All Forum Posts by: Jorge Vazquez

Appraisals can be the silent deal-breaker in real estate. That’s why I use my own in-house appraiser, not to cheat, but to make sure everything is counted correctly and to get advice on what can be improved. I’ve seen appraisals miss the mark by as much as $100K. Buyers fall in love with a property, then boom—the appraisal comes in $20K short, and suddenly everyone’s scrambling. Either the buyer has to bring more cash, the seller drops the price, or the deal just dies. Sellers forget that the market—not emotions—sets the value, and buyers sometimes don’t realize the appraisal is their safety net against overpaying.

In your experience, have appraisals been more of a help or a headache?

I’ve been in this game long enough to see the same regret come up over and over again — people selling their properties too soon. No matter how many investors I talk to, and no matter how experienced they are, it’s always the same regret. The truth is, real estate gets better with time. Your tenants pay down the mortgage, rents rise with inflation, equity builds, and leverage opens doors to more deals. I always tell investors: flips can work, but holding long term is where real wealth comes from. If I had sold everything when times got tough, I wouldn’t be where I am today. 

Curious to hear from you all — have you ever sold a property and later wished you had held onto it?

True story! I sat down today with a man named Waldy, and his story shook me. Just two months after moving into his new home, a lithium battery from his Polaris Slingshot exploded in the garage at 4 a.m. The fire destroyed everything—his documents, belongings, even his dog—and his wife nearly lost her life. What stood out to me was how our property management team, led by Jay and Saloni, stepped in and had Waldy and his family placed in a new home in the same neighborhood within just days. It reminded me that real estate isn’t only about houses—it’s about people, community, and stepping up when it matters most. Have you ever experienced anything like this, or dealt with lithium battery issues in a property? 

Hey Stefanie, welcome to the game! I've been investing in Tampa Bay for 20+ years and went from 0 to 40 properties, doing some of the rehab myself, so I'm a big fan of house hacks. Tampa/St. Pete is still where I'd focus—steady demand, especially in spots like Seminole Heights, Ybor, and even the "high-end of the low-end" areas around Robles Park that are now seeing a lot of movement. Sarasota/Bradenton gives you solid rents at a lower buy-in, while Fort Myers/Cape Coral is cheaper but way more volatile when the market shifts. Since you're after cash flow with STR/MTR, Tampa Bay tends to give you the best mix of stability and upside—are you leaning more toward Tampa/St. Pete or further south?

Here’s the truth after 20+ years and 3,500 deals: it’s not as simple as “block is better.”

Yes, block is tougher in storms, insurers like it more, and people think it lasts forever. But tenants don’t walk into a rental asking if it’s block or wood—they ask if it’s safe, clean, and in the right neighborhood.

Wood frame, on the other hand, gets unfairly hated on. Some of Tampa Bay’s hottest neighborhoods (Hyde Park, Seminole Heights, Ybor) are full of wood frame homes, and people happily pay premiums to live there. They’re also cheaper to buy, easier to fix plumbing and electrical on, and loaded with character. The termite thing? Even block houses have wood in them—maintenance is what matters.

As an investor, I run the math. If a wood frame rents for the same as a block but costs $30K less to buy, guess which one gives me a better return? That’s what I call Tonka Thinking: don’t get distracted by shiny myths—focus on what’s functional, durable, and gives you velocity with your money.

So block vs wood? Both work. The “better” option is the one that makes the numbers sing for your strategy.

Curious—how do you all approach it? Do you avoid wood frame, or do you buy it when the deal makes sense?

Joseph, I really like your drive—you remind me of myself when I first got started. I didn’t have money at 23, but I stuck with it and over the years I built up to 40+ properties here in Tampa. It all started with one deal. With $20K, you’ve got a solid head start compared to where I began. The key is using strategies that stretch your money, like house hacking, flips, or creative financing. Tampa is a great place to learn because you’ll run into every type of deal and every type of lesson. Keep learning, keep moving forward, and inbox me anytime if you want to bounce ideas—I’d be glad to help.

I’ve got a whole bunch of connections—the best in town—with in-house appraisers. These are the same lenders I use for my 40+ properties. Inbox me and I’ll share the info.

Pulled my credit last week and instantly learned what trigger leads feel like—my phone turned into a nonstop call center with nearly 100 mortgage lenders chasing me in just two days. Some even pretended I was already pre-approved or tried dropping my property address to sound legit. Technically it’s legal under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, but it sure doesn’t feel like “help.” Imagine being a first-time homebuyer getting hit with this—confusing, overwhelming, and maybe even dangerous if you trust the wrong voice on the other end. 

Have you ever dealt with trigger leads, and do you think they should even be allowed?

Everyone talks about the refinance in BRRRR, but the real magic is in the last R which is Repeat. That is how I went from zero to almost 40 properties in about ten years, starting with no money. Each cycle I learned something new—how to buy better, rehab without wasting cash, and manage smarter. My biggest lesson along the way has been to start small, then go a little bigger each time, almost like climbing steps. And just as important, never stretch yourself too thin. Always stress test your properties for the possibility of lower rents, because markets shift and you need to know you can still survive the downturns. One deal won't change your life, but repeating the process over and over builds the kind of portfolio that gives you freedom. What is the biggest lesson you learned after repeating your own deals?

Turn on HGTV or scroll YouTube and you'll think flipping houses is a magic money machine. Buy ugly, swing a hammer, add subway tile, and boom… $50k profit in six weeks. The truth? Real flipping in 2025 takes way more grit. Sure, you can make $60k on a deal, but most flips land closer to $25k to $30k, and plenty barely break even. The MLS is still king if you move lightning fast. Wholesalers are back in action, and the 70% rule still matters, though many deals close closer to 75% to 80% ARV these days. Here's what the highlight reels don't show: the holding costs, the blown timelines, the surprise contractor drama, and the fact that speed, systems, and consistency matter more than one big home run flip. After 20 years in the game, I've learned that cosmetic flips beat full guts, singles and doubles build wealth faster than swinging for unicorn deals, and stacking steady $30k wins can get you way further than chasing the one in a hundred $100k flip.

What’s been your biggest surprise about flipping—was it harder, easier, or just different than you expected?