Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Basurto.
Erika, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In 2014, during a bad streak, where I was bad emotionally and economically, working as a clerk in a store, one of the clients who did not speak Spanish approached me and asked me to help translate a contract to a Mexican family. He was an investor, who bought houses, fixed them and then sold them. I dedicated myself to help him for months, I began to learn how the real estate investment business works and with the support of Mr. Ralph (That’s his name) I started taking classes, seminars and getting to know those who were my mentors and now they are my partners, investors, and colleagues.
I established my first company in 2016, however, something I noticed was that there was no one teaching our people who speak Spanish how this industry works and how they can invest in a more secure way. So in 2016, I began to teach through private workshops, the investment strategies that I knew (Wholesaling) and to generate opportunities for those who were ready to invest. With time, the group grew, when I entered the radio with my radio show “Inversiones y Real Estate with Erika Basurto” and my constant activity in social networks. More and more people became interested in the subject and it was so together with my partners from Bravo Investors Jose Salazar and Sandy Forsythe, we founded the first Bilingual Group for investors in Houston and The Woodlands area. Over time, the group grew and due to the demand, the Houston Hispanic REIA is born. It is a group that educates and gives information 90% of the time in Spanish, as well as generating investment opportunities and connecting investors of all levels.
It has been a pride for me to be the first Latina Woman to create such an association in Texas, as well as the pioneer in fomenting investment among Spanish-speaking Latinos in an educated manner. I also have the satisfaction of seeing people who have attended my workshops succeed, and with whom I keep in touch creating investment alliances.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not easy. The fact that my English was not good enough to understand all the terminology in classes and seminars, made everything harder for me since I wasn’t able to talk to Realtors, clients, etc. Another hardship was my financial struggle, earning $10 an hour and being the provider in my household, having to pay seminars and besides living one hour away from Houston in a small town and having to drive at night for a couple hours to get to my classes and networking events. Not an easy path.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Houston Hispanic REIA, Bravo Investors – what should we know?
I am a specialist in investment properties and own a Wholesaling company. We buy, remodel, hold, sell and wholesale houses. I specialize in finding properties to invest for us and for other investors. I am also a mentor for people who want to learn the ropes of this strategies to create wealth. am the host since 2016 of the Radio show “Invierte en Bienes Raices con Erika Basurto” in the Radio station 920 AM in Houston, which we broadcast through Facebook, where we reach from 1,000 to 3,000 viewers in every show.
I am proud to be the founder of two Real Estate investors Associations and being the first person to bring this kind of education to Spanish Speaking people. That’s what set me apart from others, that now, inspired for what they see, are now creating another group to also empower our community.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I have had many mentors and supporters during this learning process. Mr. Ralph Guin, now deceased, was the person who believed in me when not even me believed in myself. Jose Salazar, with all his experience, shared his knowledge with me, teaching me the rules and strategies not in a classroom but in the practice. Now, we are Business partners. Sandy Forsythe, Maria Peña my great support and mate in all my projects and ideas, Clay Cahoon, Marylin Phipps, AG Gupt, and some other that sometimes unintentionally have been part of my development.
Contact Info:
- Website: erikabasurto.com
- Phone: 281-968-1756
- Email: realerikabasurto@gmail.com
- Instagram: erika_basurto_official
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/erikabasurtoREI
Image Credit:
The radio picture (920 AM) Rudy Leyva, The big group pic Zidalia Gomez
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