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In this episode, we sit down with Lorenzo Mercado—a pediatric nurse turned real estate investor and podcast host—who shares the real side of building wealth while still working a full-time job.

From losing money on flips… to pivoting into boutique hotels… to raising capital and building in public—this episode breaks down what it actually takes to level up in real estate.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but nothing is working yet… this one will hit.

What We Cover

•  What beginners completely misunderstand about real estate 
•  Lorenzo’s first deal (and how he lost ~$30K) 
•  Costly mistakes: permits, timelines, title issues, and bad assumptions 
•  Why flipping can be riskier than people think 
•  Why Lorenzo walked away from flipping entirely 
•  How hotels create value differently than single family homes 
•  The power of NOI vs. comps in commercial real estate 
•  Raising capital and building deals through relationships 
•  Why consistency beats everything (especially early on) 
•  When to stay focused vs. when to pivot 
•  Hiring, leverage, and buying back your time 
•  Building wealth while working a W2 job 
•  Using your network (even your day job) to unlock opportunities 

Key Takeaways

•  “Safe” thinking (no debt, pay everything off) keeps you stuck 
•  Most people don’t fail—they just wait too long to start 
•  Real estate isn’t easier or harder now—it’s just different 
•  Flipping margins are thin unless you control the deal flow 
•  Commercial real estate = controllable value (not comps) 
•  Consistency for 3–5 years is non-negotiable 
•  You don’t need to quit your job to build wealth 
•  The fastest growth comes from taking imperfect action 

Real Talk Moments

•  Losing money on deals doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means you’re learning 
•  “Building in public” comes with pressure—but also opportunity 
•  Waiting is the most expensive mistake in real estate 
•  You can’t learn your way into success—you have to act 

 Books Mentioned

• Rich Dad Poor Dad
• Set for Life – Scott Trench 
• The Surrender Experiment

🔗 Connect with Lorenzo

•  Instagram: @lorenzo.mercado_ 
•  Podcast: The Lo-down

Final Message

If you’re stuck consuming content and waiting for the “right time”…
 this is your sign:

Just start.

You’ll learn more from one deal than 100 podcasts.

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