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Today, I am honored to share a story that embodies the American dream—a story of perseverance, trabajo duro, and the power of seizing oportunidades. Flavio Martinez, a local restaurant owner, has just achieved a milestone that deserves special recognition. He and his wife, Paola Martinez, have purchased the building where their thriving restaurant stands for an impressive $1,500,000. But what makes this purchase truly special is the journey that led them here.
A Family Dream Takes Shape
Flavio’s story begins years ago when he started in the restaurant industry as a dishwasher. The man who gave him that first opportunity, Miguel Castro, is the same man who sold him the property they now own. Working under Miguel, Flavio learned the ins and outs of the restaurant business, moving from dishwashing to bussing tables, then into management. Along the way, Paola was his steadfast partner, helping him bring his vision to life, even when they couldn’t yet imagine owning their own piece of real estate.
Expanding the Legacy
Their first venture began modestly with a taqueria on Stewart Ave in Medford. The small, family-owned restaurant quickly became a local favorite, and the demand for their authentic dishes grew. Responding to the community’s love for their food, the Martinez family expanded their operations by leasing the space next door to open their own butcher shop. However, their customers’ demand for more led to an expansion of their restaurant instead.
Coming Full Circle
The culmination of their hard work and dedication is the purchase of the property at 10510 Hwy 62 in Eagle Point. For Flavio, this purchase is more than just a business transaction—it’s a full-circle moment. He made an offer to buy one of Miguel’s last properties as he sets to retire, it’s a tribute to the man who gave Flavio his first chance.
A Meaningful Purchase
When I asked Flavio how he felt about acquiring the commercial property where their restaurant now resides, he responded with a big smile, “It feels great, se siente chingón porque a veces te metes en tu propia mente y sientes que no es alcanzable. 
Doing your books and seeing your leasing expenses adding up is when Paola realized, ok, we are ready to own. That’s our next step, it’s time to invest in us.” They admitted that navigating this phase in their lives was challenging, but they knew they were ready.
When I asked them what the scariest thing about the purchase was, Flavio stated that he was never concerned with the purchase itself; he just wanted to ensure that the price was right. The location was great, and he’s happy with the outcome of reaching an agreement on the purchase price.
I then asked him what they liked the most about their experience, and with a big smile, Flavio stated, “Your help, la neta, you made it super easy.” Both Flavio and Paola expressed how much they appreciated that I never made it about the sale. Instead, I focused on making the process easy to navigate, answering their questions, searching for answers, and being available to facilitate matters that arose, understanding their busy schedules and trusting that I could make things happen on their behalf. They also appreciated that I explained things in a way they could understand, avoiding complex real estate terminology.
Looking Ahead
They recalled how difficult it was when they purchased their first home, having to figure things out on their own without adequate guidance. My final question to them was about their next venture. Flavio and Paola shared that they want to diversify their assets and invest more in real estate. However, they emphasized the importance of being mentally and financially prepared to make those decisions when opportunities arise.
Flavio noted that the Hispanic community often has a lot of distrust in lenders and real estate agents due to language barriers and the fear of being taken advantage of. He expressed pride in his Latino community, especially seeing so many stepping into real estate to serve their community. 
He’s impressed by the number of young agents entering the industry and believes that as long as they do right by their community and are passionate, they will be successful. Flavio also shared a personal experience, mentioning how his sister lost her home because things were not done properly, and he stresses the importance doing your research, getting recommendations and working with people who do things right.
Congratulations to Flavio and Paola on this incredible achievement! Your story is an inspiration to all of us in the Rogue Valley, and we look forward to seeing your continued success.
