able to produce revenue from a professional sports career due to his knee injury in 2004, his real estate career began when he formed “CT Homes.” This is a real estate investment company with real estate professionals Paul Esajian, Konrad Sopielnikow, and JD Esajian.

The Birth Of CT Homes

The Birth Of CT Homes

As a result of meticulous planning, CT Homes grew quickly while minimizing risk and maximizing profitability.

Than Merrill is the co-founder of CT Homes, LLC, a non-commercial real estate development business founded in 2004 in New Haven, CT. In the last 15 years, the company has specialized in obtaining, developing, and re-selling distressed real estate and pre-foreclosure properties. The business has acquired over 1,000+ properties since its inception. Throughout the years, the company has currently had between 25 and 40 ongoing property development projects.

This led to a relatively fast and substantial rise of Than.

Later, these methods became the foundation of today Than’s academic platform and mentoring program.

Now, CT Homes LLC is Than’s residential real estate company. They concentrate on redeveloping between 25-40 single-family and multi-family units at one time, and it’s only the first of three businesses Than Merrill started.

Equity Street Capital

“Equity Street Capital” is the next company on the list. They are mostly interested in acquiring residential buildings, office buildings, and shopping malls.

The third business, “Future Fortune Builders,” involves what I pointed out previously, training and coaching with reliance on the method which worked out effectively for Than with CT Homes; he shows brand new aspiring property investors the basic principles, such as:

  • Financial literacy
  • Personal development
  • The fundamentals of property transactions and financial backing

Than Merrill offers his own commercial real estate investment business, Equity Street Capital. With this business, Than and his staff focus on getting income-producing commercial property all over the United States. Their commercial investments include apartment communities, office buildings, and retail properties. The organization is focused on achieving significant risk-adjusted returns while maximizing long-term capital appreciation. The company has acquired more than $300 million in commercial real estate in the previous two years alone.

Fortune Builders

Fortune Builders

In addition, Merrill founded FortuneBuilders Inc., which has grown to be one of the nation’s largest and most reputable real estate education companies.

Merrill started FortuneBuilders to help other would-be property investors benefit from his experience and enthusiasm for the industry and become successful real estate investors.

FortuneBuilders works with people aiming to begin or expand their real estate investment businesses and wish to adhere to an established business model.

Fortune Builders was positioned 1st in 2010’s education ranking and one of the most outstanding 5,000 companies in America in three years consecutively on Inc.

In addition, Than began a real estate brokerage and property investment fund, “Grand Coast Capital,” several years back.

As a series of ever more costly “seminars,” the Fortune Builders provide no useful information until they reach the most expensive level, which may cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Flip This House

Flip This House

If you’re in the real estate business, having many successful companies under your belt might help you become well-known, but Merrills’ greatest break came in 2007 when he was featured on television.

After being recruited by A&E, Merrill agreed to join the cast of the hit show “Flip This House.” The program was filmed and recorded as Than and Paul flipped houses in San Diego, CA, and Haven, CT.

It was the first reality TV show of its type and had been wonderfully approved by the audience, leading Merrill to shoot three seasons.

Many of the strategies used on “Flip This House” are discussed in depth in real estate classes so that students may apply what they’ve learned. They are proven strategies that teach real estate investors how to acquire, repair, and sell properties to produce the highest return possible.

After gaining his celeb status, Than traveled the nation while speaking and sharing the stage with the likes of:

  • Laura Bush
  • Sarah Palin
  • Donald Trump
  • Robert Kiyosaki
  • Tony Robbins

Lastly, Merrill is acknowledged for his two books, with each being bestsellers, and the first one became a bestseller in seven days.

  • 2014 – The Real Estate Wholesaling Bible
  • 2015 – The E-Myth Real Estate Investor 

Equal Footing Foundation

Merrill and his wife are also known to be philanthropists.

They began the “Equal Footing Foundation” – a non-profit organization focused on promoting and educating sports and health for youth. Additionally, Than initiated “FortuneBuilders Gives,” a business department that offers students and members charitable donations.

Therefore, in a room filled with gurus, teachers, and successful business owners, Than Merrill stands out because of his extreme exposure through sports, TV exposure, business success, public speaking capabilities, and writing.

Is Than Merrill’s Training Worth The Money?

Is It Worth It

Merrill’s program has a couple of different offers:

2-hour Real Estate Class

This particular category is for both intermediates and beginners. It demonstrates to attendees the systems utilized to construct CT Homes, the basics of investing in real estate, and operating a small business.

What do they guarantee to provide in these two hours?

  • Flipping Houses – How you can start earning money by flipping homes in your local area
  • Income Producing Properties – You can get the best cash-flowing properties that could give you earnings on a monthly schedule.
  • Meet and Network – Chat with other real estate investors locally purchasing & selling real estate.
  • Systems – How you can replicate the systems featured on the TV show “Flip This House” and the success it brings.
  • Investing – How to invest properly even if you get it done part-time.
  • What opportunities will be available in real estate during this COVID-19 crisis?
  • Certain ways to look for affordable properties consistently
  • What are the most effective sources of funding for real estate deals
  • What core real estate investment concepts work best in this real estate industry
  • How to protect some current investments you’ve got in real estate, along with other asset classes.
  • How you can produce cash flow from single-family rental properties, as well as commercial properties.
  • The most effective tools, techniques, and solutions to redevelop and flip qualities.
  • The easiest way to get going is real estate, in case you don’t have much capital yet.
  • Tax & Asset protection tactics each American needs to secure their financial future
  • Best investment techniques in case you would like to be a passive or active investor and optimize returns

Than Merrill Reviews

So what do attendees think about Than’s three-day workshop?

Here is what one reviewer has to say:

The Than Merrill Review

Meanwhile, I realize your opinion relies primarily on two things. Your level of expertise in real estate before attending and how valuable $197 is to you.

For instance, see this particular review:

Merrill Than Review

Like with several other programs of this nature, it looks like individuals have different experiences dependent on their previous knowledge of the industry.

You may find Than’s seminars informative and rewarding if you’ve got money to spare and almost no idea of property investing.

You may be disappointed if you know the basic principles and are searching for suggestions to attain a higher level in your investing.

Most people would firmly suggest you learn these simple factors from free online resources or books on real estate—before you’re fast to invest cash on upsell pitches which may not be useful to you unless you are completely new to real estate.

Than Merrill is the co-founder of FortuneBuilders, Equity Street Capital, and CT Homes and has more than 15 years of professional expertise in the real estate investment and lending business.

He’s the founder and principal in many real estate investment businesses and has been involved in more than $1 billion of real estate investments throughout that time frame.

Than has experience in many aspects of real estate investment, like marketing, investor relations, raising money, negotiations, appraisal, underwriting, sourcing, and business management.

Can You Make Money With Than Merill?

Digital Landlord Better Than Than Merrill Seminars

Yes. But it will require hard work and significant investment.

You can certainly make money with real estate investing, but if you’re gonna put in the amount of grueling work to become a real estate investor (which, trust me, isn’t easy), you might as well bring in some REAL money.

Is Than Merill Legit?

Is It Legit

Yes, Than Merill is legit. If you want to invest in real estate, he can help you get started.

But, when it comes to building a business, you have plenty of other options…

Is Than Merill A Scam?

Is It A Scam

So, time for the $1,000,000 question – is Than Merill a scam?

No, not technically. You can 100% make money with this program, though it’s not nearly as simple as they make it seem.

As with most businesses, there is A LOT of work to be done upfront & no guarantee of you being successful.

Not to mention the profit margins are typically pretty small.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big proponent of front-loading work now, so that you can reap the rewards later.

But if I’m gonna do that, I want the rewards to be HIGH and virtually guaranteed.

I’d rather put in that same 3 months of work (in my spare time) & build a handful of Digital Rental Properties that each produce $500-$2,000 checks every single month afterward (AKA recurring income).

And the cool part is that you can do it in a lot less time than 3-months (I personally did it in my first 2 weeks of using the Digital Rental Method).

Unlike physical real estate, you can do it from anywhere in the world, so it’s a genuine “laptop-lifestyle” business.

All you need is an internet connection.

Some of my friends are Digital Rental Method that run their 6-figure businesses from:

  • Camping trips at national parks
  • Beachfront in Hawaii
  • On the road in a camper van (with a pet pig!)

They focus on living an enjoyable life first, and focus on income second. All thanks to this program

They can take weeks or months off, and money keeps rolling in.

Read Our In Depth Breakdown Of The Top 5 Real EstateOpp Courses For 2024

Did Than Merrill Make The List?

Living happily is the top priority.

If the thought of living perpetually at your dream vacation spot interests you, using the Digital Rental Method might be for you!

What Is My Top Recommendation For Making Money Online In 2022?

Make Money Online Thru Digital Landlord

I’ve personally tried all of the major online business models:

  • I’ve sold fidget spinners through Amazon FBA
  • I’ve dropshipped a toilet bowl putting green on Shopify
  • I’ve sold women’s health supplements via Clickbank affiliate marketing

And I made money with all of them, so trust me when I say: there is no “perfect” business model.

It’s worth noting that I FULLY endorse real estate investing as a way to grow wealth, and that’s why I invest my own money in commercial and residential real estate.

That being said, my #1 recommendation for making real money online as a beginner is, hands-down: being a Digital Landlord.

Whether you’re a complete newbie or have been around the block before but have never had that “big win” to propel you forward, using the Digital Rental Method is for you.

Why?

Time: If you’ve got a spare hour or two each day, you can do this. If you want to drop everything and go all-in, you can do this. More time obviously means faster results, but even putting in a few hours per day is enough to see real success.

And because of that flexibility, you don’t need to trade your time for money. Once the income starts, it’s recurring.

That means you can take a month off, travel the country, pursue a passion project, chill on the beach, or charter a boat across the world.

But you can only do that once you’ve created an income stream that doesn’t require YOU to be there all day, every day.

Real estate investing is a FULL-TIME JOB. If you stop finding deals, your money dries up.

Ownership & Control: Unless you’re buying your properties in cash, you don’t technically own the properties – the lender does.

If you miss a single payment, the property can be taken from you.

Why pour your soul into a business that could be taken away from you at the drop of a dime?

With the Digital Rental Method, you literally own all of the assets, which means you have ultimate control.

Ongoing costs: With real estate, profit margins are actually pretty slim. Real wealth is made in owning the assets, and owning A LOT of them.

using the Digital Rental Method, your profit margin is nearly 100%. Watch here to learn how.

Just a reminder: these Digital Rental Properties are worth (at a minimum) $500/mo in semi-passive income. And each time you create another one, your income increases, and the effort put into creating the next property decreases.

Best-case scenario, you have properties bringing in over $3,000+/mo on auto-pilot.

It’s Effectively Copy-Paste: Here’s my favorite part: once you have your first Digital Rental Property up, you can literally copy-paste another version of it and find another willing “renter” in a few days. DOUBLING your income doesn’t get much easier than that…

If you wanted to double your income with real estate investing, you would need twice as many properties, or double your profit margins on each property. And I can guarantee you, that’s a lot harder than a few clicks & a phone call.

Make Money Helping Real People: With the Digital Rental Method, you’re helping solve REAL problems that people are ASKING for help with:

Small local businesses around the world need one thing: customers. Without them, their business would fall apart. If you can provide those customers, they’re going to be really happy – and they’re going to pay you for it.

You’re helping a struggling mother or father put food on the table for their families, put their kids through college, or simply live life a little bit more comfortably.

Having this type of impact on the world is what will help you sleep soundly at night.

So, the rest is up to you. You could keep looking at other opportunities Than Merill, which might make you money.

You could keep researching and researching for the next few months (or few years), never making a concrete decision.

OR, you can look deep inside, think about those dreams, hopes, & desires, and make the decision to ACTUALLY make it happen, just like it has for thousands of other students before you.

Making a fortune while actually helping real people that need it.

If this sounds like you, click here to see how it all works.

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