Armando Montelongo: I Don’t Pretend to be Something I’m Not
by Armando · Filed Under: Armando Montelongo
September 10, 2009
By Melissa RenterÃa
Conexión Staff
As one of the stars of the real estate-themed reality show “Flip This House,” Armando Montelongo doesn’t hold back.
If something needs to be said, if someone needs to be called out for a mistake, he won’t hesitate to do it.
“I think people like the honesty of the show. I don’t pretend to be something I’m not,” says Montelongo, a San Antonio native and Lee High School graduate.
The fourth season of “Flip This House,” the popular A&E reality series that follows work crews in different cities as they refurbish homes and ready them for sale, kicked off its fourth season last month. New episodes premiere at 10 p.m. Saturdays.
Montelongo, 38, and his wife Veronica lead the show’s San Antonio-based team.
Despite the sluggish economy, “Flip This House” remains popular. A recent episode had the highest ratings in the history of the show.
“Making fast money draws people’s attention,” Montelongo says of the show’s continued popularity. “People are looking for business opportunities. They want to make a change in their financial situations and see that there’s money to be made in real estate even in this economy.”
Representatives from the A&E network say that shows featuring Montelongo get some of the most colorful comments from viewers, who seem offended by his no-nonsense manner yet not turned off by it. Some episodes have shown an inpatient Montelongo criticizing workers for mistakes and berating lazy employees.
The outspoken Montelongo, who admits to not having “a big social filter,” has had controversy follow him away from the show, too.
Earlier this year, Montelongo was cleared of a 2008 theft of service indictment stemming from an Austin-based company’s charge that Montelongo failed to pay for appraisals he requested. Montelongo disputed the charges, saying he never requested the appraisals and refused to pay bills the company sent him because he never sought its services.
Montelongo, who also can be seen in infomercials touting his how-to kit for making money in real estate, says he’s unfazed by his critics and thinks “Flip This House” gives an accurate portrayal of his true persona. He does, however, want to make one thing clear to viewers.
“I think I’m much nicer in person,” he says.
Click here to return to the news archive.
