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In this episode of Wealth Within Reach, I sit down with my incredible friend Ingrid Duque—a powerhouse in the real estate world with a story that embodies resilience, reinvention, and purpose. Ingrid is a former nuclear engineer who immigrated from Colombia as a teenager and worked her way into a successful corporate career. But she didn’t stop there. After achieving financial independence in her twenties through real estate investing, she made the bold decision to walk away from her high-level engineering role and pursue real estate full time.

Ingrid shares the pivotal moment that changed everything for her—a four-day hike through the Colombian jungle that made her realize she was ready to disconnect from the pressure of corporate life and reconnect with the kind of freedom real estate had already begun to offer her. 

We dive into what that transition looked like and how she prepared for it, step by step. Ingrid opens up about how she and her husband started investing while still working W2 jobs, how her upbringing shaped her relationship with work and security, and what it felt like to experience mass layoffs that shook her sense of stability. Now, she specializes in repositioning underperforming single-family and multifamily properties, and she’s building multiple businesses while raising a family.

This conversation is a reminder that building wealth isn’t just about money—it’s about designing a life that feels right. If you’re someone dreaming of becoming work optional, this one’s for you.

KEY POINTS: 

- Ingrid’s transition from engineering to real estate

- The first real estate investment and its valuable lessons 

- Understand different budget levels: survive, sustain, and thrive

- Ways to overcome debt and the benefits of leveraging in real estate 

- The importance of aligning with your spouse on financial goals 

- How joining a mastermind group shifted Ingrid’s mindset 

- On balancing active and passive income streams 

- The lack of representation of Latinos in the real estate industry

- Setting work-life balance and having a "vivid vision"

- The value of a coach in real estate investing 

- Ingrid’s advice on how to get started in real estate investing

QUOTES: 

“It's okay to say no. When you say yes to something, you say no to everything else.” – Ingrid Duque 

“Every dollar has a job. If you don't know what happened to this dollar, you're losing money.” – Ingrid Duque 

“Comparison is a thief of joy. If you go through a profile and it makes you feel angry or jealous, it's not bringing joy to your life.” – Ingrid Duque 

[INVESTOR ROADMAP] Ready to take control of your future? Discover your personalized real estate strategy with our Investor Roadmap Quiz. Start Your Quiz Now and map out your path to success! 

[RESOURCE] Ready to enhance your child’s learning at home? Here are the homeschool activities for your kids! 

[FB GROUP] Loving the podcast and want to engage more with me and our incredible guests? Join the Owning It and Living It Facebook group! It’s where you’ll find real estate tips, expert guidance, and a community of investors to support you. Join today and let’s level up your real estate journey!  

GUEST RESOURCES 

Ingrid Duque 

IG | https://www.instagram.com/engineer.on.fire

Access Ingrid's FREE workshops and resources here! 

RESOURCES: 

Erika Brown

IG: @erikabrowninvestor

LinkedIn: @erika brown

Wealth Within Reach is produced by EPYC Media Network