The Alimond Show
Welcome to The Alimond Show --join us as we share our entrepreneurial guests' stories, uncover their secrets to success, and explore the unique paths they've taken to build thriving businesses in our community.
In each episode, our host, Aliyah Dastour, sits down with a diverse group of local business owners, from the corner cafe to the boutique shop, from tech startups to family-run enterprises. We peel back the curtain to reveal the trials, triumphs, and transformational moments that have shaped their entrepreneurial journey.
Discover the passion, perseverance, and innovative thinking that fuels these businesses, as well as the challenges they've overcome along the way. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur seeking inspiration or simply a curious listener interested in the stories behind your favorite local spots, The Alimond Show has something for everyone.
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The Alimond Show
Martin Villar of Epic Realty - From Management Roots to TikTok Trailblazer: Empowering the Latino Community, Unveiling Market Truths, and Balancing Heritage with Homeownership Dreams
Join us for an enlightening conversation with Martin Villar, a trailblazer in the real estate world who is empowering Northern Virginia's Latino community. From his management roots to his passion for home remodeling, Martin's journey is a testament to the power of chasing dreams. He offers a unique perspective on identifying essential house features and shares how his Peruvian heritage influences his approach to real estate. Discover his creative use of TikTok to connect with clients authentically, offering content that ranges from mouth-watering recipes to vibrant city highlights. Martin's story is a masterclass in leveraging authenticity in social media marketing.
We delve into the complexities of the real estate market, where Martin unpacks common misconceptions about mortgage affordability and stresses the importance of educating the Latino community about home-buying opportunities. Facing challenges head-on, he underscores the significance of mastering paperwork and the critical role of strong broker communications. For those considering a move from states like Nevada to Virginia, Martin offers sage advice on acclimating to new surroundings. Driven by personal motivation and an unwavering commitment to perseverance, he shares heartfelt encouragement, including a special message in Spanish, inviting listeners to take the next step toward homeownership.
My full name is long Guillermo Martin Villarrevelo, but they call me as Martin Martin Martin Villar. I do real estate. That's my major business right now, helping the Latino community here in Northern Virginia.
Speaker 2:I love that. And now give me a little bit of a background how you got started in real estate, how you got to where you are today and maybe a little bit about yourself before you got into real estate.
Speaker 1:Absolutely Before that. I was into management for many years and, as you know, management is crazy hours and days and I started to develop the love for remodeling. So this was one of my last jobs remodeling houses. So that's why one time I said you know what? I can sell those houses and the most important is give the opportunity to the community for those who don't think that they're able to purchase the house. So that's why my role in real estate is crucial right now for me yeah, no, I love that.
Speaker 2:And talk to me about the transition. Do you feel like in remodeling homes, like getting to know the ins and outs of the house and then real estate? Did that help you, maybe having that insight?
Speaker 1:Absolutely. You do a showing, you have a feeling, you know what's going on with the house, you know good foundations. Also, sometimes people they don't see much the ceiling which is an indicator of leaking or anything like that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, okay. And now talk to me about your background. You have Peruvian background. I would love to know and hear about that and what it was like growing up and how that shaped you as a person.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. Actually, I was born here in Chicago, illinois. My parents took me when I was little, probably five or six, back to Peru. I grew up in Ica, it's the southern part of Lima. I was lucky to be there growing on the farm my grandparents used to have the Caravello farm so I was, you know, growing up and then we moved to Lima City. So I came here to, specifically to Virginia, 1989, probably Obviously my English was 1989, probably Okay, obviously my English was a little bit rough and I carried the accent, which you know I don't mind.
Speaker 2:No, we love the accent.
Speaker 1:This is part of myself.
Speaker 2:It gives a nice flavor.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. Yeah, love that Like ceviche. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:I love some ceviche con limon all that good stuff, but I'd like to know, as far as marketing, you brought your tripod in today so you understand, as a business owner, how important marketing yourself being online is. Talk to me about what types of insights you would love to give to other entrepreneurs and why it's important.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. Actually, in the beginning recording yourself is really hard, but then you start to develop some taste and it starts to get easier on you. For me I have best result with TikTok because I have so many people that ended up as a client just watching my videos. Sometimes I ask them. Normally when somebody approached me for looking for a house, I say you know how do you get my number? I say oh, I saw you on the videos. I was like okay.
Speaker 2:It's working.
Speaker 1:Absolutely so. That's why I believe it's very important social media and the content that you do.
Speaker 2:I love that and I love that you're using TikTok. I'd like to know what kind of content that you're putting out there that people are like oh, I like this.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. Yeah, I use it. I start with TikTok, then Facebook, instagram, linkedin, youtube, so all social media that you are able to grab.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and are you putting like informational videos? Are you in the houses? Are you doing any dancing?
Speaker 1:I do a combination. I want people to know who I am, so I love cooking. As a Peruvian, you know, guys, we love to cook a lot, so I do, you know, a lot of cooking presentation or when I do showings, or when I am on the you know city, that I like it and you know I highlight you. You know points here and there, yeah.
Speaker 2:So basically it's a mix of everything no, I love that and I think that's relatable, because what better way to communicate with people than with food everybody loves?
Speaker 1:food right we can all find something to talk about absolutely a good conversation starter right yes, and, like I said, you know, the most important is be yourself. And this is the real me, so you know, you get what you see. Absolutely yeah, very nice. Um, and then what have been some of the struggles right now in the real me? So you know, you get what you see.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, yeah, very nice. And then what have been some of the struggles right now in the real estate market and how are you going about, I guess, making it easier for clients or other real estate agents?
Speaker 1:Oh yes. Well, this is my second year as a realtor. Yeah, and it's hard. It's not that easy. Everybody thinks that you know you start this business, you make a ton of money.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:You know like that. But you have a lot of how can I say satisfaction to help people. Yeah, you know I do a lot of rentals right now. I try to change on that. So this is my struggle because people sometimes they don't believe that they can afford to pay a mortgage and they pay somebody else's mortgage if they don't. You know, sometimes they don't realize that Exactly right.
Speaker 1:But sometimes it depends on the situation, because I understand sometimes you rent because of the flexibility, because purchasing a house is a commitment. Renting a house, you know you can rent one year and next year you can change of city or anything like that. But right now it's a word that I try to spread you can buy, you just change the dynamics, that's it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely. And I want to go back to the subject on you wanting to help the Latino community. Can you tell me how you're doing that and why that is important to you?
Speaker 1:Oh, yes, Well, yeah, Back in Peru I studied sociology, so they can give me I don't know the duty for me. I was lucky to get some education so I can bring it up to my people, to my community, especially when I need to do translation or explain a certain situation. So that's why, for me, it's the rewarding part to do that, absolutely.
Speaker 2:I wanted to ask you too, because you said the translating part On your social media do you like to showcase that, the being bilingual and all that? Oh, yes.
Speaker 1:Well, in the beginning I used to do it in English, but, to be honest with you, I feel more comfortable doing it in Spanish, but I subtitle everything in English.
Speaker 2:That's awesome.
Speaker 1:So people, they are able to understand what I'm doing, and I put salsa in the background, that's.
Speaker 2:I love it. No, give some personality.
Speaker 1:People want that.
Speaker 2:They want to feel like they can relate to me, Like that guy understands me or he knows what the struggle is or he understands me or we like the same music right, Absolutely yes. I love it. Where do you see yourself in the next five years as a person and with your business?
Speaker 1:Well, basically outgrow on real estate. You know, like I said right now, this is the beginning. Nobody taught us that it's so hard.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:First of all, I mean just getting the license. Oh my Lord, it's going back to school because you have to learn all the basics, yes, and it's really hard. And not only that, you get your license, yes, but then it's kind of like, okay, next what I need to do? So you need to find a place where you have your license, yeah, so it's a little tougher right now. That's why I keep in faith that it's going to be better. I mean, this is my second year. I'm getting better. People start to call me out of nowhere.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's good, which is good. That's a sign of a good thing. It's only going to get better.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. We're manifesting that for you.
Speaker 2:And then, what are your thoughts on having open houses? Do you like doing them? Are you more like no?
Speaker 1:Well, it's a mixed feeling. I used to do a lot of open houses. People go by curiosity most of the time, and you are sitting three hours there and you don't do much. Instead for me to get leads, I go to the laundromat, to the Latino restaurant or to the shopping center Just handing my cards. So this is how I do my leads.
Speaker 2:Love it, yeah. And what advice would you like to give to first-time homebuyers? Maybe they're like I don't know if I can do this, or what do you want them to know, or let them know. Give them some tips.
Speaker 1:Please don't buy a new car, don't buy a boat. Save your money.
Speaker 2:Because that money is going to be an investment. Yeah, absolutely, that's a good one, thank you. And then, currently, where are you working out of? Do you have an office? Are you in a brokerage? Are you just by yourself? Do you have a team?
Speaker 1:No, no, actually I work at Epic Realty. Okay, it's located in Fairfax, but I move all around, okay cool.
Speaker 2:And then you've got your real estate license for Virginia.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:Any thoughts on expanding, maybe in the future, like Maryland or?
Speaker 1:DC, absolutely. Next one I try to get from West Virginia and also for Maryland.
Speaker 2:Love it yeah.
Speaker 1:Because West Virginia have beautiful houses for very affordable price.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I also like how it's secluded in West Virginia it's just quiet. Yes, you don't want to be where the traffic is.
Speaker 1:I own it.
Speaker 2:You also have to drive too, but anyway, I don't mind.
Speaker 1:Winchester also. This is one of the places that is really hot spot. You can find a huge house for lower price compared to London County.
Speaker 2:Okay, there we go. Some good tips there. Have you noticed a trend currently where people are maybe just looking for houses that are more in secluded places versus crowded? Or what are you seeing right now as a real estate agent or being in the industry right now?
Speaker 1:Right now I get surprises on sometimes people they're looking to purchase a house, for instance in Sterling, but because of the amount of money that you're going to spend on a house, the same amount, you get a bigger property. Going to spend on a house, the same amount, you get a bigger property. Yeah, so people, they move to farther cities like Winchester, fredericksburg those areas Got it.
Speaker 2:And what do you like to do outside of work? What do you like to do to relax and have fun?
Speaker 1:Oh cooking.
Speaker 2:Cooking.
Speaker 1:Oh, I love cooking, I do experiment, I do cajachina, you know anything that gets along. Lately I just posted chocotejas. There is like a chocolate filled with dulce de leche, pecans and pasas borrachas. It's raisin with pisco.
Speaker 2:Okay, why don't you bring some?
Speaker 1:Oh my, goodness, I should Next time Invita, it's okay.
Speaker 2:No, that's cool. No, I love that. What else, besides cooking, do you like to? Maybe travel? I know you like to go to Mexico.
Speaker 1:I love to travel Mexico. This is one of my favorite places because each city they have their enchant, so it's beautiful. And not only that, but for me, speak the language you know make me make easier.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, absolutely. And then, what has been some of your most memorable experiences so far as a real estate agent, whether it's with people or being in a home?
Speaker 1:or tell me Be able to help three brothers. Three brothers they save a lot of money under the bed, and this is little, oh my gosh, like in their mattress, in their mattress yes, and they were able to purchase a single home in Winchester that was my reported part to be able to help them. Oh my gosh, so it was good.
Speaker 2:That is amazing. That's crazy that you're not just saying like, oh, they saved it, Like a figure of speech. It's like, no, literally they put their money in their mattress. Yeah, they don't dress in the back. No, I love it. That's so cool. Have you had any crazy experiences so far as a real estate?
Speaker 1:agent. No, I'm so lucky that the only crazy experience is myself. You're the crazy one, you're the one giving people crazy experiences.
Speaker 2:No, I love it. And then, what has been something challenging for you as a real estate agent and how did you overcome that with with yourself, like maybe you had trouble trying to learn this, but you got through it?
Speaker 1:tell us some tips for anybody in the beginning, uh, the challenging part was the paperwork and you have to be specific and very careful going, you know, to each of that. Uh, that's why it's very important the communication with your broker, uh, before you sending the document to, to the client, okay, so this is the hard part, but then when you get you know more transactions, you start to get more familiar with that.
Speaker 2:That's sweet. Yeah, I love that. And have you ever helped people who are because I know you've been doing it for two years have you ever helped people who are coming from another state coming to Virginia, and how do you get them like, accustomed to it or provide them maybe with resources on the neighborhoods that they're looking to?
Speaker 1:Yes, I have people from Nevada, but I like I told them, you know, for them the best thing is to rent instead of buying Because, like I said, buying is a commitment.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So I don't want to rush nobody to say yes, yes, yeah, buy. Instead, you know you can do a short rental or something like that.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Until you get used to the area, because each city here in Virginia is beautiful, but it's different. Yes, and the dynamics and the traffic.
Speaker 2:Oh yes.
Speaker 1:So because of that I prefer you know guiding toward that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, absolutely I love that. Is there anything maybe that I have not touched on that you want to share? Maybe about yourself or your business or anything?
Speaker 1:No, really, I guess we covered that. The only thing I can say is no te olvides de llamar a tu realtor Martín Villar, quien te va a ayudar a conseguir la casa de tus sueños.
Speaker 2:Exacto Amen.
Speaker 1:I love that.
Speaker 2:And now my final question is have you had anybody tell you anything that has stuck in your mind where you just use that as inspiration, or maybe a quote or a saying that you read in a book?
Speaker 1:Well, my mother, you know her example as a person, as a woman never give up. So that's what you know get stuck on my head, Never give up, just keep fighting.
Speaker 2:I love that, si se puede.
Speaker 1:Kind of like that right.
Speaker 2:Well, thank you so much for being on the podcast.
Speaker 1:We really appreciate you being here, muchas gracias.
Speaker 2:De nada.