Welcome Back. Great to have you here.
Why it matters: This city is built by doers, but those doers often work in silos. We’re here to bridge the gap between the trades professional and the investors funding the vision.
I’ll be hitting events for the foreseeable future. Details below. I hope to see you there.
Ran into my friend Marina of Women who Breathe Wed morning, despite having been in real estate for nearly 20 years, most of my friends in Austin still don’t know I am a real estate developer. Haha. It’s okay…what can I say…My IG is “Alice.loves.muaythai” and not “Alice.loves.realestate….” and I do so much, from operating businesses to negotiating 6-7 figure contracts to planning and hosting events to publishing nerdy books….I get it…
Oh, but it might change to alice.loves.bjj soon now I am HOOKED on Jiu-jitsu….
10P for Life
THE REAL ESTATE GROWTH BLUEPRINT: KEN HARRIS
I promised you an OG, and you cannot get any more OG than Ken Harris. A U.S. Air Force Intelligence veteran and Texas Broker who has been closing deals in Austin since 1971.
The Track Record: 50+ Years of ATX Evolution
The Early Years (1970s): Cut his teeth in residential brokerage and property management specifically in Southwest Austin as the city first began its southward expansion.
Commercial Pivot (1980s): Transitioned into site acquisition and development for retail and multifamily projects just as Austin’s skyline began to modernize.
Infrastructure & Telecom (1990s): Managed the delivery of over 1,000 cellular tower sites across Texas and neighboring states with a massive play in telecommunications real estate.
The "Dirt" Experience: Beyond brokerage, Ken has owned and operated high-intensity service businesses, including automotive repair shops and quick-service facilities.
Current Focus: Actively manages a portfolio of passive real estate investments while maintaining one of Austin’s most consistent networking hubs for commercial investors every Tuesday at Casa Chapala (details below)
What was the moment you knew real estate was the path for you?
Ken was basically born for this. He was 8 years old in Houston watching new developments go up and was hooked. After the Air Force, he realized that if he wanted to stay in Austin (the best city in this awesome country, obviously), he couldn't rely on corporate jobs. Real estate was the only way to control his own destiny here.
What’s the one thing you’d tell your younger self starting out?
“Don't be afraid to go with your gut. Decide what feels right, set your goals, and don't quit.”
Simple, but how many of us actually do it? Most people quit when it gets slightly uncomfortable.
Is there anything you’d do differently if you were starting today?
I would never do any residential real estate. I would focus on commercial brokerage first while watching for development opportunities.
What made you start the weekly Casa Chapala meetup?
When an associate and I learned that a very large part of investment real estate is done with “sophisticated, non-accredited” investors. That requires one-on-one personal offerings, and many people were using Meetup to make those contacts.
When did you start the meetup?
We originally started the Meetup in August of 2015 at Abel’s on the Lake. Less than a year later, we moved to the Flying Saucer restaurant in The Triangle.
In early 2018, I moved it to Casa Chapala.
Alright folks. You heard it here first our deep dive with Ken. See you on Tuesdays at Casa Chapala.
THE LIST (Aka. Upcoming Events)
The Morning Social
Who: Ian Williams. Ian is a master of digital-to-physical community building, focusing on high-energy networking that strengthens personal rapport.
What: A casual morning coffee meetup for realtors and trade professionals looking to expand their local referral networks.
When: Thursday, Jan 15th, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Why: To build real, face-to-face connections in a scenic setting before the workday heat hits.
The National Heavyweights (BiggerPockets)
Who: Dave Meyer, Garrett Brown & Henry Washington. Dave is the VP of Data at BiggerPockets and Henry is a world-class flipper known for his "off-market" acquisition strategies.
What: The "Cash Flow Roadshow" is a tour stop designed to help investors find and fund deals in the 2026 high-interest environment.
When: Thursday, Jan 15th, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Lazarus Brewing (RSVP HERE)
Why: To get high-level data insights and network with a massive pool of local and national investors in a single evening.
Dealmakers Event: Real Estate & Health
Who: Romney Navarro. Romney is the CEO of Streamline Funding and a veteran in the Austin private lending and investment space.
What: A curated gathering of founders, investors, and operators focusing on how the built environment influences wellness and long-term community impact.
When: Friday, Jan 16th, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Why: To explore the intersection of capital and people-first design while networking with top-tier Central Texas builders.
Austin Commercial Real Estate SuperLadies
Who: Lucy Zhao. Lucy is a seasoned investor in Austin and Montreal and organizes a monthly meetup for female professionals focused on scaling portfolios.
What: A monthly lunch and mastermind session focused on sharing resources and solving specific deal-flow problems.
When: Saturday, Jan 17th, 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Why: To build high-trust relationships with female operators and find passive or active investment partners.
The Tuesday Mastermind (Every Week)
Who: Ken Harris. Known as the "Godfather" of grassroots commercial networking in ATX, Ken has been active in the industry since 1971.
What: A "non-denominational" room where investors of all levels discuss commercial deals and multifamily syndication over lunch.
When: Tuesday, Jan 20th, 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM (and every Tuesday)
Where: Casa Chapala (RSVP HERE)
Why: To move beyond spreadsheets and into the "synergism" of the room where high-level commercial deals are actually born.
RECA Happy Hour
Who: Real Estate Council of Austin (RECA). The primary advocacy and networking group for commercial real estate in Central Texas.
What: A monthly happy hour for professionals shaping Austin's commercial skyline.
When: Thursday, Jan 22nd, 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Where: Star Bar (RSVP HERE)
Why: To stay connected with the decision-makers and policy influencers in the Austin commercial real estate scene.
The Dealmakers Happy Hour
Who: Backflip & Inspectify. Backflip is a fintech platform for fix-and-flippers, and Inspectify is a leader in modern property inspections and data.
What: A "high-signal" happy hour for people who are actively moving dirt, closing contracts, and funding deals.
When: Thursday, Jan 29th, 6:30PM – 9:00PM
Why: To find your next project partner or lender in a room specifically curated for active dealmakers.
THE COLLABORATION CORNER
We are building the Prop Lab Media community to be a bridge between the trades and the buyers, as well as helping trade business owners on the latest tech trends.
Looking for: if there is something specific the community can help you with, reply back.
Offering: if there is anything you can help the community with, let me know as well.
Features: Simply reply to this email if you want to get featured! Alice (me) will personally interview you and find out more about your story.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Austin is at its best when we build together. And I really need to stop writing... I could go on for hours.
I'll be at all the real estate events mentioned above.
Come say hello and let’s talk shop.
Lots of love,
Alice
Forward this email to someone who is also building. Let’s grow together.
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