Niles X. Lichtenstein
Making Homeownership Possible: How Nestment is Rewriting the Rules of Real Estate with Niles X. Lichtenstein
In the latest episode of Pitch Lab, Merrick Creative’s Tom and Jackie sat down with Niles X. Lichtenstein, CEO and Founder of Nestment Inc., for a dynamic and deeply personal conversation about redefining homeownership in the modern age. With candor, insight, and plenty of humor (yes, including a corgi surfing on behalf of Nestment), Niles shared the journey behind his innovative platform that’s democratizing real estate investment for a new generation.
A Personal Origin Story that Sparked a Movement
The "X" in Niles X. Lichtenstein? It stands for Xi'an, a nod to his rich multicultural heritage—Malayan Chinese Muslim and Buddhist on his mother’s side, and German Jewish and Irish Catholic on his father’s. This diversity shaped his worldview, but it was a deeply personal childhood experience that inspired Nestment.
When Niles was just 13, his father passed away, leaving his immigrant mother to raise two sons with little income but one valuable asset—a home in the Bay Area. Scrappy and resourceful, his mother taught Niles how to refinance that home and rent out rooms to UC Berkeley students. This early lesson in leveraging property for stability planted the seed for Nestment’s mission: making homeownership accessible, flexible, and collaborative.
From Craigslist to Co-Buying: The Evolution of Nestment
After stints at Harvard, two startups (including one funded by The New York Times), and an eye-opening experience helping friends and family invest in property, Niles realized a fundamental truth: owning real estate is still one of the most powerful ways to build wealth—and yet, it's out of reach for millions.
Nestment was born from a simple idea: buy property with friends and family. What began as a basic email capture page exploded with demand. Hundreds signed up before a product even existed, confirming that Niles had tapped into something powerful: a desire for new pathways into homeownership.
Co-Buying, House Hacking, and Rent-Vesting—Oh My!
Niles introduced concepts like house hacking (buying multifamily property, living in one unit, and renting the others), co-buying (purchasing property with friends or family), and rent-vesting (buying an investment property while renting your residence)—terms that have since become Nestment's brand pillars.
With traditional homeownership increasingly out of reach (first-time buyers now average 38 years old, the highest ever), Nestment offers new on-ramps to real estate investment, especially for younger buyers, immigrants, and multi-generational families.
What Nestment Does (And Why It’s Free)
Nestment acts as a trusted advisor and orchestrator, guiding users from idea to ownership through a five-step process:
Discovery and Goal Alignment – Understand buying power, goals, and ideal property types.
Property Analysis – Evaluate real-time listings with detailed financial projections.
Agreement Creation – Automate legal agreements (saving buyers thousands).
Lending Support – Access tailored financing, including programs for veterans, healthcare workers, and more.
Agent Matching – Get introduced to vetted real estate agents (with a “vibe check” option).
The kicker? It’s free for the user. Nestment earns revenue through partnerships with lenders and agents, averaging $10K per transaction at an 80% margin. To enhance user commitment, they’re exploring a low-cost membership model with rebates upon closing—because, as Niles put it, “sometimes people need to invest a little to stick with it.”
Building Wealth With the People, Not Off the People
Nestment isn’t just helping customers buy homes—it’s helping them become investors in the company. Through a WeFunder campaign, over 60% of Nestment’s customers have become shareholders. It’s a powerful testament to the trust and value the platform brings.
Originally aiming to raise $250K, Nestment has closed in on $1M, drawing attention from venture groups and even Stanford’s B-School community. Niles is focused on sustainable growth, resisting the pressure for massive VC raises so he can build a product that prioritizes impact over hype.
Defining the Brand: Trust, Empowerment, and Fresh Thinking
When asked to define Nestment’s unique value, Niles responded:
“We’re your trusted advisor making homeownership possible.”
Tom and Jackie dug deeper—how do you cut through the noise to reach skeptical, DIY-spirited 24-year-olds (like Jackie once was)? Niles’ answer: storytelling, transparency, and fun. Whether it’s “buy a home, not a hangover” (yes, that’s a real quote from Nestment users) or rewards systems along the buyer journey, Nestment’s approach is fresh, inclusive, and empowering.
What’s Next for Nestment?
Beyond buying homes, Nestment is building tools for post-purchase success—equity tracking, exclusive discounts (hello, Restoration Hardware), refinance alerts, and support during the selling process. The goal? Help users own, manage, and exit their investments with confidence.
As Niles closed the conversation, he reminded listeners of the broader vision:
“If you believe homeownership is part of the American dream, we owe it to ourselves to create pathways to make that dream possible—together.”
Learn More
Explore Nestment: nestment.com
Invest via WeFunder: wefunder.com/nestment
Contact Niles: niles@nestment.com
And don’t miss the World Dog Surfing Championship video on their WeFunder page—yes, pugs and corgis can co-buy too.
Pitch Lab is produced and distributed by Merrick Studios and hosted by Merrick Chief Creative Officer, Tom Frank, content marketer, storyteller, and communications specialist, Jackie Hampton. Tune in to hear this thought-provoking brand discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts.
