10.23.2025 PropStream
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and entertainment purposes only. PropStream does not provide legal, financial, or investment advice or guarantee profits. Wholesaling and other real estate activities are regulated at the state and local levels. Some areas may require a real estate license or specific disclosures. Always research local regulations and consult qualified professionals before proceeding.
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Key takeaways for real estate investors:
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If in doubt, “do it scared.” That’s the mindset Ayla Melendez brings to every stage of her real estate journey, and the same energy that’s helped her turn consistency and service into lasting success.
In the latest episode of the PropStream Pros Podcast, host Burton Alicando sits down with Ayla Melendez, a San Antonio-based investor and entrepreneur who has built her business by leading with transparency, empathy, and action. Together, they unpack how showing up every day, building trust over time, and leveraging the right tools can open doors even in competitive or nondisclosure markets.
It’s a grounded, real-world conversation about what it takes to start and stay in real estate for the long run.
Watch the full episode below:
From San Antonio Roots to a Real Estate Reboot
San Antonio is home to Ayla Melendez, and the launchpad for a six-year real estate journey that began with a simple goal: buy a home. After purchasing her homestead in 2018, two things nudged her toward investing: a caring agent who “felt like a second mom,” and a lender who handed her a copy of Rich Dad Poor Dad.
“I wasn’t a reader,” Ayla laughs, “but that book changed how I looked at money, less time-for-money, more value-for-results.” She enrolled in real estate courses in 2019 while working full-time at Medtronic and meal-prepping on the side. Through a meal-prep client, she met a wholesaler and discovered a bigger world beyond the agent path she assumed was required.
“You don’t know what you don’t know. I thought the only way into real estate was becoming an agent.”
She finished the classes, failed the state exam, and, rather than retesting, took a leap into wholesaling.
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The Early Pivot: Why Wholesaling Clicked
Wholesaling offered what Ayla needed most: a low barrier to entry and the ability to learn by doing. She tried to go solo for three weeks, cold-calling manually, talking more than negotiating, and second-guessing every step. Then she joined a reputable local company led by investors who emphasized ethics, reputation, and relationships.
Structure changed everything. Within 23 days, Ayla contracted her first deal, the fastest ramp-up in the office at the time. It wasn’t the textbook first-timer’s single-family assignment either; it was a commercial property on the West Side.
“I met the owner at Bill Miller, kept my team on the phone, and learned the contract as I went. It wasn’t elegant, but I got it signed.”
Consistency, mentorship, and a team behind her turned “doing more talking than negotiating” into confident execution.
Learning, Teaching, and the Power of Service
Ayla describes herself as a “slow learner,” not in ability, but in preference: break it down, show the how, bridge the gap. That learning style sharpened her talent for teaching others:
“Lots of short videos promise you can wholesale a house with a dollar. I prefer step-by-step: what to do, how to do it, and what not to do. Mistakes in real estate are expensive.”
Sales isn’t her identity. Service is. She keeps her word, communicates clearly, and treats each homeowner like a person first.
“People think real estate is harsh sales like car sales. It isn’t. Keep your word, be transparent, build relationships, that’ll take you further than being 'salesy.’”
The approach resonates in vulnerable scenarios such as a pre-foreclosure, probate, and a loss of a family member, where homeowners need empathy as much as expertise. Ayla shared one memorable case: an older couple who’d lost their only child, then later the husband lost his wife. She guided the family through the sale, stayed in touch, and still checks in to this date.
How PropStream Became Ayla’s Go-To Tool from the Start
Ayla first used PropStream at the wholesaling company she first worked at and still recommends it, particularly for investors without direct MLS access.
- User-friendly comps: “I didn’t need a tutorial to run comps on PropStream.”
- List building: Pulling high-equity and motivation-based Lead Lists helped in much more focused outreach.
- Nondisclosure edge: In a non-disclosure state like Texas, where sales data isn’t public, having an MLS-informed comps tool is critical for confidence and negotiation.
As Ayla puts it:
“If you don’t have MLS access, get PropStream. It’s user-friendly, and in Texas, that matters.”
Strategy, Mentorship, and What’s Next
Six years in, Ayla has worn many hats: wholesaler, investor, lending support, even licensed and bonded general contractor, and believes each lane in real estate strengthened her investing core.
She’s open to educating more formally, likely through a course rather than one-to-one mentorship, to preserve the joy of teaching. For now, she shares notes, how-tos, and practical breakdowns because widening the on-ramp helps the whole ecosystem.
Her five-year plan? Financial freedom through real estate and scalable education that reaches more people.
Ayla’s Advice to Her Younger Self and to New Investors
- Jump in sooner. Waiting is the bigger risk.
- Pick a lane, then learn the others. Every skill and knowledge set (e.g., title, lending, construction) makes you a better investor.
- Use the right tools. Especially for comps and lists in nondisclosure states.
Lead with service. Big decisions are emotional; be transparent and honor your commitments. - Do it scared. Courage compounds faster than perfection.
“There’s a lane for everyone, transaction coordinator, title, contracting, acquisitions, dispo. Get in, build relationships, and stay in the real estate realm.”
Follow Ayla’s journey:
Instagram @realaystate
