Gady Medrano has mad skills and a strong knowledge base when it comes to real estate, especially flipping houses. She followed her father into the real estate business in Northern California, and for the last six years she’s been working in Las Vegas. You might have spotted Medrano showing you how to work a flip as one of the stars of A&E’s Flipping Vegas. Las Vegas Magazine’s Kiko Miyasato sat down with the beauty and brains to talk real estate.

First, the million-dollar question: how is the Las Vegas market doing?

It’s improved tremendously. Last year, we had a shortage of inventory and prices went up about 20-25 percent in different areas. This year, it’s balancing out, which is what we want. We don’t want any big ups and big downs. We want stability. That’s what you’re seeing—an organic growth, the natural way a market should grow. … Eighty percent of the market is traditional sales, so people have equity in their homes again.

Why did you stick with Las Vegas real estate when the market turned south? Why didn’t you fold up shop?

A vast majority of people that worked in my industry went on to do something else. I considered it. But real estate has always been my life. My father and I did commercial and residential flips and we found a way to grow even in a tough market. Now as the market is improving, we’ve already been in the rings. We already know how to make money in a down market, let alone a strong market.

What are some of the ups and downs of being in your industry?

We all experienced the downs unfortunately with the “bubble” and how that affected the housing market; a lot of people didn’t survive in terms of in my field, unfortunately. The ups to that is what we’re experiencing now—being able to get a first-time buyer into a house, being able to realize that dream. Those are things that are really rewarding

How’d you get involved with the reality show Flipping Vegas?

I sent in a résumé and sent in a video. It’s a video explaining what a short sale was. This was back when short sales were really popular. Scott (Yancey, her Flipping Vegas co-star) saw the video, and based on the video I got the interview. ... I brought in the information on all the flips that I had done for myself personally and for other people, and that is exactly what they wanted. We started shooting shortly after that.

What’s been the most memorable moment of your career?

When I was 19, I bought a tool belt. I finally found the perfect flip. It’s like I struck gold. It was a duplex. I was able to rent out one of the units and remodel the other that way I didn’t lose any of the income. I gutted it. Helped put in the new lawn. It was all so exciting. I always go back to that first flip.

How much do you approach life with a business sense?

My life and world, and what I breathe is definitely business. I’ve been fortunate to be able to work with really high, outrageous price ranges. A lot of tough negotiations, which people don’t expect—I’m a tough negotiator. I approach everything with an entrepreneurial mind-set, a business mind-set. It’s in my blood. It’s in my bones. Everything I see is an opportunity.