The Lo-Down

Lorenzo Mercado
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The Lo-Down brings conversations with people from all walks of life who are relentlessly pursuing success. Hosted by Lorenzo Mercado this podcast dives into the stories behind the grind and uncovering the mindset and strategies that drive growth. From entrepreneurs and season investors to business owners and visionaries, every guest shares a unique perspective on what it takes to achieve success. Whether you're building a business, chasing a dream, or striving for personal growth, The Lo-down is your source for inspiration, actionable insights, and the motivation to level up. 

  1. Boutique Hotel Investing: How Two Architects Built a Vogue-Featured Wellness Hotel in Palm Springs | Diana Osso & Josh Dobken

    26 MAR

    Boutique Hotel Investing: How Two Architects Built a Vogue-Featured Wellness Hotel in Palm Springs | Diana Osso & Josh Dobken

    Josh Dobken and Diana Ossa managed billion-dollar architecture projects before buying a blank-slate hotel in Palm Springs, and turning it into a Vogue and Forbes-featured boutique property in under a year. In this episode of The Lo-Down, they break down exactly how they did it. With 15+ years of commercial architecture experience and 40+ short-term rentals across multiple states, Josh and Diana share the mindset, strategy, and hard lessons that took them from residential investing to boutique hotel ownership at scale. What You'll Learn: -Why they walked away from multiple deals before finding the right one -How they used a co-hosting company to prepare for hotel operations -The value-add strategy behind Terra Palm Springs -How they selected their market and defined their guest avatar -Why no deal is better than a bad deal -How their hotel earned coverage in Vogue, Forbes, and Travel + Leisure Whether you're exploring boutique hotels, STR investing, or building a path out of your W-2 — this episode is for you. Connect with Josh Dobken & Diana Osso Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/d.i.fi/ Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/terrapalmsprings/Website : https://www.terrapalmsprings.com Connect with Lorenzo Mercado: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercado_ Website: LorenzoMercado.com | SolvarraGroup.com Listen to The Lo-Down Podcast 🎙 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lodown/id1764777761🎙Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983

    1hr 7min
  2. The Live-In Flip Strategy: How to Build Wealth in Expensive Markets | Joshua Massari E42

    11 FEB

    The Live-In Flip Strategy: How to Build Wealth in Expensive Markets | Joshua Massari E42

    In this episode of The Lo-Down, Lorenzo sits down with Joshua Massari, co-host of The Broke Millionaires podcast, to unpack how he and his wife built millions in real estate equity while living in one of the most expensive markets in the U.S. — Orange County, California. Joshua shares how they used a live-in value-add strategy (a twist on BRRRR), buying fixer-uppers as primary residences, renovating while living in them, and repeating the process — all while raising four kids and working full-time. If you think real estate investing only works in cheap markets, this episode will completely change your perspective. Chapters 00:00 Intro – Meet Joshua Massari 01:00 What does “Broke Millionaire” really mean? 02:30 Investing in expensive cities like Orange County 04:10 Why fixer-uppers beat turnkey homes 05:40 Buying during COVID: opportunity in chaos 07:15 The ALLL Method (Acquire, Live, Lift, Leverage, Loop) 09:10 Using primary residence loans to invest with less cash 11:00 Turning $17K into millions in real estate 12:40 House hacking before it was a buzzword 14:10 Why Josh avoids flipping houses 16:00 Living through full renovations (no kitchen, kids included) 18:50 Renovation stress, marriage, and alignment 21:40 Balancing a full-time job with real estate investing 24:50 Kids and investing: why they’re not the problem 27:10 Delayed gratification & long-term wealth mindset 28:50 Mid-term rentals vs long-term rentals in California 31:00 How to evaluate neighborhoods correctly 33:30 Foundations: deal breaker or opportunity? 36:10 Creative financing explained (seller finance, HELOCs) 39:50 Cross-collateralization & hard money loans 42:00 Over-leveraging myth explained 44:30 HELOC strategy most investors miss 47:30 Fighting banks & getting deals approved 51:30 Starting The Broke Millionaires podcast 54:00 Biggest advice for new investors 55:40 Where to find Joshua + final thoughts Key Takeaways You don’t need to invest out of state to build wealth — strategy beats location Living in your investments unlocks better financing and faster scaling Renovation pain is temporary, equity is permanent Kids aren’t the obstacle — lack of alignment is Creative financing is often the difference between quitting and winning Real estate rewards those willing to stay uncomfortable longer Who This Episode Is For Investors in high-cost cities First-time homebuyers thinking long-term Families who think kids stop investing Anyone waiting for the “perfect time” People who want real, practical investing stories — not hype Connect with Joshua Massari Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuadmassari/?hl=en  Instagram :  https://www.instagram.com/thebrokemillionaires_/?hl=en Connect with Lorenzo: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercado_ Website: LorenzoMercado.com | SolvarraGroup.com Listen to The Lo-Down Podcast  🎙Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lodown/id1764777761 🎙Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983

    53 min
  3. How a Therapist and RN Built a Mid-Term Rental Business Without Using Their Own Money | Michael & Grace Santos E41

    27 JAN

    How a Therapist and RN Built a Mid-Term Rental Business Without Using Their Own Money | Michael & Grace Santos E41

    What does it really take to go from working full-time jobs to raising $8,000,000 in private capital and building a multi-state real estate business? In this episode of The Lo-Down Podcast, I sit down with Grace & Michael Santos, a therapist and nurse who built a thriving out-of-state flipping and mid-term rental business without using their own money. They break down exactly how they started in 2021, pivoted from flips into mid-term rentals, and built the systems and credibility that allowed them to raise $8M in one year using OPM (Other People's Money). What You'll Learn: How to transition from W-2 jobs to full-time real estate investingWhy mid-term rentals are more profitable and stable than traditional flipsThe exact step-by-step process for raising millions in private capitalHow to find, approach, and close private lenders (with scripts)Deal structuring secrets and what to include in investor one-pagersPremium furnishing strategies that attract higher-quality tenantsExit strategy framework: when to flip vs. hold a propertyManaging burnout and time-blocking as entrepreneur couplesTheir 2026 vision: multifamily development and scaling to $20M+ Connect with Michael and Grace Santos: Instagram: https: https://www.instagram.com/michael.dc.santos/?hl=en Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/mwgmproperties/?hl=en Connect with Lorenzo: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercado Website: https://www.mercasaventures.com | www.AscentCapital.llc Listen to The Lo-Down Podcast 🎙Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lodown/id1764777761 🎙Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983

    55 min
  4. How To Build Generational Wealth As A Parent | Stephanie Lombardo E40

    13 JAN

    How To Build Generational Wealth As A Parent | Stephanie Lombardo E40

    What does it really look like to build generational wealth while being a present parent? In this episode of The Lo-Down Podcast, I sit down with Stephanie Lombardo, a real estate investor who has completed 200+ house flips, scaled a rental portfolio across multiple states, and intentionally built ownership not just for herself—but for her daughter. Stephanie breaks down: • How she bought her 3-year-old daughter a cash-flowing rental property • The exact BRRR strategy she used with zero personal capital • How she scaled 15+ flips at a time • Raising private money and using OPM (Other People’s Money) • Building a high-performance team using virtual assistants • Balancing entrepreneurship, motherhood, fitness, and identity • How to raise a wealthy child without creating entitlement This episode is a must-watch if you’re an entrepreneur, real estate investor, or parent thinking long-term about time freedom, legacy, and impact. 👇 Subscribe for more real conversations on wealth, business, and life. Connect with Stephanie Lombardo: Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thestephlombardo/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thestephlombardo/ Connect with Lorenzo Mercado: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercado Website: https://www.mercasaventures.com | www.AscentCapital.llc Listen to The Lo-Down Podcast 🎙Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lodown/id1764777761 🎙Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983

    49 min
  5. How He Built and Scaled an Assisted Living Business | Serg Lupescu E39

    6 JAN

    How He Built and Scaled an Assisted Living Business | Serg Lupescu E39

    Serg Lupescu went from living in his car to owning 255 licensed assisted living beds. In this episode of The Lo-Down, Serg shares the raw truth about walking away from nursing to build an assisted living business from the ground up. He opens up about the sacrifices, mistakes, and lessons learned while scaling from his first small facility to a multi-location operation. This conversation goes beyond surface-level success and dives into what it actually takes to choose a harder path, stay resilient through uncertainty, and build something real over time. What we cover: Why he left a stable nursing career for entrepreneurshipThe reality of living in his car while starting his first facilityHow he chose assisted living as his niche and why it mattersScaling from 5 beds to 255 and the systems that made it possibleLocation, licensing, and regulations most people misunderstandPreventing burnout in healthcare-focused businessesUsing social media to build credibility and attract opportunitiesWhy taking action beats perfect planning Whether you’re in healthcare, real estate, or simply questioning the traditional path, Serg’s story is a powerful reminder that the right niche paired with relentless action can change the trajectory of your life. Connect with Serg Lupescu: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serg.lupescu YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMnasdyxsKn0ULRpS4Zi7Zw Connect with Lorenzo Mercado: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercado Websites: https://www.mercasaventures.com https://www.ascentcapital.llc Timestamps 1:20 From Nurse to Entrepreneur5:40 Living Out of a Car While Getting Started13:25 Choosing Entrepreneurship Over Stability21:59 Why Assisted Living Became the Right Niche32:53 Lessons From the First Facility40:39 Thinking Bigger Than the First Win47:38 Transitioning Into Commercial Assisted Living54:45 What New Assisted Living Investors Miss59:01 The Real Challenges of Scaling1:01:58 Building a Positive Workplace Culture1:07:20 How Social Media Changed the Business

    1hr 22min

  6. 24/12/2025

    Hard Money Lending & Deal Structuring | Hemant Mahajan E38

    Lorenzo Mercado sits down with Hemant Mahajan—Bay Area real estate developer, hard money lender, founder of Newbridge Equity, and author of Buying Back Your Life—to explore what really changes when you operate as both the lender and the investor. Hemant breaks down how seeing deals from both perspectives completely transforms risk assessment, deal structure, exits, and long-term wealth creation. With 15+ years of experience, nearly 100 funded deals, and millions deployed across residential, commercial, and development projects, he shares hard-earned lessons most investors only learn the painful way. This conversation covers: Hard money lending explainedHow lenders actually think when deals go sidewaysStructuring joint ventures using both debt and equityReal-world examples of complex, high-risk dealsBiggest investing mistakes and mindset shiftsBuying back time using real estate and passive incomeIf you want to understand how experienced capital really moves in real estate, this episode is essential. Connect with Hemant: New Bridge Equity: https://newbridgeequity.netlify.app/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meetrajum/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hmahajan/ Connect with Lorenzo: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercado Website: https://www.mercasaventures.com | www.AscentCapital.llc Listen to The Lo-Down Podcast 🎙Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lodown/id1764777761 🎙Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983 --- Chapters: Chapters:00:00 – Seeing deals as both a lender and investor01:14 – Guest introduction: Hemant Mahajan02:01 – Why Hemant started as a lender, not an investor03:03 – Learning without a mentor in early hard money lending04:20 – What hard money lending actually means05:11 – Interest rates then vs now in hard money06:14 – How borrowers earn better rates over time07:05 – What lenders look for in first-time investors08:30 – Trust, equity, and win-win lending09:12 – When and why Newbridge Equity was formed10:20 – Licensing, usury laws, and scaling lending legally11:24 – What separates Newbridge Equity from other lenders12:17 – Combining debt and equity in joint ventures13:51 – Case study: 9-townhome development deal15:44 – Why flexible lenders matter in construction delays18:03 – Avoiding foreclosure through smarter deal structure19:34 – Why Hemant avoids “lend-to-own” strategies20:29 – How new investors earn JV opportunities22:04 – Red flags that stop Hemant from funding deals23:12 – Why real estate beats stocks and crypto for him25:20 – What most investors overlook in deals26:34 – “Hairy” deals others avoid and why he targets them28:19 – Buying distressed property during active litigation30:25 – Why complex deals offer higher upside31:05 – Biggest real estate loss and lessons learned33:47 – Why losses teach more than wins34:24 – Building resilience and long-term mindset36:39 – Creating freedom with passive income38:31 – From CDs and savings to real estate wealth39:41 – Best advice for W-2 employees starting in real estate40:21 – House hacking and first investment strategies42:48 – Using debt intelligently to grow wealth43:07 – Writing Buying Back Your Life45:16 – Turning money into your employee46:20 – Buying back time through joint ventures48:21 – How many hours Hemant actually works49:14 – Should beginners start as lenders or investors51:23 – Using 401(k)s and passive lending52:27 – Vision for the next 3–5 years54:07 – Why happiness is about the present, not milestones

    59 min

  7. 11/12/2025

    The Mindset of a Top 1% Trader | Kam Dasani E37

    In this episode of The Lo-Down, Lorenzo sits down with trader and educator Kam Dasani, who became a millionaire by 30 and now trades seven-figure prop-firm capital without risking his own money. But this conversation isn’t about hype or shortcuts — it’s about the mindset, emotional control, and disciplined decision-making that separate the top 1% of traders from everyone else. Kam opens up about the habits that helped him grow a $700K personal account, why 99% of traders lose, and how he built a system that can be executed in under a minute a day. He also breaks down how prop firms actually work, why emotional regulation matters more than strategy, and how Bitcoin’s four-year cycles shape long-term wealth. This is a raw, grounded look at what it really takes to succeed in an industry where most people fail — and how the lessons from trading apply to life, business, and personal growth. KEY TOPICS The mindset and discipline behind top 1% traders Why most traders fail before they even start Trading with $0 of your own capital through prop firms How Kam built a $700K personal account Emotional control, rules, and decision-making The truth about “passive trading” Bitcoin cycles and long-term wealth frameworks Mentorship, accountability, and escaping the corporate path Connect With Kam: Instagram: @profitwithkam(https://www.instagram.com/profitwithkam/?hl=en) LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/kam-dasani-937005101/ Connect with Lorenzo: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercado Website: https://www.mercasaventures.com | www.AscentCapital.llc Listen to The Lo-Down Podcast 🎙Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lodown/id1764777761 🎙Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983 Chapters: 0:00 – Intro to Kam: millionaire by 30, unique trading approach1:00 – Why 99% of traders fail2:30 – Emotional control and trading psychology4:00 – Gambling vs trading: what separates pros from amateurs6:20 – Kam’s $700K portfolio + $1M+ prop-firm capital7:00 – How prop firms REALLY work: the catches and advantages10:00 – Exclusive partnership: funding traders in-house12:00 – Who Kam trains and why beginners succeed faster14:00 – Time freedom, remote lifestyle, trading anywhere in the world17:00 – How much time you actually need to trade daily18:00 – Can trading become passive? Where it can and cannot20:00 – If Kam had to invest everything into one thing today22:00 – Bitcoin cycles and why Kam never sells25:00 – How Kam handled family and friends thinking he was crazy28:00 – Kam’s “why” for building wealth and proving doubters wrong30:00 – Empowering others through trading education33:00 – College debt, corporate life, and why most people stay stuck36:00 – Why now is the best time to invest38:00 – Entrepreneurship loneliness vs corporate comfort41:00 – Circle shrinking: why you can't tell everyone your dreams45:00 – Advice for beginners: how to start trading today47:00 – What working with Kam looks like (options + futures training)50:00 – How he used $92K of credit to change his life53:00 – Choosing between active income vs passive income54:00 – Where to find Kam & how to work with him

    51 min
  8. How to Become the Bank: Private Money Lending for Passive Income | Darius McClelland E36

    26/11/2025

    How to Become the Bank: Private Money Lending for Passive Income | Darius McClelland E36

    Darius McClelland has lent out over $620,000 of his own money and built a six-figure passive income business doing it. In this conversation, he breaks down exactly how private money lending works, how he made $20,000 on his first deal without lifting a finger, and why this strategy might be one of the most overlooked wealth-building tools in real estate. He also reveals how one Instagram post helped him raise over $600,000, his exact process for vetting borrowers and protecting his capital, and why transparency is everything when it comes to raising money online. Whether you're sitting on cash you want to put to work, curious about becoming the bank instead of going to one, or just want to understand how private lending actually works behind the scenes, this episode delivers. What You'll Learn: How Darius built a six-figure lending business by deploying $620KThe mechanics of private money lending explained simplyHis step-by-step process for vetting deals and protecting investmentsRed flags to watch for when someone asks to borrow your moneyWhy private lending can outperform rental properties for cash flowHow he raised $600K from a single Instagram reelPayment structures: monthly, quarterly, and balloon optionsScaling from individual loans to starting a fundHow to use social media to raise capital and build trustThe mindset shift required to show up online consistentlyKey Topics:Private money lending | Real estate investing | Social media for capital raising | Building trust online | Self-directed IRAs | Starting a fund | Passive income systems | Lifestyle freedom Connect With Darius Instagram:@dariusmcclelland (https://www.instagram.com/dariusmcclelland/) Connect with Lorenzo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorenzo.mercado Website: https://www.mercasaventures.com | www.AscentCapital.llc Listen to The Lo-Down Podcast 🎙Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lodown/id1764777761 🎙Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1YjwXXjvFT3mqve6uMF983

    55 min
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About

The Lo-Down brings conversations with people from all walks of life who are relentlessly pursuing success. Hosted by Lorenzo Mercado this podcast dives into the stories behind the grind and uncovering the mindset and strategies that drive growth. From entrepreneurs and season investors to business owners and visionaries, every guest shares a unique perspective on what it takes to achieve success. Whether you're building a business, chasing a dream, or striving for personal growth, The Lo-down is your source for inspiration, actionable insights, and the motivation to level up. 

Information

  • Creator
    Lorenzo Mercado
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Lorenzo Mercado
  • Show Website
    The Lo-Down