From Helping Veterans to Creative Finance Wins: Mike Oakes on VCI 3.0, Privy & Building Legacy

How do you scale from helping 42,000 veterans to running a nationwide real estate team? Meet Mike Oakes of Veterans Choice Investments (VCI).In this episode of Dream Start Own, host Edgar “The Connector” Salgado dives into Mike’s story: leaving his W2, co-founding VCI with Paul Rodriguez, creative deals that house families rejected by banks, and how his team is scaling with operators, Privy, SMS automation, and Facebook Marketplace buyers.What you’ll learn:Mike’s journey from agent → wholesaler → creative investorWhy helping veterans & homestead buyers is core to VCI’s missionHow the Owners Club, Subto, and Gator shaped his pathThe power of an operator (Molly’s program) for systems & growthUsing Privy, SMS campaigns & Astro Blaster for lead genCreative finance case study: a Maryland wrap that cashflows $1,600/moTeam structure, markets (MD, PA, TX, FL, GA, SC), and scaling VCI 3.0⏱ Chapters00:00 Intro — VCI’s mission & serving 42,000 veterans01:15 Mike’s start: agent → discovering wholesaling03:00 Meeting Paul Rodriguez & launching VCI06:20 Owners Club experience & Pace Morby mentorship10:10 Helping first, building community, and SquadUp stories14:00 Team structure: VCI 3.0 & adding an operator18:30 Systems & CRMs: Monday, OpenDispo, Astro Blaster22:00 Lead gen: Privy, agent outreach, SMS campaigns25:00 Negotiation hacks: turning “no” into “yes”27:00 Market focus: MD, PA, TN, TX, GA, FL, SC30:40 Challenges: underwriting & raising capital35:00 Creative finance case study: Maryland wrap deal ($1,600/mo cashflow)42:00 Finding buyers via Facebook Marketplace & groups47:00 Lessons in ads, OPM, and building lasting relationships50:00 Future of VCI & final advice► Follow Mikeyoutube.com/@VeteransChoiceInvestmentsInstagram: / mikesreiroots► Smart Real Estate Investing w/ Privy. Find buyers & comp properties quickly.https://www.privy.pro#67565a29281d8► Join The Subto Community & Learn Creative Finance Directly from Pace ✌🏼https://join.nre.ai/mQ9T9vZ► Upgrade your Hilton experience at the link belowhttps://americanexpress.com/en-us/ref...► Learn How to Make Money on Other People's Deals with the Gator Methodhttps://pacejmorby.com/join-gator1?af...► Get $50k+ in 0% Interest fee Business and/ or Personal credithttps://join.nre.ai/mQ9T9vY► Automate Direct to Agent Connectionshttps://www.theastroblaster.com/?fpr=...► Become an Airbnb Hosthttps://tr.ee/Wu4Cw2M3ie🔌 PLUG IN & SUBSCRIBE 🔌Instagram: / edgartheconnectorTikTok: / @edgarsrei🚧🚧🚧 DISCLAIMER 🚧🚧🚧We are not a CPA, attorney, insurance, contractor, lender, or financial advisor. The content in these videos shall not be construed as tax, legal, insurance, construction, engineering, health & safety, electrical, financial advice, or other and may be outdated or inaccurate; it is your responsibility to verify all information yourself. This is a YouTube video for entertainment purposes ONLY.