How do you scale a real estate portfolio while maintaining a full-time career, raising a family, and preparing to take on bigger multifamily deals?

In Episode 12 of When Real Estate Gets Real, I sat down with Hugo Macau, Managing Partner of Forest Estate LLC Commercial Real Estate, to talk about Hugo’s journey from the IT world into hands-on real estate ownership and commercial multifamily investing.

Hugo currently owns nine units across three properties and is preparing to close on a 25-unit portfolio spread across four properties in Providence, Rhode Island. He shares how skills from his IT career including analysis, project management, contract negotiation, and organization have helped him evaluate opportunities and build his real estate business.

But scaling from a handful of units into larger multifamily deals changes the game.

Hugo discusses learning to delegate, building a team of property management, legal, and accounting professionals, working with like-minded investors, and maintaining the standards that matter to him as his portfolio grows.

• How Hugo transitioned from IT into real estate investing • Why the first property can be the hardest one to buy • How corporate skills can transfer into commercial real estate • What Hugo looks for when analyzing real estate opportunities • Why scaling requires learning to trust and delegate • How investor relationships fit into Hugo’s growth strategy • Why tenant experience matters beyond the numbers • Hugo’s goal of reaching 100–200 units in the next year • How generational wealth influences his long-term vision • His advice for people afraid to make their first real estate move

[00:00] — Meet Hugo Macau [01:00] — The 25-Unit Providence Portfolio [02:35] — From Portugal to Canada to the United States [04:20] — Overcoming Fear on the First Real Estate Deal [05:30] — Why Real Estate Became Hugo’s Passion [07:00] — Using IT and Negotiation Skills in Real Estate [09:00] — Balancing Career, Family, and Property Ownership [11:25] — Building Relationships With Real Estate Investors [13:25] — Becoming a Steward of Investor Capital [14:30] — Building a Team to Scale Multifamily [16:30] — Hugo’s Goals for 100–200 Units [18:25] — Generational Wealth and Hugo’s “Why” [20:00] — Advice for New Real Estate Investors [22:15] — How to Connect With Hugo Macau

For Hugo, real estate isn't simply about reaching a certain number of units. It's about building something meaningful, creating homes people value, and establishing a legacy for the next generation.

Want a chance to share your side of the story?

Apply to be a guest: https://whenrealestategetsreal.com/podcast-booking