From Civil Engineer to Real Estate Investor: Renato Lerner’s Journey

Renato Lerner (00:00)
I think this is the moment for the buyer. If the buyer wants to invest and restate, this is the good moment because the house is very, the price of the house, the mood family is very low because this is the moment for the buyer. For the buyer can have the first homes or to invest in homes.

because the rent is high, the price of the homes is low, and this is very nice to, if somebody has money or if somebody has a good credit and can buy homes to rent, this is the moment.

Erika (02:11)
Hey everyone, welcome to the Real Estate Pro Show. I’m your host, Erika and today I’m thrilled to be joined by Renato Lerner, who’s been making waves in the real estate investing space. Renato, it’s awesome to have you on the show today.

Renato Lerner (02:27)
Thank you for the podcast. I am very excited to talk to you,

Erika (02:33)
Yes, I’m excited too. And I think our listeners are going to learn a lot from you, Renato. So let’s jump on in. For our listeners who don’t know you yet, tell us your story. How did you get started in investing? And what was that journey like?

Renato Lerner (02:52)
Let me start some years before. I’m a civil engineer. I did a college in civil engineering in Brazil. I finished in 1997. And when I finished, I started to work directly with construction, with my company in Brazil, learning engineering. And I opened my company after two months.

I finished the college and I started to work with construction and now I have 30 years in construction, experience of construction. And when I came here to America in 2008, I think 2008 now, sorry, 2015, sorry, 2008 I went to Angola. 2008 I came from America and I thought…

I need to do something here. And I saw the investment in real estate is very proud and very excited. And I start to work with construction here and invest in real estate.

Erika (03:53)
That’s awesome. And for you, Renato, what kind of properties are you targeting and which markets are you in?

Renato Lerner (04:01)
Now I am in Florida, I live in Florida and I start to work in Fort Lauderdale. I start to build some high-end homes there. I think this is my focus, to build high-end homes.

And now I have some dreams to start to work with mood families. It’s another step. Now I have a lot of experience here.

in Florida and how can I make better the construction? How can I earn more money? How can I invest better? And I think now is the moment to start in Mood Family.

Erika (04:43)
Yeah, yeah, that’s it. That’s exciting. Renato, you told me earlier that you have 30 years of experience, so I’m sure you have a lot of great advice for our listeners. Was there a system or process that you discovered that helped you along the way?

Renato Lerner (05:50)
Yes, lot of things. Because when you start in a new country, you need to know… in a new state, for me it’s America, you need to know about the suppliers, I need to know about everything to do better, the construction, to reduce the costs and everything. And because this I think, I now I have knowledge.

to do better and to do a good construction here and invest better my money.

Erika (06:24)
And when it comes to building those homes, I’m sure there’s, you know, balance of quality and speed. How do you navigate that?

Renato Lerner (06:36)
Yes, I think because I have knowledge in construction, my background, 30 years in construction, I’m not just pick up my money and invest, I do my construction. And the cost is the construction, the construction is the main cost. I have the developer, but I have the development, but I have the construction. The construction is…

80 % of the cost of the whole project and I know exactly how can I do this and because this I think I think now for sure I I know how can I build with less money and grow more interest in the in the the build

Erika (07:24)
Yeah, absolutely.

What kind of advice would you give to someone who is getting started in construction?

Renato Lerner (07:31)
I think first find a good company, experienced company because there are a lot of companies in the market and sometimes the company don’t know how can you build with quality and less cost

and you need to find a good company to invest. the market is very good in real estate. I normally say, when you invest in real estate, you can establish your investments. You can invest in bonds and can invest in actions, but the real estate keep your investment established when you have a problem in the market.

Because this I think you need to find a good company, experienced company with a good cost, with real experience.

Erika (08:19)
Yeah, absolutely. With your experience, I’m sure you have a story where maybe a project went sideways or you completely had to pivot what you were doing with the construction project. Can you share one of those moments on your journey?

Renato Lerner (08:38)
have a lot. I have in Brazil, have in Angola, I have here.

Sometimes, like I did in COVID, I built a home during the COVID. I started before the COVID. And during the COVID, it’s very difficult to work because I have a problem.

with the workers when have some COVID, you need to stop the construction or when you have the material, the price of material go a lot and you need to have a good plan and you have…

to have a good plan and you have to make sure your budget is real and you can see if everything goes good.

Erika (09:32)
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. You COVID was kind of a ⁓ unique situation, but how do you prepare for similar challenges now?

Renato Lerner (09:43)
with plan. You need to plan, you need to not lose, you need to waste some time, a good time to plan the construction.

This is the main thing because sometimes you can do very fast the plan, the organization, the budget and everything.

and when you start to have a problem you need to plan a lot before to know exactly how is the cost of each material and it serves and you need to make it work every day to see if your cost is inside your is below your cost, previous cost or not.

and now I use a software I can see every expensive I have I can see every day of my construction if in the if in the schedule or not because if you lost the schedule you have more time more time more money to spend in the homes

Erika (11:21)
Yeah, absolutely. Renato, for you, has there been any key relationships or partnerships that have really helped grow your business?

Renato Lerner (11:31)
If I try to find someone, sorry, if I try someone like a partner.

I don’t have a I’m alone, but I like a partner, yes. I think if I have a partner, if I have… I have some partners, partnership to help us to make better the construction, to make better the everything, because this is nice, but I don’t have yet.

Erika (12:03)
it. Renato, what’s next on the horizon for you? You talked a little bit about multifamily. Can you share more about that or anything else you want to talk about on the horizon?

Renato Lerner (12:14)
Yes, yes, I try to find, I try now, I have now a new project and I start this project, like I said, I start a lot before to start.

construction and I have the lot I have everything and now I try to decide what is better product to build what the better product has now a good profit and now I am stud I’m a stud I’m a stud about Muth family and I think this is a good business here in America this is the best business for me

here to do and plan. I mean, do the strategy plan. I do a lot of swords. I did three swords for this project because I need every time you need to analyze the market change every time and you need to know exactly what can you do to do better.

Erika (13:10)
Absolutely. And when it comes to that multifamily, are you going to be sticking around in Florida or are you going to be looking in other areas too?

Renato Lerner (13:19)
No, in Florida. In Florida. Now I study marketing because I know a lot about the market in Florida. I don’t want to make more risk to do this first multi-family. I prefer to stay in Florida. The market in Florida is very hot.

I think this is the better, better state to do this now.

Erika (13:44)
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

What would you say is the most challenging thing about the Florida market right now, single family or multifamily?

Hehehe

Renato Lerner (14:39)
I think challenge both. Not because Florida, but because the market in general, in the world and America. I think the interest need to be low to make better the product and the buyer can buy more easier.

Erika (14:41)
hehe

Renato Lerner (14:56)
than now and I think the very challenge is not in America, not just in Florida. Florida now has a program for the first home. I think this is very good. I started to study about the program in the state and I think this is very good for the real estate market.

Erika (15:18)
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Before we let you go, do you want our listeners to know anything else about investing? Maybe something you have coming up or just some advice you want to share?

Renato Lerner (15:33)
I think this is the moment for the buyer. If the buyer wants to invest and restate, this is the good moment because the house is very, the price of the house, the mood family is very low because this is the moment for the buyer. For the buyer can have the first homes or to invest in homes.

because the rent is high, the price of the homes is low, and this is very nice to, if somebody has money or if somebody has a good credit and can buy homes to rent, this is the moment.

Erika (16:13)
Absolutely. Renato, if someone is interested in learning more about what you’re doing, maybe they want to partner up with you or collaborate. What’s the best way for them to reach you?

Renato Lerner (16:26)
I have my LinkedIn, I have my website and my LinkedIn is linkedin.com/in/renatolerner/ and my website is www.www.invision.investments

have my phone too, I don’t know if I can say my phone here. 954-909-8020. I normally say I’m available 24 for seven.

Erika (16:54)
Yes. Yes.

Awesome. Renato, thank you so much for dropping all this knowledge today.

Renato Lerner (17:14)
Thank you, thank you, Erika. I appreciate your time.

Erika (17:17)
For everyone tuning in, if you got value from this episode, make sure that you’re subscribed to the Real Estate Pro Show. We’ve got more conversations with heavy hitters like Renato who are building incredible real estate empires. We’ll see you on the next episode. Bye.

Renato Lerner (17:32)
Okay.