From Scarcity to Abundance through Real Estate with Millionaire Immigrant, Veteran, and Author Maricela Soberanes

Speaker 1

00:00

 This episode is sponsored by the Integrity income fund, which is managed by yours truly and my team at Labrador lending, the Integrity income fund is for accredited investors. It aims to pay an eight percent preferred return and an 8.5% preferred return for early investors. It aims to pay out monthly distributions. There's a 25 thousand dollar minimum and only a one-year lockup. If you are an accredited investor and you're looking to get away from Wall Street, looking to beat inflation and looking for an asset class that is backed by hard physical real estate then look no further than Integrity income fund, check it out at Labrador Lending.com. On this episode, I sat down with Maricela sober honest. I took French for seven years, never took Spanish. So that's about the best I can do. But this was a really, really fun episode, and I mean talk about. So she's an author of multiple books and one of the books is fits perfectly with our podcast and It's just that's actually how I found her, when we go into that a little bit in the beginning of the episode, but Maricela is from Mexico. She was born there into poverty and came to the us at the age of 23 with $100 in her pocket and no English-speaking capabilities, and no friends, no network. So I make the joke that I, you know, had trouble switching middle schools in sixth grade and compared to what She did, you know, you get the point. So now she is a millionaire and is crushing it in real estate. They have she and her husband have invested in passively and actively, they have about 2500 rental doors. So they have moved into multifamily self storage and even mobile home parks. And I mean, really, they're their massive growth has occurred In the last two years. When, you know, most of the world was shut down due to the pandemic. So in the face of scarcity and adversity, she is absolutely living in abundance, and she talks about, you know, several reasons why and her approach to things about being intentional, taking action being grateful, and expanding your network and joining Mastermind groups and just it's very, very inspirational this episode and I know you're going to Love it. Thanks inspiring stories.

Speaker 2

02:54

 Of real people. Overcoming incredible odds to live life to the fullest. We are all guaranteed to face. Hardships, how will we handle the adversity? Join us to be moved by every day, people who have turned poverty into prosperity and weakness into wealth Be Inspired as these relatable Heroes, get vulnerable and former counterintelligence investigator Jamie Bateman puts his interviewing skills to the test. Restore your faith in humanity as you experience. True Cinderella stories of average people turning surreal struggle and deep despair into booming, businesses and financial Fortune. Take ownership of the life. You are destined to live and turn your adversity into abundance.

Speaker 1

03:42

 Welcome everybody to another episode of the form adversity, to abundance podcast. I am your host Jamie Bateman, and I am very excited today, we have a special guest Marisela, sober honest. That's my best attempt, at least at the, my best first attempt. Maricela, how you.

Speaker 2

04:01

 Doing today? I am doing well. Thank you for having me and you did just right. Perfect.

Speaker 1

04:08

 And your company name. Just so we get it out there. You want to say your company name for.

Speaker 2

04:12

 Us? It's all blacks that program.

Speaker 1

04:17

 Perfect. So I didn't before we get into kind of your current context of who you are today. I didn't tell you this before we hit record, but I actually came across your name from I just was, I think I was in, I was Googling authors and, and with something related to my podcast name. So I think I Googled adversity to abundance and books and the name of your book, came up from scarcity to abundance. And so then I started digging a little bit deeper, and I was like this, she would make a fantastic guest and then also, another thing is, I know you were in the military, I was as well. So said I definitely need to get her on the show so didn't tell you that before we hit record. But that's how I found you and tracked you down and I appreciate you spending your time with us because I know it is valuable. If you could tell our listeners what you're up to today and give us a little context of your real estate business and everything else you have going on?

Speaker 2

05:24

 Right now. Yes, thank you for sharing that. That little, you know, those little things that just kind of sometimes that they happen in life and you don't even realize. So, thanks for sharing how you link with us and with me. But so currently, what we do is my husband and I, we are into Apartments indications, so we purchase a large apartment complexes, and we find partners and find investors, and Altogether. The goal is to, you know, do make the projections Rich projections, and then sell the apartment and the meantime, we will so better communities and impacts larger that what we were doing before, which was small, multi-family houses, two places. So we will also do mobile home parks and Self Storage has so that the diverse Nation on that aspect, but majority of focus is Apartments indications.

Speaker 1

06:26

 Okay. So could you put a little bit more context to it as far as some numbers or you know, you don't have to get too detailed if you don't want to but as far as you know how many deals have you done or what does your business look like today?

Speaker 2

06:41

 Yes of course. So we have possibly but I still invest in possibly and every deal we invest, and we offer to our investors. We invest passively with them, but we are not resistant to active. So there's a role that we play as an active member. So possibly, we are invested in 12, 1250 apartments, and five different states and actively we have about 1,200 Apartments. That's a total of four deals where we have, we are primary partners and that's also doesn't three state. So a total of 2,500 apartments across the pipe.

Speaker 1

07:24

 Five, different states. So the three states are part of the five.

Speaker 2

07:29

 States. Yes, yes.

Speaker 1

07:32

 That's, that's a lot. Wow, you guys. Yeah. You're definitely busy. So and how long have you been doing that?

Speaker 2

07:41

 For? So we started with a single families and 2006, and we transition to Apartments 19 months ago.

Speaker 1

07:52

 Got it. Okay. And then you have more recently Diversified a little bit into self storage and mobile home parks, right? You said.

Speaker 2

08:01

 Yes we are. We added those as far as that we call it the generational generation of wealth type of assets that, okay? It's just really a partnership, and we are holding those assets for generations to come. Yeah, so.

Speaker 1

08:18

 Quick before we dive into your backstory. So on the active side, You're more of the GP. Is that how? Okay, and then you bring on limited partners and you're the general partner, playing the active role of putting the deals together, managing the assets, adding value adding, you know, to the noi, which adds to the investment value, the actual value of the asset and then you can exit for a profit. Hopefully, for you and your, your limited partners is that, is that Fair to say.

Speaker 2

08:53

 That is those were I didn't know how deep that I couldn't go.

Speaker 1

08:57

 And no. It's okay. And you know some of our listeners are can talk circles around me as far as multifamily, it's not my wheelhouse but I you know, that is I am generally aware of how that works. You're not running, you know? I mean, I am more in the single-family space where the value of the asset is really based more on the comps and what the Neighbors sold their house for, it's more difficult for me to add value to that asset than it is. Well at least directly influence, the value of the asset itself than it is in the larger commercial or multifamily space. I.

Speaker 2

09:41

 Thought that's a really good point because when we look at apartments it's actually we buy businesses, we buy the business. We better than like you said they know I which is the At that it all expenses old ankle — old expenses and that's your brother. We acquire them we're looking to develop a business plan so that we can improve the noi, which is the vascular, then decide or impact the value. So we do things like we go in there, and we changed the 200, 200, toilets and showers and you know some people might as well while you do that, right? Because with a flush, we're going To save water, you know, and it also gives us the opportunity to go and every single apartment, not only to change the total it because when you are there, then the residents will say, hey, by the way, this is also what I mean. So, and they see the impact right away when we can do. And all of that is planned and all that also results in happy residents that stay longer the sternum and it was all because we wanted to also decrease the water usage. And it The life, you know, the way they leave their the more comfortable. They feel like you did pay attention. You know, the new owner change these and did this for us along the way we impact communities. So, when you start to single families, which we were, we had for $35. We could only let you know, help 35 families. It's.

Speaker 1

11:13

 So limited impact.

Speaker 2

11:15

 Right? Right? Yeah.

Speaker 1

11:17

 Yeah. Now that's great. And so, I mean, it's unfortunately in the media today, Day, and we get such a, you know, the Divide between landlords and tenants is. So I am not saying it doesn't exist anywhere, but it's refreshing to hear from someone who actually wants to make a positive impact and make some money along the way and help, you know, you know, leave a positive influence, you know, in your wake and also make money for your investors. And I mean that's Should be the goal in my opinion. As why can't? Every, why can't it be a win-win-win? So that's really good. I am glad to hear and you're an elder. Think we mentioned that you're in the Austin, Texas area. Is that.

Speaker 2

12:04

 Right? Yeah, we're based in Austin and yeah we invest in Austin, Houston and Dallas and then outside of the State of Texas.

Speaker 1

12:13

 Is it mostly what other states are you in? You don't.

Speaker 2

12:16

 Mind a little. So in most of the states, to the way we picked this that they are Business small, business friendly and that's mainly that Isis are not too crazy. That regulations are not. Not too, you know. Yeah. That will California New York.

Speaker 1

12:39

 So you're more in the, the South. And yeah, we start at Georgia. I am just guessing.

Speaker 2

12:46

 Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1

12:50

 Okay. All right. Now, that's that makes a lot of sense. And yeah, you definitely have been in the real estate investment game for quite some time. And so, and I think moving diversifying at this point makes a good bit of sense as well, so that's really good. So more to the, The Human Side of things from scarcity to abundance. And I see you do have another book as well. Real estate investing made simple but from scarcity, To abundance. That's your new book, The more recent book can you tell us kind of what led to that and you can pick it up where you'd like to from your own whether it's childhood or wherever you'd like to, but we you know the we want to walk through kind of your backstory and discuss some of the adversity, the personal adversity or business related challenges that you have been through and, you know, that's hopefully you can be an inspiration for the listeners. I am so yeah, tell us more about the book and your.

Speaker 2

13:53

 Background. Yeah. So the book actually is my bright background, is actually, there're stories that I grew up in Mexico. I was born and raised there. And at age 5 my mom moved us as a family to them, to the city from, you know, was a small little town, very little town and my grandma stay there might well, you know, the rest of the family stay there and so Along the years. Every summer, my mom will bring us back to visit Grandma. But you know, my week will bring very, very poor, like we I mean, comment or traveling as a family back to my grandma was sacrificed that we all have to make. And because just about, you know, saving, and, you know, just optimizing a resources to be able to afford to go back, and he was in a luxury Trooper by any means. But that was the way that we grow up. But you know I wrote that book to share that those memories with the generations that will be here in my grandma passed my mom passed. And you know, it's comment for me, right? That's right. Her Legacy and share those stories. But I also wanted to make it the lessons that I learned our lessons that I continue to apply and Have during my entire life to, to get to where I am. This all is affirmations, abundance thinking larger but so that's, that's the yeah, why, I wrote.

Speaker 1

15:40

 This book. So now, let us in and I end up saying this on a lot of episodes. The point is not to bring back terrible memories or to, you know, make anyone cry although that She did just happen last week on an episode but you know, and I am certainly not therapy or anything like that but if you could, could you dive into a little more specifics as far as the adversity, you have faced and poverty. Right. There is a big one obviously. So but either be more specific about the poverty or were there other types of challenges that you faced growing.

Speaker 2

16:22

 Up? Yeah, mostly the not having enough too just to sustain as a family, you know, my mom it was but eight of us. And she actually went and this small little town. She was that Midwife for the community and when she when we moved to the city, there's hospital. So she immediately lost. No, no friends. Her committee but also, the ability to make money or, or transactions that will help her, you know, take care of the family. She actually didn't know how to read or write because I was just in that area. So you can only imagine how difficult it was for her to overcome and then, but she always make sure that she provided the in the house. There was the love that there was a family that community and, and that was the, that's why she make the Effort to bring us back to where we could see that. Well, it doesn't have or not, as you can see that, it wasn't going to need to help each other. So I mean, I can tell you there then, you know what I saw outside of the house, people had all their things and that's how I knew that. Oh, okay. We just don't have that, but he does send it wasn't like a mystery. It was, it wasn't like a comparison ago. Like, you know, I really I mean I when I wrote the book, Look, I was I was trying to write in a way that it didn't sound. Like, you said, a sob story because we don't talk about, you know, sadness it. But in reality, it really was abundance. Now, I could tell you when I moved to the state's at age, 23, and I arrived here, I didn't speak the language. I didn't speak any English, I didn't know anyone and I had $100, I will get that. But.

Speaker 1

18:22

 That's a lot of I am just right there. That's, that's a.

Speaker 2

18:25

 Lot. I didn't have I committed anymore. I didn't have my mom. I had, you know, I just had that good. I think that is even a bigger obstacle, you know? But I was just a fact that I woke up the next day, and I was in America. I am like my eyes were like I can't believe I am .

Speaker 1

18:43

 Here. So I mean I was talking the other day about how I switched schools in the middle of sixth grade and how that was Is challenging. So you know, compared to what you went through a 23, I don't think switching middle schools is all that challenging, but what led up to the the you know to before you were 23 or had what led up? What was the context to you coming to?

Speaker 2

19:13

 America? I actually sold my first degree was business, business degree Mexico, and I was practicing and the company that we did a lot of business with was from the states. So every time I get to dance with the phone, it was an English. So I was doing my job. Well but in Spanish and then every time I have a goal from the state's, I would like just a moment. Interest rate. And I like I wanted and I there was a couple of people. One was the owner and another executive that was fluent at English and that's where the ghost went to, and I am like well who like to help them, I would like to see what it.

Speaker 1

20:02

 Felt like you weren't doing your job as well as you could have. And so that was really the impetus to. So it was all about learning the language.

Speaker 2

20:13

 Yes, that's the I want to I let her go and see what it feels like. Just to be in a place where you can't understand and learn. So they put myself through school and my first classes where they English as a second language and then going.

Speaker 1

20:32

 Okay? So you said, you put yourself through school. Well, how did, what did that look like? How did you were you working at the same time? I.

Speaker 2

20:41

 Guess. Yes, yes. I have to be, you know, able to provide this again, I have to pay for school, pay for all my expenses and so, yeah, I was working. Well, I was going to school. I actually went to nursing school and I kept going. I went to Anesthesia school. I graduated after that. I included military. That's, I think that was another face. That was a little challenging.

Speaker 1

21:09

 Yeah. Yeah. So what led you to the military would? How did that transition?

Speaker 2

21:14

 Go. So it was, so I have to have finished my doctorate. Then I have I just feel like it has so much. I have that the America has given me so many opportunities. At that point, I was in this, I had a couple Investments. I would just felt like I was living the dream. I didn't know man, I am like that. I just it was time for me to give back and Military that I was in school, and they are record recording person. They came, and they said well, we really need a decision providers in the military, and I was like, okay well go.

Speaker 1

21:58

 Okay, so, yeah, I mean, on some level I can relate to that actually was I ended up joining later than most people do. Yeah. I was a 2728 going through basic training and then in the Army and then I went through Federal Officer candidate school. And at that point, when you get to OCS, people are the average age is a little bit older because you have people who were enlisted for a while that are, you know, becoming officers so. But in basic training, I was definitely on the older side. And so, you know, at the time it might have seemed as far as why did I join? Might have seemed like it came out of nowhere, because we actually had just gotten married and then I joined the military. So looks like I ran off from got scared and join the military but a big reason why I did this is the point I am getting to is that it was to do something you know with that I thought was honorable and just to try to serve and give back and it may sound like, you know, I am gloating or you know, but that really was it. I mean it was not to pay off student loans or, you know, take some big bonus or something like that. It was to do something with purpose. Us and to serve and to give certainly the military ended up, benefiting me as well. But yeah, it sounds like, in some ways it was similar for you, where you just, you, you felt like the country had given you so much and you wanted to give back. So then you were in the Navy. Is that.

Speaker 2

23:35

 Right Alison? That maybe they have I had given a sedative Anand, and they gave me like a year something Planet. So, I quickly promoted to Lieutenant Commander. I did eight years and then separated, but I had a blast.

Speaker 1

23:56

 That's awesome. And how long were you in the Navy for your city ears? Okay, got it. Well, if to edit that part out. Okay, so then and then what did you do after the Navy the?

Speaker 2

24:09

 Navy, So I got out last year I just in doing we have been doing the apartments indications and building.

Speaker 1

24:19

 Wow, that's awesome. So yeah. So when do you sleep? What was that? I am sorry that cut out for a.

Speaker 2

24:29

 Bit. I am not writing a book.

Speaker 1

24:32

 Oh yeah. Then writing a book as well. She's.

Speaker 2

24:36

 Writing a book that's when I sleep.

Speaker 1

24:38

 Oh gotcha. Got it. So what why real estate and you know we will talk about that, and then we can go back to the kind of the lessons that you were started to touch on lessons. You have learned from the adversity and how you have applied those but why, why what got you into real estate?

Speaker 2

25:00

 So there I was, you know, doing my pay my bills and then after finishing my lunch shift at the hospital and I just got, I got home and I realized that. Wow, that the neighbor is paying mortgage based they might work, is that was a nice feeling to have, you know, but then I liked it. It was I was single then, and I was like, well someday I won't be able to go to work, you know. Age or anything could happen. I mean, I was making good hospital, and I was working really long hours, but I realized that if I don't go to work, I wasn't going to be making any money that was needed to be present to make that money, right? And, and I realized that someday, I might not for whatever reason be able to and I saw the possibility of having the cash flow from Investments, like, putting the money to work and then the money was making more money. So I figured if I do more of this, Then I can fix it. So that really was how I got started thinking about it and it grow it up in Mexico. The duplex theme wasn't a thing. You know, we don't have to play either have a house that is occupied by generations for stories first game, but there's really not that kind of investment. So I was lucky at that. That my agent offer me because I told him I am not looking for something big. I want a house for me, something just me and something else that I can, you know, have a roommate and use the concept of that duplex. Duplex. So having that mentality, I thought, well, if I buy more duplexes than I can then, you know, reduce my hours or not have to put work and looking into it. And when I deployed, I actually spend a lot of time learning How, how does that real estate can actually build your wealth and, and you can scale it. And so, that's when I learned about syndications and how you can come.

Speaker 1

27:10

 Now, where did you deploy?

Speaker 2

27:13

 I wasn't Djibouti Africa.

Speaker 1

27:15

 Okay. Gotcha, I wasn't expecting that answer, okay. Yeah, I mean and people say how do you have time to do that when you were deployed and, you know, I was deployed to Iraq and its Even though you're busy a lot, you still have downtime and you don't have, you know, 24/7 you're not busy with work. So what are you going to do with that downtime? And I actually started a second degree because it was like, all right, I don't know what else. What why not and that was before remote learning was so popular but yeah but 2006 you said is when you got started right in real estate. Yes, so I mean that's you know, the internet was obviously around, but yeah, I don't think BiggerPockets was the thing and, you know, you didn't have all these books and all these resources. So that's impressive, you know, because it wasn't until much later that we really went full on with, you know, because there's podcast and things staring you in the face with how to learn and how to grow your network. So it sounds like you did. More locally through, you know, through your agent and then started to scale from there, is that fair to say?

Speaker 2

28:34

 Yes. Yes, when I came back that I have saved a lot of money from, you know, by my income must non-taxable and like you said, when you're deployed to provide all your meals, everything there's now where you can spend the money. Yeah I love that when I came back. I was looking for more do places and then you know four-plex came along, and I am like wait. My goal was to buy one, one home, a year, when house a year and then I am like, wow, I can buy for.

Speaker 1

29:04

 42, right? Yeah. So you're maybe slowly but your mind started to expand as far as what was possible, and, and then it just grew from there. When did you get into kind of the bigger multifamily investing?

Speaker 2

29:24

 Yes. Oh, I love along the way. I made my husband, and he have, he has to say mindset of, you know, growing and growing your network and putting your money to work. So we got along really well, and he was still active. He did 26 and a half years, and he retired and October 20, 20. So and.

Speaker 1

29:46

 That's to him.

Speaker 2

29:48

 Thank you. Yes, thank you. So he that's when actually we transition to start selling the or smoke lot more than family and going into a bar. It's indications. We started past it as passive investors, so we can learn, and we also pay for mentorship. We pay for different masterminds and invested thousands of dollars to learn from the best people that they were doing, and we still are invested in ourselves and the business but that's what allow us to go transition from you know from $35 to 2500.

Speaker 1

30:22

 That's incredible growth. And I will be honest I have gotten Stingy with the, you know, the Mastermind. So I just joined a mastermind. So I finally, you know, pulled the trigger but I think a lot of people get hung up on that and you can definitely waste money there if you're not careful with what groups you're getting into or who you're being associated with. But I mean that's definitely been a theme already in the show is just, you know, don't be afraid to spend invest in yourself, really is what it is, is you're plugging yourself into a network of people who have been doing this and in where you're just absorbing knowledge and you're just learning and growing and now you're exposed to all these other investors and just. Yeah, so I think that makes a lot of sense and obviously it works or else, you wouldn't continue to spend money in that fashion, right?

Speaker 2

31:21

 It did return on investment. So most people is going to say, well, okay, well I am gonna pay I don't know, 25,000 dollars of this Mastermind and that's just one of the so impotent. What do I get out of it? What you get out of it? What you, what, you put, you know. Yeah, amount. But it not everybody does the same work. So it's the work that you do. That is going to give you return on investments. We go to dance. We meet so many people, and then we meet him again. Next year, the next year and some of them action and, and it goes, so if you're paying for these Investments, make sure that you're taking advantage of it and a way that you're getting your money back and whatever that looks for you or your audience right now. I am speaking to your audience.

Speaker 1

32:10

 No, you're right.

Speaker 2

32:11

 Yeah. So, if you're, if you're putting your hard-earned money into a mastermind, or a course or a Our make sure that you're getting your money out but that's going to be not only for from the event and, you know, it's going to be a continuous work in reaching out to do to those connections that you met briefly, you know, see how you can add value to them and you know and that usually comes back around and in both of you what's that condemn them, both sides and up, you know, gaining something. So for us being it has been the source of a lot of Partnerships. A lot of investors a lot of just businesses that we create. And yeah we the other thing is when it is a self-selecting process, right? Because you just said it earlier and not everybody pulls the trigger on the people that already invested in there and then whatever you know. So let us just say I seminar I Mastermind all selecting their already saying hey I am good, I am done this series. I am going to do invest this amount of money, so they will do it. As part of the work for you already, so the rest of it is yourself, right? So we are very intentional or not only being there, you know? If we something we haven't, we go to be sitting at the front Road asking questions connecting with everybody and anyone that we can, you know, that's where the sweet spot is.

Speaker 1

33:41

 That's really good. And so it was you said late 2020, when you really got started in the large multi families, right? These indications. And what You're doing now. Is that right.

Speaker 2

33:53

 October. Yeah 2020.

Speaker 1

33:54

 I mean that's so you know I think a lot of people would have been scared at that point you know with the pandemic and all that. And so I mean that's amazing. So at that point on October 20, 2008, proximately, how many doors did you have passively or actively?

Speaker 2

34:15

 So, and actually, in love, say it before May, which is when we learn about the covid thing, right? When you actually invited. Yeah, I lost my contract, which I was going to a different hospital to work, am I? Like, I mentioned my job, my primary job is anesthesia, so I do, but two different hospitals. So my job, cancel, the contract and eight. And we look at we do we, we saw how the severity of all this. Wave of the covid was hidden. And we had at that point we have 30 31 until units and the down and the numbers, how are we going to play the mortgages that are we able to pay? You know, because they were looked back for giving forgiveness on the loans. And we're thinking we were grateful that we didn't have to do use any of that. With ten units being paying, they actually cover all Expenses. So at which point we actually one of the wholesalers that we got a lot of properties from came around and said hey you know I have this for plexus very distressed and it's we gonna sell for this much when it's still and sew it in. It was very distressed. It was full of trash full of fleas and that it was going to be a little old completely. They decided to buy it, and we since there's nothing was happening. My husband was retired in October, I was just and then I didn't know if I was gonna go back to work, and we ended up doing all that renovation by ourselves. We did not the place that we believe on it for 65. I think it was, and we put about A Hundred twenty thousand dollars in the old insulation. We did everything like it was from the start up, and we ended up selling it because somebody came in, offer us some, you know, healthy Bryce and Amber said, we were married. We were literally money in and cleaning, and we were listening to the seminar that we syndication seminar. And, and that's when we realized, you know what, we need to be more intentional. And so the second day of the seminar, we got a hotel, we stayed there. We just we're in front of the TV digital and the end that day is when we actually joined up that mentorship program and it was probably about two days after that we that they. So I guess that was $35 and about I don't know, like the same week we invested possibly with a person that actually that I have been in contact for a podcast, and we invested possibly So that was about, I don't know if it was probably about 200 units or so. And then we just continue to do the same thing just in that eventually, even though that wasn't given us the cash flow. Now I remember you said is they cover dear. So we were not going to be getting the money from the residence, but we still trusted that this was a good decision and a better decision to scale and to let go of the smaller unit and so that they don't, but they know the year we sold what Are the units. We put all the money back into these indications, and we did that nine times. So in nine months we went from you know no apartments in our portfolio to 12 to 1500. I think he was.

Speaker 1

37:46

 That's incredible. That's I mean. Wow, and this is really this at the start of covid you know as far as maybe it started before that but it March April 20 Until now you have grown from 30 to 35 rental units, somewhere in there too, what you say, 2500 as passive and active doors, that's amazing and so and you keep putting, you know, the profits and your own physical energy and Sweat Equity into the business. It sounds like so you have just grown exponentially That's, that's fantastic. So before we get to kind of rapid fire set of questions that I didn't prep you for what would you say as far as you know, looking back at the adversity that you have faced and of course you will continue to face adversity. We don't act like all of your adversity or your scarcity is 100% gone. And now you only live in abundance, we don't pretend like that's, you know, an overnight thing or but what would you say to me, your death? Currently living in financial abundance. Certainly relative to where you were. So what would you say are some of the lessons you have learned as far as kind of you know, moving toward?

Speaker 2

39:12

 Abundance, One. Well said, the first one is to be grateful and appreciative for what we have because just when we think that the divorce is happening, there's always something were so weak people for not having that other words, tried, and choosing intentionally focus on and on. Well, we have like being able to dream big, you know, to have a Dream. You know, there are at least you have the clarity to have a dream, you know, and that sometimes it's the only thing that you have and that's the only thing that you have to propel yourself. So definitely being grateful for what we have. And the other thing is that, what I would say, what differentiates the person that stays in the end, the scarcity from the person abundance, is the person that takes the action. You know, you have to be intentional. What actions we take and that Other with setting your goals, it's just as you're, right? You're lining up the map and you're pretty much giving your brain a path that it is full, so, you know, being grateful, being intentional and taking action and having you.

Speaker 1

40:28

 Goals those are because they're very good. Yeah, because you hear this debate and I actually heard a little bit of this yesterday on a short podcast as far as you have kind of the Think and Grow Rich crowd who you know if you're taking that extreme on the extreme it's all I just have to think I don't have to do anything. I just have to dream and that it will magically happen. No, you do need to roll up your sleeves and not be afraid to, you know, do the full rehab yourself. But if you don't actually dream and plan and think and you just, you only take action, then you're going to be getting yourself know where you're headed in the wrong direction. So, like you said, you Be intentional about it, you need and you need both. So that's, that's really good. That yeah, that's I don't have much to add their be intentional dream, big take action, and be grateful, was the first one you said, so. All right, few more rapid fire questions here. What do people misunderstand about you?

Speaker 2

41:40

 Because of my accent?

Speaker 1

41:43

 Yeah, they misunderstand what I am saying.

Speaker 2

41:51

 I think, I think that probably that I am like all the time go-getter and there's now that is not true because sometimes I allow myself to say, you know, I am gonna take it easy today, you know, and I do have those times when, you know, just, you know, just have fun and live life. So I think that last me, when do you sleep? Well, I do.

Speaker 1

42:12

 Sleep. Right. Gotcha. Yep, that's good. Looking back. What would you say? What is one of your regrets or failures or, you know, however, you want to frame that? But something that you would change or do.

Speaker 2

42:28

 Differently, I mean that there's what laughter defined by the real was it? Well maybe I should have done that, I should do that and sometimes it's harder to like put it in the world specially when you're asking front of the strangers.

Speaker 1

42:43

 Sure.

Speaker 2

42:45

 But I think that definitely is spending more time with family and that's always going to be like, man I should have and I should put the trip, especially, you know, my family be in Mexico. Now you know, I am married and my side of the family here which is a big city. It's always that time you know there wasn't there was they were years that I didn't have a means to go like I have no money if I stop working and I couldn't afford. Right. So definitely more time with family and yeah.

Speaker 1

43:19

 Yeah, that's good. If you could go back and give your 18 year, old self advice, what would it be?

Speaker 2

43:30

 I would say. Gosh. I was saved just not, not to worry too much about what other people's labels that they stamp and you, you know, we hear something. And we cannot take that to heart, which we believe it, you know, and then with a bit in there ourselves. So I would say, definitely, you know, have your voices be stronger than others in a way that impact you, instead of listening to those messages.

Speaker 1

44:03

 It's good. If you could have coffee with any historical figure, who would it be?

Speaker 2

44:09

 Wow. Mother Teresa.

Speaker 1

44:13

 Okay. Any I think I almost don't have to ask why, but why would it be?

Speaker 2

44:20

 Her away? I just think every word that she's that she spoke as follows awful. And even if it's like, two, three minutes that I get to just absorb her, you know, I just see her as a gift. And person as a very wise person, you know. So yeah. Just to kind of be there and I feel like it with her words, she just hugs you and like, you know you.

Speaker 1

44:57

 Yeah. You're definitely we'd all be just better off if we spent five minutes with her. I agree. How about in your business? What's a, what's a challenge that you're facing?

Speaker 2

45:09

 Today? So we grew a little too fast and not a bad thing. It's a challenging thing because when you were in a growing face, you really are just some survival face, right? So, you know, we started hiring now or people who are hiring or team and, but we still have to continue going. So it's been challenging to like train or delegate when you're still trying to learn it. So we do have we have now You know we have hired amazed in theme and but it still is taking us time to develop, but we'd rather do it. Now then at that hopefully will grow faster. Instead of we see it, we see it very often and that's indicator. Syndication world that there's this very successful people, they have been doing it for ten, twenty years, and they're just now hiring 11 assistant they still as.

Speaker 1

46:07

 Yeah. So we're.

Speaker 2

46:08

 That very, very early and even though it's an investment in the business, Business. You know the goal is to continue to grow and not have this Stagger Lee not hitting the ceiling every so often or if it's low many.

Speaker 1

46:20

 Yeah. Do you is it a virtual assistant or how have you been?

Speaker 2

46:24

 Hiring? We actually have this date. We have a physical person, and we have a couple virtual assistants and the goal is to have at least another person in the state. Yeah.

Speaker 1

46:41

 And how do you and your husband divide up roles?

Speaker 2

46:46

 He is more of the numbers person. He's on the writer, he does a lot of the market analysis. I do a lot of the chit-chatting and any relations investors and a lot of admins, we kind of naturally, you know, follow what? What feels good. And it's people and the business.

Speaker 1

47:07

 Yeah, got ya. I have experienced that myself as far as what I have worked with my spouse with in real estate as well. But Even with other business partners kind of just naturally gravitate to certain things, even if it's not super, well-defined up front and either works or it doesn't. But gotcha. So what is one piece of advice? You'd give to someone just starting out in real.

Speaker 2

47:35

 Estate? Find mentorship and time the mentorship from the people. So find it finds the person that is doing it on the daily basis, like, in the market that we are. You know if you don't do your no buying an apartment, we are among people that are doing that every single day because, you know, the process of buying it might take you three to five months. And if you take a you post off the market, the market is changing so quickly. So fine mentorship and be in a community that are that there are doing what you want to do.

Speaker 1

48:15

 Got it. That's good. All right. What's a move? That you would recommend. You ever watch any.

Speaker 2

48:22

 Movies? No. Right.

Speaker 1

48:26

 Or how about if you want to switch it to a book? Other than your own?

Speaker 2

48:30

 Okay. Yeah. So I really like the Millionaire Next Door. Yeah.

Speaker 1

48:36

 Yeah. I am trying to think because there's millionaire real estate investor Millionaire Next Door. Got it? That's the one. Where School teachers might be a millionaire and you don't know it.

Speaker 2

48:48

 Right? Yeah. And Takes you to the process of, you know why it how they got into being a millionaire by do the habits that they have and how they live their life? You know. And there's, there's now that you have to be flashy and, you know, live though there because you have some money and if you put it in perspective, really being a millionaire these days. So it's in dollars like you buy a house. People has a house, but it's not just because the wind up, right in that book actually was written. To Be A Millionaire.

Speaker 1

49:22

 That was impressive. Okay, as we start to wrap up here, what's one question that you wish I had asked that? I haven't asked 11 topics you'd like to address that we didn't.

Speaker 2

49:39

 Touch on. Let me with. We kind of visited all those.

Speaker 1

49:47

 I have been thorough. I have been. Okay.

Speaker 2

49:52

 Got it.

Speaker 1

49:54

 Okay. Do you listen to any podcast you ever listen to any other podcast that you could recommend?

Speaker 2

50:03

 Yes. I like to well, you know, the real estate investment. I visit you know, the different topics I like that because they, you know, they kind of wrap up the topics for you and then if I like a specific person and then I go and follow but I kind of bounced back and forth and different podcasts.

Speaker 1

50:25

 Right? Yeah I do the same thing. Okay, that's awesome. I think we have has been really good. I you have obviously the the your story and your book, you know, they fit perfectly with The theme of my show and, you know, from scarcity to abundance. And it's one of those things where it's just I think our listeners are going to benefit greatly by hearing your story and I mean, you didn't you couldn't you didn't know English at 23 and you move to the US and now you're an author and you have 2500, you know, doors, rental, rental, properties, or rental units, passively and Really mean, and you're just the last three years, two years, you have just blown up. So it's, you and your husband and just its incredible growth, and I just the mindset, the abundance mindset being grateful, being intentional, taking action. And also, I don't want to forget that you repeatedly talked about kind of serving others and making out there making your tenants, you know, serving your tenants, and making things a win-win and Improving communities along the way. So it's not like it's a Cutthroat mentality where it's, you know, all about you and your husband making as much cash as possible. It's also serving others. So you have anything to add to those kind of final.

Speaker 2

51:57

 Thoughts. I actually do want to add that when you mentioned giving back we, or we have a mission to do medical missions. I have been doing medical missions to different countries but I have never done one to make. Mexico. And one of the things that I, when I went and saw my grandma for the last time she was in so much pain, and she couldn't, she stopped living life because she was in so much pain from her. I tried it, and I was able to inject local anesthetic in her knees and immediately like three minutes later she like wow it doesn't hurt anymore, and she is she asked me and the middle of her you know just kind of getting out of her own pain. And she asked me if I could do Same thing for her friends and her community because she committee for 104 years. So I was her only worry. I can help them well with what I have. And I promised her that I will in part of like actually the book. I wrote it for waking up that theme and all the profits from that book. And other materials that we share. The second book, are that be dedicated to bring medical missions or first? One is scheduled to be Jun 20 2014. Five. We are trying to do it earlier than that is possible. But that is the like what I told, you said your goals. That's all go. That's June to 2025 and hopefully before but all of this, what we do with the passive income and the, you know, I guess the goal is to be able to give back an awfully more than one Mission will do several, and we are going to open it to do a community Wellness, our riches. So we will be like, help build houses improve the community. Just, that's.

Speaker 1

53:43

 Good. That's great. I actually skipped over. How do you like to serve others? Because we are, you know, partially because we're running a little short on time, but it's also because I felt like you'd already shown that, But I am really glad you, you threw that in there because that is, you know, that's a lot. That's you clearly are giving back and serving. That's, that's impressive. So, June you said, June 20. 25 is the goal. Gotcha. That's for to Mexico.

Speaker 2

54:17

 Yes, got.

Speaker 1

54:18

 It. Awesome. Okay. Where can our listeners find you online? I know, you're out there but what websites or social media channels? Would you like to.

Speaker 2

54:31

 Highlight but Instagram? I am there. My name will pop but my guess whatever the name is that as the millionaire, The Immigrant milliner? But you can just Google my name and same thing for Facebook and Lincoln.

Speaker 1

54:50

 Yep, just end. And you want to spell your name for the listeners who are only listening and not watching.

Speaker 2

54:57

 This. Right, as ma RI see, Ela and the last name is s 0 b as in bravo e.r.a. N as in Nancy, yes.

Speaker 1

55:13

 Fantastic and your business is up, Plex, up', Plex, Great. This has been very good myself. I really appreciate you joining us. It's been, I mean we have covered a lot from the human angle and all the poverty and University that you faced and now the growth you are continuing to experience from a financial and social standpoint. And just like I said, this, your story really fits very well with my show, so I know our listeners are going to get a lot of value from this. So, thank you very much for your time.

Speaker 2

55:52

 Thank you very much for having me.

Speaker 1

55:54

 Absolutely. And to our listeners out there please do give us a five star rating and review. My website is Labrador lending.com, you can check out what we have going on with different offerings that we have for Passive investors, and we do have resources for active, mortgage note investors, if you want to learn more about that so please check that out as well. Thanks everyone. Take care.

Speaker 2

56:21

 Thanks so much for tuning in to this episode of the form adversity to abundance podcast. If you're enjoying the show, please feel free to rate, subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to your podcast that helps others find the show, and we greatly appreciate it. Thanks again for listening, and we will catch you in the next episode.