Claudia

When COVID-19 hit and Claudia’s husband lost his job in Southern California, Claudia faced a stark reality: they weren’t prepared for retirement. Rather than panic, the couple used this setback as motivation to secure their financial future.

The opportunity came unexpectedly when Claudia, a licensed real estate agent, spotted a Facebook post by PadSplit Account Executive Ray Nunez. Their shared Dominican Republic heritage sparked an immediate connection. That connection proved transformative – within a year of becoming PadSplit hosts, Claudia and her husband built a portfolio of seven properties generating over $37,000 monthly.

From small beginnings to big dreams

“We had three investment properties in New Mexico that we purchased in 2015,” Claudia recalls. “We were making $500 profit per home, but after discovering PadSplit, I saw an opportunity to serve more than one person.” The traditional rental market’s barriers – perfect credit scores and substantial upfront payments – had always bothered her. She envisioned a different approach that could provide affordable housing while generating better cash flow for their retirement.

Taking a bold step, Claudia and her husband invested nearly all their savings into this new venture with PadSplit. “I love real estate,” she shares. “You never really lose money there unless you have to sell at the wrong time. For the most part, real estate comes back.” While her husband initially hesitated, seeing colleagues face similar career uncertainties helped convince him to take the leap.

Investing in PadSplit homes across the country

The couple’s research led them to acquire and convert single-family homes into PadSplits in Jacksonville, Florida. The numbers looked promising, and the home prices made sense. 

Success came quickly, prompting Claudia’s brother-in-law to join the venture. But Claudia believed in diversification, prompting her to expand their portfolio to include properties in Phoenix and Las Vegas markets – close enough to drive from their California base.

The secret to achieving 88% occupancy

Claudia’s approach to property management as a PadSplit host sets her apart and enhances her success. “From the beginning, we did things differently,” she explains. Instead of adding bare mattresses in all her rooms, she invested $7,000-$10,000 in quality bedding and furnishings for each property. “I like quality items and don’t want to be replacing furniture constantly.”

Their most innovative touch is personal connection, which they excel at even as remote PadSplit hosts. They call each new tenant personally – Claudia speaks with the women while her husband calls the men. “This is our personal number,” they tell residents. “If there’s something you need to communicate to us, please feel free to call.” This personal touch hasn’t been abused, and residents only call when truly necessary.

Housing over 200 residents

What makes it all worthwhile? “We’ve hosted over 200 people who would otherwise be homeless – that’s like a mission for us,” Claudia says with pride. They rarely evict tenants for payment issues, preferring to work with residents to find solutions.

The venture has exceeded their retirement planning goals, providing strong cash flow and lifestyle sustainability. “We have one son and grandson, and we see one day they can continue this business – it’s generational wealth that could pay for college.”

Advice for aspiring investors

Claudia strongly recommends PadSplit’s model to other investors, viewing it as more secure than traditional Airbnb or long-term rentals. “We’re making multi-family income with single-family residences,” she notes. However, she emphasizes the importance of realistic expectations: “Sometimes people are naive in investing. There will be some level of risk – evictions will happen, and difficult people will come along. It’s part of any business, but it’s worth it.”

For those inspired by Claudia’s journey, her story proves that with the right strategy, personal touch, and commitment to service, real estate investing can be purposeful. Even in challenging times, opportunities exist for those willing to adapt, learn, and maintain high standards while never losing sight of the human element in property management.