#EntrepreneurOfTheWeek – Post #3
How we build a strong portfolio in DFW—and what we look for, both for ourselves and for our investors
After sharing in my previous post about the world of Tax Sales, today I want to talk about another key part of our activity—our portfolio in DFW (Dallas–Fort Worth).
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over time, it’s this:
Real estate isn’t built from one good deal.
It’s built from a process, from thinking, and from decisions that repeat themselves again and again.
We don’t look for an “interesting property.”
We look for a property that fits a strategy.
And that’s a big difference.
At the beginning, like many investors, we focused mainly on the numbers—purchase price, renovation cost, rental potential, returns.
But over time, we realized that’s not enough.
Because a property can look great on an Excel sheet—and still be a poor investment in reality.
Today, when we evaluate buying a home in DFW, we start somewhere else entirely—the area.
Before the house, before the renovation, before the returns—we ask:
- Is this an area we actually want to be in?
- Is there real demand for housing here?
- Is this a neighborhood people want to live in?
- Is it stable?
- Does it have employment, accessibility, good schools, and a population that fits our strategy?
Only after we have strong answers about the area do we move on to the property itself.
In our portfolio, we’re not looking for “flashy” homes.
We look for functional, solid homes—homes that work.
Homes in high-demand areas, homes suitable for families, homes that can be managed efficiently, and homes that make economic sense over time.
Our goal isn’t just to buy properties—
it’s to build a stable portfolio.
A portfolio that generates cash flow, can be managed properly, and doesn’t depend on a single scenario to succeed.
As part of that, we also incorporate Section 8.
But even here—we don’t choose a property just because “it qualifies for Section 8.”
We start with the area first.
We look for places with real demand, relatively stable neighborhoods, and homes that fit families.
For us, Section 8 is a tool, not a standalone strategy.
When used correctly, it can provide stability, consistent demand, and reliable payments.
But if the area or the property is wrong—even Section 8 won’t save the deal.
That’s why, both in our own portfolio and when sourcing properties for investors, we follow the same mindset:
We don’t chase “deals.”
We don’t look for the cheapest house.
And we definitely don’t buy just because the numbers look good on paper.
We look for a combination of:
- The right area
- The right property
- The right renovation (if needed)
- The right tenant
We look for properties we can truly stand behind—
properties we would want in our own portfolio.
Because at the end of the day, when we work with investors, we’re not just trying to close a deal.
We’re trying to build something right.
Something with a solid foundation.
Something manageable.
Something that doesn’t just look good on day one—but still makes sense a year or two later.
And maybe that’s the most important thing we’ve learned:
A good portfolio isn’t built on excitement—
it’s built on discipline.
On the ability to choose correctly—and to walk away from what doesn’t fit.
We pass on far more properties than we buy—and that’s exactly what preserves the quality of the portfolio.
In the end, our goal isn’t to own a lot of houses—
it’s to own the right houses.
And that’s exactly what we look for our investors as well.
(In the photos—you can see: we don’t compromise. Not on neighborhoods in Texas… and not on chocolate 🍫).
