After breaking her leg, most people would slow down.Michele Correa used it as her wake-up call.From 37 years in the family business to jumping headfirst into real estate in her 50s, Michele completely reinvented herself. One duplex, one rezoning battle, and one lesson at a time.In this episode, Kristi and Raphael sit down with Michele to talk about what it really looks like to build from scratch later in life: the pivots, the partnerships, and the persistence it takes to stay in the game when nothing goes as planned.Michele’s story is equal parts grit and grace, a reminder that you don’t need to have it all figured out to start. You just need to keep showing up, learn as you go, and trust that every setback is setting you up for the next level.What We Cover:✅ The broken leg that changed everything✅ From family business to first duplex✅ Two years of rezoning battles (and what she’d do differently)✅ The power of aligned partnerships✅ How Michele turned obstacles into opportunitiesWhy “everything is figure-outable” is more than a quote,it’s a way of lifeHer role in Elevate SWFL and why community is at the heart of every great projectBold Truth: You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need to start, adapt, and stay curious enough to figure it out along the way.🎧 Developer Vault Drop: Get Michele’s exclusive Partnership Question Guide. A resource to help you vet JV partners, align on values, and build lasting collaborations. Available now inside the Developer Vault.Connect with Michele: 🌐 CorreaEquityPartners.com 📲 Instagram & Facebook: @correaequitypartners 💼 LinkedIn: Michele CorreaListen + Subscribe: Watch full episodes on YouTube or listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.Want more from Kristi? Hear how she’s helping locals become developers in their own communities—without the gatekeeping. 🎧 Local Real Estate Developer Podcast Playlist →👉 Ready to become a local developer in your town? Apply for the Mentorship:https://www.localrealestatedeveloper.com/dev-mentorship🎧 Access all platforms, the Developer Vault, and more:https://linktr.ee/localrealestatedeveloper🎬 Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest01:04 Michelle Correa's Journey to Real Estate04:16 The Decision to Pursue Real Estate06:20 First Project: The Duplex Experience08:48 Challenges in Development Projects11:51 Navigating the Infill Project in New Brunswick16:32 The Importance of Team and Partnerships19:29 Evolving Roles in Development21:08 Capital Raising and Regulatory Considerations24:04 Motivation and Overcoming Challenges25:56 The Importance of Sleep and Stress Management28:06 Navigating Difficult Conversations29:49 Advice for New Developers32:39 Community-Driven Development36:21 Future Projects and Expansion38:12 Building Community Connections42:43 Keeping It Real in Real Estate#localrealestatedeveloper #realestateinvesting #womeninrealestate #mindsetmatters #communitydevelopment #realestatejourney #propertyinvestor #infilldevelopment #therealestatedeveloper #partnerships #elevateswfl