Today we’d like to introduce you to Julio Davila.
Hi Julio, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
At 22 years old, I began my professional journey in the United States Air Force, serving in medical logistics. During my time in the military, I learned discipline, adaptability, and the importance of teamwork — lessons that continue to guide me in everything I do today. It was also during that time that I discovered my passion for real estate. I convinced my wife to let me use our savings to invest — and purchased my first single-family home sight unseen for $155,000. With the help of my mom and stepdad, I renovated it myself, rented it out, and managed it while still serving full-time.
A year later, while still owning that home, I took another leap and purchased a duplex. I lived in one side and rented out the other, allowing the rental income to cover the mortgage while I continued to save. Managing both properties at once gave me valuable hands-on experience in operations, maintenance, and financial management. About a year and a half later, I sold the single-family home for $225,000 and reinvested the profits into a triplex, expanding my portfolio and deepening my understanding of real estate ownership.
Only six months after purchasing the triplex, I bought another duplex, which increased my cash flow enough to leave the military and begin my civilian career in property management. Turning my personal investment journey into a professional path felt natural — I had already learned how to lead, problem-solve, and think strategically.
During this time, I also made education a top priority. I earned a Certificate in Accounting, a Certificate in Human Resource Management, and a Certificate in Project Management, followed by an Associate’s Degree in Management Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. I went on to obtain my Georgia Real Estate License, and I am now a candidate for the Master of Science in Commercial Real Estate at Georgia State University. Each milestone strengthened my knowledge of the business, deepened my leadership skills, and expanded my perspective on what it takes to succeed in this industry.
After transitioning out of the Air Force, I began my career as an Assistant Property Manager overseeing multiple shopping centers. Managing tenants, vendors, and financial performance taught me how to balance business results with genuine care for people — lessons that continue to shape my leadership today.
Now, as the Property Manager at Retreat at River Park, I oversee a 222-unit community with a focus on excellence, resident experience, and long-term success. When I first took over, the property was 90% leased. Within three months, I brought occupancy to 100% and raised tenant satisfaction scores from 80% to 90% through improved communication, staff coordination, and resident engagement initiatives.
My journey from the Air Force to property management is a story of service, persistence, and purpose — proof that with discipline, education, and vision, you can build something meaningful from the ground up. What began as one investment and a willingness to take a chance on myself has grown into a lifelong mission: to lead, to serve, and to create communities people are proud to call home.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all — my path has been anything but smooth, and I’m thankful for it. The challenges along the way are what built my drive and resilience.
When I was 20 years old, I actually failed out of college. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life at that point, and that uncertainty pushed me to make a change. I decided to join the United States Air Force, which turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The military gave me structure, purpose, and discipline — qualities I didn’t fully have at the time. It also gave me the space to rediscover who I was and what I was capable of.
During my time in the Air Force, I started investing in real estate. I convinced my wife to let me use our savings to buy a home — not for us to live in, but as an investment. That first purchase, along with the properties that followed, completely changed my direction in life. Still, it wasn’t easy. Convincing my wife to live frugally while raising two children was tough. There were sacrifices, long nights, and moments of doubt, but those choices built our foundation for the future.
I also made plenty of mistakes — like not saving enough for capital expenses early on or jumping into short-term rentals before fully understanding the risks. And professionally, I went through two or three corporate roles before finding the right fit at RADCO Residential, where I finally felt aligned with a company that valued service, accountability, and community.
So no, it hasn’t been a smooth road. But every failure, every pivot, and every lesson has led me closer to my purpose. I’m proud of the path I’ve taken because it proves that setbacks don’t define you — how you respond to them does.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m currently the Property Manager at Retreat at River Park, a 222-unit multifamily community in the Atlanta area managed by RADCO Residential. My role is to oversee all aspects of the property — operations, leasing, maintenance, financial performance, and resident experience. But beyond managing numbers and processes, my focus is on leading people and building a culture that turns an apartment complex into a true community.
I’m part of an onsite team of four, and I have the privilege of leading three outstanding professionals — a maintenance supervisor, a maintenance technician, and a leasing consultant. Together, we operate with consistency, communication, and accountability. I believe a great property starts with a united team that takes pride in what they do.
When I first took over the community, occupancy was around 90%. Within three months, my team and I raised it to 100% leased and improved resident satisfaction from 80% to 90%. But beyond those numbers, we focused on elevating the resident and prospect experience. We corrected a long list of grounds and maintenance items to improve curb appeal and first impressions. We created a four-month calendar of community events to build engagement and bring residents together. We added team member bios in the leasing office so prospects and residents could connect with the staff they see every day. We introduced professional office staff suits that coordinate with the maintenance uniforms to present a cohesive, polished team image. And we implemented an open-door policy for all residents — no appointments needed. Any resident can walk into the office with a concern, and our team addresses it immediately. That single change transformed communication and built stronger trust throughout the community.
I specialize in turnaround performance and community engagement, taking underperforming properties and creating systems and environments where people — both residents and staff — can thrive. What I’m most proud of is the culture we’ve created: professional, welcoming, and solution-oriented.
What sets me apart is my foundation. My time in the Air Force taught me structure and discipline, my real-estate investment journey gave me an owner’s perspective, and my education sharpened my business and leadership skills. I lead with both empathy and accountability, and I take pride in creating lasting results through teamwork, transparency, and service.
At the end of the day, property management isn’t just about occupancy rates — it’s about people. And I’m proud to lead a team that delivers measurable results while building a place that truly feels like home.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory was growing up in East Harlem, New York City, and spending Sundays at my great-grandmother’s house. Every week, the whole family would come together for dinner — cousins, aunts, uncles — and the place was always full of laughter, food, and energy. I remember playing with my cousins while the adults talked and cooked, and even as a kid, I could feel the sense of love and togetherness in that house.
Those Sundays were more than just family dinners — they were lessons in community and connection. Everyone looked out for each other, and no matter what was going on in life, we always had that one day to reset and be surrounded by family.
Looking back, that experience shaped who I am today. It taught me the importance of relationships, consistency, and creating spaces where people feel like they belong — values that have carried into how I lead teams and manage communities now.
Contact Info:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julio-davila
Image Credits:
Julio Davila
