#40 - From Adobe Houses to Real Estate Success: George Salas on Resilience, Growth, and Scaling Up

Path To Passive: Real Estate Investing For Technology Professionals

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In this episode, Steven Arita talks to George Salas, a dynamic real estate investor, who tells an inspiring story. George shares his humble beginnings, growing up in an adobe house in a small town and moving to the U.S. at 15. He reflects on his journey from working in hospitality and event promotions to losing his savings in a failed business venture. Despite these challenges, George's determination led him to discover real estate. He recounts how a friend's intervention and a powerful seminar ignited his passion for real estate, leading him to study diligently and eventually succeed in wholesaling, fixing and flipping, and rental. George explains his shift to owning high-performing short-term rental properties and how he pivoted during the pandemic. He discusses the importance of mentorship, personal development, and strategic thinking in his success. Now, George and his wife are scaling their business through syndications and a private equity fund, continually pushing their limits and setting higher goals.

George Salas is the CEO of Empress Capital, leading a team specializing in acquiring, renovating, and managing high-demand vacation rental properties across the US. With over five years in real estate, he previously led Renovestors, LLC and Houston Home Fixers, closing high-equity deals and mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs. His passion lies in achieving financial freedom for himself and others through real estate, enjoying soccer, family time, and trips to Peru when not working.

Reach out to Collin:
https://georgesalas360.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/georgesalas360/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgesalas360/

Episode Highlights:

(3:37) George discusses his childhood and early life in the U.S. and his first major investment failure

(11:43) Impact of COVID-19 on George's rental business and his pivot to high-end short-term rentals

(16:40) Learning about syndications and scaling the business

(25:05) Diving deeper into process, purpose, and learning

(34:39) Operational cycle vs. Personal cycle

(40:35) The power of connection

(47:43) Exit strategy and selling to institutional buyers

(51:33) George’s ideal investors

(54:30) Outro

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• Investor 101 https://www.aritacapital.com/investor-101-resource/#
• Due Diligence Resource https://www.aritacapital.com/dd-checklist-resource/

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