Where others see risk, Bobby Souza sees returns

In South Florida’s real estate market, investors tend to follow the buzz: Brickell, Wynwood, Miami Beach. But Bobby Souza is looking elsewhere.

As Asset Manager at Gilberti Group, Souza focuses on overlooked neighborhoods across Broward, Palm Beach, and Central Florida, where prices remain reasonable and demand is quietly building. His job is to find the gaps, move quickly, and turn undervalued properties into strong, income-producing assets.

“We’re not waiting around for a neighborhood to get hot,” Souza said. “We’re investing in places where the data says growth is already happening, even if no one’s paying attention yet.”

Data in, value out

With a background in tech and experience managing short-term rentals in high-volume corridors, Souza blends digital tools with on-the-ground instincts. He tracks demographic shifts, infrastructure investments, new business openings, and city planning agendas to spot signals others miss.

Take a 3-unit property located between downtown Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors. Despite the prime location, the building had poor curb appeal and was bringing in below-market rents. Souza and the Gilberti Group took a phased approach. We started with exterior upgrades, adding a fence and hardscaping the outdoor areas to improve the look and feel. Then, as leases turned over, we renovated the interiors to support above-market rents. The result: a stabilized asset and a 22% IRR on exit.

“That deal worked because we moved fast and stayed focused on operations,” he said. “It wasn’t about the perfect building. It was about the fundamentals lining up.”

A strategy that favors execution over hype

Gilberti Group invests in hospitality, residential, and mixed-use real estate, targeting underperforming or mispriced assets with strong potential for value creation in high-growth markets. The firm tends to avoid large, crowded deals and instead pursues smaller properties that may fall outside the scope of institutional investors. Souza’s ability to scout and act on these types of assets is core to the firm’s approach.

Once an acquisition is in motion, Souza doesn’t hand things off. He stays involved through the implementation phase, managing everything from tenant placement to expense strategy. “We think like operators,” he said. “Creating value at the property level is what drives returns, not market timing.”

What comes next: boutique hospitality and remote-work markets

Looking ahead, Souza is especially focused on boutique hospitality and short-term rental-friendly zones in areas with tourism spillover and rising remote work populations. South Florida has only continued to grow as a hub for tech startups. According to a report done by eMerge, Florida startups raised $4.13 billion in 2024, up from $3.5 billion in 2023, with fintech and medtech leading the charge. South Florida’s rapid rise as a tech hub will only continue to attract high-earning remote workers who are seeking more space and access to nature.  

Furthermore, the construction of Inter Miami’s Freedom Park Stadium, set to open in 2026, will attract soccer fans from around the country, and world, looking for short-term rentals. Beyond Miami, Souza is watching for cities with tight permitting rules and limited new development, where Gilberti Group can add supply without facing a flood of competition. 

“The last few years taught the industry a lot about discipline,” he said. “Now it’s about quality inventory, efficient execution, and sticking to your lane.”

For Gilberti Group, that lane is narrow but intentional. And thanks to Souza’s strategy-first scouting, it’s proving to be a profitable one.