We had the good fortune of connecting with Riley Wenger and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Riley, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I’ve always felt that we as humans typically regret the things we don’t do rather than the things we do that don’t go as planned. Inaction is one of the most common things the elderly dwell on, and for whatever reason, I thought about that early on in my life. I vowed I wouldn’t sit on my death bed and wish I had done more, or been more in my life. And so, I’ve always tried to do the things that called to me, but scared me. For example, right out of undergrad I moved to Spain. I didn’t know anyone else moving abroad or who lived in Spain, I didn’t speak Spanish, and I had never even been to Europe. While I knew it was a huge risk moving so far away and not knowing what the outcome would be, but I knew I would regret it for the rest of my life if I did not take the leap of faith. It turned out to be the best thing I have ever done, and I am so thankful I took that risk. I have always kept that sentiment in the back of my mind, and it empowered me to take the leap of faith to start my own business and continue growing.

What should our readers know about your business?
If my business model were to boil down to one simple thing, it would be: to educate clients to leverage real estate and make smart real estate decisions. Whether my client is an investor, a first time homeowner, or anywhere in between, real estate is a huge purchase and navigating the process can be daunting. My goal is to not only make the entire process seamless for each of my clients, but to give them the power by first educating them.

When I first meet with a new client, I always start with asking about my client’s life goals- where do they want to be in 5, 10, 30 years? I want to show people that purchasing real estate can help get them to their non-real estate related goals because real estate, when purchased strategically, can be a huge source of financial security or even lead to financial freedom. In my mind, having a strong financial foundation is not necessarily about being money rich, it is about being time rich. When you give yourself the gift of time, you can choose to work, choose who you spend your time with, choose where you spend your time, etc. You have a choice in how you live your life. I teach my clients a range of real estate strategies and help them come up with a plan to utilize real estate to help them achieve their dream life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Day 1- Settle in, relax, and freshen up in a cute air bnb (I’d recommend the highlands or RiNo area). Then, let’s hit the RiNo area for some great beer, great food, and great times! I love Finn’s Manor and Ratio for a great beer to grab a drink before dinner. Then, I love taking friends and family to Barcelona Wine Bar- it is amazing food and a really fun experience! Day 2- Explore Denver! I love starting out with a good coffee, I love sipping on Griffin Coffee while taking a stroll around Sloan’s Lake. Then top off your morning with breakfast at my favorite breakfast spot- Rupert’s. Then, I’d recommend exploring the downtown Denver area for the day or relaxing and enjoying the beautiful Colorado weather. Then get ready for a great time with a Red Rocks concert! No matter who’s playing, I think its absolutely an amazing experience to get to see a Red Rocks show.
Day 3- Let’s explore Boulder! I love when people get to experience Boulder- I recommend going for a hike at Chautauqua or tubing down the Boulder Creek if water levels allow. Then, enjoy the great shopping, bars, and restaurants on Peal Street.
Day 4- Go Explore a mountain town! I love bringing friends to Breckenridge- there is always something fun to do, and not to mention the great food and drinks! A personal favorite is Breckenridge Brewery,

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to shoutout my Mom and Dad. I know that is a cliché answer, but they are the ones who have truly inspired and supported me every step of the way. Love you guys!

Website: cohomesalesinc.com

Instagram: @realestateriley

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riley-wenger/

Other: Tik Tok @realestateriley_denver

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.