Below you’ll find photos and before and afters of projects I’ve undertaken in my own home. But first, here’s a little about me and how/why I started this site.
My Home
My Favorite Home Reno Materials on Amazon
Publications I’ve Been Featured In
Companies I’ve Worked With
Podcasts I’ve Been On
My Publications
A Bit About Me
When my son was 18 years old, I decided to teach him how to flip a condo. At that point, I had renovated and either sold or rented over 60 properties, and I loved the income that it provided and the fun that I had working on each and every project. Teaching him to flip his first condo really showed me how much I love teaching people how to DIY projects. In my career as a real estate broker, I’d already been helping people invest in real estate, as well as teaching them how to generate income from holding the properties for long term passive income. Now, being able to show my son how to select an investment property and fix and flip it himself, was amazing.
My son was a great learner and very excited about the things I was teaching him. That made me want to share the information with others. I started posting a few things on my social media and realized that, over and over again, friends told me that they loved reading the posts about the reality of renovating and selling properties and investing in real estate, as well as learning how to do the DIY projects in their own homes. One friend told me that she sat with her own son and they went though a write up I had created about selecting an investment property, and then the detailed renovation, and finally the sale and profit analysis. It made me so happy that the information could inspire someone else, and open up their eyes to new ways to generate income.
After so many renovations, I finally got around to tiling the backsplash in my own kitchen. After 15 years of living in this house, I finally felt like I had made a huge step in making this kitchen truly mine. Even though I had owned the house for so long, it had none of my own personality. Adding what ended up to be 12 large tiles behind my cooktop really showed me how DIY projects can empower other women like me.
In my own remodels, it was fun for me to look at high-end design photos or tour model homes. Then I’d spend hours seeking out how to recreate these same looks on a budget. I have spent countless hours finding great products on Amazon or other sources that look very high-end but can be purchased at a fraction of the cost. I use many of these products in my own home and definitely in a lot of renovations.
So that led me to strive to provide a resource for other women who don’t have a heavy construction background and who just really could benefit from seeing how DIY projects can be simplified and how wonderful it can make you feel when you make a space truly your own. I’m over 50 and I can definitely say that you can take on any of these projects regardless of your age or size, or budget.
I hope that I can inspire you to really create a place and home that you love and perhaps to also consider giving real estate investing a try because it can be a wonderful source of income for you and for your children for generations to come.
Publications I’ve been Featured In:
Medium
Gold Coast Schools article
Woman’s World
Outdoor Cooking Pros How To Design An Outdoor Kitchen – Tips From 39 Interior Designers & C – Outdoor Cooking Pros
Nasdaq Ask a Real Estate Investor: What’s the Best Way To Make Passive Income? | Nasdaq
Houwzer How to Flip a House in Philadelphia: The Beginner’s Guide (houwzer.com)
Orlando Style Magazine, Orlando’s 5-star Realtors writeup Marcia Castro Socas, MS, MBA – Orlando Style Magazine – The Luxury Lifestyle
Business Insider A Millionaire Landlord’s 3 Tips for Anyone Buying Rental Real Estate (businessinsider.com)
CB Nation
Go Banking Rates
Hometalk and Hometalk TV Host Marcia Socas Profile | Hometalk
Yahoo!
Realtor Magazine What the Flip? This Home Remodel Is the Stuff of Dreams (realtor.com)
Apartment Therapy The Front Door Style That Instantly Dates Your Home | Apartment Therapy
House Digest 50 Of The Best Airbnb Rentals In California (housedigest.com)
Reb Magazine Home (rebinstitute.com)
FemFounder FemFounder – FemFounder Interviews
House Digest on Msn How To DIY A Stunning Barn Door Using The Door You Already Have
Companies I’ve Worked With (Sponsorships)
I’ve been fortunate to have worked with and been sponsored by several companies in my home renovations, here are a few:
- Hometalk
- Wagner Spraytech
- Royal Building Products
- Malibu Wide Plank Flooring
Throughout my site I provide affiliate links to products that I hope will help you with your DIY project supplies. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that I may receive a small commission if you use these links to purchase products, but it does not change your price in any way.
Podcasts I’ve Been On:
- Icons of Real Estate
- The Whole Enchilada – Street Smart Investor
- HerStory Circle Podcast (Australia)
- Zen and the Art of Real Estate
My Publications
I hope that these books can help you on your real estate journey!
Building Wealth: A DIY Guide to Investing, Rehab Projects, and Legacy Planning
This comprehensive guide walks you through the journey of building wealth through real estate investments, all while preparing a legacy for your college-bound child. Whether you’re new to investing or seasoned, this book provides actionable steps, personal stories, and proven strategies. You’ll learn how to identify lucrative properties, leverage investments, and even incorporate your family into the process—turning real estate into a powerful tool for generational wealth.
Small Space, Big Style. Over 100 Project Tutorials and Tips
Packed with over 100 step-by-step DIY renovation projects, this book empowers you to transform any space with confidence. From simple cosmetic updates to more extensive upgrades, each project is carefully designed to guide you through the process efficiently, regardless of your skill level. With clear instructions and helpful tips, you’ll not only enhance the value of your property but also gain the satisfaction of completing home projects on your own.
The Ultimate Property Renovation Planning Workbook
Planning a home renovation can be overwhelming, but this printable and reusable workbook simplifies the process. Designed to help you manage every detail of your renovation, it includes project planners, budgeting tools, and task trackers. Whether you’re planning a simple update or a full-scale remodel, this workbook ensures you stay organized and on track from start to finish. Best of all, you can print it and reuse it for every new renovation project you take on.
Small Space, Big Style: Transforming Small Spaces with DIY Renovations
In this book I highlight three different renovation styles (coastal, modern, and farmhouse) that I used in 3 different renovations. The book is filled with before and after photos, as well as step by step instructions on how to complete these projects yourself. In addition, there’s an explanation of each flip and renovation, including negotiations and results. I hope this book can serve as a DIY guide to anyone looking to upgrade and personalize their space.
The Ultimate Property Preservation Organizer
This Organizer was created as a way to keep track of each property renovation in an organized and easy to follow way. The worksheets include standard cabinet sizes to help you plan your dream kitchen, budget sheets for keeping track of and controlling expenses, tips, and information. This downloadable product was intended to be printed out and used for each project. Download it just once and print off copies again and again whenever you need them!
Real Estate Property Info Logbook
Once you’ve started on your real estate investment process, you’ll need to stay organized with the property information. This journal serves as a record keeper of real estate property information. Easily store your property’s loan information, tenant contact info and lease details, appliance model numbers, history of repairs, paint colors and finishes, and more. A quick and organized way to keep track of your real estate investments or your own personal home information.
