Exploring Life & Business with Elizabeth Blando of We Heart Homes KC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Blando.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Hi, I’m Lizzy. I help people invest in their future via real estate. When I bought my first home, I had just $300 left in my pocket after closing. I was a single mom with a big dream — not just for myself, but for the future I wanted to build for my daughter. I didn’t have deep pockets or endless resources. What I did have was a vision: to create passive income through real estate, earn my freedom, and someday move back to Mexico with my daughter, living a life designed on our terms.

I started small. I turned that first home into an Airbnb and became a Superhost, learning everything I could along the way. My initial goal was simple: buy three properties, build enough income to support us, and create a peaceful, sustainable life.

When I got my real estate license, it wasn’t to start a business — I just wanted a competitive advantage as a newbie investor trying not to feel imposter syndrome. It was also the same year I started dating and married my husband Emanuel Blando, who shared my passion for investing. He also rented out 3 rooms in his home to single men. He was planning on buying more investments locally. We admired each others hustle and he even thought I looked pretty while scrubbing the toilet in my airbnb, so I knew he was a keeper. He invited me to investor meetups etc. Again, I tried not to feel like an imposter. Then something unexpected happened. As I shared my journey — the real, raw story of starting with almost nothing — people’s eyes would light up. They saw themselves in my story. They caught the vision and made it their own.

And so, naturally and organically, We Heart Homes KC was born. I realized I had built something many others dreamed of doing, and I had the roadmap to help them do it too.

Today, I run a real estate business that helps small-time investors take their first steps toward passive income — for their futures, for their children, for the dreams they haven’t even fully spoken out loud yet. My portfolio has grown significantly, but it all traces back to that very first home. That small, scrappy purchase wasn’t just an investment in property — it was an investment in possibility. A leap of faith that changed everything.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not smooth! After buying my first home the sewer backed up, leading to clogged toilets and sewer coming up from the bathtubs during one of my airbnbs stay. Afterwards, Flooding the crawlspace, which broke the furnace, which froze the pipes, and then flooded my kitchen! If only I had gotten that sewer warranty that I now always get. I was so worried I couldn’t pay for all those items, I begged the bank to just take the home back. I’m glad they said no. lol. I figured it out and now it’s an amazing investment worth 100k more than what I bought it for.

We’ve been impressed with We Heart Homes KC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We Heart Homes KC is a gold mine or real estate know how for the first time home buyer trying to navigate the biggest purchase of their life to the newbie or seasoned investors, trying to figure out a 1031 exchange or how to estimate their cap rate.

We are know for being great communicators, problem-solvers, and having “a guy” for everything. We are also known for our number running spreadsheets, our curated vendor list for every house need imaginable.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Don’t give up! Don’t let someone else’s success trick you into thinking you are so far behind. It takes about 3-5 years to get established.

If you are a visionary, find yourself an implementer to partner with and vice versa.

Be Proud of your small beginnings right now. Don’t wait till your a big shot. Be proud of your hustle right now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.wehearthomeskc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wehearthomes_kc?igsh=MWtvZHUwNjh3MmEwbg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Other: https://linktr.ee/emanuelblando?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=eb0666d7-686d-4eee-914f-f32899d2c7a7