The People Actually
Doing Deals
Every guest featured on The Deal Lab is a proven operator in Houston's real estate ecosystem.
Jose Berlanga
Tricon Homes / MDG
Jose Miguel Berlanga arrived in Houston from Mexico City in the mid-1980s and built one of the city's most influential real estate development empires. As co-founder of Tricon Homes, he grew the company to $100M in annual revenue and became a pioneer in rebuilding Houston's inner-city neighborhoods. Over 35+ years, he has structured deals and managed transactions in excess of $1 billion, built close to 2,000 homes, and authored two landmark books: 'The Business of Home Building' and 'Dirt Rich.' His story has been featured on CNN, NBC News, NPR, and Fox News.
Diana Reyes
Reyes Capital Group
Diana Reyes is a Houston-based multifamily investor who has acquired over 1,200 apartment units across Texas. She specializes in value-add plays in emerging submarkets and has raised over $40M in private capital.
James Thornton
Thornton Development Co.
James Thornton has built over 400 custom homes in the Houston area over the past 15 years. His company specializes in luxury infill development and has pioneered several master-planned communities in the outer suburbs.
Sofia Nguyen
Close Now Lending
Sofia Nguyen is a top mortgage professional at Close Now Lending. She specializes in complex financing scenarios and has helped over 800 Houston families achieve homeownership through creative loan structuring.
Andre Williams
Williams Urban Development
Andre Williams is an urban developer specializing in adaptive reuse and mixed-use development in Houston's urban core. He has converted over 500,000 sq ft of commercial space into residential and mixed-use properties.
Carlos Mendez
Mendez Acquisitions
Carlos Mendez runs one of Houston's most active fix-and-flip operations, managing up to 30 simultaneous renovation projects. He has completed over 250 flips and built a vertically integrated operation including his own construction crew.