Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Ortenzio.
Hi Laura, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am originally from Colombia. I come from a mid-class family in Bogota, the capital city. I am an only child, and my mother always worked hard and did her best to give me opportunities nobody in my family had generations before. I went to college for a Hospitality business management bachelor’s degree. During my university years, I was given the opportunity by my parents to move to London for 6 months to learn English since it was tough for me to learn the language being immersed in a society where everything is in Spanish. Some people get to know from the classroom I was not one of them. So, I had no choice but to learn it! So that decision was taken based on my being able to understand the worldwide spoken language and also to be able to graduate from college since I needed to pass an international test.
When I got to England, it was a very eye-opening experience since it was the first time I had been out of the country, and I was very young (21) when I took this journey. My mother could only afford my course for 6 months and flight tickets, and I was given the first month’s rent money and food. My commitment to her allows me to do. This was to find a job to pay for the rent and food while I was there. I was up for the challenge.
It was a fantastic experience that allowed me to get entirely out of my comfort zone, live on my own, finding cleaning jobs since I was not proficient in the language. Still, Little by little, being in a city where everything was in English helped me to develop the speaking skills I went looking for; after that, I started taking jobs where I could practice, such as waitress or sales rep in a mobile phone accessories store in a mall. That experience confirmed what I knew from a young age. I wanted to see the world and did not want to live my entire life in Colombia.
Colombia is a beautiful place, the most biodiverse on the planet; we have yet to learn about weather seasons. Some areas are warm all year long, and others cold. Still, in the 21st century, Colombia’s resources are (openly to the population) mismanaged by the government, which limits many of the opportunities for small entrepreneurs. I never saw myself living a prosperous life there.
As soon as I finished my last semester in college, I went for my second language learning challenge. I had zero knowledge of the Portuguese language, but it’s very similar to Spanish ( I thought). I went to Bonito Mato Grosso do Sur, located in Brazil. I wanted to take the opportunity offered by the largest NGO in the World, AIESEC, where recent graduates from different careers can work for other types of companies worldwide. And they offer accommodation and some stability in those countries for the time the candidates are part of their program.
I went for it, and I lived in Brazil for 8 months, I was able to meet fantastic people and places, and the best part was I got what I was looking for, to add one more language spoken to my backpack of skills. I returned to Colombia excited about my new accomplishment and got a job in a Portuguese/English customer satisfaction and technical support call center. I was assisting people from Brazil and Uk via phone from Bogota. It was a great experience, but I still needed help finding the fulfillment I was looking for. After 1 year of working there, I decided to take some time off at my cousins in Florida, United States. I did not feel that was the place I wanted to stay.
I came to Florida when I was 25; now I am 31 and finally feel at home. The sunshine state is my favorite place on earth, I have had the opportunity to be in very different areas and travel, and definitely, there is no place like Florida to me. I planned to stay for a short period, what my visa allowed me, and then clear my mind about my next step in life. Then love found me in a very unconventional way (internet date’s website). I met my husband. I was looking to meet people my age and keep practicing the language with local people when I signed up on this online dating site to meet new people. And then I met him, it was a brief time getting to know each other, but it was meant to be, since then we have been together, and it will be our 6th anniversary soon. I initially worked for small hotel chains at the front desk since being proficient in languages, and my customer service background helped me get into these jobs.
After gathering some work experience, I applied for a job in one of the largest Marriott hotels in the world, The world center Marriott. Since I was in college, I have always wanted to work for such a recognized company but have yet to be able to pass one of their interviews in my hometown Bogota. But here, it was different. I got in and was so excited about the new challenge. I started as a front desk clerk and participated in Revenue management programs that the company offered to help associates grow. I assisted the accounting department while the hotel general cashier was on maternity leave. I was growing and learning, dreaming of getting a new position and being part of Marriott International for a long time. The company had great incentives for the front desk associates based on room upgrade sales. I was killing it by upgrading people’s rooms. I realized I liked sales a lot. Then I started getting interested in larger sales possibilities and investment opportunities, which is how I met the Real Estate industry.
While working my full-time job at Marriott World Center, I took my real estate class to get a license and listened to the new learning way (Podcasts). I found the more oversized pockets podcast, and my mind starts blowing about real estate investment and how to become free financially through it. I was up for the challenge again and to create the Hussle. I requested night shifts to have the mornings and part of the afternoon available to take training. I started in one of the best Brokerage companies in the US, Keller Williams Realty, and they showed me how Real Estate is a people business. I learned to see sales from a completely different perspective.
I was in the mornings training in the real estate office and at night at the hotel working. This went on for a year. I had a lot of disappointment and frustration during this first year. I could only make one sale. I started with my sphere of influence, where new agents should start, and my friends and colleagues burned my time, we toured so many houses, and it has yet to materialize. It was becoming frustrating. At the same time, I had energy focused on growing in Marriott and shooting to get the following position in accounting or Revenue management. I had been training for it as well. I was joggling with my time, trying to hit all and the same time, hitting nothing. I was partially focused on one thing.
Then the Pandemic Hit. I was one of the thousands of hospitality industry workers laid off. The uncertainty started in the previous years. I had my job and my incentives in sales, and I was growing at my own pace. Now I was home with little to do. I started to think about going full-time in Real Estate, I had my license, and I had been training hard for some time. I did not have an extensive database of clients to sell real estate; my sphere of influence was young people who just came out of college or coworkers from Marriott that were as afraid without a job as me, nobody ready to buy Real Estate. I did not know a lot of people here. Keller Williams was a fantastic place to learn the fundamentals; however, I needed clients and help to figure out how to get them. I was introduced to Orca Homes; it was the first time a brokerage offered me leads, real people asking for help to buy homes. After almost 2 years in the field, I was surprised that I had never heard of a Brokerage that offered me to work with its clients. I was delighted, and I started their training program. I met fantastic realtors as young as me, making thousands of dollars a month at a time when everyone was scared and locked down in most parts of the country.
Luckily in Florida, the lockdowns were relatively short compared to other states and countries, so I could go out and start the Real Estate Hussle. I called interested leads at midnight and early in the morning; whenever anyone requested information, I was there for them. I made videos and virtual showings. Then I started closing transactions and getting paid! I was so impressed to see a check for $4,000 for closing on my first deal. I thought about how much time I had to spend in any hourly job to get that amount of money, even in my home country, and how many months it would take me to get this kind of compensation for my time and efforts. (I think 1 year or more would take me to make this money in Colombia).
Then I realized this was the path; it was only up to me. The American Dream was now in front of my eyes. I only needed to work hard, and I Could see the results. I had no problem with working. I like working. Even more when I am my only boss, and it only depends on me what my paycheck will be. 2020 I made at least 1 house sale per month, and I could not believe how much I was learning while doing it. I learned negotiation skills, how to approach people, and a lot of psychology, because, as a realtor, sometimes We need to know how to help people be rational about decisions instead of emotional. The transactions can be stressful for some people; it is a significant investment for some and could be the largest purchase of their life. The financing process can be long and stressful. All the learning those months in Real estate investment started to help assist clients from all over. I have helped people from New York, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, other states, and international buyers like South Africa. My horizon opened up during the pandemic when many were scared to be out. The streets were sometimes empty for me to do my thing out there.
I started to feel interested in flipping houses, and I met clients who taught me all about it, so I got into that business and loved it too! Taking a distressed property where nobody would live and turning it into a beautiful place was a new stepping stone in my career. At the same time, I started getting people referred, asking me to manage their short-term rental properties, and international clients wanting to buy rentals in Florida and wanting me to work with them. So, I realized I could do what I studied for, hospitality, and at the same time make sales and fix and flips. I was up for it.
A couple of deals I got for my clients were distressed properties I sold to them, and I also got my team of contractors to flip them, furnished them, and now I rent them short-term, bringing fantastic returns to my clients. It was a kind of package thing, doing all for my customers, and they loved that. Hands-off is what a lot of investors like. And for me was a 3-in-one deal, sale, flip and manage.
So usually, my clients are my friends now, and I take care of all their real estate assets, advise them on the following good investment opportunities, and how to use their current assets to get new ones and grow their portfolios. I got to my third year as a realtor. I decided I had enough repeat clients to go on my own. The brokerage at the time was going through a lot of changes. It was not what it used to be when I started working with them, the realtors’ leaders who trained me went on their own, and I was there working alone, but same time I had to give up a significant percentage of all my work to the company. So, I got my broker license and opened up my brokerage with a partner. The partnership lasted only a short time. I did not see the partnership as beneficial for the other partner and me, and I decided to part ways. Now I am the sole owner of my brokerage, a small company called Dreampreneurs, which I am so proud of; the name comes from Dreamers and entrepreneurs, and that is what I am. I dream, plan, and execute; now, I know how to be an entrepreneur. My family team forms my company.
My father-in-law James Ortenzio who has more than 20 years of real estate experience, is a broker associate. He brings wisdom and experience to the table. My sister-in-law Laura Sirbu is an excellent, hard-working veteran roofer specialist and realtor. Maintenance supervisor Adam Ortenzio my husband with more than 15 years as a handyman, knows how to fix anything and can repair almost everything that can go wrong on the rentals. Nick Driscoll, his right hand, is always there for us to resolve any issues our guests might have at any point. He is there to ensure we provide a remarkable experience for our guests. I work virtually with an awesome guy from Pakistan, Martin. He is my marketing and social media specialist and, last but not least, my bookkeeper and cost controller, Camilo, located in Colombia. I could not be where I am without their support of them. My company is pretty young; however, it has grown so much, and it’s just the beginning. We are also starting to approach the new investors market in Colombia since the economy is shifting rapidly, and too many people want to bring their money to this great state. As with anything I have dreamt of in the past, we will keep growing together, and more people will join and grow with us.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
Learning a new language was the most challenging part for me. People took advantage many times of my inability to communicate almost 11 years ago. Also, learning about negotiating took a lot of work at the beginning. In this industry, you meet many realtor sharks and experiences with so much knowledge in how to get their way, so you either learn to defend your clients or lose on your transactions.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your business.
My company is a property management Real Estate Brokerage.
We assist:
-Sale and purchases of Real Estate assets
-Evaluate and finding of real estate investment opportunities.
-Fix and Flip projects, finding the deal, fixing the property, and renting or selling it. Whichever strategy the client prefers.
-Short-term and long-term Rentals Management.
I am the team leader and broker. My company is formed by my father-in-law James Ortenzio who has more than 20 years of real estate experience and is a broker associate. He brings wisdom and experience to the table; my sister-in-law Laura Sirbu is an excellent, hard-working veteran roofer specialist and realtor. Maintenance supervisor Adam Ortenzio my husband with more than 15 years as a handyman, knows how to fix anything and can repair almost anything that can go wrong on the rentals. Nick Driscoll, our right hand, is always there for us to resolve any issues our guests might have at any point. Our focus is also to provide a remarkable experience for our guests. I work virtually with an awesome guy from Pakistan as my marketing and social media specialist, Martin, my bookkeeper, and my cost controller, Camilo, in Colombia.
How would we have described you growing up if we knew you were growing up?
I’ve always been inquisitive; I liked reading a lot and going out dancing during my teen years. I love traveling and meeting new people from different life paths. I always started a little business in high school with my best friend buying candies and reselling them to other kids, and later in college, buying clothes at warehouses and reselling for a profit. Entrepreneur mindset always looking for business opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dream-preneurs.com/
- Instagram: dream.preneurs
