Hispanic Entrepreneur Lives American Dream
Toolkits later became stereos, TVs and microwaves; all purchased wholesale and sold from his van to dealerships, retail stores, restaurants and people on the street. Flush with cash, he began investing in hard assets, and went on to own video and grocery stores as well as a meat market, lunch truck, restaurant and trucking company.
Today he owns more than $5 million in property in Southern California; in addition to a house in Mexico he bought for his mother, to whom he continues to send money on a monthly basis.
Our first home was bought with money given to us by the government because of a forced relocation stemming from the construction of the 105 freeway, recalls Navarro.
Today with so many ups and downs in the market its hard to tell if you have a great property or a ticking time bomb waiting to swallow you alive. Everyday is different. Im constantly venturing into different types of real estate investments and markets. Even though Ive been doing this for over 25 years, I feel I have more to learn. But with faith and hard work I know I can continue succeed in this area.
Hard Work and Devotion
In fact, he says the one lesson that others can take away from his life is that nearly anything is possible with hard work and a strong devotion to family. And he practices what he preaches on both counts.
Now a U.S. citizen living in Corona, Calif., Navarro takes pains to involve family members in his real estate dealings. He and his wife, Josefina, have five sons, the oldest two of which theyve put through college. The couple also has sponsored U.S. visas for several nieces and nephews in Mexico.
And whenever possible, he returns to Mexico to receive his mothers blessing. Im grateful for many things in my life. Im thankful to the United States for the opportunities and success that Ive enjoyed here. But Im most grateful for my family. They are truly a gift that has made everything else possible and that much more enjoyable, he says.
