Carolena & Brad's Real Estate Investing Journey
From Setback to Scaling Up
Carolena and Brad’s Journey with Level Up Capital
When Carolena and Brad first dipped their toes into real estate in 2021, they thought it would be a side hustle. Their very first townhouse, an off-market deal in Kannapolis, rented the day after closing. “It was one of the easiest transactions we’ve ever done, even to this day,” Brad recalls. “And we just looked at each other and said, ‘Yeah, let’s do that again.’”
🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube
New Paragraph
For a while, real estate lived alongside their long-standing family business in the automotive industry. But when that business closed in 2023 after 44 years, they suddenly had a choice to make: retreat or lean into the new path. They chose the latter. “It wasn’t necessarily our choice,” Carolena reflects. “I truly think it was the Lord that just nudged us onto this path.”
Today, they’re full-time real estate investors running Level Up Capital. Brad is a licensed general contractor, Carolena a licensed real estate broker. Together, they buy, renovate, and build properties across Cabarrus County—always with their eyes set on the bigger picture: long-term wealth, legacy, and community impact.
Finding the Right Partner at the Right Time
By 2023, Carolena and Brad were ready to scale. They had cut their teeth on older homes, but the constant surprises behind century-old walls were wearing them down. They wanted to shift into development, but knew they couldn’t do it alone.
That’s when a friend mentioned Branch Wealth Partners. “Honestly, at first I thought it sounded sketchy,” Carolena laughs. “I’d never heard of something like this—an entire company that works alongside real estate investors. But we met with Christina and Greg, and right away, we could tell they were the real deal. Genuine. Helpful. Experienced.”
For them, Greg in particular was more than just a consultant. “We were praying for someone who could come alongside us, someone we could learn from,” Carolena says. “I even joked that we were looking for a ‘dad’—but what we really needed was a mentor. Greg has been exactly that. Truly, an answered prayer.”
Turning Three Parcels Into a Scalable Strategy
Their current project is a perfect snapshot of their growth. Driving through Concord one afternoon, Brad spotted a hand-lettered For Sale By Owner sign. They bought the 4.5-acre site, split into three parcels, and closed in just two weeks.
On one parcel, they renovated the existing home from top to bottom—new floors, fresh paint, updated bathrooms, and a brand-new kitchen. “We’ve touched every square inch of this house,” Brad says.
On the second parcel, they’re building new with McAllister Creek Development, Branch Wealth’s construction partner. A three-bedroom, two-bath home is already in its final stages, with counters, flooring, and fixtures going in. “There’s such a learning curve with new construction,” Brad admits. “But McAllister Creek are masters at it—it’s what they do every day. They’ve made the process smooth, efficient, and way better than if I’d tried to do it myself.”
The third parcel is where the long-term vision shines: a build-to-rent multifamily project. The plan begins with a three-unit townhouse building, with room to add several more phases across the four acres. “The idea is to sell the first two homes and, in doing so, essentially get the land for free,” Carolena explains. “That sets us up to build rentals that will cash flow for years to come.”
Why They Invest
For Carolena and Brad, real estate is about far more than transactions. It’s about family, freedom, and faith.
“Biblically, we’re called to build generational wealth,” Carolena says. “We want our grandkids not just to inherit money, but to inherit opportunity. We want them to be hard workers, but we also want them to have a strong foundation to build on.”
The work also gives them freedom to travel, to show their children different parts of the world, and to bless others along the way. “If we have a tenant in a hard spot, we love being able to show grace,” Brad adds. “That’s important to us. Real estate puts us in a position to lift others up, even in small ways.”
Looking Ahead
With the renovation nearly complete, the new build close to listing, and plans in motion for the multifamily, Carolena and Brad are already thinking about the next phase. And thanks to Branch Wealth and McAllister Creek, they don’t feel like they’re doing it alone.
“Greg and Christina have walked every step of this with us,” Carolena says. “They’ve been a blessing to our business and to us personally. Having that kind of mentorship changes everything. We’re not just building houses—we’re building a future.”
A Note from Branch Wealth
It’s relationships like this that make us love doing what we do. We know there’s a need out there for great mentorship—for people who want to learn, grow, and build something bigger than themselves. And we want to connect with them.
If you’re ready to learn more:
- Grab our free guide
- Join one of our monthly deep-dive workshops
Because the right knowledge — and the right mentorship — can make all the difference in your investing journey.
