The Massive Real Estate Opportunity Tony Ferrante Sees in Jackson, Mississippi

Tony Ferrante (00:00)

And well, I mean, I don’t want to say it’s not about the dollar because I mean it’s always, you’re investing so it is about the dollar. I mean, hey my thing is like this. if nobody else is gonna do it, heck yeah, I’ll be the one who reims in all the money from doing what somebody else is too lazy to do, I guess, if you wanna put it like that. But that’s not the reasoning behind it. It’s just the opportunity is there and it’s like Really? I mean, this is y’all’s capital city and this is what it looks like, what I’m saying?

So but as far as the investment side of it goes, I mean I can’t think of anywhere else where you could just take a little money and make a lot out of it.

Meghan Escobar (02:04)

Welcome back to Real Estate Pros Podcast, hosted by Investor Fuel. I am your host, Meghan Escobar, and today I have the pleasure of sitting down with a gentleman who accidentally got into the real estate world in two thousand and eleven. He’s got an incredible story. I’ve had the honor of

Chatting with him for the last hour or so and it it’s been really great getting to know him. He is the owner and founder of Prestige Consulting Firm doing business in Jackson, Mississippi. Tony Ferrante.

Tony Ferrante (02:33)

There you go.

Meghan Escobar (02:34)

thank you so much for joining us on the show today. I’m so happy to have you here.

Tony Ferrante (02:38)

Glad to be here.

Meghan Escobar (02:39)

Absolutely. So diving into this, somebody who might not be familiar with your name or what Prestige Consulting Firm is all about, can you give us kind of a 30,000 foot view of what your focus is these days with your company, how you position yourself and what markets you’re operating in?

Tony Ferrante (02:59)

Well, I like to think of myself or my company as a kind of a all around one stop shop for investor needs. but the past few months we’ve been trying to focus here in Jackson, Mississippi, ’cause I had kind of seen an opportunity or heard of an opportunity. Came to check it out. Yes, there’s definitely an opportunity here. And so I wanted to get a little better view of it and we’re just

the past few weeks really started to get some real good leadway and some ideas starting to come in.

Meghan Escobar (03:27)

Okay. And one thing that really stuck out to me when chatting with you is the passion that you have to give back. We talked about the underdevelopment of that Jackson, Mississippi area and you just seeing this vision and having these projects underway is really something you’re super passionate about. Do you do you mind honing in on, where that comes from and maybe what the vision is for you?

Tony Ferrante (03:52)

Well, I grew up with nothing. but when I came here, and saw that this is the state capital of Mississippi and it’s like a abandoned. It’s just there’s people here and but the buildings, I mean I’m talking commercial buildings, housing, just streets, just abandoned. I mean, you got trees growing up in parking lots, out of the cracks.

but when I see that, not only is there, the buildings abandoned, but it’s like the community’s kind of going away. But it’s still here, so there’s nothing for kids to do. And if somebody wants anything, they’ve got to drive, a long way. There’s the housing is the it’s not plentiful. So we we need to try to get that back. But there’s just great opportunity here as far as, the

price points of g picking up assets. And but just as a community, I mean there’s just a lot of need for some investors to come in here and let’s get this community back. The city has been trying. They’ve got some ideas as well, but it’s gonna take more than what just they can do. They’re not gonna do the whole thing. So I think we if we can get some investment teams in here, which is what I’ve got working on now. I think it’d be a really big impact.

Meghan Escobar (04:54)

That’s such a beautiful thing. So for you it’s more it’s clearly not just about making a dollar because it’s a lot of work putting being put in on your end to simply even just get people to see the vision that you see and build in the community back to where Yeah.

Tony Ferrante (05:10)

Right,

And well, I mean, I don’t want to say it’s not about the dollar because I mean it’s always, you’re investing so it is about the dollar. I mean, hey my thing is like this. if nobody else is gonna do it, heck yeah, I’ll be the one who reims in all the money from doing what somebody else is too lazy to do, I guess, if you wanna put it like that. But that’s not the reasoning behind it. It’s just the opportunity is there and it’s like Really? I mean, this is y’all’s capital city and this is what it looks like, what I’m saying?

So but as far as the investment side of it goes, I mean I can’t think of anywhere else where you could just take a little money and make a lot out of it.

Meghan Escobar (05:43)

Yeah. It’s amazing stuff. So it’s like it you see the bigger

problem and you’re there to provide the solution.

Tony Ferrante (05:50)

It’s one of those things where like definitely when you’re gonna invest, you wanna kinda know as much as you can about what you’re going to invest in. So coming down here and put my eyes on everything and actually seeing everything, mingling with the people, that makes it a little bit easier. So I might have a little bit more of an understanding than somebody that’s in California that hears, Jackson, Mississippi, well they had the water issues back here and this

And it’s so dangerous. it’s no different than any other city. I’ve been walking around here for a little over three months. Beautiful downtown. just needs a little help. great people, for the most part. just really walking around where it’s like they just kind of have been forgotten. take your worst part of whatever market or city that you’re in, and just say that’s what the whole

Cities like. But it doesn’t have to be. there’s a lot of opportunity.

Meghan Escobar (06:35)

every operator I know has had a has had a moment where things got real for them. And you mentioned the your accidental fall into real estate in 2011, which we’re now in 2026, so you’ve been at it for quite some time. I’m sure there’s some moments where you had to pivot fast or

Things might have gone sideways. And I always like to bring one of these stories into the role because a lot of times, people aren’t hearing the struggles on the back end of what it might take to reach a certain level of success. Do you mind sharing, Tony, one of those for you?

Tony Ferrante (07:59)

I mean I did I guess it the passion came early, made my first deal real quick to actually my buyer that bought it is actually one of my business partners. But I kinda chased my tail some for a little while and I kind of decided that this was the time to really dig in and see who’s who pro Facebook and find out.

Who’s a really a wholesaler and who’s saying they’re a buyer, but they’re a wholesaler and who’s this and who’s that, finding out who the scammers are and who’s trying to put people on the table because there’s just no room for that. I mean, there’s be transparency’s just the easiest way. So I just and doing that, picking people’s brains, trying to figure out, hey, what am I doing wrong? What am I missing? I met a lot of really good people

You’ve got to really pick people’s brains that have been there and done that, not watch a YouTube video or listen to somebody that doesn’t have much experience or anything else. Find the people who are out there really doing it. But and the ones that’ll sit there and, take time with you, those are the ones that you’re really, really gonna look learn from. And don’t ever forget it and don’t never take your hand off their shoulder and always let them lead you and just, because they’re gonna learn from you as well.

I might think, I know everything, but I don’t. I know I don’t because once you think that you have, you’re done. you’ve always got to be able to, keep your mind up and learn new things. I don’t even know how to do certain things in here, but I know the ins and outs, but I don’t want to be the one to try to do it because I don’t have that experience, but I know somebody does. Because I build my network like that. That’s what I do is I build a team. I trust my team, let them do what they’re gonna do, makes things a little bit easier.

I just quarterback it, but I continue to build my network.

Meghan Escobar (09:32)

That’s awesome. Thank you so much, Tony, for sharing that because that’s I believe is like the stuff that people just don’t talk about enough. And it’s what separates folks who are here to just create a quick transaction, make a few extra dollars versus those who are, in the game long term, which you clearly have been, right? So

Tony Ferrante (09:50)

Yeah, I’m trying.

Meghan Escobar (09:50)

what’s the next what’s the next big problem you’re looking to solve or scale?

Tony Ferrante (09:55)

there’s just so many things that can be done. but I’ve got an idea to help fix the homeless situation here in Jackson with some of these homes. some of these buildings. They don’t have a lot of shelters or anything for here. A lot of on the streets walking. I mean you can drive by and

There’s some parts of the city that are okay and then some places just like they get profiled for walking into a gas station just because somebody else did something. So, there’s a lot of opportunity even for some of these guys. I talked to several of they have construction backgrounds and I can get some jobs for If they really want to get off the street and they really want some help, I mean, I’m willing to help But

I just want to be able to just make this state capital again. Make it to where when people come here there’s things to do. you just walk downtown and it’s actually really, quiet. if you’re in the city the center of downtown Jackson, you have to walk a mile to it. There’s four gas stations that’s around, you have to walk a mile to get to either one of But once you get to those, they’re all over the place. But nothing down there.

Not of hardly anything to eat, I talked to s some of the vendors and stuff or some of the like bank workers and people who work at some of these offices. What do y’all do when you gotta do this? we gotta go and jump in the car and lose our parking spots, this, that and other. And I said, Well, would it make it easier if y’all had a convenience store to go and get you a soda or anything that you need or,

I’m taking a sack lunch when you gotta drive to a McDonald’s or when there’s nothing, They said, Man, that’d be great. I said, What about for the ladies? Would you all like to have a nail slime that you on your lunch break you could go and get your nails done? Like every one of There’s

Meghan Escobar (11:25)

Yeah.

Tony Ferrante (11:27)

just nothing like that down there. So that’s one of the things is I’m talking to the community and all over the place, taking polls on certain social media saying, Hey, if we were to do this, what would you like? Where would you like to have it?

Trying to get feedback so if people wanna come in and invest, I can be the a real good source of information to let them know, hey, these are the opportunities, this is what’s the need. I mean, there’s nothing for really the kids to do here at all. And so if you want to talk about go back to that violence thing, well, it all starts with the children ’cause they are our future. So let’s figure out what we can do to keep them off the streets, give something positive to do. Amen. They say, something’s gonna start shooting, but hey, I’ve got a solution to that too, but which that we won’t get into. But

There’s a solution to everything. But it’s like they say, was it one drop makes a ripple and that ripple turns into a wave, but it all starts at that one little drop in the ripple to start a wave. Just hoping that maybe I’m just that little ripple that starts the wave. at least I’m trying so I can at least say, Hey, I’m doing something, what I mean? Yeah. But there’s a massive opportunity.

Meghan Escobar (12:26)

Yeah, I think you’re doing a great job, You you’re doing the thing the work that most people don’t want to because there’s a little bit of elbow grease you gotta put into it,

Tony Ferrante (13:16)

Yeah. I mean, if you want to make money, nothing comes for free. I mean, sometimes it’s putting the elbow grates or slinging a hammer or, using the shovel. some of the stuff that I do, I mean, that’s some of the hardest because that’s the whole plan. Because the shovel and the hammer don’t amount to anything until the plan comes into motion. I don’t even just do that myself. I’ve got agents, I’ve got other investors, I’ve got the community, board meetings, the police departments.

all that kind of stuff that you that goes into it. So I I’ve got a lot of work coming, but I know what? I need investors to come in and help. I can’t do it all on my own. I do have an investment fund. I can, do the hard and private money brokering. I can get funding. But we need the investors to come in and, don’t be afraid, put your foot in the water, take a little test.

Yeah.

Meghan Escobar (13:58)

Yeah, I love that. And another thing that we kind of talked about and I think that will benefit our audience is you building relationships and growing your network. You mentioned, having a lot of connections and with powerful people, helping you throughout your journey in different all over the world really. And so for when it comes to building and growing your network, what has made the biggest difference for you in,

Making sure that you are in the right rooms and shaking the right hands.

Tony Ferrante (14:25)

the passion and the drive to just succeed just that’s just what keeps me going and just I guess just keeping my hands dipped in everything. It really I have the need for it. So, I’ve gotta stay on top of it. And so when I look at it as I tell everybody, look, I hired y’all ’cause I trust you. I don’t have to worry about it. Y’all do your thing. I’ll do mine. So we’ll get I’ll make sure we have what we need. So

mean it’s I’m nothing without the people that work for me, what I mean, work with me because we are a team. I mean, I I’m just the person who just has the ideas and I can do all of this, but I can’t do all of this. But I can if I have the right people in place. and so I built that up and

kinda went from there and just said as long as we have that and we got the money, we’re good. So I keep my hand in the pockets of the money and I keep my ear on the phone to the other people and always keep my eyes and ears open for opportunity knocking.

Meghan Escobar (15:14)

Love that. It’s definitely something you can’t fake in this space and you can’t go at it alone, You need the right thing behind you. So I really appreciate you sharing that. And before we do wrap everything up here, if someone, wanted to reach out to you, Tony, and connect with you and learn more about what you’re doing and get involved, what would be the best way for them to reach you?

Tony Ferrante (15:36)

let’s right now I’m just I’m really trying to get everything up and going right to have more focused on this business. So it’s kind of in the works. you can reach me at 769-233-0803. Call or text, I don’t answer, just please send me a text or you can email prestigeconsultants.af@gmail.com.

Meghan Escobar (15:58)

Perfect. Okay. And we’ll be sure to grab those links for you and drop them below

So perfect. Well listen, thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate you coming on here and sharing, your story, your perspective and more importantly, your wisdom and everything that you’re doing out there. We

Most certainly need more people in these spaces that are doing things the right way and who are willing to teach others how to do it the right way as well. So I wanna thank you again, Tony, for taking the time out of your day to be here with us today.

Tony Ferrante (16:26)

Th thank you so much for having me and I hope this really helps bring some people out here and really think about Jackson, Mississippi for their next investments. We’ll definitely be here to help if they do for sure.

Meghan Escobar (16:36)

Absolutely.

Tony Ferrante (16:36)

And thank you guys so much.

Meghan Escobar (16:38)

Yes, thank you. And for those of you that are tuning in, if you got any value from this, please be sure to hit like and subscribe. We’ve got more conversations coming in Tony Ferrante.

with operators just like Tony Ferrante here, who are out here building real businesses with real people in real time. We will see you on the next episode.