Today we’d like to introduce you to Javier.
Hi Javier, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story with Hogar began in college, around a year before graduating, in 2023. Reading old journal entries I’ve found notes where I mentioned Airbnb, property management, real estate, etc way before any of this became a reality.
My logic back then was pretty simple: I’m interested in real estate but my major is not aligned with it, I have no experience (part times, internships, etc), no network, and 0$ capital to start with… property management would be a great place to start. It’s low risk, I can learn as I go, and it seems exciting.
Once I graduated, I got a job at an ecommerce startup in Miami and moved back home. My 5-9 involved doing market studies, identifying properties with high revenue potential, and start learning via AirDNA and Airbnb itself. I remember sticking a goal on top of the monitor in my room saying “Get 1 property, cash flow, repeat”, thinking it would be that simple and straightforward.
3 months after moving back home, I incorporated Hogar Management LLC and joined a ‘mastermind’ of sorts of short term rental managers around the world. Again – 0 properties, 0 network, 0 capital. Through the course, I met loads of people who had begun successful property management or real estate investment companies that inspired me and helped keep my head up during the hard first months.
With no sales experience, I picked up my cell and started cold calling people. Property owners in Miami who owned underperforming assets that I wanted in my portfolio. 100s of calls — some entertained me, few stayed longer than 5 minutes, most hung up. I remember 2.5 months into cold calling I signed my first contract, I was SO excited… until a few days into onboarding a realtor with a renter showed up at the house without my knowing. When I checked with my new client he told me “I’m hedging my bets.” — I revoked the contract that same day.
5 more months of cold calling later, recently laid off from my W2, I got my first contract. The next one came 2 weeks later. Both were slated to begin in January. NOW I was really going for it.
I spent my New Year’s Day at my first property, all the way in Kendall, setting up for my first ever Airbnb guests who were to check in on Jan 2. Hogar earned those owners 24% more in 4 months than they had earned in the whole previous year with another manager (Evolve).
The rest is history and we’re just getting started!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Noooo definitely not!
There have been 2 outstandingly difficult parts.
1. The Jump: I’ve jumped twice now, the first time going into debt for the first time to invest everything into getting started, the second time was quitting my high paying, stable W2 at KPMG a few weeks ago to pursue this goal full time. The Jump is scary because it’s a bet on yourself, it’s a proof to the universe that you have the courage, the hard head, and faith enough to leap into darkness with the confidence that you’ll land on your feet. “When it feels scariest to jump is exactly when you should do it” — I heard one time and took it to heart! It’s been true so far 🙂
2. Perseverance: Without perseverance you’re done. Shortly after getting laid off from a previous W2 and after months of cold calls with nothing to show for them, I was ready to throw the towel in. My parents were telling me to drop it, I was collecting unemployment checks from the government, and I had had 0 income for several months. Again – 0 sales, management, or real estate experience — who the hell would want me managing their property? One specific day I remember laying in bed, ready to throw the proverbial towel in with watery eyes — I persevered and told myself that this would only make for a better story when I succeeded. Perseverance is HUGE.
As you know, we’re big fans of Hogar. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My business is Hogar – ‘home’ or ‘hearth’ in Spanish. Hogar means the absolute world to me, it’s my baby and passion project.
Hogar was founded on a dream to maximize the options and freedom I have in my life. I realized soon after that that was exactly what I want to provide other people as well. I strongly believe that if everyone had more options, more freedom, more time on their hands to live how they want and spend their time where and with who they want, everyone would express their best versions more creatively and the world would be a richer place.
With that, Hogar has the mission to increase people’s freedom through real estate.
1. For guests staying at our properties: our aim is to provide tranquility, a relaxed week/end, a stress free trip, and the peace of mind that they are being well attended to.
2. For clients we serve: our aim is to provide the maximal returns and highest level of property care. It’s crucial that our clients have confidence in us as their go to in Miami for anything, from finding new deals to dealing with insurance.
We specialize in treating each property uniquely. Where other management companies throw 10s of properties at a time into buckets and generalize, we understand that each property needs to be marketed, priced, rented, cleaned, and ultimately cared for differently. Our high touch management style means that we’re always in touch with each property’s and client’s needs. I’m most proud of the facts that we truly deliver results and that our clients know they can count on us for absolutely anything — I can promise that there’s not another partner out there with the same attitude and attention as us. With each property we assess the rental style, provide suggestions on capital investment, and study market comparables to devise the best strategies for pricing and more.
I’d love for readers to see us as a holistic partner invested in them. I constantly ask myself how can I better solve my clients’ problems and serve their unique needs? What can I do for Chris’ property to do better this year than last? What kind of deals might Alex be interested in right now? Is there anything I can do to make Shane’s life easier? I want readers to know that there is not a company in Miami that will put more tailored attention to their properties than Hogar, and that with Hogar as a partner there is no way they won’t achieve their goals. Our clients have access to a really great network of just about anyone in the real estate world here in South FL — GCs, realtors, lenders, (and of course) a tremendous manager.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Best
I often joke (not so much a joke) that Miami isn’t the US. If you’ve been here you’ll know why… it’s completely unique and there’s not another place like it in the country. I grew up in this awesome city and didn’t fully appreciate that until I went to school in Boston. What I like most about Miami is probably what every other 305er will tell you – its attitude and heritage. Cubans, the blend of urban city and ocean solitude just 10 minutes from the city, crossing Rickenbacker bridge during a sunset, people watching the weirdos all around the city, our croquetas & cafecito, club SPACE & the music… one of the most special things is seeing friends visit Miami for the first time and watching their faces change when they experience what the city really is (besides everything it’s made out to be on the internet).
Least
Everything it’s made out to be on the internet. The materialism, superficiality, weirdness and flex culture. There’s a lot of tackiness and new money in Miami unfortunately and it gives an impression to the world that there are no normal people in this city. It’s often pretty gross and offputting… but pros and cons I suppose!
Pricing:
- Depending on the property and rental type we arrange our contracts
- ~20% variable for short term rentals (Airbnb, etc)
- ~8% for longer term management
- 1% on new deal acquisitions
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hogarmanagement.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hogar-management
- Other: https://share.google/EdSxV8Eo1WOrv5Q1Q
Image Credits
All me on my cell
