In this episode of the REalized Gains Podcast, Steven & Jordan sit down with Alex & Lisa Mont-Ros to break down how they built, scaled, and successfully exited a real estate service business—and how they’ve now pivoted into helping professionals leverage AI in their businesses.

Lisa shares her journey from bartending to becoming a top-performing real estate agent, eventually identifying a major gap in the industry: the lack of high-quality transaction coordination services. Instead of settling for what was available, they built their own solution—focused on high-level service, communication, and operational efficiency.

Alex brings a different perspective, having gone through the 2008 market crash where he lost everything and had to rebuild from scratch. That experience, combined with his time in corporate tech working with enterprise clients, helped shape the operational mindset that allowed their business to scale effectively.

Together, they grew their transaction coordination company to over 30 employees, focusing not just on service—but on helping agents actually understand how to run a real business. Their approach went beyond paperwork, emphasizing systems, processes, and scalability—something many agents struggle with.

They also break down:

• What it takes to build a business with the intention of selling
• How valuations and multiples work for service-based companies
• Why most agents fail to operationalize their business
• The biggest mistakes people make when outsourcing too early
• 
  

After successfully exiting their company, Alex & Lisa transitioned into the AI space, where they now train and consult businesses on how to actually implement AI—not just use it for surface-level tasks.

We dive deep into:

• How AI can automate real estate workflows
• Why most people are using AI wrong
• How to think about AI as a “team member,” not just a tool
• Practical ways to start using AI in your business today

If you’re a real estate agent, entrepreneur, or business owner looking to scale—or trying to understand how AI is going to impact your industry—this episode is a must-watch.

Steven Tran

📞 Call / Text: (971) 285-2002

📧 Email: steven@diverserg.com

Jordan Lee

📞 Call / Text: +1 (503) 887-3619

📧 Email: jordan@jordanleemortgage.com

#REalizedGainsPodcast #RealEstateBusiness #Entrepreneurship #AIinRealEstate #BusinessGrowth #ScalingABusiness #RealEstateAgents

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the REalized Gains Podcast, Steven & Jordan sit down with Jaina Anne, a real estate investor based in Orange County who has built a 10-unit rental portfolio—all while maintaining a full-time W2 in public health.

Jaina shares how she got started in real estate during COVID after realizing a gap in her financial literacy. What began with a single out-of-state investment turned into scaling a portfolio of long-term rentals in the Midwest, leveraging creative financing strategies and relationships with local lenders.

We dive into how she was able to grow quickly without using large amounts of her own capital, including using commercial loan products, refinancing strategies, and building systems to manage properties remotely. She also breaks down the realities of investing in lower-cost markets—covering both the upside (cash flow, low entry price) and the downside (CapEx, market risks, and long-term appreciation).

The conversation also explores her experience investing as a limited partner in boutique hotel developments, how syndications work, and why she chose branding and relationships over purely analyzing numbers when making investment decisions.

Jaina also shares her unique approach to travel hacking, showing how real estate investors can leverage everyday expenses to generate points and take luxury trips—sometimes worth tens of thousands of dollars annually.

Finally, we discuss why she continues to keep her W2, how she balances multiple income streams, and her advice for anyone looking to get started in real estate today.

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to scale your portfolio, this episode is packed with practical strategies and a refreshing perspective on building wealth without quitting your job.

Steven Tran

📞 Call / Text: (971) 285-2002

📧 Email: steven@diverserg.com

Jordan Lee

📞 Call / Text: +1 (503) 887-3619

📧 Email: jordan@jordanleemortgage.com

#REalizedGainsPodcast #RealEstateInvesting #RentalProperties #PassiveIncome #Syndications #TravelHacking #RealEstatePodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the REalized Gains Podcast, Steven & Jordan sit down with the sister duo behind Lady Mae Boutique, Sharon and Donna, to talk about how they built a retail business in Portland starting from a basement during the pandemic.

Sharon and Donna share their journey from Honolulu to Portland, their backgrounds in nonprofit work and fashion design, and how burnout from corporate roles pushed them to take a leap into entrepreneurship. What started as a small operation selling clothes out of a basement quickly evolved into pop-ups, markets, and eventually a brick-and-mortar boutique on Alberta Street.

They break down the realities of running a retail business—from signing leases and managing inventory to navigating slow seasons, inconsistent income, and the importance of community support. The conversation dives into what actually drives customer loyalty, why in-person retail still matters, and how creating a personalized shopping experience sets them apart in a world dominated by online shopping.

Sharon and Donna also share lessons on marketing, building a brand without paid ads, and why word-of-mouth and relationships have been their biggest drivers of growth. They talk candidly about the risks of entrepreneurship, working with family, and what it really takes to build something sustainable.

If you’ve ever thought about starting your own business, opening a retail store, or building a brand from scratch, this episode is packed with real-world insight you won’t want to miss.

Steven Tran

📞 Call / Text: (971) 285-2002

📧 Email: steven@diverserg.com

Jordan Lee

📞 Call / Text: +1 (503) 887-3619

📧 Email: jordan@jordanleemortgage.com

#REalizedGainsPodcast #PortlandSmallBusiness #BoutiqueOwner #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #RetailBusiness #PortlandOregon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.