Value-add sounds sexy… until it eats you alive.
In this episode, Nico Salgado exposes the brutal reality behind those hyped-up "value-add" deals.
From contractor nightmares to tenant drama, blown timelines to CapEx catastrophes — value-add isn't just paint and granite countertops. It's chaos, leadership, cash reserves, and grit.

Learn what it really takes to survive and thrive in the value-add game without getting crushed.

✅ Inside this episode:

• Why most value-add budgets are complete fantasy

• How to spot contractor red flags before they wreck your project

• The hidden risks of tenant turnover (and how to manage them)

• Why patience reserves are just as important as cash reserves

• How to build real equity without losing your mind (or your shirt)

Stop believing the gurus.
Start building like a real empire maker.

You’ve been lied to about cap rates. Brokers flash shiny cap rates in your face — but behind the scenes? Fake numbers, hidden expenses, and looming CapEx tsunamis.
In this episode, Nico breaks down why cap rates mean nothing without context, how to spot broker tricks, and what REALLY matters when buying multifamily deals.
Stop chasing fantasy returns — start underwriting like a pro. Stay sharp, stay dangerous, stay Small Axe strong.

You don’t need deep pockets, fancy credentials, or a family legacy in real estate to get into the game. What you do need? Hustle, grit, and the mindset to earn your seat at the table.

In this episode, Nico breaks down exactly how he started from zero—no capital, no track record—and earned equity in multifamily deals using nothing but sweat equity and strategy.

🚀 How to get brokers to take you seriously
💰 How to structure equity deals without using your own money
🧠 The mindset shift from “I need money” to “I need a plan”
🔥 What value YOU can bring (even if you're broke)

This one’s for the scrappy ones. The late-night grinders. The future empire builders with no excuses left.

Get locked in ! -

📍 Website → www.smallaxecommunities.com
📍 Podcast on Apple → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/small-axe-podcast/id1528971543
📍 YouTube Channel → https://www.youtube.com/@nicosalgado1753
📍 Instagram → @_nico_salgado
📍 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicosalgado456/
📍 Multifamily Credibility Kit → https://smallaxecommunities.com

📍Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nicosalgado456/

Most people think real estate is a shortcut to sipping drinks on a beach. But unless you’re coming in with a few million to deploy, this game ain’t passive—it’s a grind. In this solo episode, Nico pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to succeed in multifamily real estate: the lawsuits, the tenant drama, the all-nighters, and the long-haul strategy that builds real wealth.

If you're serious about investing—without the sugarcoating—this one’s for you.

🔥 Learn how investors actually get paid
🧱 Understand the difference between active vs. passive
📉 Why syndication returns aren’t guaranteed
🧠 Why mindset (and timeline) is everything

Whether you're broke and hungry or sitting on stacks, this episode will show you which game you're really playing.

Think managing your own rentals is saving you money? Think again. In this raw, no-holds-barred episode, Nico pulls back the curtain on third-party property management—and why it can be the key to scaling your multifamily business or the trapdoor that kills your cash flow.

Whether you own 10 units or 100, this episode is packed with hard-won insights on:

✅ The real cost of self-management
✅ When to outsource and when to go in-house
✅ EXACTLY what to ask when interviewing a property manager
✅ Red flags to watch out for before it’s too late
✅ How to set KPIs, enforce accountability, and protect your NOI
✅ The truth about tenant screening, leasing efficiency, and turn costs

If you’re ready to build an empire—not babysit toilets—this is your tactical guide to finding, vetting, and partnering with the kind of property manager who thinks like an asset manager.

This episode is real talk from someone in the trenches, not fluff from the sidelines.

📢 Quote of the episode:
"You don’t build empires by fixing toilets—you build empires by building systems, teams, and partnerships."

Resources Mentioned:

• AppFolio Property Management Software
• Obligo (Security Deposit Alternative)
• KPI Tracking for Property Managers
• Questions to Ask Before Hiring a PM
• Nico’s Credibility Kit ➜ www.smallaxecommunities.com

🎯 Want more real estate truth bombs?
Subscribe to The Small Axe Podcast and never miss an episode that helps you grow your portfolio, your income, and your freedom.

$60,000 lost before. $20,000 on the line again.

One investor bailed. Another hesitated. My lender dragged their feet. And I signed the closing documents while waiting tables at my second job—between orders and clearing tables.

This is the final chapter in the raw, chaotic, and very real story of how I closed on a 6-unit apartment building—juggling three jobs, a full family life, and relentless stress.

Inside this episode:

· How I negotiated $50K off the purchase price

· Why I went with hard money (and what it cost me)

· How I raised $150K in 5 days after my main investor bailed

· What it really feels like to bet everything—and almost lose

If you’re waiting for perfect timing, stop. Deals don’t die—people quit.

🎯 Want to know what it actually takes to get deals done in 2025?
Hit play. Take notes. Then go swing your ax.

👉 Want to invest with me? DM me. Let’s build something real.

🔗 www.smallaxecommunities.com

#SmallAxePodcast #MultifamilyRealEstate #RealEstateInvestor #CashFlow #PassiveIncome #NoExcuses #CloseTheDeal #HardMoneyHustle #SignedWhileWorking #RealEstateFlip #BuildLegacy

Struggling to get brokers and sellers to take you seriously? You’re not alone. The #1 challenge for new (and even experienced) multifamily investors isn’t just finding deals—it’s proving you’re a closer. That’s where a Credibility Kitcomes in.

In today’s episode, I’m breaking down:
✅ What a Credibility Kit is and why it’s a game-changer for real estate investors
✅ How to build one in less than a day (even if you’re brand new)
✅ The key components that make brokers instantly take you seriously
✅ How to use it to get brokers, sellers, and investors to engage with you
✅ Pro-level strategies for standing out—even in a competitive market

🔥 Download My FREE Multifamily Credibility Kit and start locking in deals today 👉 www.smallaxecommunities.com

⚡ STOP getting ignored. START getting respect. This is the investor’s secret weapon—don’t miss this episode!

🎧 Listen now and take action! Let’s sharpen that axe and get to work. 🪓💥

🚀 The Tiny Wins That Build Big Multifamily Fortunes 🚀

Most people think success in multifamily real estate comes from one massive deal—but that’s a lie. The truth? It’s built on small, repeatable wins that stack over time until you become an unstoppable force.

In this episode, I break down the tiny wins that move the needle and how you can leverage them to explode your investing game.

🔥 What You’ll Learn Today:
✅ How to get brokers to actually call you back (and why most investors fail at this)
✅ The underwriting habit that separates real closers from wannabes
✅ How to negotiate terms that beat price (even when you don’t win the deal)
✅ Why managing a tough property is the best education you’ll ever get
✅ The real reason most investors never make it—and how to avoid their fate

This is the raw truth about success in multifamily investing—no fluff, no shortcuts, just real tactics that work.

📢 DON’T MISS THIS:
If you’re ready to level up your investing game, grab my FREE Multifamily Credibility Kit at www.smallaxecommunities.com. It’s your key to getting brokers to take you seriously starting today!

⚡ Now get out there, stack those wins, and build your fortune. Keep sharpening that axe! 🪓💥