Carlos Granados Podcast

Redefining Success, The Homeownership Dream in the Latin Community with Melissa & Nataly

• Carlos Granados

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Discover how cultural roots and personal ambition can redefine success, as Melissa Silva and Nataly Morales guide us through their transformative careers. From crunching data at the CDC to empowering individuals as a mortgage loan officer, Melissa's journey embodies a shift towards meaningful engagement in her work. Nataly, with her flair for bilingual real estate and motivational speaking, infuses her rich Mexican heritage into her professional endeavors, championing educational support along the way. Their stories serve as a testament to the profound impact of identity on career paths and the beauty of pursuing vocations that resonate with one's values.

The dream of homeownership often feels intangible, especially within the Latinx community, but this episode breaks down barriers with practical insights and myth-busting facts. Melissa and Nataly illuminate the intricacies of the housing market, offering clarity on topics from navigating credit to understanding the true significance of interest rates. They stress the importance of financial literacy and advocate for informed decision-making, whether you're weighing the merits of renting or aspiring to plant roots through buying. This conversation is a treasure trove of wisdom for anyone looking to demystify the home buying process and make empowered choices.

As we wrap up, the discourse takes a personal turn, exploring the nuances of dating, cultural expectations, and the quest for a spiritually aligned partner. We also celebrate success stories that defy expectations, like the Harvard grad whose stumble at a gala led to a thriving real estate career. We close with expressions of heartfelt gratitude for the community that gathers around these dialogues. Each episode aims to forge connections, spark inspiration, and fortify the spirit of empowerment that runs through our conversations. Join us for this journey, and be part of the dialogue that's making a difference.

Speaker 1:

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to another episode of the Carlos Granados podcast, and today I have another two special guests. But before they get introduced, I want to thank you guys for all the love, everything you guys have shown me so far. The channel keeps growing, the podcast keeps growing. We're close to 3.5K subscribers on YouTube, so don't forget that you can also listen to this podcast on Apple Music, apple Podcast and on Spotify. But without further ado, help me introduce, and with much love, with much passion, natalie Melissa, how are you guys doing today?

Speaker 2:

We're doing good, awesome, very nice weather, so that's always a highlight.

Speaker 1:

I'm liking the energy that you guys brought as soon as you guys came into my house and if you guys have not noticed the difference, I'm in the middle now they put me in the middle. Yes, we did. I'm in the mix, but we're about to have some good conversations today and I want you guys to express yourself and just be you guys. In my podcast. I love the fact that you guys came with good energy, because that's have you seen, that's me too. You know what I mean. So could you guys introduce yourself? What is it that you do? And then we'll go one by one so people can get to know you and we'll go from there. So who wants to start first?

Speaker 3:

I can start first.

Speaker 1:

Nice.

Speaker 3:

So my name is Melissa Silva and I am currently a mortgage loan owner. I'm an officer.

Speaker 1:

You know, go ahead. Do you share what you want to share with the people?

Speaker 3:

Okay, I'm a mortgage loan officer. I live here in Georgia. My parents are from Mexico.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, we know what. We're definitely going to turn you up all the way up over here because you, let's just go ahead Now. You can do, you can do, keep going.

Speaker 3:

My background.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, talk to us. What is it that you do now? So you're a loan officer? How long have you been doing that? For? What made you get into that? Things of that nature?

Speaker 3:

Okay, so short snit. My parents are from Mexico. I was born here in Georgia. I studied Spanish language and literature and undergrad Also studied Russian. I studied communication. I studied abroad, in Spain. I taught English in Kyrgyzstan, came back, I was a teacher for two and a half years. I worked for the CDC for a year and a half.

Speaker 1:

Gang CDC gang yes.

Speaker 3:

And then. So I've been doing lending now for about a year and a half.

Speaker 1:

Okay, got you and what made you get into that?

Speaker 3:

One of my best friends from undergrad said hey, you should be a realtor. And I said in my head realtors are like buy a house for me, and I'm like I don't have that type of energy. He's like the other side's lending, so that's how I got into lending.

Speaker 1:

So I had a friend who's also a loan officer that came here and she explained a lot of good things. So I know a little bit about the real estate game. So you also worked at the CDC. What did you do?

Speaker 3:

I was a public health data analyst for them. So for those of you guys that don't know, the CDC is huge, like huge, and so if you break down the CDC to where I was, I was in the communication department, so I worked with a lot of translators so I would like update databases. I transcribed videos. I did a lot of like translation work with them.

Speaker 1:

Okay, got you. That's pretty cool. I haven't. I think I've met, like some one other people outside of like the CDC that have worked for the CDC, and it's always impressive, no way.

Speaker 3:

Wait, so why'd?

Speaker 1:

you leave.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, the work itself was very monotonous and boring.

Speaker 1:

Oh, I mean, I was listen, I respected, I respected. You know, everybody has their own thing. I feel like some people need work to be a little bit more active or at least have different things. So what you didn't feel like you were going to go up into like the company, or at least like the agency, to like keep growing or anything like that.

Speaker 3:

You didn't give it time for that. Well, like you're in half, I would say sometime.

Speaker 1:

I don't know about that. What do you think about that, natalie? You think it's like that's a good time?

Speaker 2:

I think I understand this, melissa, because I also had a very, very sudden career change. So everyone has their reasons, but I think a year and a half is good enough to know that maybe your path is somewhere else. Which? Is especially when you're this young right, yeah, so it's better to figure out sooner rather than later, gotcha.

Speaker 1:

Now, I respect that, I understand. So tell us about yourself then. What is that you do? Tell us a little about your background before we get into the mix, because I'm ready.

Speaker 2:

Before we get into the deep the best of it, okay. So super happy to be here. Thank you, carlos, for the invitation. First of all, thank you for being here.

Speaker 3:

I think we're vying.

Speaker 2:

pretty well, my name is Natalie Morales Natalie, however you want to say Natalie, natalie. So I am bilingual real-ter in the state of Georgia. I also give motivational speeches and I have an artisanal business that supports education in the US and Mexico.

Speaker 1:

What.

Speaker 2:

An artisanal business.

Speaker 1:

What is that?

Speaker 2:

So I bring back artisanal products from my hometown in Mexico, including graduation stalls.

Speaker 1:

Oh, that's dope, Thank you. Can you sell those? Yeah, for students. Is that like online thing, or you? Just buy word of mouth right now. Buy word of mouth right now. Okay, so perfect. So you guys give me your websites or whatever you have guys have, so I can just link it into the YouTube channel. Sorry to cut you off. Perfect, I will give you all my links. I got you.

Speaker 2:

Yes, so I have an artisanal business where I bring back artisanal products produced in my hometown, specifically the graduation stalls, sell them here and a percentage of the proceeds is used to buy school supplies for students in my hometown in Mexico.

Speaker 1:

Oh, that's pretty cool. Actually, that's really good. You guys are very, actually, interesting people. Like from what you guys have told me so far, I'm intrigued. It's really cool. So tell me okay, let's get, let's get into the mix. So, you guys, what is it that you guys are doing right now? Because you guys have a grant going on. Can you guys both of you guys tell us what's going on? How'd you get it? I saw you guys went to the White House. It was it because of that too. Yes, okay, yeah. So definitely get into that. What is that? It's a circle that you sent me, but I'm interested in about knowing it and I want the viewers and the listeners to know what is that about?

Speaker 3:

Yeah for sure. So Natalie and I, we both studied abroad on the Gilman Scholarship. So the Gilman Scholarship is a scholarship run by the US Department of State, right, and so we applied for that. I studied abroad in Spain, natalie studied abroad in Peru. So this is back five years ago, 2019. 2019.

Speaker 3:

Okay, and fast forward to 2023 of last year, I didn't open up another grant, but instead of studying, instead of paying for you to study abroad, now it's looking at you and your career and what you're doing to help your community. So they asked us you know who we are, what we do and what we do to help our community. So I'm a mortgage lender. I educate a lot of home buyers on how to buy a house right. Especially, a lot of Hispanic community educate them, and Natalie's a realtor, so she, you know, tells them all about the home buying process. So we wrote up an essay, we submitted it and Gilman was like wow, ladies, like congratulations, we're going to fly out to DC, you're going to receive your award, and so the Gilman Changemaker grant is running for a full year and we're doing webinars, home buying classes and things like that. Natalie, do you want to speak more on that?

Speaker 1:

Wow.

Speaker 3:

Yes, nice.

Speaker 2:

Yes. So Melissa and I were the dynamic real estate duo we had along really well, both personally and professionally I can see that. Yes, so the really neat thing about the grant again it's funded through the US department state where actually partly inaugural class, only six people were awarded the grant in the country.

Speaker 1:

Wow, that's fire. Congratulations. Wait, wait, wait, congratulations, ladies. That's fire. Oh wait, one more and we're the only two Latinas that were awarded. No way, really. Wow, only two Latinas to get it. You guys making me proud as a lot of people, because we're definitely about our culture and the fact that you guys have accomplished all of that. That's really cool to see. You know that movement. Congratulations, I really mean it. Congratulations, guys. Keep going, thank you.

Speaker 2:

That's so much appreciated. Yes, so basically, the main main point with the grant is how are you changing your community? How are you specifically assisting, either by helping minority communities? Or for us, language taxes is a huge thing right. Us being Latinas, me, having been born in Mexico, growing up here in Gainesville and going through all those challenges, like I remember, when my parents bought their first home, I was 11 years old, interpreting mortgage documents.

Speaker 1:

I remember that yo, yes, right, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2:

So now I think about it. No, like I don't want kids whenever their parents are looking for a home to have to go through that. I want them to get the confidence that they can feel comfortable asking me and Melissa about bank statements, about interest rates. I don't want to see their their kid being the one interpreting for them, because I went through that and it's a lot of responsibility.

Speaker 1:

It's a lot. I've done that myself too. I think a lot of Hispanic kids have gone through that, trying to interpret a lot of documents that we shouldn't have. We have no business even reading. You know what I mean.

Speaker 2:

Especially at that age, about bank accounts, yeah exactly.

Speaker 1:

So let me ask you a question and then, for both of you guys, what is something so common that you guys see in the, the, the, the, the loan part of buying a house, and then even at the bro state? So how does that work and what are some of the common like misconceptions that people have or at least immigrants family have when it comes to buying a home? Like what are or what have been some of the experiences that you guys have gone through when it comes to that?

Speaker 3:

So I think two main you know things that are misinformation that I can point out right now is one to buy a house, you need at least 20% down, which is not true. Okay, you do not need. At least it depends on the situation, right. But, typically you do not need 20% down to buy a house. Second thing is our, our 10 holders, so people get the index ID. They're like okay nothing anymore. We don't have, you know, citizenship, we can't buy, that's not the case you can't buy.

Speaker 1:

So if you do have a tax ID number, you can buy right now. Does that change within like precedencies, or is that something that's been common for a while now?

Speaker 3:

I'm sure it's been common for a while now, but, like I told you, I've only been longing for a year and a half but I mean, my branch manager is unloaned to the killing peso.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so it's probably been around for a while. Nice, what about you? Is there anything that you feel like? Latin families usually like have an idea ideology when it comes to buying a house.

Speaker 2:

Yes, so tagging off of what Melissa just said, with the interest rates, like you don't have to give 20% down, like there's programs, you only get 3.5 to 5% right and of course, it depends on your financial situation. Credit score et cetera. You'd have to schedule a meeting with Melissa to go into the depth of that.

Speaker 2:

But I think for me, what I've seen a lot, especially within our immigrant families. So back, at least back in Mexico, right, typically, the way you build a house, you don't ask for a loan. No pides un hipoteco por esto right. Typically you save up a lot of money or you build your house little by little, by little, like you start buying cement, you start building the wall, then you start building the plumbing then you start building this, so it's ongoing.

Speaker 1:

Right.

Speaker 2:

Versus how here in the US people are used to having to take out a loan to purchase their home and I think a lot of people sometimes come with that misconception. No, I need to have a lot, a lot of money in the bank before I can even purchase a home here in the US.

Speaker 1:

And sometimes I feel like it's even passed like generationally, like you get houses, that's how, like we own houses sometimes, or even land. So what is like the biggest struggles that you feel like people deal with? Is it the saving money or is it the credit score, at least when it comes to like the minority, like the community, like the land communities? Is there anything like that that they feel like you feel like they struggle the most, or maybe even understanding?

Speaker 2:

Yes, well, one obviously understanding all the terms. Right, if you think about it? No, seriously.

Speaker 1:

I respect that, I feel you.

Speaker 2:

No, think about it. Your average person in the US who has a high school, has a college degree, struggles Even understanding in English, right Understanding what the heck is all the mumbo jumbo that comes related to a mortgage. Now try explaining that in Spanish.

Speaker 1:

That makes a lot of sense. What about you? Anything?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, I think a lot of people struggle with credit, like credit number one. And the thing like with my company we can do a soft pull that does not affect you at all, and with that soft pull we're able to put you in our system. It's called a what if scenario.

Speaker 1:

So what if I?

Speaker 3:

pay this down? What if I do this? What if I open an account? How long would it take for my credit to increase? A month, six months, two years, which is pretty nice.

Speaker 1:

Can you explain what a soft pull is for the people that don't know?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, so a soft pull on your credit. There's two types of ways that you can get your credit check. You do a soft pull, you do a hard pull. Soft pull does not affect you, it is not on your credit report. You do a hard pull that typically docks you. Like a couple of points.

Speaker 1:

Okay, okay so, but why so? I'm assuming that the softball is more convenient when it comes to trying to get checked for credit, when it comes to buying a house, and when would you need even a hardball then?

Speaker 3:

So the reason we do a softball is the first thing that we do is just to see how you are right, cause people are like, yeah, I was having 100 credit. And then we check in. It's like a five, 10, like.

Speaker 1:

It's an actual five 10,. It's not credit karma score.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, exactly, exactly, that's exactly right. So we do a softball to set you up to essentially do your game plan, like, what do you need to do to increase your credit? And with that cause, if we start with a hardball, that's already gonna dock you points, right. And the time that I actually do a hardball is when you start home shopping, when I pass you off to Natalie right, because I have to do a hardball so I can put you through our automatic underwriting system and then that system tells me if you're eligible. You're not eligible Because I'm not gonna pre-approve someone with Natalie without doing a hardball, cause Natalie's gonna spend it waste her time showing how it says when this guy doesn't even qualify.

Speaker 1:

Got you, so you do that, and then you ally you to Natalie so she can dunk it Got you.

Speaker 2:

I feel you, that's a sports analogy yes, there you go yes, that's a sports analogy.

Speaker 1:

So one more question when it comes to now. I had it in the top of my head and now I lost it. God, I had it right now. Sorry, I had a really good question, but now I forgot it. Crap. It's gonna come back to my head, though. It's gonna come back to my head, so if I do remember, I'll ask you. So then is there? Oh, I got it. So, when it comes to having the income to debt ratio, can you give us more specifics on how that works? Cause I thought that it was your income to your debt, but like your total debt to income. Like how do I explain this? So if I have $50,000 in debt and I make $100,000 a year, right, so I thought that was your debt to income ratio, but I think I've learned that it's what you make a month compared to what you pay from what you owe.

Speaker 3:

Okay, so your debt?

Speaker 1:

Am I making sense? Yeah, let me A little bit, okay, clarify things for me.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, in the mortgage world we look at your debt to income ratio.

Speaker 1:

We look at your DTI.

Speaker 3:

We look at how much your monthly payment is gonna be and we look at all the debt you have combined. Okay, so we take a look at your monthly income. Let's say in a month you make $4,000.

Speaker 1:

All right.

Speaker 3:

Okay, but I'll also see on your credit report. Okay, you have car payment, truck payment, credit card payment, so I look at your Student loans.

Speaker 1:

Student loans.

Speaker 3:

Right, we look at all your debts getting pulled out of your account every month. So, if you make $4,000, but you have a total of $2,000 in debt, right, so we only have $2,000 to quote. Unquote like play with.

Speaker 1:

Play with right.

Speaker 3:

So your DTI ratio, the front end of it, is just your monthly payment. So let's say your monthly payment is $1,000, okay, so your DTI ratio is just the front one. Okay, your back ratio is all your debt combined, the house payment plus all your other payments.

Speaker 1:

That's complicated. That's complicated because I didn't know it was like that.

Speaker 3:

Being a mortgage lender is a lot. It's a lot.

Speaker 1:

I've heard. I've heard that's in. I'm sure there's ways that you figure like to, to like you make facilitate things for home buyers right, like, not just advise them in certain ways. But so let me ask you a scenario question and I promise I'll get back to you. I got you, we're in the mix.

Speaker 3:

I'm like can I drop on nugget?

Speaker 1:

No go ahead, okay.

Speaker 3:

So let's say, you have a car, okay.

Speaker 1:

Okay, you have a car.

Speaker 3:

Yes, but you also have a business okay.

Speaker 1:

Okay, you have a business.

Speaker 3:

If your car payment is made through your business account and if I see that car is on your credit report, I can exclude that car payment. As long as you've had 12 months of bank statements or that business is paying for that car. Oh, so it would. Your purchase price increases because that debt is excluded. Why is it excluded? Because, that business is paying for it.

Speaker 1:

Could I do that with my YouTube channel, like make a YouTube oh, register an LLC. Like LLC for my money, seriously, register your LLC. Dang.

Speaker 2:

I have an LLC registered for all my other businesses.

Speaker 1:

Oh, okay. So what you're saying is well, what if I don't make enough I'm not telling you to work the system.

Speaker 2:

But I'm just saying there I'm gonna work the system then.

Speaker 1:

I'm gonna hey, hey, no, this is, this is what you got. Hey, listen, we're gonna bring this to light. Okay, no, but so so wait. So technically I can do that, but I don't know, do you have to? So listen? Quick question then. So let's say I pay $500 for my car a real scenario a month. So 500 times 12 is $6,000. Do I need to make more than $6,000 in my business for them to see like, oh, he's using the business to pay for his car? Cause, what if I don't make the $6,000 from the YouTube? Does that count?

Speaker 1:

If you don't make the $6,000 from the YouTube, so Cause basically, like you know, if I make like half of that, then he's I'm not able to really pay. You know the $6,000 that I do per year for my car. Does that make sense?

Speaker 3:

Right, so in your tax returns we don't look at your gross, we look at your net. So there's a difference between your gross right and then, after all the deductions right.

Speaker 1:

Right.

Speaker 3:

But typically, you see, you would deduct your car there, so we would still see it on your tax returns. Oh, okay.

Speaker 1:

You know what I gotta talk? I actually crazy thing about this. I have my taxes, I have an appointment with my accountant at three today. Yes, that's good. I'm gonna ask her. I'm gonna ask her, like yo, should I start an LLC for my business? Cause she already helps me deduct some things from my YouTube channel, like the things that I bought this year, which is great. But I wanna see if you know I can do more things with it, cause I do wanna, you know, make it more into a business. So that's a all right, natalie, so go into you. So then, when she tosses, when she gives you the alley, you and you dunk. Is there anything that you advise people to do when it comes to, you know, real estate buying, or how does that process work afterwards?

Speaker 2:

Yes. So Melissa has this comparison how she's the bank right? You obviously can't go shopping without first having money from the bank. So I'm like the Walmart, the publics, the Kroger.

Speaker 1:

Oh, you're the businesses.

Speaker 2:

Then the businesses right. When you go house shopping, right, you can't go to Walmart without money if you wanna purchase something, right? So that's why it's so important for you to have a pre-approval. That way you know. You know tentatively how much you're approved for. There's no point in going house shopping if you don't have a pre-approval. But let's bust the illusion, ass, and you're not pre-approved for anything right, Like I can't give you false hope, and we don't wanna waste each other's time.

Speaker 1:

That's the reality. Yeah, try making money. Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2:

You need money to go shopping.

Speaker 1:

No, that's 100% right, though I think that's a. It makes perfect sense. What are some of the things that you feel like you guys have dealt with the most with the house and market now that it looks like it slowed down, but what is your experience with that? And maybe, what are you guys expecting for the future when it comes to the real estate from the loan office perspective and then from agents or perspective?

Speaker 2:

So for me, as a real estate agent, I always say the time to buy is right. When the time is right for you, never, ever feel pressured.

Speaker 2:

Yes, Because the market interest rates can be high. Interest rates can be low. Home prices can be going down. Home prices can be going up. But the time will be right when you're ready. Whether it is that you got married, you're soon to be married, you have another child coming on the way you move like the time will be right whenever you're ready. So don't ever feel pressured. Another thing, and you know this, is me being a realtor. If you contact a realtor and you start working them and then you realize maybe we're not a fit, you can get another realtor.

Speaker 1:

You don't have to feel pressured to stick with one. No.

Speaker 2:

Even if you have a contract with them, right? Because a lot of the times sometimes a realtor will say, hey, like I get to represent you, you can dissolve that contract and say, hey, this isn't working out. And they'll be like, okay, let me refer you to another realtor and they still get part of that commission.

Speaker 1:

FYI. No, that's kind of dope. So if I'm a realtor and I deferred somebody to you, I'll still get something.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, you'll still get some commission.

Speaker 1:

Oh snap, that's kind of fired, that's kind of dope. So I was gonna ask you, in a perfect scenario for both of you guys, you guys please answer this question what is it that a person should do with time and, let's say, even when it comes to their income? Like what is that? Some of the things, like I'm gonna put myself in this example so we can make it more realistic.

Speaker 1:

If I wanted to buy a house in the near future, let's say, half a million dollar house, what is it that you'll recommend me to start doing now so I can buy it within the next year or two? What does that, my scenario, look like? What would you guys recommend? What would you guys advise? How does that look like? And I have a lot of friends in this situation too, around my age, that are. They have great income, they have, I know, pretty good credit and obviously we're waiting to things in the market to get a little bit better for us. But what does that scenario look like for us if I came to you guys just from knowing that information?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, for sure. So I'm gonna start off right, so you always start with me first, okay?

Speaker 1:

You always start with the loan first.

Speaker 3:

Like Natalie said, you know you can't go home shopping without anyone right. So I gotta take you so honestly. Getting a house is two things it's your credit and your income.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 3:

Depending on how good your credit is and how much money you make, we're able to offer you a loan.

Speaker 1:

Right.

Speaker 3:

Okay, so credit. First thing keep your credit up, you know. Take care of it. Make your on time payments. Don't max out your cards, all right. Okay, it's one thing keep your credit and check. Second thing do not take out too much debt. Car truck you saw that nice Ferrari that you really wanted. Hold on, hold on. It's easier to get a Ferrari than to get a house.

Speaker 1:

But I want it, Melissa, I want it and come on so yeah, just try to hold off on debt.

Speaker 3:

you know just like things like that Second thing, income. So we track back your last two years of work history.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 3:

You got two years of work history. Can you hold down a job for at least two years Please?

Speaker 2:

continuously.

Speaker 3:

We don't have to, you know, be in the same job for two years, but we do track back your last two years of work history.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 3:

So yeah, got credit, you got an income and save money okay.

Speaker 2:

Save money.

Speaker 1:

For the down payment.

Speaker 3:

Correct. So there's two things. When you buy a house, there's too many things that you pay for. You have your down payment it's what you invest in your house, okay. Second thing are your closing costs. The closing costs are all the fees associated with the transaction. You're gonna prepay your taxes up front for a year, your insurance up front for a year and we close. With the attorneys, they also have their fees, dang.

Speaker 1:

Those are closing costs, those are the fees that are dang bro. So that's what we gotta prepare. We gotta save for those two things as well.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, and so you know we do offer a down payment assistance program, but what I do tell people is the bank never loses, okay, you? Just you gotta know that the bank never loses, so the down payment assistance.

Speaker 1:

It's like a casino.

Speaker 2:

Okay, have you all been to Vegas.

Speaker 1:

I've never had. I never had. I want to go and I wanna go, but I like casinos.

Speaker 2:

Half of my family was in Vegas. That's why.

Speaker 1:

I. Is that an invitation?

Speaker 2:

I'm just saying half of my family was in Vegas, hey.

Speaker 1:

I'm saying, hey, I'll pull up, don't tempt me, I'm gonna try to. I'm gonna go over there Pending through oh, pending podcast and Vegas. Pending podcast and Vegas Part two. Right yeah, I'm gonna buy the little rock casters, one like the ones you put here, so you can just carry it with you. That'll be fine, keep going. I'm sorry to interrupt. No, no, no, what we got into the casino by the way.

Speaker 3:

Yes, where was I? Oh down payment assistance all right bank never loses, so are down payment assistance. So you have two monthly payments. You have your regular mortgage payment and then that down payment you could not pay the day of closing gets financed into the loan.

Speaker 1:

Oh, that's kinda cool.

Speaker 3:

So you're.

Speaker 1:

You just pay interest into the loan.

Speaker 3:

Correct. Yeah, yeah, bank never loses. Pay that over 10 years.

Speaker 1:

Damn. Well, how much would that be, though, if you pay it with 10 years, the $5,000, basically, well, okay, let's say your down payment was 10K. Okay.

Speaker 3:

That 10K gets financed into your monthly payment, so your monthly payment's higher and your purchase price actually goes lower.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 3:

Right, because it's a higher monthly payment, so you pay that in the lapse of like 10 years. Gotcha 120 months.

Speaker 1:

It's a long time. What about you?

Speaker 2:

So let me tell you something about the housing market right now right, we all know that.

Speaker 1:

Talk to me.

Speaker 2:

Interest rates are not so low right.

Speaker 1:

They're a little high, not so low, to say the least.

Speaker 2:

But historically they've always been high Like this. Isn't like in the past 30 years, like there was a time when interest rates were above 10%? Really, yeah. Go, if you go online and look up interest rates historically over the last 50 years, you're gonna be flower-gasted.

Speaker 1:

Oh, so where now it's not like something that's probably gonna? I thought that it probably will continue going up.

Speaker 3:

So, melissa. So, speaking on interest rates, let me just say this I work with two types of buyers Either have a social or you have a tax ID, okay.

Speaker 1:

Okay no-transcript.

Speaker 3:

If a person has a social security number, typically they get. You know the interest rate that's at market, your average market rate. Okay. A person that's got a tax ID, they write off the bad. They have a higher interest rate Okay you're looking at from nine. I've seen all the way to 13. Okay, so you complaining at a 6.8 7% right now, like I have no sympathy for you.

Speaker 1:

Because you can always refinance. Please.

Speaker 3:

Well, I tell people they stay at the nine, they stay at the 10, they say that the 11, the 12 to 13, they there's no refinance unless their kid grows up and they the kid refinance of the house.

Speaker 1:

So keep going, you, I.

Speaker 2:

So interest rates are projected. There are projects be cuts for interest rate in the upcoming year. I can't tell you exactly what those cuts will be, but just be mindful of that now, right now, in our market right. So interest rates are higher house. Whenever interest rates are higher, homes tend to be more affordable. Okay, and there's not as much competition. People typically don't want to buy when interest rates are higher but again yeah.

Speaker 2:

So going back to the whole, whenever the time is right for you will be the time that is right for you to buy a home Right so here's the thing with like interest rates, right?

Speaker 3:

A lot of people think the Fed is the one who control interest rates. It's not. They control inflation inflation in turn affects interest rates right. So, yeah, the Fed cuts, they cut down on inflation. Inflation and the interns Effects interest rate. It's not like the feds like cutting the interest rates is that they're messing with. Inflation is what affects the interest rates.

Speaker 1:

You know, go into the point I gotta. I got two things that I want to say eventually, but I want to one with the interest. But the other one is I had a friend and shout out to Adity. She's been a really good friend of mine for a while and she's a loan officer and she was making a case, one point where and I want to know you guys's opinion on this, and I think I might know where it's at, but I definitely want to hear from you guys.

Speaker 1:

So, even though, like you said, if you have a tax ID and your interest rates are higher, she said she was really like Into saying like, even though you might end up paying so much more for the house in 30 years, at least it's something that your family can have, that you can pass on to somebody else. Because you're putting money because I mean 913 percent on like a 400,000 the house. You probably end up paying over a million and some change if the math is mathen. But even then, like you know, the private house will be worth maybe 600, 700 by then. I don't know.

Speaker 1:

But like, what do you guys think about that? Do you think, even though you're paying, you know, you know, you know 300, but you're basically playing for another house in interest to own one house. What do you got? How do you guys see that? Do you guys think it's a good idea? Bad idea, especially, you guys are. You know from the Latin community and a lot of people that we know have. You know, tax ID numbers and not social securities, right, what do you guys think about that?

Speaker 3:

So you say you know you're with interest rate, you're paying with one house, you're paying for two houses, okay. Let's say they say runny Okay, 30, 40, 50, 60 years, 70, 80, whatever you know they live to be, you're still paying, but. I'm going to, it's not yours. You don't have that legacy. Like you said, you believe it.

Speaker 2:

You're not building generation the wealth.

Speaker 1:

Right. But so the counter to that is, you're not building generational wealth, but you're also paying so much more for that generational wealth, but you think, even though that's still worth it, yes and again, everyone is a different situation Correct, for like a lot of our parents, for example, some of them dream of going back to your homeland.

Speaker 2:

I don't even do like, yeah, they're here for a good time, not a long time.

Speaker 1:

I'm hundred percent. They came to build, make some money and go back to live peacefully.

Speaker 2:

A lot of them already have their home built in Mexico and Latin America right. You know what they can do. They once say buy that house and that equity, sell that home, all right.

Speaker 1:

So the other house got the one here in the US right. Yeah, I have a friend who's actually you. His parents are thinking about doing that exact same thing, or leaving it to the house, to their kids, and just just move to the, to the, to their homeland.

Speaker 2:

But you have something that's yours and that has built equity right.

Speaker 1:

I think some, I think some, to some people that might be a hard concept because Either you haven't witnessed it or experienced it, like in around you. So that makes a lot of sense and you made a good point. So we can transition into another question that I have for you guys. So you said that you know renting. If you rent for 30 years, obviously nothing's gonna be yours. You just rented. But how do you guys feel about the renting situation now? Because a lot there's a good case for renting and buying a home Like it then it's ever been in our lifetime.

Speaker 1:

Before owning was always a move, but now renting is Something that's more appealing for people, especially like people like me, instead of buying. And why do I say that? And what do people? People make the case because when you start paying for a house, it's a you're paying, you know, 2,500 to $3,000 for a Mortgage right a month. Well, a lot of that money it's going to interest rate, because if you understand how you're paying or 30 years, you first, you first pay your interest rate and then then it goes into the principal, which is something people need to be aware of. So how do you guys feel about that, since you guys are obviously in the real estate business. What is your viewpoint, what is your opinion on that?

Speaker 3:

So within the first five years of you buying a house, yeah, if you look at where you're really payment going, the majority of it is going towards your interest when you say majority, what?

Speaker 1:

what percentage would you put on it? Are we talking 70, 80, 90?

Speaker 3:

So you have to look at your specific Immortization schedule okay you look at how it's coming down and your schedule will tell you. I can't tell you right now, I don't have a schedule, but but what's like an average, what's something that you?

Speaker 2:

say you pay a thousand dollars in Alyssa, could you give us a?

Speaker 3:

if you pay a mortgage like, let's say, your mortgage is 3k right.

Speaker 2:

How much?

Speaker 3:

of that, 3k is actually. So when you're monthly payment, your four things you have your principal when you actually owe on the loan Interest is with the bank charges, taxes and insurance. Okay okay, how much of that 3k is going into the interest rate? That for that first payment I don't know.

Speaker 1:

But what's like a is that I can average. There has to be like a. Even if you give me a frame like it can be 70 to 90, 80 to 90, I think there's, but but at least can you say that most of it is going to to interest rate for sure, and that's a that's a struggle, don't you think that's hard?

Speaker 3:

So within the first five years of you purchasing a house, that is when you can make the biggest impact. So let's say, your payments 3k, okay, but if you want to put towards more money towards your principal, you can also do that. And within the first five years that's when you make the biggest dent, the biggest that in your mortgage I respect that, but that's it.

Speaker 1:

That's even hard if you're picking, if you're making no, you, you've heard it, you know, and it's an actual concern, though, and I think it's healthy to have those conversations, because, you know, obviously people myself and other people want to hear from your side and then your side, and so what do you think about that? I'll let you answer the question and how people for rent. Yeah, so what do you feel like about the conversation? Like you know, do you think you know? I know rental like renting, it's more appealing right now, at the moment.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I mean, I totally get it. I think, especially after COVID and people started having remote jobs and they were able to move around like. I know a lot of friends who, well, their remote job, decided, hey, I'm letting them be in the US, like why?

Speaker 3:

would I think of?

Speaker 2:

buying a home when I work remote and I can travel the world or I can be in Latin America and my expenses monthly like, are way lower. So I always say when the time is right for you, the time is right. It could be that you never become a homeowner because you choose not to.

Speaker 2:

You might have the income to become a homeowner, but you just choose not to and you can say right now, no, I don't even want to think about a house. Well, who knows, in five and ten, fifteen years you find your boo thing, the love of your life, you have a family. Oh, now I want to buy home.

Speaker 3:

But, my thing is like real estate has historically always gone up in value and it's like why, because you're buying land like there's no more land, you can't make more land like good point. Like the land I, have like, like, that's a like.

Speaker 1:

Land of the free home of the brave America. No, god, that's, that's a, that's a good point on them. Those are, these are interesting questions. I feel like it's healthy. So I guess to you got you guys already kind of answer this already. So, even though, for people who are not comfortable with with, sorry, but buying Houses right now, I guess for the future, what is something that you recommend? I just is just saving money. Save up so when you know you feel like it goes down or anything happens, you eligible to buy the house.

Speaker 2:

Oh, I have one talk to me a personal one, if you ever, if you're familiar with Ohio savings account yeah, like a bank account, like a savings, okay, but it gives you more interest. So you should never have your savings in a regular bank account because you're the bank is not good. It's pretty much giving you pennies. Yeah right, they're not giving you any interest and I'm not a financial advisor. Fy no this good disclaimer right.

Speaker 2:

So if you ever plan on buying a home in the future, you should open up a high yield savings account right now. You get the average Above 4% okay so I have all my savings in my ally high yield savings account okay right.

Speaker 2:

Whatever you like about that account is that I can make buckets for savings. So let's say, you know I plan on buying a home within the next year, next year's. I automatically, every month, set that money into my home bucket and it's giving me 4% back a year, instead of having it just in your regular bank account you're gonna get nothing. Yeah right giving you a couple cents, a couple dollars a year.

Speaker 1:

I appreciate sharing that because that's an actual like scenario that you can do and that's something I feel like even I should look into, starting soon Because I actually I eventually want to own a house. But, man, I look at, I look at them, just how much I will pay per month and I'm like, especially because I'm single, first of all I don't think I need a house. But even then, if I did want a house, it's like it's low.

Speaker 2:

Yeah and oh, that's another thing. Like, I think a lot of us have this mindset oh, when I become a homeowner, it's going to be a house house. No, like, a lot of people don't even think about. Like, oh, there's town homes, there's condos Right, that is too.

Speaker 1:

they're cheaper.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, they're more affordable. Oh, and that could. That should be your starter home. Like I know, when I buy a home by myself, it'll be either a town home or a condo.

Speaker 1:

I got you, so what you say by yourself, so now let's get personal Uh-huh. So if both of you guys are, look like you guys are doing well and doing decent, so you guys are single. Why we had this conversation.

Speaker 3:

The market's low.

Speaker 2:

Inventory. Right now Inventory there's not a lot of inventory.

Speaker 3:

Inventory. Oh, Y'all need a quit playing Carlos.

Speaker 1:

Wait, wait, wait. Why is it y'all? I'm not. I've told you, I'm not in this. You represent the males.

Speaker 3:

Oh, right now I represent the males.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, there you go, you're representing males or representing? Females. What percentage of males am I representing, though?

Speaker 3:

The ones that live in Georgia that keep playing around Mennies.

Speaker 1:

And that was a good one.

Speaker 2:

That was a good one.

Speaker 1:

Oh, the games. We have gotten into the mix now. The games Damn, so the inventory's not high. So what is it that you will be looking for then in a man for you guys and I think it's just cool conversation to have, because I think relationships while we're single is always going to be a conversation so what is it that you guys are looking for in a man then that here in Georgia that's missing? Maybe you'll find one. I don't know. You represent you. I'm asking, asking Welcome to the podcast, because we're getting mixy.

Speaker 2:

We're going from housing to um.

Speaker 1:

thank you, yeah this is how I switch it up on you guys. This is why I don't like to do much more in the background before, because when I come up with questions, I want the actual natural reaction, and I saw your face, and I saw your face. What do you guys think, though?

Speaker 3:

Um, it's interesting that you asked what do you look for in a guy? I listened to this podcast and this guy's like why, you know, are you focused on what that person's got to bring to the table? What do you bring to the table? And that's Pretty, sister, and that's the thing that's like hit me. But now that you asked what I look for in a guy. Okay, me being a more years lender. Credit score, Credit score Yo, that's like, I love that.

Speaker 1:

I love that, but let me tell you why.

Speaker 3:

I've had couples that come to me and both of them sit down right and we're going over through the credit report. I go over the credit report why? Because some people are not aware of accounts that they have. Okay, Number one, tell me why. Um, I see he on his credit account. He's got K-Drawers, k-drawers, a late payment. He owes over 5K.

Speaker 1:

Dang Like Gage Merring and then that for that engagement ring. Wait, was it for the ring?

Speaker 3:

Yeah For that engagement ring. And she's like, and I'm like that ring you were all and late, and late payments on that ring. You could have even paid for the ring.

Speaker 1:

Now imagine a wedding. She's probably thinking like wait, wait, wait. If it's an engagement ring, I wonder if it's still. Is that the same thing as a wedding ring?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, yeah, it's your ring and then you have your wedding band no.

Speaker 3:

So you need what are you saying? You need two.

Speaker 1:

Yes, so fellas, if you listen.

Speaker 2:

But if you have to pay both of them why?

Speaker 3:

do you need two?

Speaker 2:

I'm just saying oh, the wedding band.

Speaker 3:

Okay, I know what you mean.

Speaker 2:

The church ceremony.

Speaker 1:

So you buy two of the ones, basically the proposal ring and then Correct Wait, are they both rings or what you said? What you said is a band. Yeah Uno está como maduro esecito. I would listen.

Speaker 3:

I'll go through the problems one.

Speaker 1:

In the end, it depends on the style she likes, right.

Speaker 3:

Or he likes whoever likes. Okay, credit score. My thing is three things. If you could make a couple of things, three things. If you could make me laugh, you can dance. No better don't. If you can make me laugh, you can play an instrument or you can sing. I'm sold. You know why I say that? Because it matters what it's in the inside. So imagine I've never seen a good looking old man ever we're all going to turn into like grapes.

Speaker 1:

Right.

Speaker 3:

Raisins. We're better on grapes now, we're going to be raisins then, and so like when the beauty se acaba, what's there Just in the inside?

Speaker 1:

Wasn't going to keep you falling in love.

Speaker 3:

Exactly, if you can make me laugh, you're sold. Or you can like sing your soul Because, like I love, like music, and or if you can sing, laugh or play an instrument, because I feel like it's all called no se te van.

Speaker 2:

Okay, Melissa, question for you.

Speaker 3:

Can you?

Speaker 2:

sing or play an instrument? I cannot.

Speaker 1:

Neither.

Speaker 2:

But you can make them laugh. No, but it's cool. Can you make them laugh? But you can make them laugh. I can try, can you make them laugh?

Speaker 1:

I can try. Can she make people laugh?

Speaker 2:

I feel like you've laughed since we got here.

Speaker 3:

Yes, I feel like you've laughed since we got here.

Speaker 1:

I'm just asking a question.

Speaker 3:

Wait, no, ahora ya te preguntate. Have you not laughed at my?

Speaker 1:

No, you, you. It's a good time. You guys got good energy. I love that. That. This is, this is good. What about you that? Dynamic duo so me that dynamic duo. We are right.

Speaker 2:

Melissa DD. Yes, eminem, melissa and Natalie so.

Speaker 1:

Is that the band Eminem? Can I be the singer?

Speaker 3:

No.

Speaker 1:

I know Can you sing. What Can you sing?

Speaker 3:

I can't sing. You can be the DJ. I feel like you're going to have a.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I think you'd be a good DJ. When Can you play an instrument?

Speaker 1:

I'll be the DJ. Oh, what about me?

Speaker 2:

So I am very traditional in the sense and, you know, maybe because I was born in Mexico and I also grew up in a very, very traditional Catholic Hispanic household. For me, something that I very much for a look and a partner would be someone who's very, who has a strong work ethic, who's very family oriented. And if they can dance, I am sold.

Speaker 1:

Yes, Does the Latin woman? That's a. I feel like that usually that's a big deal. Yes, If you know how to dance, like if your partner knows how to dance, it's like I can see myself dancing with you. Have you guys gotten though? Like the typical like, why are you guys single from? Like your family and your older? Oh, my gosh, Because typically the woman in our culture, they, you know, they get married or have kids out of a very young age and like they can't see how you're dirty and single. You're dirty and single and I'm like I'm actually going to take my time enjoy. Is it a generational thing? Yes, you think it's a generational thing. Or like society, what is it? What is that about us right now?

Speaker 2:

So let me tell you my family, especially my uncles and my mom's cousins. They have this running joke where they say that if I'm not married by 30, they're going to host a raffle.

Speaker 1:

And then, whoever lands, you get it.

Speaker 2:

Whoever lands.

Speaker 1:

I got you and they're going to marry me off and I'm 27.

Speaker 2:

So I got. I got three years you had three years, until your soul, yes, until I'm raffled off. Yo, that's actually a good one. That's a marriage.

Speaker 1:

That's like that's a good one. What do you? What do you think, melissa? What's what's going on? Is it what's in the water that we're just out here? Because you know why I say that. I have another cousin who you know I love and we've gotten close and she's also going through the same thing. She's my age. I have another friend who's going through the same thing, who's literally like we're almost alike. That's like a, you know, a brother to me and we always have these conversations. But I want to know from other people's perspective, you know.

Speaker 3:

And I think our generation is very much like not committed. Were there I don't know if it's our generation or people man, like we're not committed, we're cheating. We'll say, why, just let the person go.

Speaker 1:

We're cheating. Who is we?

Speaker 3:

Talk for yourself.

Speaker 2:

Wait, wait. Where's the?

Speaker 1:

buying. Where's the buying? Where's the buying? Is this one? No, that's not that one. Is it that one? That one, that's the one. Who is we.

Speaker 3:

I just I don't know what to say Like these men.

Speaker 1:

See, are the blames going to the man on this side. You know what I mean. All the blame is going to us. What are we doing, man? You guys need to lock it in. You guys need to lock it in, but we get that a lot, though. We get that in the Hispanic community and the family's like we're in love.

Speaker 3:

Hispanic men, we're in love.

Speaker 1:

What does that mean? We're in love.

Speaker 3:

Like flirts, flirts.

Speaker 1:

Oh, exactly, is that how you say flirts in Spanish?

Speaker 3:

No, but I just be like we're in love, in love. In love to everyone.

Speaker 1:

It's part of our blood, bro. It's our blood. That's what I'm saying. This is what you guys love. What do you mean? How do you love? No, not cheating. I didn't see you're going, we were, so that's how you took it to like Bro, you took it to the extreme. You know what I'm saying? Who hurt you, melissa? Who, hey, who hurt you?

Speaker 3:

Oh, it's not getting to that La vida.

Speaker 1:

W W H Y who hurt you Melissa.

Speaker 3:

W H Y who hurt you? Wow, oh, my goodness.

Speaker 1:

Who didn't hurt you, then You're talking from hurting.

Speaker 2:

You need some healing done in here. No, it's just like.

Speaker 1:

You need a cleansing.

Speaker 3:

Situationship. It's what I already said now, oh oh, situationship. Oh, it's a situation.

Speaker 1:

But you guys are in a marados, we are in a marados. It's a lot of spice and everything nice.

Speaker 2:

What about you? Why are you single? Yeah, carlos, what are?

Speaker 3:

you, you're already Okay, okay.

Speaker 2:

I think I see we have three things in common here, right?

Speaker 1:

Singleness.

Speaker 2:

Singleness, yes, number one, singleness Two. We both, you know, college educated Latinos.

Speaker 1:

We are. Yo actually don't overlook that one. That's a good one, good point out. Go ahead. Okay, do you think 21?

Speaker 2:

Both professionals, you know we are trying to be successful in this world. I think yes. I think overall you could say we're successful Latinos.

Speaker 1:

Helping community. Yes, yep, that's good. That's actually a good point.

Speaker 2:

Similar age. So why are you, why are you single?

Speaker 1:

Or what do you?

Speaker 2:

look for in a partner.

Speaker 1:

Damn. I've been asked this a lot of times. Okay Es que me gusta las tóxicas. Oh my gosh.

Speaker 2:

Hashtag tóxicas Are you a girl? Yeah?

Speaker 3:

You're taking out my like.

Speaker 1:

Hey, we're the tóxicas. I shout out slide into the DMs. No, no, no, um. I've always answered this and I'm honest about this. It's a, it's a um. I think it's because I've my I've dealt with a lot in my life where I really need peace in my life.

Speaker 1:

It's hard to it's hard. It's hard to find somebody that has a mentality of wanting to bring peace into your life. They want to bring their baggage, even whether it's unwillingly or willingly. They don't want to heal. You know they're still hurt from past relationships or they still have all these assumptions, like you know, about men and stuff. And I just want peace in my life. Man and the woman that brings peace in my life and you know it's a woman of God that to me, is somebody that I'm looking for.

Speaker 1:

But it's hard to find that nowadays, especially I'm 30, if you find somebody around my age, it's going to be hard for someone to find just that peace in life and that's what simply comes down to it.

Speaker 1:

Plus, I have a lot of things going in my life and you know, if anybody comes into my life, I want that to be high end and not brought down because of everything that I'm doing. I mean, I told you guys before we started a lot of things that I've been doing, you know, recently, and it's a big part of my life. I have a big passion for what I'm doing now. My family, my health is important, my career is important, my relationship with God, everything with my friends, you know. Not perfect, but I'm always striving to even get better and just be better for myself. So you made a good point earlier where you were like yo, what are you? You know you always want somebody that's bringing things to the table, but what are you bringing? And I've actually had that mentality too, like I need, I always need to bring something that you know.

Speaker 3:

Carlos, you are so touched on something, like you know Jesus, like you know society, I don't know Like now I feel like I don't know like People, like I'm gonna get so fending you start talking about like I don't know, like the higher-up, right, yeah, but I'm like I generally I want a Godfair man, like I didn't get.

Speaker 1:

That's just your number. That should be your number one priority. But look, and you're right, though even this, religious topics we actually had a I told you guys earlier, like last week we had a conversation about we had another girl who's a friend of ours and we have much a confianza, you know, like there's a lot of trust. And another friend, we talked about the pornography topic and how she, you know, people struggle with it, men struggle with it, but we also looked at it through the lenses of Christ and I don't think always bringing it to the light the things that we are suffering from or like Struggling with it's a problem. But a lot of people in our society they shame you, right, because you're afraid to be judged, and even when it comes to being religious, you're afraid to be judged because, like, ah, you know, your look at you, you're a what not? But they don't understand that we're not in it because we're perfect, if anything, because we're so imperfect that we try to keep fighting, because we all have our flaws. I'm not afraid to admit my flaws. I have a lot of them, but that's not what the point of you know, trying to work, our relationship with crisis are about, and this is, I think, what people have a misconception of like, and if you tell somebody you're Christian, and Especially if they're looking from the outside end, they'll always judge you. If you do anything that you, it's wrong in their eyes. Aren't you Christian? Aren't you like this? Because they can't see themselves doing the same thing you're doing. So I don't let that bother me. I don't let that. Uh, don't get me in the mix, girl, don't get me in the mix. Why are you quiet now? She started thinking about her life. All right, cool. No, that's a good, that's a good conversation. So, so we're gonna transition into something else.

Speaker 1:

I wanted to play a game with you guys with you, rather, but I think we're gonna save it into a little bit longer. So, no, let me check with you. Are you good on time? You good? Okay, I don't want you to. I want you to get your business to make sure we're reviving. Check Mike one. Two. Check Mike one. Is there anything else you guys want to say? In regards to the grant that you guys are doing, I don't know if you, like, fully went into it, because I thought that was really interesting in the fact that you were able to apply for that. That's pretty cool. So there's anything else you guys want to share into that, or maybe what isn't something interesting. Keep going, because I want to hear more About that myself.

Speaker 2:

Yeah. So, melissa, there are super, super excited because in the throughout the year we're gonna get to work with a lot of Hispanic serving organizations. So, that's another reason why I think we want to grant also competitive, because we'll be meeting the committee where they're, at churches.

Speaker 1:

Hispanic.

Speaker 2:

Chamber of Commerce, nonprofits, places that people usually don't get outreach right or where communities tend to be ignored. Okay that's what we'll be doing a lot of that outreach. Like you know, melissa and I did Last year. We door knocked on over 300 homes with Gainesville housing authority. You get people to come out and learn about how they can go from renting To eventually becoming a homeowner.

Speaker 1:

Did you go? Did you guys know that they were renting prior to going? I'm assuming. Oh wow.

Speaker 3:

So I like looked up Gainesville housing and like what section that is all over Gainesville and like I do like a little roadmap and now it was a show for about. Like Natalie, this is what we're hitting, this is what we're doing. These are how many homes are you?

Speaker 2:

and we like get off and we'd like split up.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, so we partner with Gainesville housing Chess tea. We have United Way. Right now we have an upcoming session with our Alumni Association.

Speaker 1:

You and G. Shout out, you and G.

Speaker 3:

And then we have something that works with Georgia Tech. So okay. I'm excited for all these home buying classes and webinars.

Speaker 1:

So what is the plan when you guys finish? You said this is a year program, so what is the plan that you, after you guys finish, where you guys apply for another grant, or are you got to submit like a? You have to submit like a paper for this or what you? What is that? What is it gonna be like?

Speaker 2:

Yes, so we're definitely planning on playing again. We're also Looking what's in the works, going to national conferences to present on the state of Hispanic home ownership.

Speaker 1:

That's so yeah, that's one that I'm so super excited because I love looking at statistics and data. Yeah.

Speaker 2:

So fun fact during it out there, latinas or more likely to be homeowners than Latinos.

Speaker 1:

So what these are women Shut up which one? I'm a high-five girl. I'm all about that. That's awesome, that's really cool. And I wait, is there, is that's a reason as to why that is like, did you ever? Or is this just a statistic and you're like they're more likely to buy? Is there like a reason?

Speaker 2:

why so what it is, but I think it comes.

Speaker 3:

Because we're not putting the pillars hashtag.

Speaker 1:

Tirando pedrada. And you know what? I'm a duck like this right here so we can miss and hit your friend and now she's gonna get knocked out by. So, pedrada, stone mountain, you don't stone mountain at me. So is there a reason? It's why, or is just? It's just, I guess, more the independent mindset that a woman are having nowadays.

Speaker 2:

Well, I think a lot of it comes from being so for a lot of Latinos. Right, you, typically you're the oldest one you Ever since you grow up here, right, your parents if they don't speak English if they don't have a formal education back in their home countries right. You deal with a lot of responsibilities, right.

Speaker 1:

True, true.

Speaker 2:

Then it turns into you tend to be first-gen. You end up being the first one in your family to graduate college.

Speaker 3:

Then you go from being first-gen of being the first one in your family to be a first-gen professional, having, you know, white color job, office job and the thing is you're like here a lot, with Even home parts that I have now, whether they be Hispanic, african, black, white, whatever color they are, I've always noticed as the female Que es mas movida con el papel. Yeah, I'm like hey, I need your ID, I need your bank statements. After turns, I've you two space tops. The guys like, yeah, I'll get onto you, come Que son. No, it's just a little bit like. I will get it our. And la mujer es mas like what do you need? I got it for you. I got it, I got it.

Speaker 1:

I respect that. I mean that could be. Could it be a also a cultural thing or a culture that we're building as woman? Because I don't think we've seen this type of movement and or I've heard of it at least, or read about it Like ever. When it comes to Latina woman, like the impact that you guys are making. I mean we we met through a friend also that she's also she always moving man, she's always making it happen and like she's always active and you know she's, she's talked to to me about even her goals that she has in life and like it's, it aligns to what you guys are saying a lot, do you? Let me sense?

Speaker 2:

So I'll give you no statistic. I love the data numbers. So Latinos are the highest opening businesses at the highest rate. The highest minority opening businesses, right. Okay but it's Latina's leaving the way, opening businesses.

Speaker 1:

No, that's actually kind of fine. I would have never thought of that.

Speaker 2:

Yep.

Speaker 1:

Where are you serious?

Speaker 2:

I'm serious.

Speaker 1:

Wow, shout out, hold on, shout out to Latina woman. I'm blessed. That's what I am right now. That's what I am right now. Now you're gonna make me blush, but you know what I caught. I caught that bless. Is it hot in here? Who turned the? A turn the heater down? It's hot. I might go outside on the tick five? Definitely not. It's a little bit too cold. But you know what, though? That's a blessing and I'm. That makes me really, really happy that Latina women are like.

Speaker 1:

So is there anything that you guys want to say to a Latina woman even a Latino man, it doesn't matter like who's listening or watching in regards to Accomplishing things in life? Maybe the way you're doing things right now, because when I look at you guys, you guys are doing a lot and it makes me Proud, not just as a man, but as Latino man, and you know like that's really cool. My sister is on actually her way, the same way you guys are doing things. I know my sister in the same route and it makes me really proud. You know what I mean. Yeah, is there anything you guys want to say to to anybody, to a young Latino girl, women, you know whoever it is, because there's a lot of people that are listening that Wish it would be in your spot. You know, maybe be educated, maybe be moving a lot, and I want them to listen to that and hear that you know it's a possibility that you can do it. Go ahead. Motivational speaker.

Speaker 2:

Yes. So I'll share something with you and you know I say see some, play there. So I very recently had a very huge career change. Right, I'll tell you a little bit about what I give my motivation speeches about. I give my speeches to colleges, organizations, students, business, resource groups, about my journey as a first-generation college student, latina immigrant entrepreneur, to Harvard. I have a master's in.

Speaker 1:

Harvard. Wow, so you. So I knew I read they one of you guys were, but I don't know why you haven't mentioned it. That's true, so you have a master from heart, and what?

Speaker 2:

in higher education administration. I wanted to pursue a PhD, become a professor of Hispanic serving institution, do research and I am now a real estate agent and entrepreneur.

Speaker 1:

Oh, hold up, what so? What happened, what? Talk to me. What was, how'd you get into that mix from Harvard masters in Harvard? Now to real estate. How did that? How did that go about? Talk to me.

Speaker 2:

Very funny. So I always say that I've literally tripped into real estate. No, literally tripped into real estate. Melissa was actually there because two years ago one of our good friends who's also realtor, he invited us to a real estate, gala right and you know, towards in like we were helping him clean up. I and I was walking like I wasn't even I hadn't even had a drink in my system, like a fully sober. I was walking, there was literally nothing in my way and I tripped. It was a cement floor, my heels.

Speaker 3:

Now I remember this because I was talking to the singers, because I had Party, and when Natalie was tripping over there where her heels, I was just like talking to the singers, um, and then I came back and Natalie's like did you not see me just tripping with my shoes?

Speaker 2:

and I was like yeah, no, but it was from one end of the room to the other and it was bad. Yeah like I tripped and then I still flew a little bit.

Speaker 1:

No.

Speaker 3:

But she's clumsy.

Speaker 2:

So when I mean that I literally tripped into real estate and entrepreneurship, I literally tripped.

Speaker 1:

Wow, and then what happened?

Speaker 2:

So that was two years ago, right? So I did work in the education sector. I will always, always have a lot of love and will always advocate for access to education. That to me means the world, because education and access to it absolutely changed my life and where I am today. But I became very disillusioned with the system and I don't want to get into that because it's very personal.

Speaker 1:

Okay, I respect our spec that I was about to keep asking you questions. I'm like why? I, okay, super, super disillusion with our education system, especially and in higher ed, and Quick question, but if you ever want to share, would you be willing to come back and we can talk about it in the pockets? I'd be open to it Okay, I'm just asking, throwing it out there, you know how we talked about healing.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I'm still in the process of healing.

Speaker 1:

So your school hurt right now. Your higher education system hurt.

Speaker 2:

Yes.

Speaker 1:

I am.

Speaker 2:

Dang. Okay, I respect that, respect you. But to backtrack how I became a motivational speaker was also by accident.

Speaker 1:

Dang, you just keep slipping. I hey, that's a motor spec here, that's a. That's a what I would expect from you.

Speaker 2:

So I graduated from Harvard in 2022 with master's in higher education administration. During my graduation, we were doing my photo shoot with my mom. I dedicate absolutely everything to my mom. She is the reason why I'm here today. I am a psycho delante sola. My mom wakes up at four in the morning to work at a poultry plant.

Speaker 2:

Wow my biggest inspiration and the reason why I got to Harvard. Wow. So while we were doing our photo shoot, you know, we were done and we're at the steps of the library and I told her I'm like I'm having parka, like come over here, and my aunt was there and she started recording. I began placing my graduation attire on my mom.

Speaker 1:

Oh man, that makes. That's not make me cry. Hold on, because I I had a Go. Keep going, because that's gonna make me emotional. But that's beautiful, dang, you're hitting me with it because I'm coming from a similar angle as you, so Did she cry?

Speaker 2:

Oh man From the photo shoot, like we had just flown in from.

Speaker 3:

Jordan of.

Speaker 2:

Boston. So she was tired. So she was actually. When I told her come up, like come up here, mom, she's like I could get it. So what are you know?

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

But yeah, so you know, so go to the jail. And then afterwards I posted around LinkedIn warning thing thinking my mom, mm-hmm. And the video went viral. Wow and it was absolutely amazing and absolutely overwhelming, because from one day to another, it had millions of views and I had hundreds of messages on LinkedIn and I had people wanting an interview me left and right and I had organizations asking me hey, we would love to.

Speaker 1:

I just got chills. Yeah, I'm chills right now. Keep going.

Speaker 2:

We had, um, yeah, I think in like the span of a week we did like eight interviews, my mom and I, with like Univision telemundo and other Bro, that's fire and other chains and then organizations began asking me hey, like we'd love to hire you to be a motivation speaker. Can you speak to our chamber? Can you speak to our students? And that's how it happened.

Speaker 1:

Wow, that's actually a blessing man like that you the fact that people Noticed and I think that's the beautiful part here that people actually notice and what that means. When you put that on your mom, like what it means to us, I I felt the same way. I didn't think about putting that on my mom, but at the same time, when I graduated, I dedicated my undergrad to her. Yes, and then I said the undergrad is for you and then my the master is gonna be for me, like you know. And man, that's a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing that. That's a very beautiful and I think it's very inspirational. Um, definitely we don't have a story like you. So do you have a story like that? Because I know I don't, but I love my mom and Everything I do for her is also for, yeah, you know what I mean? I think I don't know what it is about Letting the mom too. We always do something for the mom. It's like I don't know. You know what I mean.

Speaker 2:

Yeah. We have you know of course I also want to give a shout out to melissa. Like melissa drove with me to boston when I moved up, like melissa has always, always, always been there.

Speaker 1:

So how long have you guys known each other?

Speaker 3:

each other for five years and counting and counting Wow, and now we share a grand thing because, yeah, in undergrad we shared a lot of scholarships, but it's interesting because we did not meet until our last semester. Yeah, of college, of undergrad, wow never ran into each other, ever it just you'll see, though, he just knows how to like put people in your life, yeah when they're meant to be Right, wow.

Speaker 1:

That is cool, guys. I it's. That's very inspirational from both of you guys, and I'm really I mean it when I say this. I'm proud of you, where you, how far you guys have come, and you know what the difference that you guys are making because that says a lot about you and the fact that you guys are not selfish, right, the fact that you want to leave a legacy behind, it's not just about you, it's about the other people that you see around you and whatever way you have, you know you look at it. It's a beautiful thing, man, and it's beautiful thing to have the community, especially here in georgia, helping each other out. And I commit I what's the word I'm looking for here? I respect you guys for that. It's not easy. It's not easy to do that. So, thank you guys for what you do. This is, uh, it was very beautiful. Is there anything else you guys want to share to the people, to the world?

Speaker 3:

I'm really appreciative of this and, melissa, what was that Connect us?

Speaker 1:

You know like, yeah, shut up Melissa. What's up girl?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, she's the next type of it.

Speaker 1:

Right, yeah, she's been inviting me to events too, as we go but telling you, next Thursday 6, 30.

Speaker 3:

Are you busy?

Speaker 1:

Well, no, it's because I have a test.

Speaker 2:

Remember, I told you for my health, yeah, Well, next, next there, there'll be a lot of events.

Speaker 1:

No, I'm she's, she's, she's. She invited me to some of the institute tonight with like latinos and stuff, and I mean it's cool. I was part of the g white party, like you were. Well, did you get the?

Speaker 3:

I went to g yp like because you know the. Oh, so we were part of the numbing of the fiesta I actually go to like.

Speaker 1:

But you got a balance right yeah of course you got to enjoy yourself, buzz.

Speaker 1:

You're young, you know you're doing the thing. I respect it. Well, guys, this has made me very beautiful. I thank you guys for sharing and I would love to have you guys back on and even maybe in the future, when it comes to you guys having, um, maybe completed that one year and see what happens afterwards. I would love to hear from that. Thank you for inspiring a lot of young women, latino women, even males, because, you know, I feel inspired by you guys, myself, um, and I'm gonna continue to represent, you know, the community and kind of represent the countrymen. So, thank you guys for being here today. I really appreciate you guys were really great. To be honest, I love you guys, much love.

Speaker 1:

Okay, ladies and gentlemen, today Ends another podcast. It's always, you know, sad, but I appreciate you guys for anyone who's been listening or watching, and if you are listening, don't forget that you get to watch this episode on youtube and 4k, so the best quality you can get. So if you like the visuals, you know, don't forget to subscribe to the channel. We've been growing a lot, guys. We're closer to getting closer to the 4k and, you know, just thank you for all the love. Thank you for listening. Don't forget you can listen to this podcast on apple, uh podcast, amazon music and spotify. Thank you guys for all the love. I appreciate it. See you guys on the next podcast and, as always, peace and love. Amelia, melissa, natalie, thank you guys for being here, Appreciate it.

Speaker 3:

See you guys on the next one.

Speaker 1:

Just, guys, thank you Wait.