Our Team

Natalie is a proud partner and Escrow Administrator at Cantera Title & Escrow, bringing a deep passion for the real estate industry and a strong commitment to excellence in every transaction. In her role, she oversees daily operations to ensure every file, process, and client experience runs seamlessly from contract to close. Highly organized, detail-oriented, and client-focused, Natalie plays a key role in supporting both the internal team and Cantera’s clients through one of the most significant milestones of their lives. She takes great pride in creating efficient systems, maintaining clear communication, and ensuring each transaction is handled with care and professionalism. Whether assisting with a first home purchase or a complex investment closing, Natalie is dedicated to making the entire process smooth, efficient and stress-free upholding the high standards and service Cantera Title & Escrow is known for.

Vela brings over 15 years of real estate experience and a refined, client-focused approach to every transaction she handles. She began her career as a Transaction Coordinator for a top-producing real estate team, gaining an in-depth understanding of the complexities, timelines, and precision required to successfully close even the most detailed transactions. Renowned for her white-glove, concierge-level service,  Vela delivers a seamless and highly personalized closing experience. She is proactive, detail-oriented, and deeply committed to clear communication ensuring clients and partners feel confident, informed, and supported from contract to close. Her ability to anticipate needs, resolve challenges efficiently, and maintain a calm, professional presence sets her apart in a fast-moving industry.

At Cantera Title & Escrow, Vela serves as a trusted extension of our clients’ teams, protecting their interests while upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. She understands that each transaction represents more than paperwork it represents a major milestone and she approaches every closing with the care, discretion, and excellence our clients expect.

Carlos Mandes is the Managing Partner of Cantera Title & Escrow and a trusted leader in Texas real estate. After serving over a decade in law enforcement, Carlos transitioned into the private sector with one goal in mind: to protect people through every step of the homebuying process, just like he did in his prior career. What started as a mission to bring more transparency and trust into real estate has since evolved into a full-service operation that continues to raise the standard. Carlos is also a Managing Partner of Rio Bravo Real Estate Services, where he combines real-world expertise with cutting-edge technology to deliver high-quality inspections and certified residential appraisals. These experiences revealed a critical need for smoother, more secure closings, so he created Cantera Title & Escrow to fill that gap. Clients trust Carlos because he’s built his entire career on accountability, professionalism and doing what’s right, even when no one’s looking. He leads with integrity and always puts people first, ensuring that every buyer, seller, agent and lender walks away with clarity and confidence. At Cantera, he’s not just helping close deals, he’s building a better experience from the ground up. Outside of work, Carlos is pursuing his private pilot license, retaining his peace officer license as a reserve officer for San Antonio area and mentoring fellow officers transitioning into business and enjoying life with his family in San Antonio. 

Raul David Lozano is the founder of Rio Bravo Real Estate Services, a trusted company providing home inspections, appraisals and construction services. With over 13 years of experience in the real estate industry, Raul has developed a deep understanding of the homebuying process from every angle, earning a reputation for his integrity, precision and client-first approach. As a partner of Inspecify, a leading proptech company based out of Seattle, and a proud member of the Inspecify Pro platform, Raul is part of a movement that’s modernizing and streamlining the real estate industry through innovation and collaboration. After years of seeing the frustrations and inefficiencies clients often face in the title and escrow process, Raul was driven to create something better. He launched Cantera Title & Escrow with a mission to deliver a seamless, trustworthy and efficient experience for buyers, sellers, agents and lenders alike. Built on a foundation of transparency and reliability, Cantera reflects Raul’s vision for what title services should be, grounded in trust and elevated by experience.