Ep 41: Use Short-Term Deals to Build Long-Term Real Estate Wealth
“If you’re not networking, you’re going to be left behind.”
“AI won’t beat you. The person using AI will beat you.”
Daniel Borrero Jr., a real estate investor and entrepreneur, joins Mary Kathryn Johnson (CXO of Planet Wealth) to break down how he built long-term wealth by using short-term profits as fuel, not a finish line. Daniel is a Brooklyn-based investor who has been self-employed since 1985 and investing in real estate since 1989. His core philosophy is simple: build cash flow and equity through long-term holds, but use fix and flips and land flips strategically to generate the down payments and leverage needed to scale faster especially in high-cost markets like New York City.
In this conversation, Daniel shares the practical “system” behind his portfolio growth: flipping to create capital, buying with fewer contingencies to negotiate better terms, and continuously reinvesting profits into assets that produce ongoing income. He explains why entrepreneurship is not a shortcut to freedom, how discipline and operational structure create compounding results, and why surrounding yourself with non-yes-people accelerates decision quality and growth.
A major theme is preparation. Daniel doesn’t wait for markets or politics to happen to him. He positions early by watching signals, listening to policy rhetoric without emotion, and making preemptive moves like accelerating capital improvements for depreciation benefits or buying renovation materials before tariffs raise costs. He also shares a pivotal networking lesson: the one concept he overheard at a bar that helped him lower payments by thousands through loan recasting.
If you’re serious about real estate investing, wealth building, financial literacy, and market timing, this episode is a direct, tactical roadmap for building resilient income and staying ready for opportunity. Watch the full episode of Fortunes of the Brave for the complete framework and the mindset behind it.
Key Takeaways:
- Use flips and land deals to generate down payments, then convert profits into long-term holds
- Negotiate stronger terms by reducing contingencies and showing proof of capital
- Build wealth through cash flow, equity growth, appreciation, and tax advantages, not just deal profit
- Network to learn what you do not know and shorten your path with better relationships
- Prepare for market shifts early by tracking policy signals, costs, and real-world indicators
Resources Mentioned:
- Loan recasting (strategy to reduce monthly payments after principal paydown)
- Accelerated depreciation (real estate tax strategy referenced in discussion)
- “Mind Your Money” (book referenced as financial literacy resource)
- AI as a competitive advantage: “AI won’t beat you, the person using AI will”
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