This message from Pablo Flake, sent to our Facebook page, is lightly edited for clarity and length. The writer started a real estate business in 2013.

I am a 34-year-old faithful reader of your blog from Los Angeles. This article you posted [about Katoi restaurant’s New York City billboards] caught my attention since previously, while walking in downtown Detroit, I saw "Opportunity Detroit" ads in some windows.

I thought of a few things that I would like to share, and hopefully help in your crusade to make Detroit a better place.

A bit over a year ago, I bought a few properties in Detroit as investment and fell in love with the city and the people. I would even go as far as saying that you guys have nothing to envy from cities like New York or Chicago.



Pablo Flake: “A marketing /advertising approach focused on your low cost of living should catch a lot of people’s attention.”

My first thought in regards to the article was: Shouldn't someone be doing some sort of the same type of advertising throughout NYC, saying something like "Why pay more? Opportunity Detroit" or "Why pay more for less? Move to Detroit."

It might sound laughable, but I believe it's not. A marketing /advertising approach focused on your low cost of living should catch a lot of people’s attention. Keep in mind, you are still living in one of the biggest metropolitan cities in the U.S.

I believe Latinos especially would love the idea of moving to Detroit from NYC and saving big bucks. . They would just love the idea of getting the same lifestyle for way less, and have more money to send home to their families.

I was in Detroit a few days ago. While conducting business at the Land Bank Authority at Cadillac Square, I saw a Mexican-American couple thrilled because they would be able to purchase a three-bedroom, one-bath home for a bargain price in the upcoming auction, rehab it and live for $25,000-$35,000 in a home that would cost them around $200,000-$/250,000 in LA or a similar city.

I was born in Argentina and moved to Los Angeles about 14 years ago. We Latinos are honest and hard- working. Wouldn't you like to attract that kind of people? This is the Detroit you need to promote and advertise, in my opinion. People will come in flocks!

Obviously, the city needs to do its part and fix the transit system, public safety and schools. It doesn't have to be perfect, but wouldn't take much to make it better.

Bottom line: If you get the people, you get their revenue -- which hopefully would be well-used to create a better city. Win-win for all.

Pablo Flake

Brea Investments, LLC | Los Angeles