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Edgar Munoz
N. There was this guy, he knew he couldn't beat me. He hired his homies. 50 bucks, he paid them to jump me. It didn't go well. They come at me. Teeth get knocked out.
Sean French
Oh yeah, look at that.
Edgar Munoz
I turn around and picked up my tooth. I walked to the hospital. I remember the nurse's face when I walked in the emergency room. She's like, okay, you need anything?
Sean French
Yeah, come here.
Edgar Munoz
You know, blood's coming out of my mouth. And I was like, yeah, I need you to put this back in my mouth. She's like, you need a dentist. And where's your mom? Sharp French. What up?
Unknown Artist
This one. Luck. I let the pain inspire me. I put my all in. Everything I'm doing up until it's done. I mean, for the entirety. I put it in overtime. I'll be working. Just know I'mma go for mine cause I earned it. They watch and I know it's time I confirmed it. The whole society. Determined, Determined.
Sean French
What's up, everybody? Welcome back to another episode of the Determined Society. Before I introduce today's amazing guest, I want to invite you to hit the subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify and Apple. Podcasts. Leave a written review after I've earned it. Would love to hear your feedback on what you enjoy about the show. And for something that you want to hear more of, please send me an email. Sean French, the Determined Society. And don't forget, guys, share the episode with someone you know, love and trust, who will get a lot out of this conversation. So today I have with me Edgar Munoz. He is from Iron Valley Real Estate Prestige here in beautiful Virginia, and we're going to have an amazing conversation and hear about his story. Welcome to the show, bud.
Edgar Munoz
Sean, thank you for having me. Yeah, pleasure, man.
Sean French
It's a pleasure, man. It's been great to get to know you the last couple days. Yeah, been here. You know, you had a. You. You know, you came after my emotions with. With your San Francisco sweatshirt yesterday, you know?
Edgar Munoz
Who do you follow?
Sean French
I'm. I'm a Niner fan, dude.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah?
Sean French
Yeah. Well, I mean, I grew up there.
Edgar Munoz
I grew up, you know, I grew.
Sean French
Up in the East Bay.
Edgar Munoz
Well, we had a brief conversation, right? And, you know, life is life.
Sean French
And.
Edgar Munoz
Right.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
Something happened. I think we all walked away. I didn't catch that.
Sean French
Yeah. Yeah, dude, it was chaotic. It was at the gym, right?
Edgar Munoz
Oh, yeah. Was that.
Sean French
Was it at Iron Asylum last year?
Edgar Munoz
It was. Yes, it was.
Sean French
What an amazing gym, by the way.
Edgar Munoz
Great. Alvin.
Sean French
Alvin and Kyle are our standup dudes. I love their partnership because they're so different. They just complement each other so well.
Edgar Munoz
Absolutely.
Sean French
You know, and this is the gym. Like, you know, there's big box gyms. Nothing against them, right? But, you know, these. These individuals, they have four locations, and they want their people to show up. They. They price it at such a great price at 39amonth. And it's a trainer's gym, dog.
Edgar Munoz
It's. It's like your dream if you lift weights, free weights. They got the machines there, but plenty of space.
Sean French
Yeah, dude, Christmas.
Edgar Munoz
I mean, New Year's comes around, it doesn't fill up.
Sean French
Of course not. I mean, it's 25, 000 square feet. It's kind of really hard to fill up. Massive dog. But, no. So that was fun last night. But, yeah, like, listen, man, I. I totally understand. You know, it was chaotic there. We were moving, and I think we've been moving in, like, 9 million directions since Thursday when we got here.
Edgar Munoz
But.
Sean French
But, dude, no, yeah, I'm from. I grew up in Conquer, California.
Edgar Munoz
Okay.
Sean French
I was born in Walnut Creek. And, yeah, I grew up a Niner fan, man. Like, as a Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, John Taylor.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah.
Sean French
Brent Jones and Roger Craig era.
Edgar Munoz
I'm wearing the enemies colors today. Yeah, this looks more like a Dallas man, but I mean, you got some.
Sean French
Bipolar disorder going on. You know, you had niner colors. You got. You have.
Edgar Munoz
Well, in the 80s, I mean, that's what I grew up watching was the 49ers were dominant. Raiders were good also. And. And if you wanted to be a gang member, you were a Raider fan. That's. That's the LA rules.
Sean French
That's where I scariest ever. I'm going to tell you something. So back in junior college baseball, we used to. I was at Los Madonnas College as my first juco. And part of the requirement there is you had to fundraise. But one of the ways we fundraised is we didn't go door to door for. But we were. We were going to Raider games.
Edgar Munoz
Okay.
Sean French
And being the event staff.
Edgar Munoz
Oh, okay.
Sean French
I thought I was gonna lose my life one day, dude. So, you know, imagine, you know, we're.
Edgar Munoz
The old stadium, bro.
Sean French
In Oakland, right? Yeah, in Oakland. Yeah. And so, you know, we, we would. We would go and then we. They would brief us and we'd have the stupid ass jacket on that. No one respects the moment someone sees an event staff guest. Yeah, like let's. Let's with this guy.
Edgar Munoz
Right, Right.
Sean French
So one day I was placed on the third deck and it was miserable. It's hot up. It was hot. And you're always like, hey, you can't be on the railing. Hey, you can't do this. Hey. And you can't turn around and watch the game.
Edgar Munoz
And this is after. You know, everybody's been pregaming outside.
Sean French
Oh, dude.
Edgar Munoz
Three hours of drinking.
Sean French
And like you said, Raider fans are not like 49er fans or cowboy fans or. They're like, you don't want to mess with these people, dude. Right. I mean, they. They could have been just out of San Quentin. You don't know that. You don't know about those people. Sorry to profile Oakland Raider fans. Well, Las Vegas now, so I'll say.
Edgar Munoz
It for you, man.
Sean French
But dude, God, man, it was scary. So this one time there was this guy, he was just like on the railing and like, just spilling his beer. I was like, hey, man, can you. I was like, listen, dude, I don't really want to be here, man. And I'm not here to tell you what I get, but. But I'm gonna get kicked out of here if I don't say, hey, can you please remove yourself?
Edgar Munoz
Right.
Sean French
She feeling beer everywhere, dog. Like Cool. Have a good time. Back up a little bit. Like, whatever. I can't control. But like, can you help me out? Hey, man, no problem. And he kind of looked at me. It was like, no problem. But it was like, there's a problem.
Edgar Munoz
I'm like, oh, that kind of.
Sean French
Oh, dude, this is not going to be good. So then, like 20 minutes later, a female was doing the same thing. She had, you know, like, she wasn't fully dressed. And, you know, I didn't see. I didn't. I. I looked and I'm like. And I was like processing through my mind. I'm like, okay, I tell her to move now. And I went like this to tell her to move. The guy goes, you piece of. Oh, because she. Because she's hot. Because she's a girl. You're not gonna tell her to move. I'm gonna whoop your ass. I'm like, oh, my God. I'm like, dude. I'm like, no, man, I was just telling. I'm like, whatever. And so, like, I had to like. Like, they literally had to move me spots because this guy was really wanting to fight me.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah, yeah. That. That alcohol gets in him and that pride, right, bro?
Sean French
It's crazy. And then. And then one time I worked the end zone or the. They called it the black hole.
Edgar Munoz
The black hole, yeah. They're just spitting up evil and. Oh, just throwing crap.
Sean French
Scary moments, dude.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah. I'd go tailgate. We'd have the Battle of the Bay. So I'd be there every year.
Sean French
The Was the A's and the Giants or the.
Edgar Munoz
No, no, Battle of the Bay. So I'd be there for the 49ers, okay. Raider games. And we'd get there three hours prior tailgate. And we. I'd always have, like a big crew with us.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
We travel well. And you gotta be on your P's.
Sean French
And Q's because you gotta be careful, man. It's like the LA Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants. Remember that guy that got beat up so bad, he's like a vegetable. I don't know if he's still alive or whatnot, but, like, he was at the game, I think, with his family.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah. It was horrible.
Sean French
I mean, come on.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And, you know, and. And it's. It's nice to go to the games and just. You heckle people, whatever. Raider fans. I'm always like, you literally cross dress to come to this game.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
Like, relax, bro.
Sean French
Yeah. I mean, come on. What are you doing here? And you're tough.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah, I Can't take you serious with all that makeup on your face, dude.
Sean French
Seriously, My uncle's a Raider fan. I'm like, dude, you're pretty vanilla, dog. Like, what are you doing, man? Like, really? What the going on? Yeah, you got some high heels in your freaking closet.
Edgar Munoz
Yep.
Sean French
But no, dude, but so. So catch the audience up on who you are, you know, know, obviously you're a veteran. Talk about your journey and how it led to real estate.
Edgar Munoz
So originally from. Born in San Diego, raised in Southern California, Louisiana area, San Gabriel Valley. This is going to sound weird, but my dad was. And the cartels before, you know, the cartels were popular.
Sean French
Yeah, he was an og.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So he. He grew up in the area is Durango, Mexico. And that's like Sinaloa, Durango, Masalan is the Tri States. That.
Sean French
How close is it to Tijuana? Far, far.
Edgar Munoz
Okay, Far, far. So when you see the shows Sinaloa, Durango, it's the middle of Mexico.
Sean French
Okay, got it.
Edgar Munoz
But they got to get through Tijuana.
Sean French
Sure.
Edgar Munoz
So he was connected through there.
Sean French
Right. Okay.
Edgar Munoz
But the reason real estate sparked my interest because you got to do something with the money.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
Oh, he had hotels. Yeah, he had hotels in Tijuana. He had commercial real estate and Rosarito Ensenada.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
And property. So we would go literally and live at different properties depending on the year when I was with them.
Sean French
Wow.
Edgar Munoz
So I was old enough and I was lucky enough to watch him make all these moves and he was like, you need to get into real estate. This will never end. And cuz he like all the stories. Right. They're trying to get out of it.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
And that's the seed.
Sean French
Okay.
Edgar Munoz
To real estate then. But grew up in la. Not la, but El Monte, California. And then I moved to San Dimas.
Sean French
Okay.
Edgar Munoz
So I go from El Monte, which is gangs everywhere, all Mexicans fighting against the Asian gangs. And then I moved to San Dimas. And if you're old enough, you remember Bill and Ted's excellent adventures. That's San Dimas, right?
Sean French
Yeah, yeah.
Edgar Munoz
Culture shock for me. Now I'm around all white business, upper middle class, rich, wealthy.
Sean French
How was that for you? Like. Like when you say culture shock, though? Because I get it, right? It's not a good or a bad thing. It just is.
Edgar Munoz
It just is.
Sean French
So like. But what was that experience like? And how did you adjust to it?
Edgar Munoz
Well, grow. The adjustment was I was still the cool kid because it's like, oh, there's this gang banger in our school, right? Yeah.
Sean French
Were you a gang banger?
Edgar Munoz
No. Like, okay, no. Because my family was cartel related.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
So we were the suppliers. I didn't. I don't make sense of it until later on where it's like, we. I had enough cousins and family.
Sean French
Sure.
Edgar Munoz
Where we held our own, we didn't have to join anything. So we supplied and, you know, did everything on our own. But then I moved to San Dimas. Now we're moving up, leveling up.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
And still got to go to school. Now I'm in San Dimas and different demographics, different everything. And to be frank, I was out there on my own selling weed.
Sean French
Like, yeah.
Edgar Munoz
That's what I did. So I had a friend, he had a backpack, a locker room. I had my backpack. And we're be. We'd be out there doing whatever we need to do. So you know what the cool thing was now, whereas I, in El Monte, I would sell somebody something. And San Dimas, they're like, hey, man, well, you want to go smoke with us? And that's how I started making friends in San Diego, so.
Sean French
Exactly.
Edgar Munoz
It was a culture shock because I'm around all these white guys, surfers this, that and the other, just getting blazed with them.
Sean French
It's awesome.
Edgar Munoz
And then it's like, at the time it was nickels and dimes.
Sean French
Yeah. Swamp sack, the 12th.
Edgar Munoz
So I'd sell them something like, hey, man, you want to go smoke? Sure. Yeah, let's go.
Sean French
I just. So now you're selling it, but you're also.
Edgar Munoz
Now I'm networking, but now I'm going to these guys houses, and I'm looking at this different lifestyle and I'm learning business, and then I'm still dressed the way I am, but it's like, I don't fit in here. I'm still. It's still awkward.
Sean French
Right, right, right, right. The identity isn't quite matching where you're at yet.
Edgar Munoz
Absolutely not. Absolutely not. And I had a kid young. I was 16. Okay. So what I did was I got married early. I went to Arizona. Got married. So get emancipated strategically so I could get my own place.
Sean French
Yeah, yeah.
Edgar Munoz
So at an early age, me and my mom didn't have a good relationship, so I never got along. Didn't really live in the house, but I was making my own money when I got my own apartment, did everything on my own.
Sean French
What was the point of contention with you and your mom, if you don't mind me asking?
Edgar Munoz
Man, it was rough. She got here at 11. No, she got here at 16 years. Old, from Mexico. Her mom passed away when she was 11. I know this now, so I understand it a little bit more.
Sean French
Of course.
Edgar Munoz
So all her. All brothers, all males, they live in. If you guys have been to Cancun, it's just jungles. They lived out there. So they sent my mom over with my grandma, who just passed away.
Sean French
Oh, man.
Edgar Munoz
And she was raised here. And similar. Similarly to me, I was. I'm an only child, so I didn't have brothers and sisters. So she's here by herself, being raised technically by her family. But it's not the same, right? You know, you can't go talk to your brother or your mom or your dad. So she didn't know how to really be a mom, I would say, as far as nurturing.
Sean French
Yeah, man.
Edgar Munoz
And then my dad was out, so he was never home. He was out doing his trips, doing whatever. So growing up, I remember she was always working, right? So she's not around.
Sean French
What does she do?
Edgar Munoz
Man, I remember. Remember going back to Almonte. I remember being in the. So in the factories. Well, they're not the sweat shops, okay.
Sean French
Wow, man.
Edgar Munoz
So all the fake Gucci and everything, I was there. I was. I was. As a little kid, I'd be in the box giving her the little tags.
Sean French
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Edgar Munoz
She worked there. She worked in clean. She was always working.
Sean French
Okay.
Edgar Munoz
She was never on the welfare system, never collecting. So, you know, Mom.
Sean French
Yeah, man.
Edgar Munoz
Always working, but. So we never had a relationship. Never got hugs. Damn. Even to this day, I don't think it's been fixed. You know, I give her a hug, give her a kiss, so she's still around. I pay for her house. I take care of her, man.
Sean French
That's. That's amazing, dude.
Edgar Munoz
So no matter what we had, I understand her upbringing. I can't hold her against her. She just like myself. I didn't have that real father figure or person to really raise me, like, to be a father, you know?
Sean French
Let me ask you a question, man, because, you know, obviously we have different stories, but, you know, my mom's always been around. I didn't have a father figure in my life until I was nine.
Edgar Munoz
Okay?
Sean French
And me and my. He's my dad. Like, I. That's my dad, right? I mean, we've had our. You know, we've gone years without speaking. In fact, we recently reconnected again in September. And I'm taking it for what it is, man. You know, I. I still need my dad. I need my daddy. You know, it's like, you know, I've always. It's been hard, right, because we've. We've disagreed on a lot of stuff, but I would not be where I am without that, man. Like, you know, I always had the level of determination and discipline deep rooted within me. But that dude brought it out in me, man. He showed me how to work right? He showed me. And, you know, the one thing, like, you I look at is, like, I understand it now, you know, like, now I can have a better relationship with.
Edgar Munoz
Him because you don't hold it against them.
Sean French
Not anymore, man. It took me years to let it go, Edgar. I. I swear to you, it was like, you let me show you. Yeah, but he was just trying to make me aware. Like, look, dude, like, all you really have right now is baseball. What happens when it's done? And I always tell him, I was like, well, I have a good personality. I could talk to people. I was like, I ain't gonna pay you.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah, here we are.
Sean French
But he didn't know that wasn't a thing back then, right?
Edgar Munoz
No. Well, my dad, he. Again, he. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, but, like, he was gone. You got to think he was a teenager. Forget me. I'm still living in the States. I got my own Place at 16. This guy is leaving Durango, Mexico, Tijuana, Mexico. San Diego, San Francisco. Doing all this trips before he was 20 or 18.
Sean French
Wild, bro. Wild.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah, he was.
Sean French
Yeah. I just. I guess my question that before I got, you know, emotional, it was, how has the relationship with your mom, Right. For what it is, and the fact that you didn't have your dad around, how has that impacted how you've become a parent and how you operate?
Edgar Munoz
So my dad was a good father. And I'll bring this together. So my dad, in his way, he tried to teach me business.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
As far as moving money. And then also he did remarry. He. I have half brothers and sisters, and we went camping, we went to concerts, we went to whatever. Whatever he was doing, he made time for the family. Whereas my mom was always working all day, every day, and even on the weekends. She did Iron Valley. All the people here know her because she's always cooking, baking, doing things for small events.
Sean French
So she's here.
Edgar Munoz
She's here.
Sean French
Oh, man.
Edgar Munoz
She's here. So when my dad died in 03, she. I was already gone, in the military or whatever, but that distance and that time healed a lot of stuff, because now I get to think I'm not with her. I'm a grown man. Now kind of moving on my own. But then that curiosity gets the best of you. Like, how did you, my mom, you and my dad meet? You know, why did you come to the States? I didn't even know my grandmother had passed away from cancer when she was 11, but I didn't know these things.
Sean French
Wow. So your mom lost her mom when she was 11 due to cancer.
Edgar Munoz
Right.
Sean French
She didn't have that mother nurturing.
Edgar Munoz
Not at all.
Sean French
That's why she didn't know how to get right.
Edgar Munoz
So she was raised by men.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
And so she would just be my ass whenever something that masculine energy, man. Right.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
So to the point where at. At when I was a teenager, we kind of squared up. Like, look, you're not going to hit me again.
Sean French
Yeah. Right.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah. And I apologize for all those things. And that's how it kind of started. Once I came back, I was like, mom, you just have to have that conversation. I understand.
Sean French
Yep. Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
I have to be the bigger man and say, I get it. Yeah. You know, I'm not gonna hold this against you. And although we haven't had those deep conversations, because she is just in her ways, just. That's who she is now.
Sean French
So she is, man. She ain't changing now.
Edgar Munoz
No. No. And then I'm the only child, so what I did was I have the grandkids. I got her a house here. So instead of paying a daycare center or whatever, throwing my money and throwing my money away over there, I said, how about I get your house? I'll pay your mortgage, pay the bills. It's going to cost me the same.
Sean French
Yeah, exactly.
Edgar Munoz
And you're here and you're here. And you ain't got to work if you don't want to. Where do you want to go? Every year I take her on trips and whatever.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
And that's how we're kind of making up time right now.
Sean French
Good man.
Edgar Munoz
And she's all into the kids. And then. Well, going back, let me just say I joined the military at 18.
Sean French
Okay.
Edgar Munoz
Traveled the world, had a great time. Got to travel before 9 11.
Sean French
Good for you.
Edgar Munoz
Different world, right?
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
911 happens then. Afghanistan, Iraq, did all those deployments. I got out in 07. Met my wife, who I. I'm with now, but didn't get to get into real estate because I was always moving every two to three years. Because of the military.
Sean French
Because of the military, Right. Of course.
Edgar Munoz
We went to Japan because my wife's also active duty.
Sean French
She's still active duty.
Edgar Munoz
She got out. She just retired two years Ago.
Sean French
Okay.
Edgar Munoz
She went from, went from Japan, moved to Virginia. This was our last duty station. So now I could really go get my license. Yeah, go, go get into real estate. Something I've been yearning and wanting to do. And first six months was I didn't totally goddamn thing.
Sean French
I bet, dude. So let's talk to the audience and I want to address the audience really quick because that's a great point. Like when we build something and we start a new career or entrepreneurial journey. Like I don't care what anybody says, like yet real estate agents do. They are entrepreneurs right now. They're not selling their own product. Right, but they are, they, they, they eat what they kill, man. Like that is the. Yes, that is the true definition of entrepreneurship. Right. But, but guys, it's, it's not going to be this quick escalation of success, you know, you cannot expect. You know, I always, I said this to somebody the other day. I was like, it's not the easy bake oven, man. It's not the easy bake oven to success. And he died laughing. He's like, did you make that shit up? I was like, I did. But like everybody wants that quick. I'm gonna be a realtor. I'm gonna sell a house within a month. Like it just doesn't work like that.
Edgar Munoz
No.
Sean French
How did you work through it?
Edgar Munoz
It's far and in between of those people that, that do make it that first year or like the, the first year success. What I will say is you hear about the open house strategies, the marketing, the flyers, the all that. The guerrilla tactics.
Sean French
Fluff. Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
That you have to go out and get it versus attracting business. There's two different things. So what I was doing is exactly that. I was door knocking. I was hosting open houses. Okay. What about the minute things? What if I do get to talk to somebody? Are they qualified to buy? Nobody. So joining the right firm or the right mentor or whatever team is crucial those first two years.
Sean French
Sure.
Edgar Munoz
To learn all those things. Because even if I did talk to you and you did want to buy a house, what's the lender? What kind of loan program can I assist you with?
Sean French
Yeah, exactly.
Edgar Munoz
I have no clue.
Sean French
You got to be more of a consultant, right? Like able to like now when you speak to somebody. Hey, are you working with a lender? Have you been pre qualified? Do you know what your budget is? Right. What's the top end? What's the one? What are you looking for?
Edgar Munoz
Yeah, I mean in the beginning it's like, oh Yeah, I got 100k in the account. I could buy a house right now. Sure you can. Sure you could. Proof of funds, right?
Sean French
Exactly. Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
You're too embarrassed to ask those type of questions, those probing questions in the beginning when you're new.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
And so I didn't have those skills.
Sean French
Yeah. So, like, now if someone said, hey, I got 200 grand in the bank, I'm ready to buy it. All right, cool. So, hey, so I'm gonna go. Tell me what you want. I'm gonna find it within a day or two, and then we're gonna go buy a house, right?
Edgar Munoz
Yeah. Yeah. Hey, look.
Sean French
Well. Well, no. Are you ready to buy? Right. Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
What's your criteria? Look, I. I'll look this up while I'm doing this. Email me your proof of funds.
Sean French
Yeah. Boom. See ya. Let's get this thing going.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah. Or. And. And now it's send me a screenshot.
Sean French
Yeah, Yeah. I mean, but like. But that's the thing, right? As you build those skills you didn't have those first six months, you probably didn't have in the first year, but as you start to elevate your education and your knowledge over the next year or so, year or two, those things start to happen. Right. You get in a better cadence. You get in a better, you know, pattern of conversation with people, you know what I mean? And. And it starts to grow pretty quickly at that point.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah. And my. My aspirations were always to own a real estate company, be a broker. So I did have those aspirations early on.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
And a team. I caught the eyes, or what I did was I. I strategically would ho. Host open houses on a vacant house that was staged, and there was a team that was basically. Had these flips and they would stage them.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
Coincidentally, I would. I did mult. I did multiple open houses at their properties, and they're like, edgar, you work harder than our team members. Why don't you join us? So they recognized my value, my work ethic.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
Just doing what I do throughout my whole life was just consistently working, which I thank my mom.
Sean French
Yep. Yep. Your mom was just trying to survive, dude.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah.
Sean French
It was not. It wasn't a thing where she didn't want to be around you.
Edgar Munoz
No.
Sean French
You know what I'm saying? So she trying to support me. Yeah, she was trying to support you.
Edgar Munoz
She. She.
Sean French
You know, you're. You know, your dad and her split and, you know, like, that's. That's life. And she had to do what she had to do, man.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah. She didn't get any. Anything from my dad as Far as compensation. Now, I did get in trouble every now and then, and she'd have. He'd have to pay the fines, and so he did help there. But, yeah, that. That's. That's how I initially got into real estate. And then my success came from those teams that I. Or that team that I joined, and they taught me how to talk to people over the phone and convert and get them to a lender or figure out solutions on, you know, just scenarios that are just kind of out of the box.
Sean French
Yeah, man. Specialty loans, like, whatever it takes, right? Like, then they have, like, the USDA loans. They have, like, the VA loans. They have, like.
Edgar Munoz
I mean, we're heavy VA loans, but at the time, it was a different market. Somebody owes $4,000 on a car and they got a $400 payment. I could pay that off with a VA loan, you know, if I negotiate.
Sean French
Wow.
Edgar Munoz
So I can not only get you closing costs, it's like, well, now you could actually afford this house for 350 if we pay off your car.
Sean French
Wow.
Edgar Munoz
Hey, seller, your house has been on the market for 30 days. How about you give us nine grand and 4,000 and we take this off your hands, right?
Sean French
Pay off the deal, and boom, qualified.
Edgar Munoz
So little things like that would help. Or our little rehab loan, right? Like, oh, you want to move into this community, but you could only afford 350, but you want to get into a 400, 000 community? Well, we could just buy this crappy home and get you the rehab loan.
Sean French
That's just crazy, dude. So then the rehab loan, you put you.
Edgar Munoz
You.
Sean French
You're able to.
Edgar Munoz
There's different types. The 203k loan, I would say, is the most popular. But, yeah, I would utilize that. And one of my first agents was actually my client that when I started a team and we got him a house for $150,000, he put $80,000 into it through the loan.
Sean French
Oh, wow.
Edgar Munoz
He sold the years later for, like, 510. That's not years later. It was, like, maybe two years later.
Sean French
Wow.
Edgar Munoz
So double this money.
Sean French
That's great.
Edgar Munoz
And that's where I take pleasure.
Sean French
It's like, is that your favorite thing about real estate, seeing people win?
Edgar Munoz
Hell, yes. I mean, in general, seeing people. When I don't get moved by money, if you talk to the guys, I don't wear jewelry, I don't drive the flashiest car or anything like that. It's the mission.
Sean French
Yeah, man.
Edgar Munoz
What do we need to do? Like, and if I believe in it, like, yeah, man, I'M on, let's do this.
Sean French
So funny because, like, I'm. I'm the same way. I mean, dude, I do have a nice vehicle, right? I have a trx. It's my dream car. Like, I love.
Edgar Munoz
Well, I'm into old school, so.
Sean French
Yeah. Okay, that's cool. Yeah, you got. Throwing some hydros on that.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah, that's the la.
Sean French
Okay.
Edgar Munoz
Not going to throw hydro, but no.
Sean French
Like, so I drive a nice vehicle, right? We have a nice house. But like, for me, like, you know, these are my nicest pair of shoes. You know, I don't wear. And, and people say like, hey, dude, like, when are you going to get a Rolex? When are you going to get a Breitling? I go, never. Because like, dude, like, honestly, like, I just not. That's just not me. Like, I could, I could have $5 million in the bank account and this is not me. I would rather like spend on experiences with my family.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah.
Sean French
Or put it back into my show and go on more road trips and interview interesting and amazing people. Because what I found is a lot of the, you know, the A list people will, will want to be interviewed. But like, you got to go to them. Like, that's awesome.
Edgar Munoz
Like that's an experience and they're valuing their own time.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
I mean, dude, you were just talking.
Sean French
About, I mean, not going to lie. I mean, Michael Burt did say he rents his jet sometimes. So like I might be. Take my team on the jet one time.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah.
Sean French
You know, but like it just like that kind of stuff. Like for me, like, I'm not a big flashy dude. I'm just some dude from Concord, California that grew up in the fucking ghetto that used to have to run home so he didn't get his ass kicked by the. By the bloods.
Edgar Munoz
Okay.
Sean French
I mean, I was a dork, dude.
Edgar Munoz
Okay.
Sean French
I was wearing the hyper colored shirt, you know the one that changed colors with the turtleneck. Oh, shitty ass mullet. And then like the, the Vanilla Ice lines.
Edgar Munoz
Oh, wow.
Sean French
Yeah, bro. I mean, like, I look back, I say to my parents, I'm like, why'd you let me do that?
Edgar Munoz
Right?
Sean French
But no, but that's the thing, man. When you come from humble beginnings, like we, you know, and I didn't realize that I grew up in the ghetto. When I was growing up in the ghetto, right. I knew that there were some seriously dangerous people at my middle school and even at. But that was just life, man. That's just how we had to deal with it back then.
Edgar Munoz
Well, there was. There Was stupid rules that I grew up with. Like don't touch the shells on the ground. Like, cuz you don't want your fingerprints on it. Like, like you see random shells, you don't touch them as a kid. Like they teach you that. Like you're learning. This where I was wild, dude.
Sean French
That was a rule. Like that don't. It's funny, like, I remember one time I got, I I after school, fifth grade, this guy, Ken Carubin, God rest his soul, he passed, I think probably I don't know how long ago. But you know, he, he was, he was in that life, you know, he was, he was a fighter, man. He was the toughest kid and could throw hands. And he ended up, you know, spending time in San Quentin, which is like one of the dangerous prisons on the planet. And you know, ended up, I, I, I don't want to say how he, how he passed, right? I think it was self inflicted, but probably maybe six, I don't know how six, six years ago. And it was sad, it was sad. But I remember one time in fifth grade I got in a fight with my good friend Brandon O'Shea. What's up Brandon? We got in a fight. Remember that dude? Remember that? And you know, he called my, my girlfriend a dog, right? He's like, oh. And it turned out like he actually had a crush on her. Right?
Edgar Munoz
Right.
Sean French
Want me to break up with her? Her name was Jacqueline. I can't remember, I can't remember her last name. My wife, coincidentally my first girlfriend name was Jacqueline. And my wife's name is Jacqueline. Them damn Jackies, bro. Get me. So we ended up squaring up at, you know, in fifth grade and I hit him once and you know, his nose bled and it was really cold, right? So I got blood all over my sweatshirt and I go into my teacher. I'm terrified. I'm a sweat, my sweat, my sweat. Like me and Brandon got in a fight. I'm, I'm sorry. Like whatever we need to do. Like I've got blood all over me. And you know, that day, you know, started circling around fifth grade that King Karubin wanted to beat my ass because he saw, he's like, oh, you knocks. Now you're a threat. Now I'm going to show you where you're at. And so I remembered, I was so terrified, right?
Edgar Munoz
Waiting for that.
Sean French
I ran to Mike, my car. Like my mom, my dad thought my.
Edgar Munoz
Mom was picking me, right?
Sean French
My dad, I ran in the car. He's like, why you running? I'm like, Just go, go, go, go. And King Rubin comes up. He goes, is that dude trying to fight you? I go. He go, get the out of the car. I go. He goes, get the out. Trust me. And I got out. And Ken's like, let's go. I'm like, why? And. And then it never happened. It never happened, right? It never happened. But, like, I'll never forget that. Like, you know, my dad's like, get out. Yeah, you're going to. You're going to face this. And I didn't realize then it's. It's a gift, right? You know?
Edgar Munoz
Yeah. I think I would say 90% of the people cannot match the energy sometimes. And I learned that young to your example right there. So early on, I started fighting. We would throw on gloves. So I was a good, good fighter. And to the point where, you know, your first fight, if you've ever had a fight young in elementary school or whatever, you kind of black out. You don't remember.
Sean French
You don't remember anything.
Edgar Munoz
By the time I was in high school, I saw every punch, everything. And I did boxing lessons at a gym by my house. But there was this guy, he knew he couldn't beat me. He was this gang or whatever. He hired his homies. 50 bucks he paid him to jump you? To jump me. It didn't go well. I got word they were going to wait for me. But again, a little bit different, because I told my friend, I was like, no matter what happens, that guy that paid him, just him up.
Sean French
Yep, yep.
Edgar Munoz
Don't worry about me. I just want him. So it happens. They come at me, and again, this is just a different level of. Of mindset that I was in by then, you know, with then the type of life I was in. So it's gonna happen. It's gonna happen. They threw the first punch. Miss me? God. Got the first guy. And it's only so much you can do with three guys. Yeah. So we. We box it out. Teeth get knocked out.
Sean French
Oh, yeah, look at that.
Edgar Munoz
So that's where I lost my teeth.
Sean French
So, damn, bro. How old were you?
Edgar Munoz
Fourteen.
Sean French
Damn.
Edgar Munoz
Fourteen at that time.
Sean French
Damn.
Edgar Munoz
Lost my teeth. School buses. Everybody's watching. Some of these guys are not from the school. I did not knock me out. They had me against the fence. I fought as long as I could, but after it was over, people are running, you know, the school guards, whatever. My friend threw me a shirt, and I just kind of wiped it off. I just kind of blended into the crowd real quick. I turned around and picked up my tooth. Oh, My one tooth that I found.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
So it's laying there, you know. Have you ever seen a tooth?
Sean French
Yeah. The root.
Edgar Munoz
They're long.
Sean French
Yeah. They're big, man.
Edgar Munoz
I saw it on the ground, I picked it up and I just started walking. This is how young and ignorant I was. Or just not. Didn't know. I walked to the hospital. Walk to the hospital. And if you've ever seen Martin, like, you see the face also, that's probably what I look like, because I remember the nurse's face when I walked in the emergency room. She's like, okay, you need anything?
Sean French
Yeah, I'm here.
Edgar Munoz
You know, blood's coming out of my mouth. And I was like, yeah, I need you to put this back in my mouth. Like, that's what I did. But put me to sleep.
Sean French
I can't do that.
Edgar Munoz
She's like, you need a dentist. And where's your mom?
Sean French
Working.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah. This is not the cell phone days, you know, this is 94.
Sean French
Okay.
Edgar Munoz
93. 94. So, yeah, that's. That's the life I lived. And, like, just taking care of myself. Right. Like, I'm gonna walk myself to the hospital, and they're gonna put this tooth back in my house. And it doesn't cost money, by the way.
Sean French
Like, it's a freaking Lego. Right? Like, dude, this is. This is interesting. And so the audience right now is probably thinking, like, how does this apply? Well, it applies 1 billion percent to what he does now and why he's so successful. So tie the two together. Right. That life to what you do now.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah. So the. The fear. Okay, the fear.
Sean French
Okay.
Edgar Munoz
Though. Even in the military, I worked with weapons. Those things could blow up, I could die.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
Same thing. Living that life. I was in fear until I was not. And it's like, what's the worst thing I could happen? Right. And we were talking about earlier, all the traveling is like, first world problems. It's like door knocking. What's the worst they could say no? Like, that is not in fear of my life.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
Like, I lived a different lifestyle. That. The fear of somebody hanging up on me, telling him, no, I'm not interested. Get the. Out of my. Yeah. You know, all those. All those rejections. That is not in me. I've been through a lot worse. Like that. A simple objection. It's. It's just funny to me. It's just like, people are so scared. They call it analysis. Paralysis.
Sean French
Yeah, Paralysis, dude.
Edgar Munoz
Just to pick up the phone.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
And dial. And nobody's going to answer that phone call.
Sean French
Well, because here's the thing, dude. Like, I love. I love what you're saying right now. Because people feel. Well, I don't. Hold on. They attach an emotion to a task.
Edgar Munoz
Yes.
Sean French
It needs to be an emotionless move. Like, you know, if I have something that I think that you would benefit from, I have to remove the emotion from it. I'd say, hey, Edgar, look, dude, I can help you with this. Are you interested in talking about it? And you say, no. I go, okay, well, is it not alignment? Or you just. Is this a bad time? Yeah, it's not a good time. When's a better time?
Edgar Munoz
Yeah.
Sean French
And, you know, it's like, just. Just get removed.
Edgar Munoz
And that's the emotion.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
And it's a call. So when I would call you, you. Let's just. Any kind of cold call, just like, hey, French.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
I saw you looking at our properties. What's up? Yeah, that's how I call you.
Sean French
I love it. I love.
Edgar Munoz
That's it. It was not like, hey, I saw you. I'm so and so from Iron Valley Real Estate.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
Are you? No, I'm just like, hey, French. Yeah, I saw you looking at a property.
Sean French
Because if you called me. If you called me randomly. Hey, French, what's up, man? I saw you were looking at some properties. How can I help you?
Edgar Munoz
Wait, how do you know my name? That's the first question.
Sean French
Like, wait a second. Who is this? Oh, this is so and so from Iron Valley Real Estate. Why'd you call me French? And then you would say, I don't know, man, it's just me.
Edgar Munoz
Oh, well, it's the area context. Hold on one second. So when I was trained, by the time I see your name, I'm gonna Facebook talk you. I see your prior military. Most of us go by our last. Yeah, because I'm not gonna call you Sean.
Sean French
No, and I wouldn't want you to. But my point is, if someone. If. If one of these people trying to get my business, when I answer the phone, this is Sean French. What's up? Like, I'd be like, dude, okay. Like, even if I don't know this person, they already know me. Right. So I just think that's a more authentic way to handle something. Now, again, guys, don't be calling your prospect like, Yo, McGinnis, what's up? But, like, if you. It has to flow. Well.
Edgar Munoz
It does. And. And read the room, right? That's what you hear. So we are here. Virginia Beach, Hampton Roads.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
Heavy military time.
Sean French
Yeah. Yep.
Edgar Munoz
More people are going to talk, like, me and relate to me.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
Because that's the way we talk.
Sean French
I love it. Dude, that's great.
Edgar Munoz
So that's 90% of the people that I'm researching. Because all I would do was take your name. Social media. Nothing is a secret anymore. No, I'll just go to your page. Oh, prior military or married to a military or not. And then I know which way to carry the conversation. If I was going to be VA loan heavy. Yeah, I know which way to go.
Sean French
That's one of the things that drives me crazy though, dude, to be honest with you, is like, is the. Is the other end of it, right? Like we live in a day and age of technology. Like, like when these people on Instagram try to, you know, get my business like, you look at my page, what do I do?
Edgar Munoz
Yeah.
Sean French
Podcast, right? Yeah, they'll send me a message. Hey man, do you have a podcast? Delete. Like, are you that lazy? Are you that lazy? So we live in a world where you could literally pretty much find almost everything about me. Go in and type in. In the search engine in Google. Sean French, the Determined Society. It'll give you everything.
Edgar Munoz
So chat GPT me.
Sean French
It'll give you everything. Show me effort.
Edgar Munoz
So when me and my partner. So Eric Edwards, who's in California, shout out to Eric Edwards.
Sean French
Yeah. You're opening up. You're expanding out there.
Edgar Munoz
So we opened up Iron Valley Real Estate Prestige. Right. So there is the realtor side, non realtor side. We're on the non realtor side because there was. We're in a unique situation here where the rain MLS system is not privately owned by the Realtor association. So we have the option to do either or. Half the agents here are not. So we, we have something they need. Let's open up the brokerage. The gang. So we opened up Iron Valley Real Estate Prestige. I'm principal broker of the place and I get calls constantly to be recruited to other firms.
Sean French
I bet. But why? I mean, I'm the broker, broker, owner, principal broker, dude.
Edgar Munoz
My other partner is an owner. You can go to my social media and you'll see us. Iron Valley Strong. Yeah, Hashtag Iron Valley Strong. Iron Valley this, that, the other owners, we did something. What? Anyways, what I'm getting at is exactly what I did before. You could literally go to my page, just scroll down and see that I am the principal broker owner of this company.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
And you're still calling me, which shows me you did nothing.
Sean French
Nothing, nothing, nothing. Why would I leave what I own to go be a number somewhere else? And build your vampire.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah. So, I mean, like the last one, it's. I looked at the brokerage. I'm literally sitting there and they called me. Not going to name a name, but they have 20 agents. I was like, hey, no serious question. It's the recruiter. Please turn around and talk to your owner and I will take your company on. Shut it down, get rid of the overhead, all the headaches of being a broker. I'll bring the 20 agents and I'll charge you a flat rate every month, 399 for your whole team.
Sean French
What they say?
Edgar Munoz
I'll note it. No, don't note it.
Sean French
Yeah, ask, ask.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah, I have. I've had on my calendar to call the guy today.
Sean French
You do.
Edgar Munoz
They'll be like, hey, man, look, I know you're out here recruiting. You only got 28. Let's get rid of that. Open.
Sean French
Yeah, yeah, Come on.
Edgar Munoz
Just come and join us. We got all the systems, all the training, everything.
Sean French
Like family, bro. Community.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah, Bring it on over. Yeah, I don't mind that you called me.
Sean French
That's great, dude.
Edgar Munoz
But to. To your point, with technology, like, you could have just simply just looked on my Facebook page and saw that, yeah, I'm an owner.
Sean French
Love it.
Edgar Munoz
With over 100 agents for that firm.
Sean French
100 agents, dude. Let me ask you a question, man, as we kind of, you know, dive into the end of the show. And by the way, it's been amazing having this conversation with you. I love real life conversations, learning about people, but also tying in how that upbringing, like your mom, your dad, you know, the fighting, how it made you the entrepreneur that you are now. I think that's freaking so interesting. And I. I just hope that people are out there listening Right now is like, well, if he's. That if he's done it, then why can't I. Right? But the last question I want to ask you is. Well, one of the last questions is, this is the determined society, right? And I created this platform because my dream and my wish is to wake up in a society that people chase. They were determined to chase their dreams and their goals, no matter how they felt emotionally every day. So no matter what, they were going to move just a little bit towards that goal. What does determination mean to you?
Edgar Munoz
It's that obstacle. You're going to hit a wall. No matter what you do, you're going to hit a wall. And that's where that. That second gear needs to come in. It's in there. It's in everybody.
Sean French
Sure it is, man.
Edgar Munoz
It doesn't have to be physical. It could be just. It's. It's really mental.
Sean French
Sure it is. Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
It's all mental.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
And whatever that is, it's like, it's just one day at a time. It's. That's. That's all it is. The daily task you're doing today is for that future accomplishment you want to get to. So don't focus on the end. Go. That you're not going to make it. No. Just focus on finishing that day up.
Sean French
I love it, dude. And that's a great point, man. And for the audience listening, it's like, if you feel like quitting. I heard this somewhere. I wish I could cite where I heard. It's not my. It's not proprietary. I always preface that because I don't want people say, like, he took that for me. Like, hey, I heard that over there. It's not mine. But, like, if you feel like quitting, just finish that one day.
Edgar Munoz
That's it.
Sean French
Quit tomorrow, make that decision tomorrow, quit tomorrow. And then the next day, if you still feel like quitting, finish that day. Right. Because I. I cannot tell you. There's been multiple times where I've wanted to stop.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah. So yesterday we had that. The. The bike. I forgot the name of the bike.
Sean French
Although it's. Well, it's. It's called an assault bike. Well, and that's what it looked like. It felt like it was crazy.
Edgar Munoz
So Betsy Vega is one of my agents.
Sean French
I love her.
Edgar Munoz
Betsy Vega. I wanted her to finish that. I know I was.
Sean French
Want to.
Edgar Munoz
She didn't want to because she's growing. I'm grooming her, and she has emotional growth that needs to happen. But that was a great challenge for her. She. I think she wanted to quit, like, eight different times.
Sean French
Yep. I know.
Edgar Munoz
I think we physically kept her on the bike at some point.
Sean French
But you know what it's going to do that's going to help her business.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah.
Sean French
Because she's like, I can do hard things. I did this salt bike. I can finish this. And as much as people want to think nothing that's not connected. It is.
Edgar Munoz
It is. It's. It's discipline. It's super. It's discipline. It's a sense of pride, a goal. Like. Like, yeah, I finished. If you would have quit with 20 calories left or whatever it was, you.
Sean French
Leave it on the table, man.
Edgar Munoz
Like, you did all this. You're still in pain.
Sean French
You're still in. Anyway.
Edgar Munoz
In the military, we say you're in the. Like, you're in it.
Sean French
Just keep Going, yeah, no, I, I, I adore her. She reached out to me, you know, prior to me coming and tagged me in some stories and I'm like, I like this person, you know, and yeah, I just think that she's going to be a star for you for sure. And she, you can tell she's in a growth pattern right now. And it's, it's beautiful thing to see, man.
Edgar Munoz
It's a first year in real estate. She closed over 20 transactions, so not a slouch. And she gets, and she gets her own business and there's an emotional growth there that needs to happen where don't let your emotions get the best of you.
Sean French
Yep.
Edgar Munoz
You know, especially in the real estate world, stick to the contract and the processes.
Sean French
Yep.
Edgar Munoz
And you'll be okay.
Sean French
Yeah.
Edgar Munoz
You know, in the, in the military we say, you know, there's all these rules and everything, and everything was written in blood. A lot of these rules were there because they're written in blood. In real estate, it's the opposite. It's everything was rent, a lawsuit.
Sean French
Yeah, man.
Edgar Munoz
So stick to the contract. Learn it inside out and stick to your process. You'll be okay.
Sean French
Love it, man. I love everything you guys are doing here. You guys are movers and shakers. You guys are my people. And this has been such an enriching experience to be up here in Norfolk and Virginia beach to get to know every one of you guys. Like, you guys have it figured out. Like, you guys are grinders. You do what you need to do super disciplined. And you guys are taking everything that you learned in the service as far as deadlines and systems, and you're bringing it over here to the community. And I just, I just tell you, man, I just am so freaking impressed by all of you. That's not like no bullshit.
Edgar Munoz
No, no. And thank you. Like, I appreciate that. And honestly, I really appreciate the time you've taken because I've seen you guys, I've been watching you guys obviously work that man. AM to PM with us.
Sean French
So we went from yesterday. I think the first show was at 8:30 and we didn't rap until 10:15 last night. Yeah, nine shows in two days.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah. It's crazy. And not, it's wild. Breaking down equipment and moving the equipment and setting up again.
Sean French
And on my team, Grit media.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah, they're, they're shout out to those guys.
Sean French
I, my wish for every show is that they have somebody like them.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah, everybody needs to have those people.
Sean French
They remind me to eat like they, you know, they're, they're my people, man. They're family. And yeah, so get, get. You got someone like them or get them.
Edgar Munoz
Yeah, they believe it.
Sean French
Yeah, exactly.
Edgar Munoz
They believe in it.
Sean French
Oh, yeah, absolutely.
Edgar Munoz
And it's their business. Nobody's going to. Nobody is going to care more about your business than yourself. So don't get offended when the people aren't doing what you do.
Sean French
Well, dude, thank you so much. I appreciate you, Edgar. Listen, guys, I want to remind you to hit subscribe. YouTube, Spotify, Apple, podcasts. We grow the show and we get to do amazing things like this because of you guys watching and pouring into the show and, and letting us know what you want to hear. So please share the show with someone you know love and trust like I asked at the beginning. And don't forget to leave a review. I want to hear what you think. But until next time, guys, stay determined.
Unknown Artist
This one luck I let the pain inspire me I put my all in Everything I'm doing up until it's done I'm me for the entirety I put in overtime I'll be working Just know I'mma go for mine cause I earned it they watch and I know it's time I confirmed it the whole society determined.
Podcast Summary: "Overcoming the Odds: Edgar Munoz’s Journey to Real Estate Success"
Podcast Information:
In this compelling episode of The Determined Society, host Shawn French welcomes Edgar Munoz, a successful real estate entrepreneur from Iron Valley Real Estate Prestige in Virginia. The conversation delves deep into Edgar's tumultuous upbringing, his military service, and his transition into the real estate industry. Through personal anecdotes and insightful discussions, Edgar shares the resilience and determination that propelled him to success despite numerous obstacles.
Edgar Munoz opens up about his challenging childhood, highlighting his family's connections and the environment he grew up in. Born in San Diego and raised in Southern California’s San Gabriel Valley, Edgar's early life was intertwined with his father's involvement in cartel activities, having businesses in Tijuana and Durango, Mexico.
Notable Quote:
“So originally from... my dad was involved with the cartels before the cartels were popular.”
(00:58) - Edgar Munoz
Growing up in El Monte, California, Edgar was amidst gang conflicts between Mexican and Asian gangs. This volatile environment instilled a sense of toughness and survival instincts in him from a young age.
Edgar discusses the strained relationship with his mother, who immigrated to the United States at 16 after his grandmother passed away. His mother's demanding work schedule left little room for nurturing, leading Edgar to become independent early on.
Notable Quote:
“We never had a relationship. Never got hugs. Damn. Even to this day, I don't think it's been fixed.”
(14:47) - Edgar Munoz
Despite the lack of emotional support, Edgar takes responsibility for caring for his mother in adulthood, showcasing his evolved sense of duty and familial loyalty.
At 18, Edgar enlisted in the military, serving through significant events such as 9/11, Afghanistan, and Iraq. His military experience honed his discipline, resilience, and strategic thinking—qualities that later became instrumental in his real estate career.
Notable Quote:
“Traveled the world, had a great time. Got to travel before 9/11.”
(21:03) - Edgar Munoz
His wife's parallel military career further influenced their strategic moves, including multiple relocations that delayed his entry into real estate but enriched his global perspective.
After retiring from the military in 2007, Edgar focused on obtaining his real estate license. The initial six months were challenging, filled with door-knocking and hosting open houses without much success. However, perseverance and mentorship played crucial roles in his eventual breakthrough.
Notable Quote:
“Joining the right firm or the right mentor or whatever team is crucial those first two years.”
(23:41) - Edgar Munoz
Edgar's relentless work ethic caught the attention of established real estate teams, leading to significant opportunities and growth within the industry.
Edgar shares his philosophy on overcoming adversity, drawing parallels between his past struggles and his approach to business. His ability to remain unfazed by rejection stems from his encounters with genuine threats during his youth and military service.
Notable Quote:
“The fear of somebody hanging up on me, telling him, no, I'm not interested. Get out of my... all those rejections. That is not in me.”
(37:00) - Edgar Munoz
This mindset allowed him to navigate the initial hardships in real estate, emphasizing the importance of resilience and emotional detachment from setbacks.
Edgar discusses various strategies that differentiate successful realtors from the rest. He emphasizes the importance of authentic communication, understanding client needs, and leveraging specialized loan programs like VA and rehab loans to close deals effectively.
Notable Quote:
“Stick to the contract. Learn it inside out and stick to your process. You'll be okay.”
(47:48) - Edgar Munoz
His innovative approaches, such as negotiating car payments through VA loans and utilizing rehab loans to increase property values, have significantly contributed to his impressive track record.
A central theme of the episode is Edgar’s definition of determination. He believes that encountering and overcoming obstacles is integral to success, whether in real estate or personal endeavors. His approach is to tackle challenges one day at a time, maintaining focus on daily goals rather than being overwhelmed by the end objective.
Notable Quote:
“The daily task you're doing today is for that future accomplishment you want to get to. So don't focus on the end. Just focus on finishing that day up.”
(45:03) - Edgar Munoz
Shawn echoes this sentiment, reinforcing the idea that perseverance through daily efforts leads to long-term success.
The episode concludes with a reflection on the importance of community, mentorship, and relentless pursuit of goals. Edgar Munoz’s journey from a tumultuous childhood to a thriving real estate entrepreneur serves as an inspiring testament to the power of determination and resilience.
Final Thoughts:
“If you feel like quitting, just finish that one day.”
(45:40) - Shawn French
Shawn encourages listeners to adopt a similar mindset, emphasizing that small, consistent efforts build the foundation for substantial achievements.
Key Takeaways:
Notable Quotes:
This episode offers valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs and real estate professionals, illustrating how personal struggles can be transformed into powerful motivations for building a successful career.