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Suit Up With Baez
Level up your real estate, mortgage, and business game with the 'Suit Up with Baez Podcast!' Tune in for bold strategies and expert insights to fuel your success!
Suit Up With Baez
Episode 3 - Architectural Wonders & Real Estate Integrity: Blueprint for Success
Embark on an architectural odyssey with Franklin Estrella, a New York architect whose designs have reshaped the skyline for over three decades. Franklin, who's crafted everything from cozy homes to towering commercial spaces, joins us to break down the nuanced dance between architects and engineers. He'll pull back the curtain to reveal the critical balance of beauty and functionality in construction, offering insider stories like the Bronx property conversion that proved the indispensable value of professional expertise. Our conversation illuminates the path to obtaining architectural licensing and the breadth of a license in New York—insights that could redefine how you view the built environment around you.
Stepping beyond blueprints, we venture into the transformative landscape of real estate ethics. Unearthing tales of clandestine midnight closings and surprise house purchases, this episode underscores why today's transparency standards are revolutionizing the industry. We champion the cause of integrity and the necessity of engaging licensed professionals, serving as a beacon for young entrepreneurs and seasoned investors alike. Wrapping up, we share an empowering call to action: approach your dreams with the conviction of constructing a skyscraper, and trust in the guidance of seasoned professionals to soar to new heights. Join us again on "Suit Up with Bias" for more revelations that will fuel your next big project.
Hello everyone, welcome to Suit Up with Bias Podcast. This is episode three. We have a special guest today. His name is Franklin Estrella, our licensed architect in New York, so let's welcome Franklin. Franklin, we are extremely excited to have you here. I call Franklin for everything. He's my guy to go to. I really appreciate you coming here, taking your time to come over here to our platform and to inform our public. You know so, franklin, tell us about you.
Speaker 2:Been an architect for over 30 years.
Speaker 1:Okay, wow.
Speaker 2:Practice in the state of New York I have done from residential, commercials, community facilities like churches and doctors offices and all kinds of medical offices. Through the years I develop skills in restaurant design.
Speaker 1:Restaurants Okay.
Speaker 2:I've done a lot of churches and I have also worked in rehabilitation of properties, large and small.
Speaker 1:Wow, so you've been doing it for 30 years 30 years, wow. So I know within those 30 years you got tons of experience. Wow, 30 years is a lot of years. So, franklin, I actually got a question for you Before I got into business. I always thought being an engineer and architect was the same thing. Is it the same thing?
Speaker 2:Not at all.
Speaker 1:Not at all. It's a huge difference.
Speaker 2:It requires different skills.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:The architects, by definition, is a professional who specializes in design and planning. Okay, the architect does the design on the planning and either supervised it, selected by the owner, supervises the construction, makes sure the construction matches the planning that has been done and approved by the building departments.
Speaker 1:and all the authorities.
Speaker 2:The engineers role is traditionally in charge of designing all the infrastructure, of the design that has been done by the architect. Why? Because the engineer does the calculation for structure, does the calculation for electrical, does the calculation for mechanical systems. Those are the traditional roles, but engineers can do way more than that.
Speaker 1:So an engineer could also do an architect as well, right?
Speaker 2:They can do the architects role as well, may not be able to do it. As efficiently as an architect, but legally they can do it.
Speaker 1:You as an architect? Can you also do a role of engineer or not?
Speaker 2:No, not at all. We're not licensed to do some of the things that they do.
Speaker 1:Gotcha, you're only licensed in New York State, correct?
Speaker 2:Only in New York State.
Speaker 1:So when you say New York State is the entire state of New York.
Speaker 2:The entire state of New York.
Speaker 1:Because you know, like contractors, for some reason they license in New York City only or Westchester County or part of Westchester. So I thought the architect was the same way, that it would just license in Pacific areas like New York City only. But you're saying New York State entirely.
Speaker 2:But even the contractor. They can transfer their licensing by opening another license in a different state, but they have to do it in sequence.
Speaker 1:Gotcha, yeah. So, guys, I actually have a beautiful story I want to share with you guys. That actually that's when I met Franklin. Someone referred me to Franklin. It was the best thing that happened. So I actually bought a property about what? Two to three years ago Two, three years ago. It's in the Bronx, south Bronx. I bought a single family home and when I walked into this property I saw the document before I got in contact with you and I noticed that I could convert. It was a single family and I noticed that I could convert it to a two family. And that's when I came and spoke to Franklin about doing a conversion. And tell us about that, franklin, a little bit about it.
Speaker 2:Well, I don't expect a realtor to know what I know.
Speaker 1:Of course.
Speaker 2:So what I did? I surveyed the building of the building department. I went and researched and find out that the some of the houses in that block were actually two family originally designed and that they also had extensions that were legally done. On the naked eye I would have said somebody did something to the building and it's really a one family. But when I looked at the records and find more record, it took us a long time to get all the records in order to prove that this was a two family house. It was intended to be a two family house. Therefore, we took upon ourselves to design it as a two family and do the construction and completed it and we got a letter, letter no objection from the building department test to find that this was a two family house.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So I want to go back a little bit. I saw that we all thought when we first all walked in, especially me we saw that there was an extension to the property and I just heard you mentioned it a little bit. So on an extension, guys, I thought you know, usually in the city a lot of people do extensions illegally, right? So I thought it was an illegal extension. Thank God that you did your research the correct way as the profession, that you are right, so you instantly did your homework on that extension. Tell us about the extension that we all thought it was illegal. I'm not sure if you did, but I could talk on my team. We all thought it was an illegal extension.
Speaker 2:When we did the survey or the research of the building department, we realized that some building in the black, even though they all the same had the extension, and others didn't have the extension.
Speaker 2:So that was scary because how are we going to now cut the building in order to comply with a 30 foot rear yard requirement? So before filing the job, I made sure that I found the right drawings with the stamp from the building department indicating that that particular address had the extension in it, because some of the extensions they call them open grease ways or open terraces or open balconies and they are not supposed to be enclosed. It was enclosed and it had windows all around it. So finally, we did find a drawing that address that issue, and we were able to prove to the building department that the extension, even though it didn't comply with the zoning for the rear yard requirement, that it was existing and the survey helped us also to show that it was existing.
Speaker 2:So, combining the two, we were able to prove that this was an existing condition that could be continued the way it was. By today's standard, we could have never gotten that approved.
Speaker 1:No, right, you made that clear to us about the extension. So in New York City I know you want to say that a lot in New York City I have windows when I go list properties with the team there's a lot of legal extensions. But these illegal extension right To the public, right? What do you recommend these people? That converting illegal extensions or what they should do before doing an extension, because it seems like in the city there's a lot of decks, illegal extensions, right? I think people understand that it has to be part of the CO, correct?
Speaker 2:That's correct.
Speaker 1:So what do you recommend? Those that are doing illegal extension, illegal decks and they decide to sell their home right, but it's gonna become an issue in the future.
Speaker 2:My experience shows me dealing with realtors.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:They go to the closing table. No one knows about simple things such as violations. I have gotten from called the same day of the closing. We can't close because we find out that we have violations and we have issue with the survey, we have issue of extension and I'm going like what happened. The professionals involved are supposed to check this and let the buyer know that there is a problem before you even go to closing, so that it could be addressed on time, so that you can close fast. So, or assume some kind of a responsibility from professional to address the issue after the closing yeah, that requires some commitment, both professionally and financially, in order to address it at a later date. Yeah, if you want to close.
Speaker 1:So I'm happy that he mentioned that because once I met you, you was the one that taught me how to check violations, how to review even seals.
Speaker 1:He had taught me how to reseals. So when we go list properties, right, Most realtors don't get that experience of when they list the property they don't do that full research and then when the title comes, and then everyone start coming, questioning, survey, comes in you know, and start questioning what is this Instance start questioning all these things I usually know ahead of time because I go to DOB, HPD and I go from the ECB and I start doing my full research, like a title search, in other words, before we even list the property. So let's show you saying a lot of realtors wait till the last day, they just go list the property and don't do the full research on these properties. Right, that's correct. But me myself I go and I go and contact a person like Franklin, a licensed architect, If I have a question or anything. He's my guy to go to and ask him more questions and he always got me very, very great and always turns out really good.
Speaker 2:Sometimes it's not good news.
Speaker 1:I wish they were all good news. Yeah, he definitely always tells me a good and bad news, but I wish it was always good news. But one thing about Franklin that I appreciate he's very transparent, so he always give it to me. In other words, like Alice, this is what's going on with this property. You know these are the issues he's gonna come up with, right? So, like I witness a lot of people doing illegal extensions, a lot, I did.
Speaker 2:I participated with a realtor.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:On a case where the owners were ready to close on the property and they were, if I don't recall well, 17 waiting violations against the property. Wow, the total amount of the violation, just the ECB violation, civil penalty, exceeded the $150,000.
Speaker 1:Wow.
Speaker 2:And they had no clue that this was there.
Speaker 1:It happens a lot to a lot of people in the city.
Speaker 2:And it had stop work orders. It had vacate order. Oh actually the people have some strong ones. The owner was not supposed to be living in the building and when we tried to remove the violation, the inspector issue another violation for failure to comply with the vacate order and that causes $3,000 separate.
Speaker 1:So when they got a vacate order and they don't comply, they got fine. Yes, Do they get arrested?
Speaker 2:Yes, well, they depending. If it's a commercial property with public assembly, you can get an arrest.
Speaker 1:Wow, yeah, so vacate order guys is very serious.
Speaker 2:Very serious. The city seems to ignore it.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:For a long time. But when it comes to removing the violation and they found people living in the space that is supposed to have a back at order, they have the right to issue another violation, which costs you more than the initial violation because you failed to do what the law says.
Speaker 1:Gotcha.
Speaker 2:You're supposed to correct the violation, call for an inspection, nobody living there, and then after that you can move in. After they remove the vacate order.
Speaker 1:So I got a question for you. So if you want to legalize a deck or legalize an extension or driveway, what is the public, the homeowners, are supposed to do before they go and start building on their property or doing any type of work on their property? What do you recommend?
Speaker 2:The first thing is to go to a professional.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:And the reason is because each zoning, each municipality has different rules.
Speaker 1:When you mean profession, you mean like a licensed architect.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Okay, perfect.
Speaker 2:And why? Because if you don't go to them for advice, you don't know what you can build and how much you can build. You can't go by what the next door neighbor has.
Speaker 1:It's all about measurements.
Speaker 2:Because a lot of people assume that because the neighbor has it.
Speaker 1:Please let them know.
Speaker 2:They did it legally. So I've seen a lot of extension, illegal extension. I look up the information on that property and the first thing I notice is there's nothing on file indicating that that extension was legal, that it was done properly. As a matter of fact, there is no record period on that property. And so now the neighbor is thinking that because they did it or because they have it, you can have it. But you don't know the size of the other lot to determine whether that's legal or not. So you have to go by your lot, your location. That determines whether you can build it or not. And it's most costly to have to demolish the building or the extension Then for you to go to a professional and have them review it. And even after they review it, you better make sure that you have an approval from the city that you win, because if you don't have that approved and you build it according to that plan, you're still subject to having a violation because you exceeded or you did more than what you were supposed to do.
Speaker 1:So basically, we first say I was a homeowner, first thing I need to do is first contact Eliza and Architect You're going to basically go based on basically the code of rezoning and the measurements, right, you will need a survey, in other words, give you all the measurement of the outside. They want to do an extension, right. And then what will be the next step after doing all that stuff?
Speaker 2:Once it's determined what can be done, then the architect has to design how to if it's a deck, how to design the deck structurally so it supports properly and it meets all the requirements of the code.
Speaker 1:Okay, perfect, so then you would draw it, in other words, for them.
Speaker 2:Well, it's a detailed architectural drawing to build it.
Speaker 1:To build it and you submit it to DOB from there.
Speaker 2:For approval.
Speaker 1:Gotcha Okay and I'm actually curious about things. I love to hear stories and I think everyone does. Is there a story that sticks out to you the most, Like what was probably the craziest story in your 30 years of being an architect? Is there a story, specifically, that you could share with us and let us know like that sticks out to you and sounds like you know a story that it will stick out to everyone else In the 30 years?
Speaker 2:And then the street we don't have enough time to do the number of stories, but the one I think that will affect your viewers. Yeah has to do with a buyer. I have seen closing that are illegal closing. When I mean illegal closing, is. One time I was at a place closing on two properties At one o'clock in the morning. Ten years later, find out that that's illegal.
Speaker 1:So wait, you was in the closing. To what time you said one o'clock in the morning. Wow, and attorneys, title company was there, everyone was there. Why was this lot closing so extended so long? I'm so curious. I.
Speaker 2:Had no clue. I had no idea there was so many closing. They were doing so many what year was this? So the public and no it was in the 80s, when the whole issue of the yeah you know, when they were closing, it was a skin. It was really a Pre-designed system to get people to buy properties Without then knowing what they were getting into.
Speaker 1:And once they were in it, I'm happy mentioning this story because a lot of people that bought properties in the past I say in the 2000, early 2000s, the 19th right they have this misconcept of how is the sales today? Sales are not the same. I mean, I cannot talk for those years but based on those stories, now sales not like that. Right. We hire a title company, right, title company. Their job is to do the full research on your property, right, and they find anything on the property and he leans any leans violations. They bring it to your attention right to the bar. But before, I don't know how, it was title company before. But now when you're doing a sale you gotta give a clean title. None of that is gonna happen like or a closing on one, two in the morning, thanks up to five. They don't even want to be closed anymore. So that story is.
Speaker 2:It's very amazing that let me give you another story.
Speaker 1:Go ahead, please, this is real, very real.
Speaker 2:They close on a house where the buyer was not present at closing 600,000 dollar house. The way the owner find out. The new owner find out that she had actually closed on a property without closing, without being there. She received the bill from the for the monthly payment.
Speaker 1:Oh, Jesus on the mail.
Speaker 2:Obviously she called the police and Everybody involved lost their license.
Speaker 1:Well, I mean that I'm happy that happened because the reality is that us, as professionals, we got a guide and protect our public right. And I'm happy that happened because we really the reality is this guys us, as the Licensed professionals that we are, we can be doing things like that. I mean we have to protect the public and guide the public public accordingly. So, wow, what a what a crazy story.
Speaker 2:What?
Speaker 1:year was this though. This is also in the 80s 80s was crazy that I wasn't born.
Speaker 2:I got a phone call from an attorney who was scared she thought she was gonna lose her license Because she had represented the buyer and the seller All the time.
Speaker 1:Oh, man, I've never seen that my life Really. Yeah, on both sides, representing both sides so much conflict of interest there.
Speaker 2:Definitely. Wow, how many years she she was doing this for a long time, but for some reason, I guess, you got greedy.
Speaker 1:Wow, and that that's what happens a lot, that a lot of people get greedy, but at the end of it, when you're doing something wrong, it's gonna come to the light. I always say that that's why me and my team we very transparent work on the books because everything's gonna come to the light. Right, you might be thinking you're you're filling your pockets up, but are you enjoying it? Cuz I, deep down, you feel guilt. If you're a good person, got conscious, you, you feel good. So it's very important to always be honest and transparent with every client and People I work with. People I refer, like yourself, I refer you a few people. They always come back to me and tell me Franklin, wow, where you found this guy? Right, because our thing is working with people Just like you, frankly, transparent, honest.
Speaker 2:You have to surround yourself with the right professionals Because the consequences after closing on a property that is gonna take 30 years for you to pay it. It's a big commitment and any mistake, any error of Information can really kill the project.
Speaker 1:So, franklin, we have this public watching you. I'm seeing you. I'm huge on asking what advice would you give the youth or anyone that's trying to be in the career that you're in, or us and the real estate industry, what advice would you give anyone like to uplift them?
Speaker 2:I would say the simplest thing to do is do you have the desire within you to do a Specific thing, doesn't matter what it's architecture, engineers and so on? I have young people in my office come in, I See the potentials in a different field. I Try to guide them into that field where they fit better. Maybe the father or the mother want them to be architect and they send them to me and I take them over and I train them and and I realize you're not cut to do that Just by the way they behave, how they react towards what they're doing, I can tell that they don't belong there. So I advise them to have that passion within themselves, to really want to do that, because it takes a lot.
Speaker 1:It's a lot, especially when you're an entrepreneur. Right it's, it takes a lot. People think being an entrepreneur is like oh easy. It's not easy at all, guys, but I enjoy it. I know you enjoy it. You've been doing it for way more years than me 30 years plus.
Speaker 1:I'm still and still doing it, still strong and still guiding us, the young ones like myself, and so I'm happy that you sharing that story right and sharing that advice to the public guys have always in mind it's always good to work with professionals, right? Like a licensed architect, a licensed real estate broker. It's always good to always work with them, right. So, guys, I want to share with you guys a quote. I'm huge on quotes, for everyone knows about. I want to show this quote and, alright, some motivational quote. It goes design your dreams with determination and watch them rise like skyscrapers against the skyline of your aspirations. So I hope that quote uplift anyone out there and Always work with a professional. That's my advice to everyone. Always work with a professional. Alright, guys, thank you for watching suit up with bias podcast. Like, share, comment and subscribe guys. See you guys in the next episode. Take care, guys.