Beat Fear, Build Wealth: Evictions, Contractor Vetting, and Buying Your First Philly Property

Alaina (00:00)

I would say don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid. If you feel like it’s the right decision, you want to go for it, go for it. If it falls apart, that’s a lesson you learn and just carry it on to the next deal. If it makes sense, do it. Just do it. Don’t let fear or failure or any other people in your head or any weird thoughts. Just keep your eye on the focus and just, just do it. Just do it.

Quentin (02:00)

Hello everyone. Welcome to the Real Estate Pros podcast. I am your host, Q Edmonds. Y’all know I’m excited. I’m always excited to be here. I’m always learning new things, always getting to meet new and amazing people. And guess what? It doesn’t stop today. Today is no different. Have someone that’s amazing here. Someone listen that know Philly very, very well. That represents Philly, reps Philly very, very well. And want you to know that even though Philly is changing,

we can embrace the change, especially when it comes to the real estate landscape. And so I’m excited for her to take us into her world. And so I would love to introduce you guys to Ms. Alaina Bernstein. How are you doing, ma’am?

Alaina (02:46)

Good, how are you?

Quentin (02:47)

I am doing great, doing great. So excited to have you here. So excited to be able to look at things through your world, through your lens. Take us into Philly. I’m so excited. And so listen, I don’t want to waste any time. So if you don’t mind, I want you again, take us into your world. Tell us what your main focus is these days. Maybe kind of how you got started. I already put what market you in. just take us into the world of Elena.

You have the floor, ma’am. Please talk to us.

Alaina (03:19)

Okay, ⁓ well, I started with my first investment property in 2018. ⁓ mind you, I took the real estate course in 2014. ⁓ When I go through difficult times, I kind of always lean on education and kind of throwing myself into something new. I went through a difficult period a while ago and I’m like, you know, I’m gonna take the real estate course, but I never took my test.

⁓ years go by years that go by and, I decided, you know what? I’m just, I’m gonna, I’m gonna do this. I’ve always wanted to do real estate and make my own way. And, ⁓ it just made sense to break into that world. And, ⁓ I bought my first house, ⁓ a number of years ago and I complete.

did everything to that house except lay the Brooks down. you know, it was total rehab. did not know what I was doing. It actually sat for a year because I kept interviewing contractors and it’s that part is kind of difficult being a woman in this in this industry because a lot of people will give you the run around. A lot of people will fill your head up with insane inflated numbers and kind of scare you out of doing anything. And then on a whim, I met my

I’m I have a house that I need electric, come by and check it out. And he came by and he gave me truthful prices and truthful assessments. And he did my house from top to bottom. And yes, I still work with him. And it’s been great. I’ve had the same tenant in there since then it was finished and

it’s wonderful. I’m very proud of my first house that I did.

And once you do one, you do other you just kind of roll into others and it’s not scary anymore. you build over time, you build a team of people in all areas. I have my roofers, I have my plumbers, I have my painters, like I have everyone on deck. So I don’t have to go crazy searching anymore. Which makes everything a lot easier.

Quentin (06:15)

sleep.

makes a whole lot easier. of the pain points that I, when I talk to people is contractors, finding people that’s reliable, finding people that you can trust, finding people that’s not going to inflate the value of materials and you gotta babysit them. And so, ⁓ yes. And then like you said, you’ve been a female, unfortunately, some people is like sharks in waters. They just want to take advantage and.

Alaina (06:21)

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Quentin (06:46)

That’s yeah. So I, you know, I hear you 100 % is something that so many people deal with. Yeah.

Alaina (06:49)

Yeah.

And I didn’t want to bring that up because I, it shouldn’t be brought up, you know, it’s a per like, tell me the price, let’s go to work. And it’s, you know what I mean? And some people like they know what like you do and they see your track record, but they’ll still inflate and they’ll still mess with you. And it’s like, I I know when you’re messing like, I just know when being fed stuff. So yeah.

Quentin (07:18)

No, and I’m honest, I’m glad you put it up because we’re talking about your experience. Your experience is an experience that needs to be talked about. And that’s why I love talking to people from their lens, from their perspective. You and I, talk about this. People may not understand this, but you and I can get it. Everybody got their different ingredients, right? And that’s part of the things that you are working with. And I I cannot just deny your experience and say, you don’t gotta work with that ingredient. No.

This is what I do have to work with in order to be successful and get to the next level. And so again, I’m glad you brought it up. And you’re right. Wish we didn’t have to, but it is part of your experience. And so I’m glad you talked to it. Yeah, absolutely. And so let me ask you, as you just spoke to, it’s not always easy in this climate. So what keeps that passion burning about real estate? What keeps that machine running smoothly?

Alaina (08:13)

not giving up and keeping your like keeping the vision alive. It’s really not giving up because like a lot of factors make a lot of people give up. But you just got to believe in yourself and not think about anything negative. You can’t really as we were talking about earlier like you can’t really let failure creep into your mind because that’s when it all

You get like really self doubtful and like that’s you can’t really have that when in this business, you just got to keep keeping on. You know.

Quentin (08:47)

Absolutely right. And I’ll be honest with you, I’m maybe try to pick your brain a little bit more because you’re right. And that’s one of the things we try to talk about here. ⁓ Cause a lot of people focus on a success, but they don’t talk enough about the journey and the process to get to success. And like you said, some people, they, they decide to call it quits, you know? And again, you you and I, we’ve been talking, I sympathize with them cause I don’t know what ingredients you’re working with.

But I do know some people, you know, they got to stick to it. And some people they choose not to quit. And so I would love to know, you’ve given me, you once I, you know, you talked about your first property in 2018, but if there’s any other story, you buy any property? Because the reality is things get real. Deals go sideways. We have to pivot fast, you know? And so I don’t know if there’s any other story. Maybe you could share with us again, so we can normalize the process that we go through.

Alaina (09:36)

Yeah.

Do you want to talk about evictions? Oh man, there’s plenty of things to talk about.

Quentin (09:49)

Listen, you got the floor, you got the floor, It’s whichever one you want to talk about.

Yeah.

Listen, look, you just said a lie just now.

Alaina (10:41)

Yeah, just clean in a direction.

Yeah!

Quentin (10:49)

Yeah, listen, what’s sometimes was not said is very loud and spoken. You’re right. It’s just, it’s a lot. I ain’t trying to get you to rehearse no trauma, nothing like that, but I can just, yeah.

Alaina (10:54)

Yeah.

It’s fine. It’s fine. Listen,

even even even that blip like I dealt with it. I dealt with two insane evictions like two years ago. But even with that, it’s like, okay, that was my first time with the addiction process. And that’s a whole world other planet I had to learn. And I learned that, like, so yes, it is possible. you know, I know a lot of landlords that go through a lot of stuff and like, is it possible? Yeah, it’s possible.

Quentin (11:14)

Go.

Alaina (11:27)

Just get your papers on order, have a great team behind you to help you, and then you’ll get that person out. You’ll get them out.

Quentin (11:34)

Absolutely.

Yeah, absolutely. Now I like to say in life, there’s lessons and the losses you can actually learn a lesson from. So whatever the L you’re dealing with, that’s not a lesson for me. Right. And so this is what these trials and tribulations are for us, us to learn from and for us to be able to take that experience and move forward. And so now I hear you loud and clear. So let me ask you this. Like, what are you most focused on next? Like, what’s the next real goal for you?

Alaina (11:47)

Yes.

Yes.

Just helping my clients, ⁓ it sounds cliche, but like how my clients achieve their dreams and whether that’s, know, learning, landlording went like, I want an investment property. Where should I buy to maximize my, the best margins? ⁓ I’m a first time home buyer. I want an amazing house for myself. You know, I am a seller. I am, I’m done with my house.

How can I get the maximum amount of profit? Like I’m down with helping everyone in every situation in real estate. I really love it. Yeah.

Quentin (12:38)

Absolutely. Absolutely.

I love it. Absolutely. So now, you know, we haven’t talked about Philly too much. So just want to take a moment. Tell me about Philly. Tell me about the changes that you see happening in Philly and tell me about how people can embrace the changes that’s happened.

Alaina (12:54)

Yeah. see, I moved, I was here in my life. I did a brief episode in Los Angeles from 2006 to 10, 2010. And I moved back and I’m like, who are these people? Like, I think a big change happened in 08 when I was gone. Cause I’m like, who are these people? I’m like, very, very, very different. Now, now we’re here 15 years later.

Quentin (13:19)

Right.

Alaina (13:23)

⁓ I see neighborhood expansion. Everything’s kind of moving up and over in this way and that way. I see a lot of small businesses, is like grateful, grateful, but small business. ⁓ Lots of restaurants, lots of bars, job creation. ⁓ I see all of it and it’s exciting. ⁓ People want

Quentin (13:42)

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Alaina (13:46)

better communities for their family. People don’t want their kids to see crap outside. ⁓ I’m seeing neighborhoods that were kind of if in questionable get on to the lighter side of the scale.

with more community things and just more businesses opening up and each little business and each house you renovate in a neighborhood that’s not so desirable makes it more desirable. And I roll through these neighborhoods and I see houses being demoed all the time. see contractors in and out of houses. I see new businesses opening up. And so that’s cool. I think that’s great. That’s great. You know, you want a city to progress and not regress.

Quentin (14:30)

Absolutely. Yeah. Absolutely. So I was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. So, that’s not too far from you guys. similar was going on. Yeah, exactly. Right. And so similar things are going on in Baltimore, you know, is revitalized, you know, these homes, you know, exactly, you know. And so I’m with my parents, my childhood. ⁓ My parents still live in my childhood home. And so.

Alaina (14:31)

That’s what you want.

poor cousin. Yeah. ⁓ huh.

Yeah, I hear about it.

Quentin (14:57)

just looking at the homes around that neighborhood as getting built up. imagined I would see $350,000 home being sold

West Baltimore. My parents were like, wow, this is interesting. But like you said, revitalization and coming to life and vibrant. And so I definitely understand for sure. Now you talked about, say it again.

Alaina (15:59)

How much is your childhood home- How much is your childhood

home- How much is your childhood home worth now? A lot.

Quentin (16:05)

Listen, I don’t know how

much it’s worth, but this is a true story. My parents put a $1 down payment down when they bought their home. that’s, I mean, that was, that was even crazy, you know, back then, but just, just can imagine, right? And so, yeah, exactly. Right? So it’s, it’s just amazing. Yeah. It’s, it’s amazing. So I hear you. That’s what I’m saying. Like I hear you for sure.

Alaina (16:13)

What year? ⁓

Yes.

I my

childhood home because I’m like, I wonder what that’s doing. And I think my parents early 80s, bought it for like, for like, 40 5055,000 in that range. And now like, 245. Really? Really? Yeah, it’s, it’s, it’s crazy. It’s I never would have thought I’d see that number. Yeah. Yeah.

Quentin (16:45)

Right? mean, yeah, it’s very crazy. I mean, never.

When my mother told me my mouth was a gate, like, wait a minute, what? So yeah, double what it imagine. But listen, I know you talked about ⁓ having the right team, the right people in place, know, meeting your electrician who you still work with today. So I want to ask you your advantage and your perspective on relationships.

Alaina (16:57)

yeah okay

Quentin (17:14)

It’s like when it comes to building relationships and growing your network, what’s made the biggest difference for you?

Alaina (17:21)

⁓ Being open, taking suggestion. If I’m stuck on somebody, ⁓ there is a great group I’m a part of. It’s a landlord group and I could, I need an HVAC person. Who do you got? need such and such person. Who do you got? And same questions are asked to us. Like I’m always putting my people out because I want them to succeed. I want them to work and I want them to be busy.

You know, so if someone asked me like, who do you recommend for this amount of job? Call this number. Here’s here’s two more if that doesn’t work. You know, so yeah, I just like spreading the wealth and. ⁓

Quentin (18:00)

Absolutely.

Well, listen, I think this is going to be the last question I ask. And I love it. Like when I talk to someone like you that has a perspective that you have, I always like to just give an opportunity. If there’s anything kind of from the heart as far as inspiration, education, anything you can do to encourage our listeners, just from your perspective, through your journey, especially within this real estate landscape. I always like to open up the floor to see if it’s anything from the heart.

Alaina (18:25)

Yeah.

Quentin (18:28)

that maybe you want to give to listeners because we got people listening from, you know, either early in their journey, they’re looking to level up. And so I just want you to just be able to talk to them for a sec.

Alaina (18:39)

I would say don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid. If you feel like it’s the right decision, you want to go for it, go for it. If it falls apart, that’s a lesson you learn and just carry it on to the next deal. If it makes sense, do it. Just do it. Don’t let fear or failure or any other people in your head or any weird thoughts. Just keep your eye on the focus and just, just do it. Just do it.

Because it can be done. Yeah, it can be done. See, like, you don’t need a $2 million advance. You don’t need all this stuff. You start small and you work your way up. And if it takes you a little bit to do your first album, that’s how it is. And it’s going to take less time to do your second and even less time to do your third. Like, just be open to education, be open to information. And be open for every first off not to go as planned. Be

Quentin (19:09)

Y’all heard her, because it can be done.

Alaina (19:37)

open for things to take longer, but that’s okay. You’re not on a time limit. That’s fine. And you could do it at any any point in your life. You can do it at any age. You can.

Quentin (19:51)

What a great message. mean, what a great message. You sometimes the hardest thing for us to accept is that we determine our success. Success is not determined by, your personal success is not determined by anybody else. You determine what success looks like for you. And so you can do it, so just do it. And I absolutely love it. Nobody, you’re on your own timetable, just do it. And so that’s a great, great word. I appreciate that.

Listen, before we wrap, if someone wanted to reach out to you, connect with you, collaborate with you, if you want to tell us more about what you’re doing, how can they get in contact with you,

Alaina (20:28)

I mean, they could just throw me a text. Wanna go do business? That’s great. Throw me a text, 267-918-0186. You can hit me up on my email, alaina.bernstein@compass.com or bstarsolutions215@gmail.com.

Quentin (20:48)

There she is. Listen, thank you so much, ma’am. Thank you so much for your time, for your story, for your perspective. We definitely need people that’s doing it the right way. And hey, go Philly. ⁓ Shout out to North Philly, right? Go Baltimore, A.A. There we go. Listen now. Come on now. Absolutely. So listen, I definitely appreciate you so much for being here and taking time with us today. Absolutely.

Alaina (21:00)

Yes, go Baltimore! Yeah!

Absolutely. Good talking to you.

Quentin (21:14)

Now listen, everyone else, listen, you heard it. You got the nuggets, you got the gems. I’m sure you found the value. So please make sure you are subscribed. You do not want to miss out on these amazing conversations. And so again, thank you, Ms. Alaina and everyone else. will see you on the next time.