Valiant Group

From Side Hustle to Success: The Valiant Group Story

A personal project doesn’t always become a thriving business. But for Josh Manning, his side hustle of buying and renovating distressed properties has transformed into a comprehensive real estate enterprise that’s rewriting the rules of property management.

A few short years ago, Manning was working a full-time job while buying and renovating houses on the side. “The first year, I did seven properties,” he recalls. “The second year, 50. The next year, 60 or 70.” This small-scale operation quickly revealed a fundamental truth: successful property management begins with understanding the intricacies of ownership.

Manning’s background in construction provided a unique perspective. Having worked for a large general contractor and been involved in significant projects like hotel developments, he understood that real estate is about more than buying and selling. It’s about creating value.

The turning point came when Manning began managing his own properties. Initially, it wasn’t his intention. “It was never meant to be a business where we managed for other people,” Manning explains. “I just wanted to manage my own assets.” But as other property owners saw the success of Manning’s approach, they asked for help. “A buddy called and said, ‘I’m unhappy with my current management company. Would you do it?’” What started with a single client soon expanded. Today, Valiant Group manages 700 units. About half are owned by the company and the other half belong to external investors.

What sets Valiant Group apart is their intimate understanding of property ownership. Because they own and develop properties themselves, they know exactly what makes a property profitable. Jennifer Moore, the company’s broker and director of property management can look at any property and provide nuanced insights about market rents, maintenance needs, and potential challenges. Leveraging laboriously built technology platforms, Valiant Group has created a data-driven management approach. They track everything from applications and leads to rental income, occupancy rate, cash flow analysis, market comparisons and maintenance requests. Valiant gives property owners unprecedented visibility into their investments. “We’re not just managing properties. We’re managing them like they’re our own,” Moore says.

“If we have an apartment complex with 30 units and five people move out,” Manning explains, “we understand the financial implications. We can strategize when to repair units, when to leave them vacant, and how to minimize negative cash flow.”

Unlike many management companies, Valiant handles most maintenance internally. “We’re not subcontracting,” Manning emphasizes. “We have in-house maintenance crews handling about 80% of maintenance needs.” This approach allows for better cost control, negotiated material contracts, quicker response times and high-quality workmanship.

Valiant Group offers more than a service to property owners. They offer a partnership. “You get to own the asset without any of the headaches,” Manning states.

From renovating distressed properties to managing everything from affordable single-family homes to furnished short-term rentals, Valiant Group has built a business that reflects its founders’ core belief: success comes from truly understanding every aspect of real estate.

What began as one man’s side project has become a testament to the power of passion, continuous learning, and a commitment to creating value, one property at a time.