Business

Anyone Can Become A Real Estate Investor

Published

4 years ago

February 4, 2022

Many feel that an investment in real estate is something that can only be done by other people. That it’s enough to rent an apartment and get by, as anything more is too difficult. But Michelle Vega has spent a lot of her career proving that all have equal opportunities and possibilities when beginning a real estate journey, and not just to own a new house, but also to turn that house into a form of income.

Hailing from the heart of New Jersey, Michelle always had dreams of making it big. She started into the world of employment at the young age of 13, when she began helping her grandmother manage her flower shop. The experience she gained in this fast paced environment enabled her to create career goals for her future at an age when many people don’t yet understand what it means to hold down a job. Michelle Vega used her skills to take on two, part time jobs during high school, and was set on working in a life of sales afterward. After graduating, she moved to North Carolina on a hunt for bigger and better opportunities. Despite deterrents and roadblocks, Michelle never slowed down, and used every hurdle as a way to learn something new, or otherwise better herself. Experiences working for other companies eventually brought her to the realization that the only way to realize her full potential would be to eliminate ceilings created by other employers. She set out to get her real estate license, and, very soon, began a career as an entrepreneur.

But Michelle Vega’s motivation for making it big in the real estate field wasn’t just so that she could become a successful entrepreneur. During the journey that had led her into her new life, she’d seen that there was an untapped market of home buyers. Buyers that reminded her a lot of herself. In her search for employment and opportunity, she had found herself held back many times due to the simple fact that not everyone would make time to assist those just starting out. It meant more work and guidance, and many people were not willing to put in that extra effort.

Later in her life, when Michelle Vega entered the real estate field, she vowed to attend to this portion of the market that she felt was being neglected. She realized that there were people everywhere that had the same questions she’d had, and were being largely ignored because of this extra attention they would need. She didn’t plan, however to simply sell these people houses. She wanted to help them make decisions that could give them a new life. Personally, Michelle had begun purchasing homes with the intent of using them as investment properties, and it hadn’t taken long for her to see the long term benefit in this strategy. She wanted to help others who had been in her position to do the same. With this goal in mind, she began focusing on the groups of people who needed the most help. People who hadn’t had the chance to develop a high credit score, people with student loans, people with pending immigration statuses…she invested the same amount of dedication into these lives as she’d put into her own, and immediately began to see results. In 2019 alone, Michelle Vega sold 130 houses. Shortly after, she began creating her own team of Realtors, and, in 2020, they sold 230 houses. With the numbers still rising, this team has surpassed 300 homes in 2021. But she didn’t just sell these people houses, she provided guidance and mentorship to them so that they could use their properties as investments rather than just homes. In fact, this is what Michelle Vega loves the most about her job.

“I love the ability to change lives. If I help a single mom today, making $13/hr buy her own house, even if it’s not the dream home, she can make an investment in her family’s future. In a year (the way the market is trending), she can sell that house for a profit, and buy another. Or start buying rental properties with the equity she has acquired.”

Over 90% of these homes have been bought by first time home buyers and those immigrating from other countries. Many of these people may struggle to find employment that will get them ahead in life, but Michelle is proud of the fact that she is able to help these families set themselves up for a better future by guiding them through the process of real estate investment.

Business

Click for Counsel: YesLawyer Wants to Make Lawyers as Accessible as Wi-Fi

Published

1 week ago

April 1, 2026

Matthew Wiles

Photo Courtesy of: YesLawyer

Byline: Andi Stark

For many people facing a legal problem, the most difficult part is not understanding their rights but finding a lawyer willing to speak with them in the first place. Long wait times, unclear pricing, and administrative hurdles often delay even the most basic consultations. YesLawyer, an AI-enabled plaintiff firm operating across all 50 states, is testing whether technology can shorten that gap.

Founded in 2024 by 25-year-old entrepreneur Rob Epstein, the platform offers free intake, automated screening, and, in many cases, same-day conversations with licensed attorneys. The idea is simple: reduce the friction between a client’s first request for help and an actual legal discussion. In this interview, Epstein explains how the system works, where artificial intelligence fits into the process, and what problems the company is trying to address in the broader legal system

Q: When you say you want lawyers to be “as accessible as Wi-Fi,” what does that mean in practical terms?

A: It’s a way of describing speed and availability. Someone dealing with a workplace dispute, a serious injury, or an immigration issue should be able to move from an online form or phone call to a real conversation with counsel in hours, not weeks. YesLawyer is structured so that a client begins with a free case evaluation, goes through automated conflict checks and basic screening, and, in many instances, speaks with a lawyer the same day.

Q: How does the process work once someone contacts the platform?

A: We use a structured workflow. It starts with a short questionnaire and an initial conversation to capture basic facts. That information feeds into conflict checks and internal review. The system then proposes a match with a licensed attorney and provides a calendar link for a virtual consultation, often within 24 hours. After the meeting, the client receives a written legal plan outlining next steps, deadlines, and estimated fees.

Q: Where does artificial intelligence fit into that process, and where does it stop?

A: AI is used for organizing and routing information, not for giving legal advice. It helps with conflict checks at scale, case categorization, and structured summaries so attorneys can focus on the substance of the matter. Every consultation is conducted by a licensed lawyer, and all decisions about strategy or next steps are made by humans.

Q: What problem is this model trying to solve in the current legal system?

A: Delay and cost are still major barriers. Many civil plaintiffs face long waits just to get a first appointment, along with high retainers and hourly billing that make early legal advice risky. We try to respond with faster consultations, flat-fee options, and financing. The idea is to remove administrative friction so lawyers spend less time on logistics and more time speaking with clients.

Q: Some critics say platforms like this blur the line between a technology company and a law firm. How do you describe YesLawyer?

A: We describe ourselves as a national, AI-enabled plaintiff firm that connects clients with independent attorneys. That structure does raise regulatory questions, especially around responsibility and oversight. We focus on licensing verification, attorney-written case plans, and clear communication about fees and services.

Q: You’ve said the main bottleneck is “systems” rather than people. What do you mean by that?

A: The issue isn’t that lawyers don’t want to help more people. It’s that the systems around them make it hard to scale their time. Intake, scheduling, and document handling take hours. Automating those parts means attorneys can handle more matters without being overwhelmed by repetitive tasks.

Q: Does this model risk favoring only the most profitable cases?

A: That’s a real concern in legal technology. Automation often works best for repeatable, high-volume disputes. Our view is that lowering administrative cost can actually make it easier to take on smaller or more complex cases that might otherwise be turned away. Whether that holds over time depends on the data.

Measuring Impact Over Time

YesLawyer’s attempt to compress the timeline between inquiry and consultation reflects broader changes in how legal services are being delivered. As artificial intelligence becomes more common in administrative work, firms are experimenting with new ways to reduce wait times and clarify costs.

The company’s early growth suggests that many clients value faster access to an initial conversation, even before considering long-term representation. Whether this platform-based model becomes widely adopted or remains one of several emerging approaches will depend on regulatory developments, lawyer participation, and measurable outcomes for clients. For now, YesLawyer’s experiment highlights a central question in modern legal practice: how quickly can help realistically be made available to the people who need it.