From Start-Up to $1 Billion Portfolio: Lessons in Commercial Real Estate with Carlos Salguero

In this episode, Brad chats with Carlos Salguero, an entrepreneur and real estate expert with over 20 years of business and investment experience. After starting four seven-figure companies and exiting one for an eight-figure sum, Carlos is now focused on helping others invest in commercial real estate and building a $1 billion portfolio. He shares how his father's life inspired his interest in real estate and recounts the story of his first commercial deal—a 50,000-square-foot warehouse he purchased for his business. He also discusses a more recent, large-scale mixed-use property he acquired in Tennessee, explaining the importance of hands-on management and a strong business plan.

🔑 Key Topics Covered:

• The Path to Real Estate: Carlos shares how watching his father live off the rent from a warehouse complex he built influenced his own investment philosophy.

• The First Big Deal: The story of how Carlos bought a 50,000-square-foot warehouse in Denver, navigating dishonest brokers, a difficult seller's agent, and unexpected renovation costs to see the property’s value increase from $1.2 million to over $8 million.

• Active vs. Passive Investing: The difference between being a limited partner (LP), who simply writes a check, and a sponsor (GP), who actively runs the deal like a business.

• Lessons from a Challenging Deal: The journey of acquiring a Class A mixed-use property in Tennessee and overcoming challenges like a lender reducing proceeds by $1 million.

• The Power of Hustle: How Carlos and his team went from 66% commercial vacancy to 100% leased in just three years by actively seeking out tenants, rather than relying on a broker.

• Why Reputation is Everything: The importance of maintaining a five-star reputation online and keeping tenants happy, a lesson Carlos learned from his e-commerce background.

• The Next Chapter: Carlos outlines his goal to acquire $100-200 million in Class A assets annually and reach a $1 billion portfolio by 2030.

💬 Memorable Quotes:

• "I always thought that trading cash for real assets was a great idea." — Carlos Salguero

• "That's the power of real estate, right? Even folks that don't have systems and don't do things right... they can make money." — Carlos Salguero

• "Nobody will hustle more than you will for yourself." — Carlos Salguero

🔗 Connect with Carlos Salguero:

• 🌐 Website: https://cs3investments.com/

• 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamcarlosinfinite

• 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cssalguero/

🎙️ Connect with Host Brad Weaver:

• 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradweaver