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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.

Join our FREE Broke Millionaires Skool community for weekly Office Hours where we break down episodes and apply them to real life.

Instagram: @thebrokemillionaires_

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