Serious Real Estate Investing.
Without Making It Your Second Career.
You buy the property. A national tenant pays the rent. Helm handles all of the details.
Capital
Tax-free capital extraction that funds your next acquisition.
Income
Long-term passive income backed by corporate leases.
Wealth
A real opportunity to expand your portfolio into a multi-property vehicle.
We Are Helm
Helm is a corporate real estate strategy firm with deep specialization in single tenant net lease portfolios. We handle every layer of the strategy: acquisition sourcing, underwriting, lease negotiation, market selection, and long-term portfolio planning.
Our expertise and representation are available to you at zero cost. We get paid like a traditional commercial real estate broker but think like a Director of Real Estate.
The Real Estate Portfolio Playbook is where it starts. Download it to understand the full strategy, the mechanics behind the model, and how Helm structures this from your first acquisition through a multi-asset portfolio.
Director-Level Representation
Carson DuPont leads Helm's STNL practice, ensuring the complexity stays on our side of the table, and the income stays on yours.
The Lead Advisor
"We don't just find buildings; we architect wealth-generating vehicles."
— Carson DuPont
What Is a Single Tenant Net Lease Property?
Think Starbucks, Chipotle, Dollar General, CVS. The tenant operates under a long-term absolute net lease, responsible for operating costs, taxes, maintenance, and insurance.
Predictability
The lease is signed. The rent is set. Annual escalations, typically around 3%, are contractually defined from day one.
Absolute Net
The ideal structure for passive investors. You own the building, the tenant manages the headaches and the expenses.
Corporate Backed
The income stream is backed by the tenant's corporate guarantee, providing a secure multi-year revenue foundation.
The Tax Advantage
The tax structure behind STNL investing is extraordinary, and for many investors, it is the single most compelling reason to pursue this strategy.
Strategy 01
The Cash-Out Refinance
As your asset appreciates and escalations compound, pull equity out as tax-free cash at the right point in the cycle. Use it to fund your next acquisition while the original asset continues generating income.
Strategy 02
The 1031 Exchange
Sell an investment property and reinvest proceeds into a like-kind asset to defer capital gains taxes indefinitely. Each reinvestment rolls the obligation forward.
Strategy 03
Stepped-up Basis
Heirs inherit real estate at a fair market value cost basis. Deferred gains can be effectively eliminated at transfer, moving decades of wealth to the next generation intact.
Strategy 04
Depreciation Optimization
Shelter rental income with standard, bonus, and cost segregation strategies. Helm's team ensures the real estate structure supports your broader tax strategy from day one.
Note: Helm's advisory team includes in-house legal counsel to optimize these structures. We do not provide tax advice, and every investor's situation is different. Always consult your CPA.
How the Strategy Works
The STNL model is a capital compounding system built on repeated cycles of acquisition, stabilization, and reinvestment.
Acquire First Asset
Acquire a well-positioned asset in a growth market (e.g., Jack in the Box). Cap rate ~7-7.5% with financing ~6%.
Stabilization & Refinance
Lease escalations compound (~15% growth). Execute a cash-out refinance to extract tax-free equity for the next down payment.
Expand Portfolio
Own two assets: one healthcare-adjacent and one retail. Both cash flowing, both appreciating, backed by corporate leases.
Generational Engine
Positioned to own three properties. Debt on first asset amortized. Cash flow grows considerably. One asset becomes a wealth engine.
Performance Comparison
Passive investors have options. Here is how STNL investing compares to the most common alternatives.
STNL vs Stock Market
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Contractual income vs market volatility -
Direct 1031 tax deferral mechanism -
Tangible asset control
STNL vs Residential
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No property management headaches -
Corporate guarantees vs individual tenants -
Predictable 10-year absolute net terms
STNL vs REITs
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Full tax deferral (1031) benefits -
Stepped-up basis at inheritance -
Ability to refinance tax-free capital
Director-Level Expertise
Helm brings expertise to every engagement. Retaining our advisory team carries no upfront cost. We are performance-based, earning commissions on acquisitions and lease transactions.
"Single tenant net lease investing rewards expertise and penalizes guesswork. We manage the layers of complexity on your behalf."
Get the Real Estate Portfolio Playbook
The full guide, including the decision matrix, market selection framework, and 20-year portfolio model, is available by request.