How Creative Financing Transforms Real Estate Challenges into Wins with Vincent Lanza
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” - Mark Twain, Writer, publisher, and lecturer
How Creative Financing Transforms Real Estate Challenges into Wins with Vincent Lanza
In a recent episode of the REI Hacker podcast, host Benson welcomes Vincent Lanza—a real estate investor, mentor, and founder of Verity Property Investors. Vincent's background is as rich as it is diverse, spanning across different industries and even continents. The conversation takes us through Vincent’s personal history, his experiences with creative financing, and his passion for mentorship and community impact in real estate.
Vincent’s Connection to Family Roots and Remote Investing in Italy
Vincent begins by sharing about his recent trip to Italy, where he visited San Fele, the hometown of his great-grandfather. Walking the streets of his family’s origins was a powerful experience for Vincent, bringing his entrepreneurial legacy full circle. San Fele’s 19th-century town hall records revealed his great-grandfather’s journey from small-town Italy to becoming a pharmacist and serial entrepreneur in New York.
This trip also underlined one of real estate’s advantages: remote flexibility. Vincent was able to keep his business running seamlessly while exploring Italy, proving how real estate allows for mobility without missing a beat on deals.
Real Estate Opportunities in Italy
In San Fele, Vincent noticed something interesting—roughly 30% of properties in the area were abandoned or in serious disrepair. This sparked an idea: acquiring these properties at a low cost, with the promise of restoring them to livable conditions. This kind of opportunity, especially in the Italian countryside, makes the idea of international investing both exciting and feasible.
From Music to Real Estate: Vincent’s Unlikely Path
Vincent’s road to real estate isn’t the typical route. Before investing, he spent years as a professional musician, touring and recording around the world. Later, he pivoted briefly to accounting, which grounded him in the practical financial skills he uses today. This mix of creative freedom from his music days and analytical skills from accounting has shaped his unique approach to real estate. For Vincent, real estate investing is both an art and a science—a balance between creativity in deal-making and financial responsibility.
The Role of Creative Financing in Real Estate
For Vincent, creative financing is a cornerstone of his real estate strategy. He especially enjoys subject-to deals, where an investor takes over the seller’s mortgage rather than securing a new loan. This approach offers flexibility and opens the door to deals that may not have been possible otherwise. However, these deals often present unique challenges, demanding inventive solutions and constant learning, which is part of what keeps Vincent engaged in the industry.
The Value of Mentorship in Real Estate
One of Vincent’s key messages is the importance of mentorship, especially for newcomers to real estate. His own journey was significantly shaped by mentors, including Pace Morby, who taught him the ropes. Now, Vincent pays it forward by mentoring others, encouraging them to learn by doing and to work alongside more experienced investors. For anyone interested in real estate, he stresses that finding a mentor isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.
Common Pitfalls for New Investors
New investors often make the mistake of rushing into deals without fully assessing them, Vincent explains. The excitement to close a deal can sometimes overshadow necessary due diligence, leading to hasty and potentially costly decisions. Vincent advises new investors to evaluate each deal critically, examining its financial viability before making any commitments. This patience and analysis are what help experienced investors succeed and avoid unnecessary risks.
Looking Ahead: Community-Focused Real Estate Goals
Looking to the future, Vincent has ambitious goals for scaling his business while making a positive social impact. He’s particularly interested in helping first-time homebuyers through creative financing solutions. Beyond that, his wife’s aspiration to support foster children aging out of the system has inspired him to explore housing initiatives tailored to this underserved group.
Remote Flexibility: Showing how real estate offers mobility while keeping deals active.
Creative Financing: Subject-to deals and other creative financing strategies open doors to new opportunities while requiring ongoing learning and adaptability.
Importance of Mentorship: Learning from experienced investors accelerates growth and reduces costly mistakes.
Due Diligence: Careful analysis is crucial to avoid hasty decisions and achieve long-term success.
Future Vision: Vincent aims to expand his business while supporting community-driven causes, including housing for foster children and first-time homebuyers.
Vincent Lanza’s journey highlights how creative financing and real estate flexibility can turn obstacles into opportunities, providing insights that are valuable for seasoned and aspiring investors alike.
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