Real Estate Investing for Latinas | Real Estate Chisme

Real Estate Investing for Latinas | Real Estate Chisme

By Violeta SandovalBusinessInvesting
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Real Estate Investing for Latinas | Real Estate Chisme episodes

  • 49. What Every Investor Gets Wrong About Real Estate Taxes | With Laura Zarrate

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    What if you could write off up to $200,000 in losses against your spouse's income—just by qualifying for one specific tax status?

    In this episode, Violeta and Lindsay sit down with Laura Zarrate, CPA and founder of Athena CPAs and Advisors, to break down the real estate tax strategies that can make or break your bottom line. Laura shares her expertise on active versus passive income, real estate professional status, and the advanced strategies that seasoned investors use to legally minimize their tax liability.

    The conversation starts by clearing up one of the biggest misconceptions in real estate investing: the difference between passive and active income. Laura explains that passive losses—generated through depreciation—generally cannot offset other income like a W-2, while active real estate losses can. This distinction becomes even more powerful once you understand depreciation as a "paper loss," and how bonus depreciation allows investors to deduct the full value of certain property components in the year they're placed in service, rather than spreading it out over decades.

    Laura and Violeta dig into a concept many investors don't fully understand until it's too late: depreciation recapture. When you sell a property you've depreciated, the IRS requires you to "recapture" that depreciation and pay taxes on it at ordinary income rates, while the remaining gain is taxed at capital gains rates. This is where the 1031 exchange becomes a powerful tool, allowing investors to defer that recapture indefinitely by exchanging one property for another of like kind, using a qualified intermediary to hold the funds throughout the process.

    The episode then turns to Violeta's own goal for the year: qualifying for real estate professional status. Laura breaks down the two core requirements—spending more than 750 hours a year in real estate activities, and having that be your primary activity (more than 50% of your working hours)—and clarifies that a real estate professional status has nothing to do with holding a real estate license. She also explains the short-term rental loophole, which allows investors to treat Airbnb-style income as active even without meeting the 750-hour test, provided the average stay is seven days or less and the owner is materially involved.

    One of the most valuable takeaways is that a spouse's hours count toward the 750-hour requirement, even if that spouse isn't the one claiming real estate professional status. This means a couple where one partner works a W-2 job can still combine their hours on rehabs, property management, and admin work to qualify—unlocking the ability to use real estate losses to offset the W-2 spouse's income entirely.

    Laura also introduces cost segregation studies as the next-level strategy for maximizing this benefit. By hiring an engineering firm to break down a property's components and their individual useful lives, investors can accelerate depreciation on items like windows, cabinets, and flooring using bonus depreciation rules—creating much larger paper losses than standard 27.5-year depreciation alone. But she cautions that cost segregation only makes sense if you plan to hold the property long-term, since selling triggers the same depreciation recapture conversation from earlier in the episode.

    Finally, the group discusses self-rental rules, the importance of keeping a time log to substantiate real estate professional status if audited, and how to vet who you actually want in your corner—a CPA who understands real estate deeply, versus tax "strategists" who may not have the credentials or experience to back up their advice when the IRS comes knocking.

    This episode is a real, practical breakdown of the tax strategies that separate investors who scale efficiently from those who leave money on the table—straight from a CPA who specializes in real estate.

    Links Mentioned:

    Athena CPAs and Advisors

    Support the show

    Join my Latina Real Estate Investors Community (FREE)
    https://www.skool.com/real-estate-jefas-9075/about

    Get my FREE Real Estate Investing Starter Kit
    https://moneychisme.kit.com/rei-starter-kit

    Property Management made easy with RentRedi
    https://app.rentredi.com/signUp/AOK400?utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=referralShare

    Manage Your Funds with BASELANE Banking
    https://invite.baselane.com/Violeta84614

    Follow us on Social Media

    https://www.instagram.com/money_chisme/

    https://www.instagram.com/lindoesinvesting/

    Disclaimer:
    We are not financial advisors. The information contained in this video is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed professional before making any financial decisions.


    Affiliate links: I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. This helps me provide you with free content, like this podcast! You can read my full disclaimer here: ...

    43 min
  • 48. How Appraisers Calculate a Property's Value (Sales vs. Income Approach)

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    What if you did everything right—found a great deal, negotiated a good purchase price—and the bank still tells you your property is worth less than you paid?

    In this episode, Violeta and Lindsay break down everything you need to know about home appraisals, sparked by Violeta's own experience getting her appraisal back for a duplex she's closing on next week. They cover what an appraisal actually is, why lenders require it, how it's calculated, and what to do if the number comes back lower than expected.

    Lindsay explains that a home appraisal is a professional, evidence-based analysis used to develop an opinion of a property's value, pulling from real market data like the MLS to support that number. Violeta breaks down why lenders care so much about appraisals in the first place: the house is collateral for the loan, and the lender needs to know it's actually worth what they're letting you borrow. She walks through how the loan-to-value ratio shifts depending on whether the appraisal comes in at, above, or below the purchase price, and why that risk calculation can directly affect whether your deal closes.

    They also clear up a common point of confusion: an appraisal is not the same as a home inspection. An appraiser is only concerned with value, while a home inspector assesses the physical condition of the property—plumbing, electrical, roofing, HVAC, and foundation. Lindsay emphasizes why rental property investors need both working in tandem, since a property's true investment potential depends on knowing both what it's worth and what shape it's actually in.

    Violeta walks through the full appraisal process step by step, from the lender ordering a third-party appraiser to that appraiser visiting the property, evaluating major systems and condition, and then pulling comparable sales, or "comps," to run their analysis. She explains the two main valuation methods appraisers use: the sales comparison approach, which relies on recently sold comparable properties, and the income capitalization approach, which values a property based on the net operating income it can generate divided by the market cap rate. Lindsay breaks down the income approach with real numbers, showing how a property generating $42,000 a year in rental income with $27,000 in net operating income could be valued at $360,000 using a 7.5% cap rate.

    Violeta shares her own appraisal results as a real-world case study: her duplex, purchased for $145,000, appraised at $155,000 using the sales comparison approach and $162,000 using the income approach, with the appraiser ultimately favoring the sales comparison number due to strong comp data in that market. Coming in above her purchase price meant instant equity and confirmation that she got a good deal.

    But what happens when the appraisal comes in low? Lindsay walks through the options available when there's a gap between your purchase price and your appraised value, including renegotiating with the seller, asking the seller to meet in the middle, covering the difference in cash, adjusting the financing structure, or requesting a reconsideration of value through a second appraisal. She shares her own experience appealing an appraisal after noticing the comps used were missing a bedroom, a detail that mattered significantly in her market for both property value and rental income potential. The key to a successful appeal is providing recent, nearby, comparable sales, ideally within the last three months and two to three miles of your property.

    Violeta and Lindsay wrap up by reminding investors that the appraisal is just one piece of the puzzle alongside your home inspection and your own market analysis. Always make sure your contract includes an appraisal contingency so you have the option to walk away if the numbers don't support the deal, and remember that at the end of the day, whether the report comes back high, low, or right on target, it's simply a tool to help you make an informed, confident investment decision.

    Links Mentioned:

    Free Latinas in Real Estate Community

    https://moneychisme.com/links

    Support the show

    Join my Latina Real Estate Investors Community (FREE)
    https://www.skool.com/real-estate-jefas-9075/about

    Get my FREE Real Estate Investing Starter Kit
    https://moneychisme.kit.com/rei-starter-kit

    Property Management made easy with RentRedi
    https://app.rentredi.com/signUp/AOK400?utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=referralShare

    Manage Your Funds with BASELANE Banking
    https://invite.baselane.com/Violeta84614

    Follow us on Social Media

    https://www.instagram.com/money_chisme/

    https://www.instagram.com/lindoesinvesting/

    Disclaimer:
    We are not financial advisors. The information contained in this video is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed professional before making any financial decisions.


    Affiliate links: I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. This helps me provide you with free content, like this podcast! You can read my full disclaimer here: ...

    24 min
  • 47. Why 60,000 NYC Rent-Stabilized Apartments Are Sitting Vacant (Reaction)

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    What if the same landlords crying about rent stabilization are the ones who created their own crisis by refusing to do basic maintenance for years?

    In this episode, Violeta goes solo for a reaction-style episode, breaking down a video she came across called "Why 60,000 New York City Rent Stabilized Apartments Are Sitting Vacant," featuring Kenny Burgos, CEO of the New York Apartment Association, in conversation with The Real Deal's Eric Enquist. Violeta shares her honest, unfiltered take as a real estate investor herself—someone who understands the economics of running rental properties, but isn't afraid to push back on the narrative being presented.

    Violeta breaks down the video's central claim: that tens of thousands of rent-stabilized apartments are sitting vacant because landlords say the numbers no longer work under current rent regulations, making renovations and repairs too expensive to justify. While she acknowledges the real challenges of rising insurance, property taxes, labor, and construction costs, she pushes back hard on the idea that landlords deserve sympathy, pointing out that many of these same landlords chose not to do preventative maintenance for years, squeezed as much profit as possible out of tenants, and over-leveraged their portfolios instead of reinvesting in their buildings.

    Drawing from her own experience taking over properties from "slumlords," Violeta shares real examples of small maintenance issues—a leak, a damaged floor—that snowballed into major, costly repairs simply because they were ignored. She connects this directly to the New York City situation, arguing that a lot of what these large portfolio landlords are facing now is self-inflicted, the result of years of deferred maintenance and aggressive rent-maximizing strategies rather than the rent stabilization policy itself.

    The conversation also touches on the why behind rent caps and regulation, as Violeta shares her own experience as a military spouse watching landlords immediately raise rents the moment service members received a housing allowance increase—reinforcing why she believes some level of rent regulation is necessary to prevent unchecked greed, even as she agrees that poorly implemented, reactionary policy can create unintended consequences, like keeping tens of thousands of units off the market.

    Violeta uses this as a teaching moment for new investors, cautioning against the common advice to underwrite deals based on "market rent" or future rent increases instead of current, conservative numbers. She emphasizes the importance of building in maintenance reserves, avoiding over-leveraging equity, and not assuming you'll always be able to push rents higher down the road, because regulation, market shifts, or economic downturns can change the game at any time.

    This episode is a real, unfiltered look at the tension between landlords and tenants, the role of government regulation in housing, and the accountability that's often missing from conversations about "struggling" large-scale property owners—plus practical lessons every real estate investor can apply to avoid falling into the same trap.

    Links Mentioned:

    Why 60,000 NYC Rent-Stabilized Apartments Are Sitting Vacant | Policy Pro talks with Kenny Burgos

    Support the show

    Join my Latina Real Estate Investors Community (FREE)
    https://www.skool.com/real-estate-jefas-9075/about

    Get my FREE Real Estate Investing Starter Kit
    https://moneychisme.kit.com/rei-starter-kit

    Property Management made easy with RentRedi
    https://app.rentredi.com/signUp/AOK400?utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=referralShare

    Manage Your Funds with BASELANE Banking
    https://invite.baselane.com/Violeta84614

    Follow us on Social Media

    https://www.instagram.com/money_chisme/

    https://www.instagram.com/lindoesinvesting/

    Disclaimer:
    We are not financial advisors. The information contained in this video is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed professional before making any financial decisions.


    Affiliate links: I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. This helps me provide you with free content, like this podcast! You can read my full disclaimer here: ...

    37 min
  • 46. Navigating Evictions and Difficult Tenants | With Dion & Chelsea

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    What if the reason your property manager keeps dropping the ball isn't incompetence—but a business model that actually profits from tenant turnover?

    In this episode, Lindsay sits down with Violeta in San Antonio, joined by special guests Dion and Chelsea (of Dion Talks Financial Freedom), for an impromptu, no-holds-barred conversation about the messier side of real estate investing. The episode kicks off with Violeta explaining why she just fired her property manager after months of red flags—unexplained charges, tenants calling her directly to complain, and issues that never got resolved despite repeated follow-ups.

    Dion breaks down why most property managers' incentives are misaligned with landlords from day one, explaining that many earn a full month's rent on tenant placement, meaning turnover is actually profitable for them even though it costs the property owner time and money. He shares practical strategies for pushing back, including comparing your rents to area averages and asking your property manager to justify why your rents are below market instead of just accepting whatever they set.

    The conversation moves into tenant relationships and the "good cop, bad cop" strategy Dion and Chelsea use to maintain boundaries without damaging rapport, plus why building a real relationship with tenants leads to lower turnover and fewer surprises. Chelsea shares her experience navigating four evictions—including a squatter with a gun—and the lessons learned about screening, leases, and staying firm without losing empathy.

    They also dig into why Dion targets very specific property types (side-by-side units, washer/dryer hookups, pet-friendly fenced yards) to minimize turnover, even if it means accepting a lower return than "maximum rent" strategies. Dion and Chelsea openly debate their differing philosophies—hers focused on maximizing rents, his focus on stability—and how that shows up in very different eviction histories.

    The group shifts into a broader conversation about navigating new real estate markets, as both Violeta and Dion/Chelsea recently relocated to San Antonio from California and Washington. They talk candidly about why moving to a new market means starting over on due diligence regardless of experience level, and why competitive markets require being ready to act fast on good deals.

    Finally, the conversation turns to the truth about LLCs—including why an LLC often provides zero real asset protection, makes refinancing harder, and increases insurance costs, and why new investors should be cautious before falling into the trap of paying for an LLC before they even own a property.

    This episode is a real, unfiltered look at the operational side of real estate that doesn't always make it into the highlight reel—property management headaches, evictions, market research, and separating the products people sell you from what actually protects your investments.

    Links Mentioned:

    Free Latinas in Real Estate Community:
    https://www.skool.com/real-estate-jefas-9075/about

    Follow Dion: Dion Talks Financial Freedom on Skool and YouTube

    Support the show

    Join my Latina Real Estate Investors Community (FREE)
    https://www.skool.com/real-estate-jefas-9075/about

    Get my FREE Real Estate Investing Starter Kit
    https://moneychisme.kit.com/rei-starter-kit

    Property Management made easy with RentRedi
    https://app.rentredi.com/signUp/AOK400?utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=referralShare

    Manage Your Funds with BASELANE Banking
    https://invite.baselane.com/Violeta84614

    Follow us on Social Media

    https://www.instagram.com/money_chisme/

    https://www.instagram.com/lindoesinvesting/

    Disclaimer:
    We are not financial advisors. The information contained in this video is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed professional before making any financial decisions.


    Affiliate links: I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. This helps me provide you with free content, like this podcast! You can read my full disclaimer here: ...

    52 min
  • 45. She Bought Her First Investment Property in Mexico | With Ingrid Morales

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    What if your first real estate investment wasn't even in the country you live in—and it ended up teaching you everything you needed to know to build a multi-million dollar portfolio?

    In this episode, Violeta and Lindsay sit down with Ingrid Morales, a first-gen Latina who built financial freedom from the ground up through real estate investing. Ingrid shares how her journey started not with a plan, but with a library book called "Real Estate Riches" and a friend's simple request to run the numbers on an Airbnb property in Mexico. That analysis turned into her own first investment, and unknowingly, the beginning of her real estate career.

    Throughout the conversation, Ingrid opens up about the reality of investing internationally before you're ready, including the hard lesson that no US lending institution would let her pull equity from her property in Mexico, forcing her to start over from scratch. She talks candidly about what it felt like to have "nothing to show" despite owning an income-producing property, and how that setback pushed her to get serious about education, mentorship, and building a team instead of trying to do everything alone.

    Violeta, Lindsay, and Ingrid dig into why being willing to be the "dumbest person in the room" is one of the most valuable things you can do as a new investor, especially as first-gen Latinas navigating spaces we weren't necessarily raised in. Ingrid shares how attending real estate meetups, networking relentlessly, and being upfront about what she didn't know eventually led to something bigger: people started bringing deals to her, instead of her having to go find them.

    They also break down Ingrid's shift from single-family investing to multifamily and commercial real estate, and why she believes starting with multifamily, despite the higher barrier to entry, allows for far greater scalability than buying one property at a time. Ingrid explains how her strategy has since evolved again, moving toward partnering on deals and private money lending, and the trust, track record, and risk tolerance required to get there.

    One of the most personal parts of the conversation centers on Ingrid's "why": building a retirement fund and paying off her mother's house, all funded by cash flow from her real estate portfolio while she intentionally keeps her W-2 income low through a tax-sheltering strategy. She also shares how a spontaneous Instagram post turned into her financial freedom coaching business, Hustle With Ingrid, after 20 people DMed her wanting to learn what she knew.

    Violeta and Lindsay reflect on their own parallel journeys, from Violeta's own plans to start investing in Mexico to the reminder that every investor, no matter how experienced, is always going to be learning something new. This episode is a real, unfiltered look at what it actually takes to go from "I don't know what I'm doing" to building generational wealth for your family, one calculated risk at a time.

    Whether you're intimidated by your first deal, curious about investing outside the US, or wondering how to scale from single-family to multifamily, this episode is packed with real talk, encouragement, and a reminder that you don't need to have it all figured out to start—you just need to start.

    Links Mentioned:

    Free Latinas in Real Estate Community

    Learn more about Hustle With Ingrid (waitlist open now)

    Follow: Ingrid Morales_ on all platforms

    Support the show

    Join my Latina Real Estate Investors Community (FREE)
    https://www.skool.com/real-estate-jefas-9075/about

    Get my FREE Real Estate Investing Starter Kit
    https://moneychisme.kit.com/rei-starter-kit

    Property Management made easy with RentRedi
    https://app.rentredi.com/signUp/AOK400?utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=referralShare

    Manage Your Funds with BASELANE Banking
    https://invite.baselane.com/Violeta84614

    Follow us on Social Media

    https://www.instagram.com/money_chisme/

    https://www.instagram.com/lindoesinvesting/

    Disclaimer:
    We are not financial advisors. The information contained in this video is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed professional before making any financial decisions.


    Affiliate links: I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. This helps me provide you with free content, like this podcast! You can read my full disclaimer here: ...

    16 min
  • 44. Natural Disasters & Real Estate Investing: How to Protect Your Rental Properties

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    What happens when you’re sitting in one of the best buyers markets in years—and you decide not to buy another property?

    In this episode, Violeta and Lindsay have an honest conversation about what it really means to pause your real estate investing growth, especially when everything around you is telling you to keep buying. Lindsay shares why she decided at the beginning of the year to stop purchasing properties, even with favorable market conditions, and how a recent natural disaster in Gary, Indiana reinforced the importance of having financial reserves and understanding your personal risk tolerance.

    Throughout the conversation, they discuss what happens when unexpected events affect your rental properties, from severe storms and property damage to displaced tenants, power outages, and expensive repairs. Lindsay shares her experience navigating damage to multiple properties in her portfolio, while Violeta reflects on dealing with flooding at her own properties and the importance of having a reliable property management team and investor network when things go wrong.

    They also break down the role insurance plays in protecting your investment properties and why having insurance doesn't necessarily mean every repair or loss will be covered. Violeta and Lindsay discuss deductibles, different types of coverage, rental loss coverage, renter's insurance, and why investors need to understand exactly what their policies cover before disaster strikes.

    One of the biggest lessons from the conversation is the importance of having reserves beyond your HELOC, 401(k), or access to credit. Lindsay explains why constantly deploying every dollar of cash flow into the next deal can leave investors vulnerable when unexpected expenses arise. They also discuss how your approach to deductibles and insurance claims can change as your portfolio grows and you have more cash flow and reserves available to absorb smaller repairs yourself.

    Violeta and Lindsay then talk about what investors should do when a disaster actually happens, including checking on tenants, assessing property damage, working with property managers, contacting insurance, understanding FEMA resources, and determining which repairs need immediate attention. They emphasize that while you can prepare for many risks, you can't predict everything, and successful investors need to be prepared to become solution makers when unexpected problems arise.

    The conversation also challenges the idea that real estate investors always need to be growing. Violeta and Lindsay discuss why buying one property every quarter—or following someone else's investment timeline—may not be the right strategy for everyone. Your risk tolerance, financial cushion, portfolio size, cash flow, and personal circumstances should all play a role in deciding when to buy and when to pause.

    Whether you're building your first rental property, managing a growing portfolio, or wondering if it's okay to slow down your investing goals, this episode offers an honest look at the less glamorous side of real estate investing. Violeta and Lindsay share why stabilizing your portfolio can be just as important as acquiring the next property, and why knowing when to pause can ultimately help you build a stronger and more sustainable business.

    Before you rush into your next deal, tune in for a real-world conversation about risk tolerance, insurance, emergency reserves, natural disasters, property management, and knowing when it's time to stop buying and start protecting what you've already built.

    Links Mentioned:

    • Free Latinas in Real Estate Community
    • Risk Tolerance Episode
    • How to Calculate Cash Flow Episode

    Support the show

    Join my Latina Real Estate Investors Community (FREE)
    https://www.skool.com/real-estate-jefas-9075/about

    Get my FREE Real Estate Investing Starter Kit
    https://moneychisme.kit.com/rei-starter-kit

    Property Management made easy with RentRedi
    https://app.rentredi.com/signUp/AOK400?utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=referralShare

    Manage Your Funds with BASELANE Banking
    https://invite.baselane.com/Violeta84614

    Follow us on Social Media

    https://www.instagram.com/money_chisme/

    https://www.instagram.com/lindoesinvesting/

    Disclaimer:
    We are not financial advisors. The information contained in this video is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed professional before making any financial decisions.


    Affiliate links: I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. This helps me provide you with free content, like this podcast! You can read my full disclaimer here: ...

    27 min
  • 43. How Much Money You Actually Need to Buy a Rental Property

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    How much money do you actually need to buy a rental property? This episode breaks down the real upfront cash needed to buy a rental property, and why social media examples like “buying a house for $10,000” can be misleading. Violeta and Lindsay compare house hacking versus straight investment purchases, then walk through down payments, closing costs, inspection costs, reserves, and repair buffers.In this episode, they also share practical ways to lower your out-of-pocket costs through negotiation, seller credits, and choosing the right deal in the right market. The goal is simple: help new investors set realistic expectations so they can plan, save, and buy with confidence.

    Key topics

    • Challenging the “$10,000 property” social media myth
    • The amount needed depends heavily on strategy, loan type, and whether you are a beginner or experienced investor.
    • For owner-occupied purchases, they explain that down payments can be as low as 3.5% with FHA
    • For straight investment properties, they explain that lenders often want 20% to 25% down, and sometimes more, especially for inexperienced investors.
    • They break down the typical costs beyond the down payment: closing costs, inspection, appraisal, reserves, and repair money.
    • Violeta and LinDoesInvesting compare a house hack example versus a pure investment example on a $200,000 property and show how the total cash needed changes dramatically.
    • In the house hack example, the estimated cash needed is about $28,000.
    • In the investment property example, the estimated cash needed is about $55,200.
    • LinDoesInvesting shares negotiation tactics, including targeting properties with higher days on market, asking for seller credits, and using inspection findings to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
    • Violeta adds that understanding local rent prices, vacancy, and property history is key before making offers.

    Read more on the blog!

    https://moneychisme.com/how-much-money-do-you-need-for-a-rental-property/

    Support the show

    Join my Latina Real Estate Investors Community (FREE)
    https://www.skool.com/real-estate-jefas-9075/about

    Get my FREE Real Estate Investing Starter Kit
    https://moneychisme.kit.com/rei-starter-kit

    Property Management made easy with RentRedi
    https://app.rentredi.com/signUp/AOK400?utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=referralShare

    Manage Your Funds with BASELANE Banking
    https://invite.baselane.com/Violeta84614

    Follow us on Social Media

    https://www.instagram.com/money_chisme/

    https://www.instagram.com/lindoesinvesting/

    Disclaimer:
    We are not financial advisors. The information contained in this video is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed professional before making any financial decisions.


    Affiliate links: I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. This helps me provide you with free content, like this podcast! You can read my full disclaimer here: ...

    22 min
  • 42. How a Respiratory Therapist Built Financial Independence With Fix and Flips | Yenny Alfaro

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    How a Respiratory Therapist Gained Financial Independence With Fix and Flips| Yenny Alfaro

    Buying your first investment property can be exciting—but what happens when your very first deal doesn't go as planned?

    In this episode of Real Estate Chisme, Violeta sits down with respiratory therapist, entrepreneur, and real estate investor Yenny Alfaro to discuss how she went from working hospital shifts to building wealth through fix-and-flip investing. Yenny shares the honest story behind her first flip, the costly mistakes she made, and how those lessons helped her achieve financial freedom without leaving the career she loves.

    From saving every extra dollar to fund her first investment to navigating contractors, hard money loans, and unexpected renovation costs, Yenny offers practical advice for anyone thinking about getting started in real estate. She also shares how investing has given her more time with her children and why she believes anyone willing to learn can build wealth through real estate.

    Whether you're dreaming about your first flip, considering rental properties, or simply looking for inspiration to take your first step, this conversation is filled with valuable lessons from someone who's been exactly where you are.

    In This Episode, We Discuss:

    • Why Yenny decided to invest in real estate while keeping her full-time healthcare career
    • How she saved enough money to fund her first fix-and-flip project
    • The biggest mistakes she made on her first investment property
    • What happened when a wholesaler overestimated the property's value
    • How she overcame fear after realizing her first deal was much harder than expected
    • What to know before using hard money lenders to finance a flip
    • Why taking rehab funds may be smarter than paying renovation costs yourself
    • Common renovation surprises, including foundation issues and termites
    • How to avoid being taken advantage of by contractors
    • The importance of studying your local market before buying a property
    • Why your first investment should be viewed as an education, not just a payday
    • How Yenny balances motherhood, healthcare, and real estate investing
    • What financial freedom looks like for her today—and why she still chooses to work as a respiratory therapist
    • Encouragement and practical advice for Latinas who want to start investing in real estate

    Links Mentioned: 

    Join the  Latinas in Real Estate Community

    More on the Blog!

    https://moneychisme.com/from-respiratory-therapist-to-real-estate-investor-yennys-journey/

    Connect with Yenny Alfaro:

    TikTok: @yenrealestateinvestor

    Instagram: @yenrealestateinvestor


    Support the show

    Join my Latina Real Estate Investors Community (FREE)
    https://www.skool.com/real-estate-jefas-9075/about

    Get my FREE Real Estate Investing Starter Kit
    https://moneychisme.kit.com/rei-starter-kit

    Property Management made easy with RentRedi
    https://app.rentredi.com/signUp/AOK400?utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=referralShare

    Manage Your Funds with BASELANE Banking
    https://invite.baselane.com/Violeta84614

    Follow us on Social Media

    https://www.instagram.com/money_chisme/

    https://www.instagram.com/lindoesinvesting/

    Disclaimer:
    We are not financial advisors. The information contained in this video is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed professional before making any financial decisions.


    Affiliate links: I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. This helps me provide you with free content, like this podcast! You can read my full disclaimer here: ...

    35 min
  • 41. How to House Hack Your First Property With Just 3.5% Down FHA Loan

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    What if you could buy your first rental property with as little as 3.5% down—and have your tenants help offset your mortgage?

    In this episode, Violeta and Lindsay break down one of the most accessible strategies for getting started in real estate investing: house hacking with an FHA loan. They explain what house hacking is, how FHA financing works, and why combining the two can create a lower-barrier path to becoming a first-time real estate investor.

    Throughout the conversation, they walk through how you can purchase a property with up to four units, live in one unit, and rent out the others to help offset your housing costs—or potentially cover a significant portion of your mortgage. They also explain some of the key benefits of FHA financing, including the lower down payment requirement, more flexible qualification criteria, and the possibility of using rental income to help qualify for the loan.

    But house hacking isn't as simple as finding a property and moving in. Violeta and Lindsay break down the FHA occupancy requirements, mortgage insurance, property eligibility standards, loan limits, and the importance of making sure the property is safe, livable, and actually works financially. They also explain why a property being eligible for an FHA loan doesn't automatically make it a good investment.

    They then walk through the steps aspiring investors should take before making an offer, including conducting a financial audit, finding the right FHA lender, researching local rents, analyzing the market, identifying eligible properties, and determining whether the numbers align with your personal goals. They emphasize that successful house hacking requires more than simply qualifying for financing—it requires understanding your market and knowing exactly what you want the property to accomplish for you financially.

    And once you become a landlord, the learning doesn't stop. Violeta and Lindsay discuss the responsibilities that come with managing tenants, handling repairs, enforcing leases, following local housing laws, and maintaining a safe property. They also explore what ethical landlording looks like and why building wealth should go hand in hand with treating tenants with care, respect, and responsibility.

    Whether you're a first-generation Latina thinking about buying your first home, exploring real estate investing, or looking for a way to lower the cost of homeownership, this episode offers a practical introduction to house hacking and FHA financing. Violeta and Lindsay also share why starting with a duplex may make more sense for some beginners than immediately jumping into a four-unit property—and why you should always balance your investment goals with what you're realistically prepared to manage.

    Before you start shopping for your first house hack, tune in for practical advice, important questions to ask your lender, and the key steps you need to take to determine whether an FHA house hack is the right strategy for you.

    Links Mentioned:

    • Free Latinas in Real Estate Community
    • How to Calculate Cash Flow Episode
    • FHA, VA & Other Home Loan Options for Real Estate Investing Episode

    Support the show

    Join my Latina Real Estate Investors Community (FREE)
    https://www.skool.com/real-estate-jefas-9075/about

    Get my FREE Real Estate Investing Starter Kit
    https://moneychisme.kit.com/rei-starter-kit

    Property Management made easy with RentRedi
    https://app.rentredi.com/signUp/AOK400?utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=referralShare

    Manage Your Funds with BASELANE Banking
    https://invite.baselane.com/Violeta84614

    Follow us on Social Media

    https://www.instagram.com/money_chisme/

    https://www.instagram.com/lindoesinvesting/

    Disclaimer:
    We are not financial advisors. The information contained in this video is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed professional before making any financial decisions.


    Affiliate links: I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. This helps me provide you with free content, like this podcast! You can read my full disclaimer here: ...

    27 min
  • 40. 7 Risk Questions Every Real Estate Investor Should Ask Before Buying

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    What if the biggest risk in real estate investing isn't the market—but choosing a strategy that no longer fits your life?

    In this episode, Violeta and Lindsay have an honest conversation about one of the most overlooked parts of building wealth through real estate: understanding your personal risk tolerance. As both of them navigate major life transitions, they share how they're reassessing their investment goals, evaluating new opportunities, and making decisions that align with the lives they want to build—not just the returns they hope to earn.

    Rather than offering a simple checklist, they invite listeners into the real conversations they have behind the scenes. By thinking out loud, they walk through how they evaluate potential investments, balance financial security with growth, and determine when taking on more risk makes sense—and when it doesn't.

    Throughout the episode, Violeta and Lindsay discuss why risk tolerance isn't fixed but evolves with experience, financial stability, and life circumstances. They explore how changes like leaving a W-2 job, starting a family, changing careers, or pursuing entrepreneurship can completely reshape the types of investments you're comfortable making. They also explain why comparing your investing journey to someone else's can lead to poor decisions and how building confidence over time allows you to gradually take on larger opportunities.

    Whether you're buying your first rental property, considering a new investment strategy, or simply trying to decide if now is the right time to invest, this episode will help you think beyond numbers and focus on building a portfolio that matches your goals, lifestyle, and peace of mind.

    Before making your next investment decision, tune in for a candid behind-the-scenes look at how experienced investors evaluate risk, adapt to changing seasons of life, and create long-term wealth without sacrificing what matters most.

    Links Mentioned:

    Free Latinas in Real Estate Community

    Real Estate Starter Kit

    Support the show

    Join my Latina Real Estate Investors Community (FREE)
    https://www.skool.com/real-estate-jefas-9075/about

    Get my FREE Real Estate Investing Starter Kit
    https://moneychisme.kit.com/rei-starter-kit

    Property Management made easy with RentRedi
    https://app.rentredi.com/signUp/AOK400?utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=referralShare

    Manage Your Funds with BASELANE Banking
    https://invite.baselane.com/Violeta84614

    Follow us on Social Media

    https://www.instagram.com/money_chisme/

    https://www.instagram.com/lindoesinvesting/

    Disclaimer:
    We are not financial advisors. The information contained in this video is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed professional before making any financial decisions.


    Affiliate links: I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. This helps me provide you with free content, like this podcast! You can read my full disclaimer here: ...

    32 min

About Real Estate Investing for Latinas | Real Estate Chisme

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Are you an ambitious Latina ready to build wealth through real estate? Then look no further!
Learn the in's and outs of real estate investing from two Latina investors. We break down rental…