What does it take to build a real estate empire from nothing? Tomas Villar knows firsthand, having transformed from a 17-year-old high school dropout to the successful owner of Villar 360 Enterprises over the past 15 years.
Villar's business approach is remarkably straightforward yet powerful: he raises capital from investors, builds custom and semi-custom residential homes, sells the properties, returns the investors' money with interest, and retains the profit. This model has allowed him to expand into cabinetry and even become an investor himself, now owning rental properties that form the backbone of his retirement strategy.
The journey wasn't without challenges. Starting as an electrician with no business background, Villar worked double-duty for years—maintaining his day job Monday through Thursday while building his side business Friday through Sunday. "Taking the right steps every day of my life was key to being successful at some point," he reflects. His success didn't happen overnight, but rather through "countless days without sleeping" and an unwavering commitment to learning.
Perhaps the most powerful insight Villar shares is his perspective on failure and risk: "If you never lose, I think you never win." Coming from a poor family background, he approached entrepreneurship with the mindset that he had nothing to lose—a freedom that allowed him to take necessary risks. He credits much of his knowledge to mentors, particularly a successful businessman he met while doing electrical work, who taught him financial management principles that transformed his approach.
For those starting businesses without family wealth or connections, Villar offers refreshingly honest advice about work-life balance: "There's no balance when you're starting a business." His wife's understanding and support throughout their 20-year marriage proved crucial to his success. His pragmatic philosophy—"Follow the money first, then follow your dreams"—encapsulates his approach to building financial freedom.
Want to follow in Villar's footsteps? His advice is clear: combine trade skills with business education, surround yourself with the right people, treat your team well, and always pay on time. Most importantly, stay committed to your vision, even when exhaustion sets in. As Villar says, "Sometimes I feel like I want to walk away from everything, but the next day I wake up renewed and going at it."
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