Subscribe via:
Show Summary
In this episode of the Real Estate Pros podcast, host Michelle Kesil speaks with Sylvia Martinez-Johnson, a seasoned real estate investor focusing on new construction. Sylvia shares her journey from starting in real estate at a young age, facing significant challenges, and her determination to make a comeback. She emphasizes the importance of building a strong network, seeking opportunities, and the lessons learned from her past experiences. Sylvia also discusses her vision for leaving a legacy and giving back to the community through her non-profit organization, LightsCameraKids.org, which aims to teach financial literacy to children.
Resources and Links from this show:
-
Listen to the Audio Version of this Episode
Investor Fuel Show Transcript:
Sylvia Martinez-Johnson (00:00)
my goodness, so excited that now I see more opportunity given to us women. I see more… ⁓Just more, I just see more. And that’s why I’m so excited for 2026. In fact, I really wish it was already January 2026 because it’s like already the holidays, everything’s gone. And then we’re back, boom, back to focus and business and getting it done, already seeing it in motion. So I’m super excited and I welcome any opportunities that come my way. And please, if anybody that’s out there listening, I’m trying to raise capital for my project.
Michelle Kesil (02:08)
Hi everybody. Welcome to the Real Estate Pros podcast. I’m your host, Michelle Kesil Today I’m joined by someone I’m looking forward to chatting with, Sylvia Martinez-Johnson, who is a real estate investor focusing on new construction in the Chicago, Texas, and Indiana area. So excited to have you on the show today, Sylvia.Sylvia Martinez-Johnson (02:29)
Thank you, likewise. Thank you for allowing me to come on your podcast.Michelle Kesil (02:32)
Of course, I think our listeners are really going to take something away from how you’re approaching your investing market. So let’s dive in. First off, for those not yet familiar with you and your world, can you share what your main focus is?Sylvia Martinez-Johnson (02:49)
It’s investing in real estate. I’ve been doing that since I was 21. So it’s been a while.Michelle Kesil (02:56)
Great. How did you get started?Sylvia Martinez-Johnson (02:58)
⁓ I was basically approached by clientele that I had. I had a previous business. I had a jewelry store and they wanted a reliable, honest, realtor that they could ⁓ come to. So at the time I had a broker’s license and I speak Spanish so I was able to help my community ⁓ that was just arriving and wanted to have the home ownership, the American dream. So I helped aof people do that. And as the years progressed, I went up and moved up in the ⁓ brokerage capacity, whatnot. And then the financial market happened and then I fell and I fell hard. You know, it’s so true what they say, the higher the climb, the harder the fall. So that’s how, however the saying goes, but that’s basically what happened to me. And I fell and I fell hard. So I was one of those people that lost and
lost everything and for over a decade I have been somewhat down and I’m doing a comeback and so I’ve been investing here and there doing fixing and flipping. I used to do like a little bit of new construction, condo conversions. I was involved in a lot of different projects prior to the fall and with that experience that you gain and have and
being a woman of color and a female, I pretty much had a lot of little strikes against me that didn’t make my journey as an entrepreneur investor easy. So I focused on what I could and had that experience. And now that has been over a decade. I now feel like it’s time to do a comeback. My daughters are older now and I’m in a different place.
And so I am investing and I’m trying to make up for lost time and do it where it’s big projects, apartments, new construction, and not wasting any time with ⁓ smaller projects as I want to make up for lost time.
Michelle Kesil (05:53)
Yeah, absolutely amazing. So you mentioned that you’re in a comeback. What does that actually mean to you? Like what’s different this time? Maybe from some of the lessons that you learned from what you coded as the fall.Sylvia Martinez-Johnson (06:06)
to basically always get three to four quotes from the guys that are coming out to do the construction. ⁓Also, don’t just go with the first quote. Get all three, four quotes, as many as you possibly can, depending on the area that you’re located in. And also stick to your guns and believe in yourself because you obviously have the gift and you obviously have the desire. So no one can take that knowledge or that umph, that strength away from you. You do what you got to do for you, yourself and your family. And I
will never allow someone else to try to sway me in a different direction when I knew that what I was doing was right. But haters are haters. Watch your back and don’t talk too much about what you have or what you built and what you are gonna do because…
The people are watching and listening to you and with the least, with the person that you least expect it is your hater. And so they will do anything and everything possible to sabotage and kill your name, your reputation. Because when I started, there was no email. There was no, what’s it called? No email, no scanning. It was mostly beepers and cell phones and pagers.
and maybe faxes later that came along. I’m aging myself, I’m not liking that, but it’s just ⁓ something that you have to be aware with the new technology, with social media. People ⁓ will do things to sabotage you. So whatever you build, just lay low, just focus on you. ⁓
Good things will come to you if you just stay focused on what you gotta do and not worry about the competition or what they’re gonna say or what they’re gonna do. They’re still gonna talk. So, it is what it is.
Michelle Kesil (08:04)
Yeah, absolutely. Thank you for sharing that. What have been some of the main keys that have allowed your business to be able to grow and to run smoothly?Sylvia Martinez-Johnson (08:13)
The people that I’m now connected with and if I don’t have any business in my local farming neighborhood, then I go elsewhere because I can’t sit and wait for projects and opportunities to come to me. I have to seek them. And so if it’s in Texas, Indiana or California, whatever state it is, I have to start building my team in those areas with the right people connecting with different real estate investing groups, so forth. And I havebeen blessed to be able to pick up now with what seems to be real and legit versus everybody selling a program and talking a lot on the internet. So just be mindful and redo your research and stay with the people that genuinely are doing positive things out here.
Michelle Kesil (09:06)
Yeah, that’s important. What are the investing strategies that you are currently working with?Sylvia Martinez-Johnson (09:12)
⁓ Finding land, ⁓ investing into like mixed-use properties and also apartments. The more doors you have, obviously the more rent. ⁓ If you’d handle your business like a business that it is, you know, you can take care of it now in the next five to 10 years. And in 10 years or so, depending on how tight you are with your numbers and your spending, ⁓ ouch, you can thenpay off the property as fast as possible so that now you’ll have the cash flow. So the sooner you pay it off, the more cash flow you’ll start accumulating and please always increase it. Even though it’s 5%, 1%, 10%, whatever your market calls for, do the price increases because everything goes up and you have a heart and that’s why you’re giving people opportunities that you rent to or lease option or seller financing, whatever the strategy is.
Be mindful that you have to, whatever it is, be aware of the numbers and trying to cut your cost and also increase the cash flow coming to you.
Michelle Kesil (10:20)
Yeah, definitely that is great advice. So your current focus is on land and new construction. Can you share maybe some of the projects that you are working with and yeah what that looks like for you?Sylvia Martinez-Johnson (11:10)
⁓ I have a few identified already. I don’t want to say much because it’s still in the works, but I hopefully will be in acquisition and construction for 2026.Michelle Kesil (11:24)
Awesome. So I know that you mentioned earlier about having that crash in the, like with your real estate business. I’m curious ⁓ what your like major intentions are and like how you’re pivoting this time around in order to prevent or do your best to prevent some sort of similar thing to happen.Sylvia Martinez-Johnson (11:48)
Yes, keeping your circle tight and small and your mouth zipped and keeping the cost down because obviously the cheaper you get the materials, the property, whatnot, the more there is for you to go bank. So the tighter the circle, the more efficient and professional hardworking people that you have around you.That’s your team. You have to have a good lawyer that’s experienced in real estate. You have to have a good accountant that’s experienced in real estate. You can’t go to a dentist to go get the mammogram. So it’s common sense. You have to get those professionals in those areas. But a lot of people don’t look at it as a business and don’t do their research, or they don’t guide you. And that’s what I’ve always told different people that have come up to me to ask me for advice. I tell them straight up.
You have to do what you have to do and you have to resource yourself with the right people, connect yourself with the right people and they will help you. Everybody’s got their own niche and their own expertise and together as a team, you will prosper with them and they will prosper with you because of the fact that it starts with you, it ends with you, it’s your vision, it’s your project, it’s your baby, so take care of your baby.
Michelle Kesil (13:06)
Yeah, great advice.What are you most focused on solving or scaling to next in your business?
Sylvia Martinez-Johnson (13:12)
to leave a legacy I have two daughters and I have a bunch of nephews and nieces that I love and whether they are with me or not or…but I want them to be proud of their mother, their auntie, and I would love for them when I’m six feet under for them to say, mom built that, my mom did that, my mom constructed that. And that is the legacy and the mark that I want to leave here because once you build a structure, the structure is not here forever. And so, and if you built it right and you have it done right, it’ll be there forever. So that’s the mark that I want to leave for my daughter.
that they can do anything that they want to do. They set their hearts and minds to do because regardless of your nationality, your age, ⁓
and being a woman, it doesn’t matter. You could still do it and you can aim high and you can be that leader, not a follower. So I’d like to leave that legacy for my girls and also be able to take care of them, not just for right now, but generational wealth is what I’m creating. And I’m hoping to succeed in that before my time is up and ⁓ that way can go with more in peace as to what I
behind.
Michelle Kesil (14:37)
Yeah, amazing. I love that your mission and your vision is on service and family and supporting those that you love.Sylvia Martinez-Johnson (14:45)
Absolutely.Absolutely, you have to give back because if you don’t give back it’s At least for us, know being I come from ⁓ parents that are immigrants and so growing up here and being born in the United States It was not easy. It was ⁓ Hammy Downs. It was ⁓ secondhand stores it was a lot of us in the family and just and as much as I have fun memories of my childhood I do remember the struggles and so
I’ve always been a hardworking little hustler, go-getter, and I’ve never wanted to be without a dollar, without good credit, without the means to be able to survive. And I was the go-to in my family as much as I didn’t mean to be it or wanted to be it. It just so happened because I wanted to better myself and do better and make my mom and my dad proud that their sacrifice of leaving everything behind.
country to give us what they didn’t have. So for me that is huge to be able to be a success for them and be proud. So while I still have my mom, she’s 82, and I want to make sure that she sees her fruit in me as I am her last daughter, living daughter. So I have a few challenges. I’m trying not to get teary-eyed here, but I have…
big desire and goal to give back to those that are struggling still and that are can’t find their voice or afraid to find their voice. I ⁓ want to be that light for them. ⁓
Michelle Kesil (17:07)
That’s very beautiful. Thank you so much for having your heart in the right space and wanting to make a difference in this world.Sylvia Martinez-Johnson (17:15)
Absolutely, try to. I can’t change the world like I wanted to when I was younger. ⁓Michelle Kesil (17:19)
We can all just do our own part and hopefully when we all do that the worldchanges.
Sylvia Martinez-Johnson (17:24)
Hopefully or they could see a difference in me and then I’m that there are still some good people out there I’m not a saint. I’m not an angel. I’m hard and I’m tough because life is tough So you have to adjust according to what comes and is thrown your way But God Almighty will have you if you believe in God and if you put your faith in him and you see him He will guide you and pull you through every storm every Every storm he will guide you throughMichelle Kesil (17:27)
Yes.Yes.
Sylvia Martinez-Johnson (17:54)
and pull you through.Michelle Kesil (17:56)
Yeah, absolutely. Thank you for sharing that.Sylvia Martinez-Johnson (17:59)
You’re welcome.Michelle Kesil (18:00)
HeheheSo what are you most excited about when it comes to getting back in the game with investing?
Sylvia Martinez-Johnson (18:09)
my goodness, so excited that now I see more opportunity given to us women. I see more… ⁓Just more, I just see more. And that’s why I’m so excited for 2026. In fact, I really wish it was already January 2026 because it’s like already the holidays, everything’s gone. And then we’re back, boom, back to focus and business and getting it done, already seeing it in motion. So I’m super excited and I welcome any opportunities that come my way. And please, if anybody that’s out there listening, I’m trying to raise capital for my project.
And I also, one of the things that I want to mention is giving back. I opened up a non-for-profit organization and I’m going to be mimicking and following what some of the gurus have done. That a portion of each project that I do goes back to that organization and it’s called LightsCameraKids.org. And it’s giving the opportunity to the kids.
to use the arts to be able to express themselves and to be them and to get out of that shell, to believe in themselves that we are all each our own individual stars and light in our own immediate world and it grows and it flourishes. And I want to teach these kids to financial literacy. I want to teach them from a young age how they could start learning to not just have their
Allowance be given to them and just blow it not always think that mom and dad take mom and dad for granted I want to teach these kids to be able to open up a bank account and take a portion if they get these habits stilled in them at a young age They’re gonna use that as they grow older, you know, of course, there’s hiccups. There’s bumps in the road, but that non-for-profit is my baby and so that is where I ⁓ I’m seeking capital I got so much to say so much to do and I’m
just getting started all over again and I’m super excited.
Michelle Kesil (20:14)
That’s really exciting. What a cool project to be focused on.Sylvia Martinez-Johnson (20:18)
it is.I see it because ⁓ I’ve had sisters that passed away at a young age and I’ve had to jump in and raise nephews and nieces. And so when I did that, I just was floored as to what I had to do to educate them and to get them up to speed in different ways, in different mannerisms and habits, so forth. And then being out here in this world when I see this generation just being raceful, you know, we are America.
We are great. We are number one. Why do you think everybody comes here? Because we’re great. So we have everything at our disposal and the people that are here, sometimes we don’t take advantage. We are lazy. We don’t see the opportunities. We don’t explore. We don’t inform ourselves. So that is what frustrates me. And as an entrepreneur, as a person that wants to give back, know, my heart just breaks at times because they’re not taking advantage
or they don’t see their purpose, they don’t see their talent, their hidden talent, they don’t see it. And I try to bless and help and open up their eyes and their possibility, and I do that. And I’ve been told that I leave a mark everywhere I go, and I’m a light when I walk in a room, and I’ve been told a lot of things like that.
And now that I’m older, I believe it now more so. But when you’re young, you don’t see it. You don’t recognize it. You don’t accept it. You don’t know how to embrace it. And that is why I want to give back to the youth and my Lights, Camera, Kids. It’s a cute, catchy name, but I don’t want to stop it just at the kids. I want to go all the way to the young adults because even with their first year of college and all of that mindset is still all over the place. you know, I want to just be able to be
back in whatever little capacity that I have and am able to do. I want to do that and I don’t have much, I don’t come from much, but the little that I do have I am ready to share whether it’s my two cents advice or a donation. ⁓
donate to me, I donate back because that’s just how you pay it forward and how you are blessed. What you put out is what you receive. And you got to stay faithful to that and believe that God will see the truth and will help you guide you through all of the wrong and all of the bad. And when it’s bad, pray that it goes away. And when it’s good, pray that it stays.
Michelle Kesil (22:51)
Awesome, Sylvia. Thank you so much for sharing your message. Before we wrap up here, if somebody wants to reach out, connect, learn more, where can people find you?Sylvia Martinez-Johnson (22:55)
You’re welcome. Thank you.⁓ Well, I am on Instagram, am on LinkedIn, I am in Facebook, ⁓ and I do have the website, know, Cash Investor, www.cashinvestorbuyshomes.com. It’s under construction, but I’m going to work on getting that up. ⁓
up and running. And then also the non-for-profit, it’s LightsCameraKids.org for anyone who feels in the heart to donate and or I’m also looking for capital so we could all grow and prosper together because I got all the energy, I got all the vision and desire to be a success like I did it once. I’m going to do it again, this time bigger and stronger and better than ever and nationwide or worldwide, but I’m ready.
Michelle Kesil (23:46)
Amazing. Perfect. I appreciate your time and your story. Thank you for being here.Sylvia Martinez-Johnson (23:47)
Thank you.likewise, thank you so much for having me.
Michelle Kesil (23:55)
course. For those listeners that are tuning into the show, if you got value, make sure you’ve subscribed. We have more conversations with operators like Sylvia who are building real businesses and we’ll see you on our next episode.
