Bernal’s approach has also evolved with the performance of individual properties. He and his partners have sold some older Connecticut properties where substantial equity was tied up but cash flow no longer justified holding them.
When Andres Bernal arrived in the United States with $500, his immediate goal was not to build a real estate empire. Some properties operate through the federal Section 8 housing program, while others serve traditional tenants.
His Connecticut holdings include multifamily properties, duplexes, single-family homes and student rentals, according to the video interview. The Dominican-born former professional tennis player had come to pursue the sport he had played since childhood. But after years of teaching tennis and working long hours, he began looking for a different route to financial independence. Student housing has become an important part of the portfolio. Bernal owns properties near three Connecticut universities and typically rents homes to groups of students whose parents or family members co-sign their leases. Keeping properties within walking distance of campuses is another central part of the strategy, reducing the need for parking and transportation.
Managing dozens of properties and completing frequent flips requires more than finding deals. Bernal has built a network of contractors and property-management support to keep the operation moving. His flipping operation includes about a dozen contractors handling work such as carpentry, painting and basic plumbing and electrical tasks. A smaller part-time team manages the rental portfolio. That structure allows the same network of workers to move between renovation projects and maintenance needs, reducing the need to constantly find new contractors.