Authentic, whip-smart and larger-than-life.
The electricity emanating from this pair — friends, colleagues, do-gooders — can bowl you over. Over the last year, Zachary Kepes and Devon Kennard have become brothers of sorts, from their first meeting at a MasterMinds networking event to their lunch date last week. Both former Metro Detroiters — Kepes born-and-bred and Kennard as a former Detroit Lion — now living in Arizona, both in the business of real-estate investment and both going above and beyond to deliberately, actively dispense their expertise to benefit as many people as possible. Here, they each tell us their tales.
ZACHARY KEPES
Geography: Born in Huntington Woods, Mich., now living in Paradise Valley, Ariz.
The lowdown: Owner of Zak Ventures, he’s a real-estate investor and visionary who went from broke in 2007 to owning more than 300 properties; he’s flipped more than 3,000. @Zakventures
Extracurriculars: Co-host of 11/10 with Investorlift Podcast. Appeared on HGTV’s Flippin Impossible: Trash to Treasure. Trash to Cash videos on YouTube.
Family: Two dogs, Buddy-Jones and Onyx.
What do you do?
Through Zak Ventures, my primary focus is buying distressed single-family homes, remodeling them and providing low-income housing opportunities. I’m trying to make the market more affordable and enhance communities one home at a time.
What’s your personal philosophy?
In business and in life, I’m passionate about what I do. It’s about bringing the ’Detroit Hustle’ to entrepreneurship, and the Midwest values of transparency, handshakes — the old-school business mentality. Being from Detroit is in our blood. And when you bring the Detroit Hustle, no matter where you live, you will have success. We can outwork other people, and it’s what differentiates us from everyone else. I even have a t-shirt that says ’Detroit Hustles Harder.’
I try not to get distracted by the outside world or what people think. I play the delayed gratification game. Most people need that quick fix of sugar, whatever. It’s not sexy going to the gym every day, working to get that six pack. But over time, with the right skill set and the right nutritional value, good things happen. It just takes time and patience.
Tell me about yourself.
I grew up in Huntington Woods. I studied entrepreneurship, finance and Spanish at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. While in college, I had internships on Wall Street. I did options trading for Prudential Securities one summer; another summer, I raised money for Tangerine Records private music distribution. But I realized that I’d never go anywhere working for these big companies. You’re just a number. You’re an annuity of income for them and you can’t control anything.
Why real estate?
Entrepreneurs can’t work for anybody else. Instead of making someone else’s future, make your own future. You should captain your own destiny.
You can do so many different things with real estate. You can leverage it. You control it. It’s about relationships. It’s about communication. It’s about the energetic exchange with the tenants, the contractors, the designers. Taking it through stabilization requires blending finance, design and vision into a cohesive project — like performing surgery daily.
In the equity markets, you buy a portfolio of stocks and you’re the last person to know how your future will be affected. Investing in real estate enables you to control the pieces. That’s why it’s so powerful. It’s backed by land and dirt. It’s never going to go to zero. And that’s what makes it exciting.
When I looked at all the different career options, and I studied the Forbes list of the most successful, wealthiest people in the world, the majority were connected to real estate. I also had the autonomy to leverage my skills of Spanish, finance and entrepreneurship. It made perfect sense.
Why Arizona?
I knew I didn’t want to be in New York City. I’m used to the friendly, Midwest vibe. You can move out of the Midwest but the Midwest doesn’t move out of you, right?
I started out working with my cousins, who were doing similar work in the Midwest. I became human capital, representing them in the Southwest. I came to Arizona in 2002, worked for my cousins for about six years. When I first moved to Arizona, the market had not exploded yet. Prices were very affordable, so I came out to explore the market, learn it, get my license, buy my own properties and start soliciting opportunities.
When I first came out to Arizona, I realized that people move slowly out here — it’s like the wild, wild West. I would call to check on a deal and ask if the home is still available. They were like, yeah, relax. I couldn’t understand the lack of urgency in business here. Success comes from seizing opportunities fast, but people hesitate. I only have one speed and it’s ‘go.’ Everything in life is a Domino effect of energy. Don’t make excuses — take massive action. You’ve got to put in the work, day in, day out. Great ideas mean nothing without execution.
What kind of properties do you invest in?
I got my real-estate license in nine days, then hit the pavement. I bought my first home and started moving forward, learning on the fly. You can’t be afraid — without risk, there’s no return.
I buy low-income, distressed deals at affordable levels — some of them are not even financeable with banks. I take most of them down to the studs. My philosophy is that we don’t put on Band-Aids, we do full surgery. I create the value, then sell at a retail level or rent out. That’s the strategy. I own hundreds of houses out here.
I’m very monotonous. People might perceive it as boring, but you can’t be everything to everybody. Become an expert at one thing. Stick to your core competency, master it and become the go-to person for that.
How did you meet Devon Kennard?
We connected through real estate. I was speaking at a real-estate event that he attended. We started talking, Detroit came up and it snowballed from there. We became good buddies. In my mind, he represents those Detroit values. Now he's also empowering other NFL players by teaching them to take control of their financial future instead of relying solely on money managers. It's pretty cool.
Devon is a charismatic guy. He’s a smart guy. He’s disciplined. He stayed the course and understood the concept of delayed gratification. It’s a breath of fresh air to connect with someone like that. Like, he’s six-foot-six and I’m five-foot-eight — what does this little white Jewish kid from Detroit have in common with Devon Kennard? We’re complete opposites, but we work. We’re more the same than we are different.
Tell me about your podcast.
It’s called the 11/10 Podcast. I had Devon on as a guest and took him out in the field with me for a day and I showed him what I do specifically and we compared notes. In fact, we just inked our first deal together. He’s getting some massive steam in Arizona.
The podcast is about entrepreneurship, life lessons, staying the course and being the captain of your own journey. When Devon was on, he talked about how many NFL players at the time were focused on playing video games and partying while he was home studying real estate so that when he retired from the NFL, his money would be working for him. We have this in common — we’re all about reinvesting in what makes us money, passively. We’ve both stuck to our roots of reinvesting every penny into our future investments.
What is your end goal?
To continue doing what I do: enhancing neighborhoods one property at a time, keeping my crews busy so their families have plenty of opportunity for financial growth — and having fun, right? One acquisition can affect so many variables: Neighbors are elated when they see us come driving through there. The contractors are happy because it’s more work. It helps local production, fabricators, roofers, window companies and tile companies. It’s a highly gratifying game because so many people win who are behind the scenes.
What is your show on HGTV?
Three years ago somebody from a talent agency saw my Instagram and contacted me. We talked for about six months, they did a full vetting of me, they needed tax returns. We took the most horrific hoarder house and turned it over in five weeks from start to finish. It was unbelievable. I call it ‘from trash to cash.’ America is enamored with seeing potentially hazardous sites transformed into safe, beautiful homes, as quickly as possible. We bring speed, talent and design to the table.
We signed a six-season deal but now we're waiting on the network to decide if we will continue. We spent more than 100 hours filming, starting with a miniseries that got approved before signing the deal. We quickly renovated and filmed two homes, leading to the full series. The first episode was released on Dec. 3, I did a whole premiere party — it was great. But we’re waiting to hear what’s next.
How would someone describe you?
I was the class clown in high school. I still have an air of not taking life too seriously. I hope people say I’m humble. I want to be known as down-to-earth. If I tell you I’m going to do something, you can consider it done.
I want to have an effect on the trajectory of other people’s lives and their family’s lives, to help them streamline and enhance their lives. I like to give tenants the opportunity to own real estate — if they love the house and they can afford it, they can buy it.
I’ve done some coaching on a national level. I want to open people’s eyes to the fact that if they’re willing to bring the hustle, there’s an abundance of opportunities, whether in real estate or any venture. And it’s karma, right? If you’re constantly giving and expect nothing in return, your life’s going to be blessed.
DEVON KENNARD
Geography: Born and raised in Phoenix, Ariz.; now lives in Phoenix again.
NFL career timeline: Began his NFL career with the New York Giants; over four seasons, he played both linebacker and defensive end. Played with the Detroit Lions 2018-2020; two-time team captain; nominated for the 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. Returned to Arizona to play for the Cardinals 2020-2022. Brief stint with the Baltimore Ravens in 2022. Retired from the NFL in 2023 after nine seasons.
The lowdown: Real-estate investor and owner of private-lending company 42 Solutions; his portfolio includes 29 properties, 50 syndication investments and more than $5 million loaned out. Weare42solutions.com.
Extracurriculars: Frequent speaker to young athletes about financial success. Author of two books: It All Adds Up and his newest, Real Estate Side Hustle: Four Passive Investing Strategies to Build Wealth Beyond Your Day Job, released in October. Devonkennard.com.
Family: His father, Derek Kennard, played 11 years in the NFL, including the Phoenix Cardinals, making the pair one of only three father-son duos to play for the organization. Wife, Camille, and daughters, Camryn and Carsyn.
What did you study in college?
I was in the USC Annenberg School of Communication and Broadcasting. I'm one of the few NFL players that already had my undergrad and master's degrees [in business management] when I was drafted. So that was kind of my journey.
When were you a Detroit Lion?
I played for the Lions in 2018-2019. Some of the work I did there got me nominated for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. I had some of my best years in the NFL when I was out in Detroit. I lived in Royal Oak on the edge of Birmingham, and my daughter was born at [then] Beaumont Hospital. So Detroit has a special place in my heart, for sure.
My oldest, Camryn, was born in August 2018, during my first year in Detroit. It was right in the middle of training camp, so it was kind of crazy. I was coming back from a trip and my wife was trying to hold on for dear life until I got home.
When did you retire from the NFL?
I’m 33 now, and I just retired in 2023. I played nine years, and was able to retire on my own terms, which was a big thing that I wanted to do. I already had a lot of momentum in business and real estate. And I wanted to be able to spend more time with my kids.
When did you learn about investing?
My dad played for the Cardinals, which is how we ended up in Arizona, so I grew up always wanting to play in the NFL. But I also realized that I needed to be prepared outside of football. I started investing in real estate as soon as I got into the NFL, and saved and reinvested. When I got drafted, in my first few years in the NFL, when I was playing for the Giants, I was still driving my high-school car, a 2005 Kia Sorrento.
How did you have the foresight to do that?
When I was in college, I faced a lot of adversity. During most of those years, it didn’t look like I would make it into the NFL. So it made me ask myself what I would do if it wasn’t football. I kept asking myself, ‘Do I want to be successful because of football or do I want to be successful. I had a vision for what I wanted my life to look like, and I realized that even if it wasn’t football, I still wanted to live that life. It made me really dig deep on what the avenue would be. I met with a mentor of mine who was in real estate and I remember sitting in his office. He was wearing what I would consider a Luluemon outfit today. I went to that meeting in a suit and tie, trying to impress him, and I thought it was so cool that he was living life completely on his terms. He owned the business. He wore what he wanted to wear to work. Most importantly, he built his life off of his investments. He started out as a police officer and he bought a property and it turned into two and then four. His story really resonated with me. I thought, if he can do it, so can I. By the time I got in the league, I already knew that I wanted to do real estate.
What kind of adversity did you face?
Coming out of high school, I was a two or three recruit in the nation. I had scholarships to go anywhere. In my senior year of high school, I tore my ACL, then had five more surgeries over the next four years. I changed positions every year. I went through a bout of frustration, depression, anxiety and bitterness, and felt like I was working really hard and wasn't seeing any of the benefits. I call this period ‘the storm.’ I was in the middle of the storm for about four or five years straight and, in the moment, it was like woe is me. But it ultimately came full circle for me. During that downtime, I studied more football and watched additional game film. I developed a deeper understanding of the game and various positions. I also began to network outside of football, met new people and learned how others achieved success.
The day I was drafted into the NFL, Tom Coughlin, the New York Giants head coach, told me they were particularly impressed with my extensive knowledge of the game and ability to identify everyone's responsibilities on the field. It was truly a full-circle moment. At the time, I thought my world was ending. But the things that I did during that time period actually led me to have success in the NFL and also in the field of real estate.
How did that experience affect your understanding of real estate?
I think the perseverance I needed translates really well to business, life and, of course, real- estate investing. You can’t skip the work. It’s the concept of delayed gratification. So even during those dark times, I was working hard. I wasn’t having the success I wanted at the moment, but by putting that work in anyway, I benefited from it in the long run.
How did you meet Zachary Kepes?
We met at a MasterMind networking event for real-estate business owners in Phoenix. As soon as we met, I felt like we had a synergy to us. We had the Detroit connection plus he's a high-energy guy, very motivated, very driven, very focused, and I'm a lot of those same things. We were grouped together in a break-out session, so we got to go deep learning about each other, our challenges and our goals. We got a crash course in getting to know each other. We resonated instantly and we've been close ever since. We talk just about every week, we’ll get together for lunch or I'll go on tours of his properties with him. It's been a great relationship, and beneficial for both of us.
You share a passion for sharing your knowledge.
Our relationship is unique in that we don’t need anything from each other, but we both want to see each other be successful.
I look up to Zach a ton. His story is very similar to my college mentor’s — he started out with nothing and to think he owns more than 300 properties and flipped nearly 3,000 homes. That's insane. And he doesn't have partners. He's not having to raise a ton of money.
A lot of people who have that level of success aren't willing to give back and educate people. But he takes the time to do podcasts, and do interviews like this and try to help people. The dude owns all these properties and checks each one weekly. He could hire the work out. But that's how he likes to run his business and it’s inspiring to see.
What type of real estate are you in?
I invest primarily in residential. I own things in Tampa Bay, Fla., and Kansas City, Mo., but now that I’m retired, my focus is in my backyard, here in Arizona. Which is another layer of synergies between Zach and me — he’s so focused in Arizona and I'm growing my portfolio in Arizona, but I also lend to other investors who are working on projects. Zach's been integral in introducing me to other people who are looking for funding.
Both of our businesses operate as lean, lifestyle-driven ventures with small teams. While many investors aim for large-scale operations, we prioritize control and efficiency. Zach keeps his team small — just a bookkeeper, assistant and key contractors. I do the same, allowing for steady, manageable growth without excessive overhead.
What types of properties do you invest in?
While I was playing in the NFL, I invested primarily in turnkey properties, which are either new or already renovated. The reason I was doing that is because I was busy trying to figure out how to sack Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers.
But now that I'm retired from the NFL, I'm taking on more projects that need work. I'll buy a property in a good neighborhood that needs renovations, improve it and then rent it out. This allows me to pull out much of my invested capital because I've increased the property's value.
On the lending side, I provide financing to people like Zach who fix and flip properties. I find experienced flippers like him and lend to them for their projects, charging interest based on the specific deal.
What kind of speaking engagements do you do?
I speak primarily to aspiring current or former professional athletes about business and real estate. I speak to other groups, too, but my sweet spot is talking to athletes. I have partnerships with the NFL, the NFL PA and other organizations that work specifically with professional athletes and collegiate athletes.
But being an African American and a professional athlete, I’ve found that there are not many people who look like me and are doing what I'm doing, and speaking out about it. The athletes are my peers and I’m one of the guys in the locker room. When I was in the NFL, financial advisors often came in and told us about what we should be doing with our money, but they didn’t fully understand our circumstances, where we come from, the unique challenges we face and learning not to overspend just because we got a big payday. I want more athletes to ensure they can live good forever, not just for the moment. Professional athletes can make a ton of money in a short amount of time, but that money has to last us for the rest of our lives. The outside world sees this guy made $5 million, but we're actually only seeing about half of that, then that $2.5 million of that has to sustain us for the next 20 years. I believe that real estate is one of the best investment vehicles for professional athletes, and one of the only ones to get cash flow, appreciation, tax benefits and leverage.
I’m not the top expert, but I do this in real time, and football allows me to impact a different demographic, catering to a unique perspective. Financial wellbeing matters as much as physical, mental and spiritual well-being — money doesn’t buy happiness, but it impacts it by providing opportunities.
It's one thing to do well for yourself. But the evolution is in helping the people around me have opportunities and success, too.