Transcription
All right, everybody. Welcome back to the Keeping It Real Estate podcast. Man, again, we've had some some great episodes. One of my favorite episodes was the last one, and I'm hoping this one's going to be another fan favorite.
Uh, got somebody here on the channel who I have had the pleasure of getting a chance to hear all about her. I hear about her all the time. Agents talk about her in the office. Nothing but high praises. And I said, I got to get this young lady on the podcast. I got to get a chance to know her. So, this is actually going to be me and her first time actually having conversations. So, as y'all get to know her, I'm going to get to know her.
Um, but I wanted to welcome >> Miss Cindy West to the podcast. How you doing, Cindy?
>> I'm good. It's a pleasure to be here. Just like you heard about me, I've heard a lot about you. So, I'm excited.
>> Really great things. You definitely have made a name for yourself here. Um, so honestly, it's a privilege to to even be here right now.
>> Man, you gave me chills cuz I swear I feel the same way about you. I I promise you we have I've walked in the office many of times and Cindy West's name gets thrown around and I'm like what what what she do? They like man she got some property. She I'm like a man I got to get a chance to meet this lady. So um please tell the people who you are and then of course you're telling me who you are. We're going to get a chance to get to know each other on this podcast. But tell the world who you are and what you do.
>> for sure. So my name is Cindy West. Uh moved to Charlotte literally just three years ago.
>> Uh really probably close to like two and a half years ago at this point. When I moved out here, uh, was a lawyer at the time, wanted to go all in on real estate, didn't know how to start, had about $4,000, and was like, I got to figure this out cuz I wanted to leave my job. Uh, and as you can imagine, I'm Colombian, so immigrant parents, right? Okay. They taught me go to college, right? Go to grad school.
>> Uh, but I when I got there, I was like, I hate being a lawyer and I got to figure this out. So,
>> like I said, I had 4,000 bucks. I listened to Bigger Pockets for like six, seven years. Okay.
>> So, I knew real estate. I just had never done it and I was like, I got to do it. So, I was 27 at the time. Got into real estate out here,
>> started investing, eventually moved out here. Now, fast forward 3 years, uh, own about 75 rentals. My brother ended up moving out here last year with his wife and kids.
>> He's in the business now. My dad moved up here. He's our full-time project manager.
>> Oh, wow.
>> Uh, brother's wife is now property manager. So, we're kind of just building up a family business.
>> That's fire. And you led the way.
>> Yeah, I did. Hey, they thought I was crazy at first, right? It was insanity cuz when I went down to South Florida at the time, um I had four properties. I sat my dad down and I was like, I'm about to build a massive portfolio out there. Like, come and move. And my dad was crazy, too, cuz he sold his house and he moves up.
>> He ain't crazy. That's called belief. That's called faith.
>> He believed. And this dude was living in my house. I didn't have any work for him cuz I told him I was going to build a massive portfolio. But what happened was eight months later, I only had like five houses
>> and he had sold everything, right? He moved up.
>> Only five houses. only
>> only five houses, right? I had, you know, shot myself in the foot a little bit, but he was like, "You're going to make it and I'll be here." And so, he lived with me for 6 months and we kind of built the business up and started buying units.
>> U, but it's it's been a blessing to really like do it with family.
>> Man, that support system is huge. I've I I've got a strong support system, too. So, I mean, talk about how that I want to talk about a couple things you said, but talk about how that support system that you uh have kind of helped you, you know, have the confidence to move forward and do things like this.
>> I think the true reason why I've been able to accomplish everything I I have is because of my parents and my brother.
>> I was 8 years old when I said I wanted to be a millionaire. My mom living in the hood was like, "Yeah, you are."
>> Yeah.
>> And every time I've had a crazy delusional idea,
>> she's like, "You're going to do it. You might be the first one. and you don't see anybody else doing it, but God's going to get you there.
>> And so, I think a lot of people don't have that. And when you don't have that, that's very difficult.
>> You'd be surprised how many people I've come across when I tell them stories about what my dad, you know, has has motivated me to do, they go, "Man, you and your dad got a good relationship, don't you?" I'm like, "Yeah, we got a great relationship." And it's like, but in response, I go,
>> you know, in my mind, I'm like, "Do you not?" Like, it's so weird from coming from somebody who has a support system and a family that is like, "Yeah, whatever you want to do, go do it." It's weird to have those conversations with people that don't, you know, it's like, what do you say? Now, what part of Colombia?
>> Uh, we're from Kali. Kali Columbia.
>> See, now I'm I'm learning Colombia a little bit, man, because I got invited to a wedding down there in uh
>> where is that? Cartahana or No, that was
>> Medí.
>> Med.
>> Yeah. See,
>> Medagene is fun.
>> Yeah. See, I'm trying to I need to get out there. That's what that's what everybody keeps saying. You got to get out there.
>> It's like the Miami of Latin America, basically.
>> Don't have too much fun. I ain't going to have too much fun. Nah, man. Let me tell you. Fun these days. I'm 37. Fun these days is rest. Looking looking out at the water. That's all inclusive vacations. All right.
>> That is it. That is all That is all fun. So, you had those four properties. How did How did that get started? How did those four properties even come about?
>> So, I connected with an agent out here. I went on Facebook investor groups and I was like, I'm looking for an agent that's investor oriented. I looked up with my agent. uh his name was Freddy at the time and I just told him I was like I only have this much money. I need to buy with a hard money lender and I need to be able to refinance out of these houses so I can keep doing this because I knew that my goal ultimately was to buy 40 45 doors within a 2-year period
>> to cash flow enough money to get me out of my job. So I was like I'm not going to save enough, but I have what I have. I just need to do the strategy well. And he really like oriented me in the right direction. He was like, hey, here's some houses in Hickory. um they are below value, you can rent them out, they'll cash flow, and you can refinance out of them. So, we did like our first give or take six or eight deals in a year together. And that kind of taught me everything I needed to know to go ahead and then do it on my own from there.
>> And you learned all that from podcasts and just listening to other people do it?
>> Yeah, just hearing other people doing it and then just doing it myself. But once I heard somebody else do it, like I'm the type of person that as long as one person has done it before me,
>> Yeah.
it's proof. I'm like, they've already done it. Can I go and follow the steps? Do it. That's it. So, that was it, though. But he was a huge help like starting off to really getting my foot in the door because I wasn't living out here, right? So, he was out here. He would take videos of properties. He would explain the market to me, right? Especially like Hickory, North Carolina. I was like,
>> where the heck is that at, right? Or Statesville.
>> I live here and I still go, Hickory, where where is Hickory? Northeast? What? Like, you know?
>> Exactly. Totally different balls ballpark, but u he was huge in like just getting my foot in the door and teaching me some things. And then at the same time I was still learning, right? So I was still like absorbing podcasts and conferences and all of that just to kind of sharpen myself up. But
>> man, what was the scariest part about starting?
>> Honestly, I think I don't think anything was really scary. I think the scariest part for me was not actually doing what I said I was going to do
>> cuz I had told everybody I was like, I'm only going to be a lawyer for two years.
>> Yeah.
>> And people thought it's crazy. Like you'll be you'll be there for like 5 years, you'll be there for 10 years. And I was like, nah, I'm going to get out in two years. Like watch me. And I think it was it felt sometimes like that was a huge uh ambitious goal
>> that seemed pretty unrealistic multiple times, right? Like just even saying after my first year, I only owned eight houses. That's why I say only, right? Cuz then I looked and I was like, I got 12 months left to buy, you know, 38 more houses
>> and quit my job.
>> I don't know how I'm going to do that.
>> Um, but I think that was the scariest part, right? was like, "What if you just end up where you're at right now and you got to keep working this miserable job, working 60 hours a week for the next three, four more years?" Like, no thanks.
>> Yeah. What kind of law?
>> Corporate law. So, I did mergers and acquisitions.
>> Okay.
>> So, very boring, dry,
>> was taking Zoom calls at like 3:00 in the morning. Like just absurd absurd expectations and demands from clients and the other attorneys. So, I was like,
>> "This isn't long-term at all."
>> Jeez, man. I could I couldn't imagine. I I had I won't say I had aspirations of being a lawyer, but I was always one of those guys who every time I won an argument, I'm like, "Yeah, I'm going to go be I'm going to go be a lawyer."
>> Watch TV. Yeah, that's my problem. I watch too much TV. You're out of order. No, you're out of order. I You're in contempt.
>> No, that's fire. That's fire. So, you moved from Miami to North Carolina. Why not do it in Miami? Was it too expensive? What was
>> So I actually had done a little bit of wholesaling down there when I was in law school. Like I I like I said, I was always listening to podcast and I started dabbling into wholesaling at the time while while I was in law school.
>> Uh and then ended up doing a flip at one point down there. Owned a rental and the market really pivoted during the pandemic, right? And so there was no more deals.
>> Yeah.
>> So I was like, I got to look somewhere else where the price point just makes more sense at that point.
>> Jeez. And the fact that you found it up here cuz during the pandemic that was the hardest time these investors were swooping in and grabbing everything. So you were one of the swoopers.
>> I wasn't. I So I came in like at the tip of 2023. Okay.
>> But I think it slowed down a little bit cuz I remember in 2022 I was already like asking agents around and they were telling me like, "Yeah, due diligence is $10,000." And I'm like,
>> that's crazy.
>> That's insane. I was like, I can't get in the game yet cuz I only got four.
>> Yeah. So, but I got in in 2023 at the height of the at the I think probably the lowest of the market, right? But highest interest rates. So, like for reference, I was refinancing out of properties at 9 and a half interest rate.
>> So, interest 6.7 now, right?
>> Jeez.
>> So, it was pretty much not the best time.
>> Yeah.
>> But I found like an opportunity to get in, put in $1,000 of due diligence, right? Put in $500 in EMD cuz a lot of people have pulled out at that point
>> where I was at the year before.
>> You just got to be savvy with it. That's really it. And you said you got 75 now.
>> Yeah, got 75 now.
>> Where where are they located?
>> So I own about give or take like 10 in Hickory, I'd say, but majority of it is in the Triad.
>> Nice. That's where I went to school out that way. I went to Winston Salem State.
>> Oh, cool. We're in Winston Salem. Yeah.
>> So we really like the market out there.
>> Yeah, I love I love that area. Have you been on MLK Drive?
>> I have not.
>> Do you look at So here's a better question. Do you look at single family homes? You look at apartments. What do you How do you How do you
>> do apartments? Yeah. So start off in single family, right? the first like year, year and a half, like I said, when I got to eight houses and I was like, I got a year to get out of my job. What's the easiest way to do that? And it was like go the multif family route. Yeah.
>> So, started just buying mostly apartment complexes at that point.
>> And then you just you you get in, you uh you sell them. So, you don't manage them or anything like that. You just you get in, fix it up,
>> and move it.
>> Yeah. So, all right. I buy them, I rehab them, and then I rent them out, and I I still manage them, right? So, I still own them. Okay.
>> Uh we still self-manage like our entire portfolio. So
>> yeah, man. That's so the cool part about like managing I I tried to do property management. So I managed like two at one point in time, man. But dealing with that and business,
>> I'm like this is this is way too much. How do you keep your head I mean if that's that's I mean that's your business. So but how do you keep your head managing so many doors?
>> Yeah, it's definitely been becoming more of a challenge I think now like year three. Um because it is a lot, right? you're dealing with multiple personalities and multiple moving pieces. And that's not really a part of the business that you can be like, I'm going to generate a certain dollar figure, right, where it's worth it.
>> But for me, it's always been a long-term vision. Like when I started listening to podcast and hearing the way people were doing, like I said, like just copy the right person, right? I knew that all the people that own like 100 rentals, 200 rentals, 500 rentals, they all have property management in house.
>> So I was like, let me try to self-manage this as long as I can and like learn the ropes and then we'll hire somebody. So that's where that's kind of the pivoting point we're at right now, right? We're like, we're hiring my brother's wife
>> and she'll manage everything. Um, but it was just a way for me to kind of control the entire process, learn it well because I always knew I was never going to hire a property manager to manage 100 200 of my rentals.
>> Man, that's such a true family business now, too. Cuz now you talking about, man, you you going piece by piece. What the what the grandkids and nephew and every what they going to be doing? That's going to be fun.
>> Yeah. No, my my brother's kids, my nieces, we have a laundry facility at one of our our complexes, and that's theirs.
>> I don't see them going over there, but they collect the coins somehow. Like I see them rolling up.
>> Exactly.
>> Exactly. They their job is to roll the quarters up and take them to the bank account. But um but it's awesome though, right? Cuz it it is like all around family and it's totally different. Like we've never owned real estate.
>> We've never been business owners, right? But, uh, it's something new and we're kind of just doing it all together and learning as we grow.
>> You got to take some pride in that and and being the one to kind of spearhead that and to to lead your family. Do you have mentors that you look up to and talk to on a on a normal basis?
>> I really don't to be honest. Um, I don't have any mentors. I would say I just listen to so many people. Like I listen to so many podcasts and I try to grab nuggets here and there, but
>> for the most part like
>> Yeah.
>> No. So, I mean, we were talking about prior, you know, before we turned the cameras on, and I think, you know, even me, like, I've been in positions where I feel like I'm perceived as one of the smartest people in the room, and I, you know, I like to not be, you know, how, so how do you handle that your dayto-day? Are there things that you want to tap into that if you just had a mentor, it would, it might be easier for you, or is there is there a method to trying to find one or you just cool with where content with where you are? I think I am probably looking for a mentor. I probably will start. I think for me, I'm just very motivated and inspired and sometimes I've looked at a mentor as somebody that's going to drive that more and it's like I don't need motivation, inspiration. I just need like maybe a strategy to kind of execute to get me to where I'm at.
>> Yeah.
>> Um but
>> I I don't know. I guess I've been like more in the weeds of just kind of building it up
>> and haven't necessarily focused on that. I will say though what compared to what you were talking about earlier of like
>> being you know more so like applaud and kind of looking for more of like that that constructive criticism. I feel like the thing I struggle with personally is constantly like giving to people all day like giving my energy my time.
>> It's draining, isn't it?
>> It's draining and then at the end of the day maybe that's what I want to mentor cuz at the end I'm like I don't want to talk to anybody. Like I'm exhausted and then I got to go on Instagram like
>> Yeah. You create the content. Yeah. And I think that that too, man. It's like the the draining part of it is you're constantly emptying your cup, for lack of better, you know, words. You're emptying your cup into other people to help fill theirs, but it's like, where do I go to fill mine?
>> And that's that's the that's the tough part. So, you got 75 doors now. What's next?
>> I would say the goal this year is to surpass 100 units. Probably get to 120, 130. That's the goal.
>> Yeah.
>> Uh we've got new construction going on now. That's been a new venture for us here in Charlotte. So, finish up the new builds, but we're continue to spread the portfolio. That's the goal. Like next 5 years, we get to 500 units and then see where our portfolio sits at, what we want to do next.
>> Yeah. And your your your Instagram is where I kind of once people started mentioning your name around the office, that's when I started tapping into who Cindy West is. So, your Instagram has become pretty popular. How have you been able to uh how can I say this? like the the content piece is always the thing that people struggle some people struggle with. You've been able to create content based off of your stories and and and what you've gone through. How has that part, the Instagram side or the social media side period, how has that helped grow what you're trying to do?
>> Oh, tremendously. Right. So, social media brings me leads,
>> private investors, um just connections, right? Making those relationships that normally I wouldn't make outside of it. Um, but it's been super cool because when I started that like two and a half years ago, I really started because I was a lawyer at the time and I was like, I need to rebrand myself. I wanted people to think of me as a real estate investor, not as a lawyer. And it's kind of cool now 3 years later, people are like, you were a lawyer. It's like, you don't know that. And that's what I always wanted to accomplish because I knew I was going to pivot into it full-time.
>> But it's been super cool to kind of see all that has come from it. And, you know, at the time when I started, I was like, I will never do coaching.
>> Now I'm doing coaching. Yes, you are. one of I'm one of those which is like I said I want to be a guru.
>> Yeah.
>> But
>> but you can't help it. Certain certain people are are blessed with a lot of opportunities that they are set to go through and they go through it and then you find people that are trying are going through the same thing. You go why why would I not extend a helping hand somehow someway?
>> 100%.
>> It's so it's so powerful to have experienced something and then have people come to you for advice and you go you know what I know exactly how to help. Exactly.
>> I think that's that's such a powerful piece and and that's one of those things where when I look at somebody like you, I go, she's she's been doing this so and you're not an overnight success, but you're you're still in the growing phases, but if somebody's looking at you, they go, "Wow, she got successful so fast." So, in sense, you're inspiring people to just do things. Just do it, right? Just start it. Once you start it, you'll be fine. And I think, you know, in my position, I find peace in knowing that people can look at my story and go, "All right, well, he did it. I can do it." Right. Is there anything that you haven't tapped into yet that you want to tap into?
>> Oo, like real estate wise.
>> Real estate wise. Yeah. Just Yeah. Let's keep it real estate. Real estate wise.
>> Uh, I don't think so. I think definitely I'm I'm where I want to be, which was always the multifamily,
>> grow the portfolio.
>> Um, so I think we're we're kind of content there. goal is to grow that into, you know, whatever God wants it to be ultimately,
>> man. And I love that, too, right? People People get so caught up in trying to do everything.
>> Just stick to your goals. And I think, and for you, I'm guessing, how did you how did you maintain the balance of sticking to those goals? Like, did you write them down? Did you you know, what was the what was the method to attacking those goals?
>> I think it just happened to be honest. Like, I'll never forget moving down here. I had about five rentals at the time and driving through Uptown and just wondering like,
>> God, I know you have something for me here, but what is it? So, I started wholesaling. I was like, maybe it's wholesaling. And then I was like, I don't think God got me here to be a wholesaler, right? And then I was like, let me flip. And
>> I just didn't feel like it was my calling. And I was like, is it really going to be me being a landlord? And kind of looking back, it's funny because I think that's exactly what God wanted me to be
>> cuz he I know where I come from and I know how people feel being renters.
>> Yeah. I understand people's struggles and very few landlords have the ability to do that and really still want to put out the best product out there for their their tenants. And so I think it was kind of like just an alignment there and really like I think God's will of like I want you to be in this position
>> and it's been fulfilling and it's like I don't look anywhere else. Um, it's fulfilling. It accomplishes the ultimate goal which for me was always you know financial freedom taking care of my mom. So got to retire her last year at 59 years old.
>> That's awesome. So got my dad on board to kind of work for us and take care of him. So at the end of the day, part of it was fulfillment, right, of like what what's going to align with me,
>> but at the same time like what's going to also resolve the big thing that I really wanted, right, which was financial freedom, right? I wanted to get out of my job.
>> I wanted to retire my parents. And that all just came together of like multif family.
>> Man, that's so dope. What's uh what would you say? Give me give me a horror story. Have you had any where you've like this was a mistake I made or something like that?
>> I had to do an eviction on a horrible tenant
>> and I always meet my tenants in person before they move in
>> and at the time I was leaving to Italy the next day and I was like he'll be fine. He sounds good over the phone
>> that I was like I'll be fine. I'm going go to Italy. Enjoy it. And sure enough I came back. He never paid rent evict. He kept appealing. So then I had to go and be like, "Hey man, I'll give you a thousand bucks. Just move out, please."
>> Yeah.
>> So kind of learned my lesson with that one. Yeah.
>> Wasn't fun at all.
>> Um but it was rough.
>> Yeah. I could I could imagine evictions aren't the easiest thing to to even go through from your aspect having to watch somebody uproot themselves and you know have to put them out on the street like man it's part of the process man.
>> Yeah. And some of those people are professional scammers like they know the system. Like he played it so well
>> that I was just like, you know what? This is going to end up with a lot of time wasted, a lot of more money than $1,000. So, I'll just pay you.
>> What are the odds, though? The one time you don't meet a client person becomes the he becomes the horror story.
>> Dude, I'm te I'm telling you, I have like a vibe check when I meet people. Like, I really do. I'm like, I don't know this is going to work out. And when I met him in court,
>> I was like,
>> yeah,
>> I I would disqualify him. Like, I just it just made sense, right? I just knew it.
>> Yeah. um based on the way he was interacting. But been through that. Um what else? We've we've gone through a couple couple rough ones. I did my first rehab, which was an 11 unit.
>> It was a nightmare. We had prostitutes, had drug dealers, and at the time it was just I was the only owner of my business, and my dad was my my full-time guy, mind you. I moved my dad up, but he's never worked in construction.
>> Right. Right.
>> So, you got two chickens running around with no head. and we're trying to, you know, install vanities, install toilets, and
>> it was one of those deals that I was like, either this deal will like take me out of real estate, um, or I'll get over it and I'll figure it out and I'll be successful. And sure enough, like made it out of that rehab nine months later, like 150 grand left, uh, you know, spent.
>> Yeah.
>> Tons of uh, learning experiences there. Um, it was just hard. It was a, it was my first multif family deal
>> and I was just not prepared for it, but kind of jumped into it. Yeah.
>> Learned how to swim
>> swim through it
>> barely, but you got through. Are you Are you one of those ones where like that first deal was was all you needed to see that it could work and and then everything else was just going to funnel after that or
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. I just need like proof of concept lines.
>> Yeah.
>> And I also just feel like
>> the worst case scenario is never that bad.
>> Hey, I'm with you. Sometimes
>> sometimes sometimes that worst case scenario you like, "All right, brother. I don't
>> Here, here's what I always thought, right? I I was 20 I was 27 years old, right? Worst case scenario, if I lost everything and I went bankrupt,
>> I could figure out how to pay an apartment for 800 bucks a month.
>> Yeah.
>> And get get on my feet over the next 5 years all over again. And same right now, like worst case, if I lost everything tomorrow, I could still grind,
>> figure it out, and I'll get back to where I need to get back in the next 5 years.
>> Yeah.
>> Like I'm not going to die. Yeah,
>> I think people people like literally think they're like, "Oh my gosh, like the tenants going to destroy the property." And it's like, "It's not going to be the end of the world, though." Like, you do understand that, right? You've probably done bigger risks in your life.
>> But this is so uncomfortable and so different that you feel like the worst case scenario is that your whole life is going to end.
>> How many people have gone through bankruptcies?
>> Yeah, a lot.
>> And are still millionaires, billionaires. Exactly. I mean, president of United America.
>> Got a president. It's got a few.
>> It got more things, right? It's president of the United States of America, right? proof right there that you can do anything you want to do and still end up right
>> in that position. So I think to me I've just never been fearful in that sense like once it worked it worked and worst case scenario I know what it is doesn't scare me because the best case scenario always outweighs that.
>> Yeah. What's one what's one of your favorite stories?
>> Oo I would say I retired my mom.
>> Yeah that's got to be a good one for sure.
>> Yeah. I bought her a home and that was a blessing. That was always a goal and I never wanted to lose sight of that because I think in our in a lot of people's hearts, right? We have like we want to take care of our parents and I just saw some people like lose sight of that, right? Because everybody wants to take care of their mom.
>> Yeah.
>> And I just saw like so many people scaling up in life, right? The corporate ladder, all these things, and they didn't take care of their mom. And I was like, I never want to be that person.
>> Yeah.
>> Like I got to take care of her. So bought her a place in Colombia. Uh she's there. We travel to Italy. We're going to France this summer. To really be able to do that and like stay true to everything I always said I do for her, that's the that's the most special thing for me.
>> Yeah.
>> Like I I'll keep grinding. I'll do what I need to do. And delayed gratification a lot of aspects, but really knowing like I took care of my mom is like the most satisfying thing ever.
>> Yeah. I just had a conversation with my uh with my mom the other day and she said, you know, she said, "The biggest honor that I have as a parent is when people tell me how proud of my kids they are, you know, when they or when they, you know, I think social media has made it more um available to see you when people leave comments and she's like that's my favorite thing. I could I could only understand, you know, I could I could understand that your mom probably feels the same way where it's like,
>> you know, you want your kid to be better than than you. So to have you be able to do something like that, I'm pretty sure she's super proud of and probably mentions it to you a good bit.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. I love her. It's super special, you know. Um and it's just a blessing. Like I think there was a point and maybe a lot of people feel this way where you feel like your parents, right, cuz they don't have a lot. It's like why do I got to deal with that? All right. I'm trying to figure out my life and now I gotta figure out them. But
>> yeah,
>> I I kind of just shifted my mindset at some point of like instead of looking at it as a burden like what a blessing it is that you got God has given it to you and given you skill sets too to go ahead and take care of your parents, right? And then you can figure out your generation to come, right? But it truly is a blessing. And
>> I mean, I'm glad that she gets to enjoy her life a little bit more cuz she she worked in cleaning uh she cleaned houses for about 35 years.
>> So clean two three houses a day. Always struggled, right? So, we lived like in 18 different places before I was 18 years old. Just hopping around, right? Avoiding evictions.
>> So, now it's like, don't worry about any of that.
>> That's fire.
>> I got you.
>> That's And you And I I might have missed it, but I know you said you had a brother, but are you the oldest or
>> I'm the youngest? Youngest. Okay. So, our brother's five years older than me.
>> Yeah. It's something about them something about them younger siblings that uh tend to be a little more successful than their older siblings. You know,
>> we were laughed around them. You know, our parents love us a little bit more, but it's okay.
>> That's fire. What is Do you have Do you have goals that extend beyond North Carolina?
>> I don't.
>> No.
>> I really The goal truly here is to grow a massive portfolio of at least
>> 500 units, at least $100 million of real estate here in North Carolina, the
>> Triad.
>> We're just focused on that. Yeah. Yeah,
>> like there's there's blinders for everything else there, but that's
>> So even with Cindy West being able to be a household name somewhere in LA, in Texas, wherever it may be that doesn't that doesn't appeal to you, like I don't want to do that. I know this I know the lay of the land up here.
>> Yeah. You know what I like I like driving around being like that's my house, that's my house, that's my apartment comp. Like I want to do that to a massive level where if I drove down a whole street and there's 100 units, four different communities, I'm like I own all of those.
>> That's mine.
>> See that building right there? Yeah.
>> That's fire.
>> Exactly. So you about to inspire me to go let me see what I need what I need to do to invest in Cind invest in Cind. I haven't made a slogan for you.
>> I like it.
>> No, that's fire. If you could if you could give somebody that's in your position two two things, two golden nuggets. What would what would those things be?
>> Listen to Bigger Pockets.
>> Learn about different investing strategies. Every single investment strategy is ultimately simple.
>> It's not easy.
>> Yeah. But everything is simple because people before you have already done it and they have literally created a blueprint for you whether it's free or it's paid. You might have to invest in yourself, right? But the strategy and the blueprint is just there. You just got to go and find it. Don't try to repeat the cycle. Don't try to keep waiting to figure it out on your own cuz success ultimately loves speed. The quicker you are, the quicker you're going to get to it.
>> Yeah. What's some other podcast that that that catch your ear?
>> That catch my ear. I liked Action Academy.
>> Okay.
>> I listened to that. Yeah. So, it's mostly it's led by a guy named Brian Luben
>> and he really started it when he was leaving his six-figure job uh in corporate America. And so, it's something that I really related to at the time
>> cuz he focuses on using commercial real estate or buying businesses to get out of
>> that kind of, you know, rut and uh the 9 to 5. And so, he had really cool people on his podcast and same thing, right? people that left corporate America and were doing, you know, self storage or they were doing multif family or they're doing RV parks. And so once again, it was just ultimately like absorbing that information, right? But the more you become aware of,
>> if you hear people saying that they've done something, that should automatically turn off your own disbelief that you can't do it. Cuz I think a so many times people will hear somebody do it and they'll be like, "Nah, they're capping." Right? That's honestly it's like you just believe so hard what you believe. And even though somebody's telling you like, "I've done this. this is how I did it. People are like,
>> "Yeah,
>> it can't happen for me." But it's like, it could happen for you.
>> Yeah. You just got to believe in yourself, too. I I I love that uh podcast are the I want to say the new way, but the newer generations way of being able to learn stuff. You learn more from Tik Tok, Instagram, podcast than you than we ever learned in schools. So only if I could leave give you some words of encouragement. Stay stay in front of a mic because I love I I went on down the rabbit hole on your page just trying to because I was like man I said I've seen all this stuff before but I haven't really delve into just who Cindy is and what she does and to see you break down you know numbers and things like that. I'm like wow like she she's really this is her. This is it. So people can learn so much from you. So if if again if I can I always try to you know breathe life into people. you you got to stay in front of a mic. You got to keep posting because somebody's in a position where you were in, you know, and they're listening to you and you might be their favorite Instagram, you know, investor that that that can teach them everything they need to learn. So, I don't I don't want you to, you know, again, we talk about the mentor thing, too. I don't you don't necessarily have to be their mentor, but
>> just you being visible and you talking and sharing your stories is going to help somebody that's in your shoes or that was in your shoes early on.
>> Yeah.
>> I love it, man. Cool.
>> I got I I definitely got to get you around the agents more and get them get you to come talk to us so we can see what we can do to help you grow your business.
>> Yeah, I would love to.
>> For sure. Cuz we got we got three we got four agents that cover the Triad, too. Really?
>> So, I mean, even just being able to help you look for properties. Is that one of the things that you I mean, do you look Do you have somebody that looks for properties? Cuz you're not a real estate agent.
>> No, I'm not. So, we don't really sell most of our portfolio, right? Uh, and then most of the things we buy, I would say probably 60 to 70% is off market and then we have another like 30% on market, but don't have an agent I exclusively work with.
>> So there's an opportunity there. Like I'm definitely happy to, you know, make it happen.
>> Love it. Awesome. Well, Cindy, last part of the podcast is your chance to ask me a question and then you any question and I'll answer it for you.
>> What inspires you to keep going?
>> Oh man. Uh, I am I am very motivated by my by my family having what they need, right? So, I I know what it takes to, you know, I know the bare minimum and I know what having more than that can do for my family. So, my goal each and every day is to make sure one, my kids have a place to sleep, they got food on the table, all of that stuff. If they got that, I'm good. But for me, what I'm learning this year is I've got to start thinking about myself. I've spent a lot of my years focusing on other people. So, what's inspiring me is the opportunities I can create for myself. And by being able to inspire other agents and help other agents is cool. It helps me by, you know, my spirits, you know, uplifts my spirits to be able to see somebody go drill. That advice you gave me got me under contract.
>> Yeah.
>> You know, that's the type of thing that that I enjoy and why I do it. There's a lot of people that, you know, they could do that for for for money, right? They can create a a platform or, you know, something and start charging people for it. But for me, I mean, I I'm not saying I would do it for free essentially, but you know, where the position I'm in where I can pick and choose the people I'm around by being at the at the top of this this what Noir Group is and being able to say, "Yes, I want this person to be a part of it.
>> No, I don't want you to be a part of it." I'm choosing who I can say yes to and who I want to help. And to see them succeed,
>> I mean, that's a that's a daily thing that I that that fuels me. I quit every morning, but I also by the end of the day, I'm ready to do it again.
>> I love it. you're you're aligned then with where you're at because it's like it's fulfills you and then you're really what you're really good at doing it too.
>> Yeah, for sure. So, I just, you know, my my biggest focus this year is making sure that as long as they're good and they have the right guidance in front of them, I I still save time for myself now. You know, I got to make time for my peace, my joy, and that's what I'm focusing on, too. So, again, filling cups, right? I I've I've recently reconnected with a with a mentor to where now I can I can give to other people and now I can go get my cup filled as well.
>> So that's what I'm focusing on this year and I'm glad you motivated me with that aspect.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> Well, that's awesome. Well, I'm glad I could do that. That's that's what I was that's what I'm saying, man. I think you got to be in rooms with people who can inspire you
>> as well as you know, you leave them inspired, right? I think that's a that's a rare occurrence because when you're in a position like where you are where everybody's praising you all the time and I'm positioned where I am where people are praising me all the time there's got to be a humbling point to where you have some faults I have some faults who do I go to to have to to help me fix that.
>> Yeah.
>> If everybody's giving me my flowers all the time what about the weaknesses I think I have
>> you know what if I what if my time management isn't where I want it to be? How do I correct that if everybody around me is telling me, "Man, every time I call you, you answer."
>> Y
>> So, you just got I I I think I appreciate you saying that, but I think you you have to surround yourself with more people that just that care about filling your cup.
>> 100%.
>> You know?
>> Yeah. You're on par with that. And to your point, like especially when you're struggling,
>> it's like it's hard to figure out what's the next step cuz you're in your head already. Yeah.
>> And you're in your head because you don't know what to do.
>> Exactly.
>> And so, you got to figure out what to do. So, you got to go to outside people, right? What do I do?
>> Cindy, when we going to meet back here next Thursday for therapy? Cuz I swear to God, that's what this is. Listen.
>> Oh, man. I'm tired. I'm struggling.
>> Yeah. Like, come on. Come on, man. Get a couch right here. Me and you. I'm like, look. All right. So, look, after I finish this 30 minutes, you know, I'm we going to change spots.
>> Exactly. I love it.
>> Let the people know how they can get in touch with you, Cindy, if you want them to. I'm sure you do, but let people know how you how they can get in touch with you.
>> Yeah. The easiest way is on Instagram. I'm Cindy West_. I'm usually on there posting videos all the time and also doing Instagram lives or master classes. So, feel free to reach out to me there. Shoot me a message. Always happy to connect.
>> Yeah, I got to tap into some some of those uh lives. I've never seen your lives, so I can only imagine.
>> Monday nights 8:00 p.m.
>> Yeah.
>> Every Monday.
>> Yeah, every Monday.
>> Every Monday at 8. So, y'all better tune in every Monday at 8. I'm I'mma log on. Just so you can see, I'm there and I'm going to be listening. So, I'm going to see what I learn every time. But, you already know how you can reach me. I'm sold by on every platform. Um, I just I appreciate the people that are saying yes to coming on this platform because my goal, like I said, this year and doing this podcast now is really to focus on talking to people that I actually care to get to know. Um, or just to the ones that I I want to see do well, but I want to hear more about their story. So, I'm asking questions that I truly want to know the answer to. So, I appreciate you taking your time. I know you're a busy person taking your time to to to sit down and be on the podcast with me, but uh I'll have your audio version, everything. You'll have all that stuff on there, man. Share it. Let the people know you were on here, but got anything you want to say to anybody? Did we miss anything?
>> No, I think we're good. I think ultimately, remember guys, success loves speed. So, the faster you start whatever you're trying to do, the faster you'll get there.
>> Yeah. I had a I had a real quick I had a friend of mine in high school. He was always a jokester, but one thing I I don't know middle school. I don't know why. I'll never forget this, but he used to always walk past me. He would go, "What's faster than fast?" And I would go, "What?" He go, "I don't know why. Why
>> he just does it?
>> I don't know why." So, now I just do it. I'm like, "Oh, yeah. Okay, whatever." But
>> that was a little dad joke, I guess.
>> That's pretty funny. So I'll tell you this before we end. Since middle school, me and brother, we we've always had this saying, "Lloy."
>> And till this day, like we're always like, "Soy, don't eat." Anytime like we look up a dealer, we're like, "Soy don't" cuz we're like on it. Like
>> by the time like while while you think about it and try to figure it out and see, oh you he he haha,
>> I'm already going to go do it.
>> Yeah. Or even just trying to make it perfect,
>> you try to figure out a way to make it perfect. Everything ain't perfect until you make, you know, you might have a way of making it perfect once you get it. But
>> you just got to do it.
>> They going to be behind.
>> There you go.
>> Well, Cindy, I appreciate all your all your gems. I'm sure the viewers will enjoy it as well. Um, y'all contact her as as best you can. If you got a project for, if you got something that that that she can make some money off of, please send it her way. Uh, but until next time, I appreciate you guys.
>> Thank you again, Cindy.
>> See you.
>> Appreciate it.