#realtorbae

I am fairly new to the real- estate business. When I say new, I mean, I’ve been in the business for about a year now, take a few months. I have not closed any deals yet and I am trying to figure out how to work my business into my life.

Coming into real-estate, I had many big aspirations. I have always wanted to do real-estate. Not only because of the money it can yield, but mainly because my Mom did it. She wasn’t a big-time realtor or anything. In fact, I don’t think she sold a house in my lifetime (I could be wrong). But she always encouraged it and it seemed like an acceptable career in her eyes.

Once I grew up a little and gave it a bit of thought (after realizing what I definitely did NOT want to do/ failing at some things I thought I wanted to do), I actually formulated a more solid reason for enrolling in real-estate school. Although pleasing my mother is something I try to do with every passing day, I need to be able to please myself as well (if not more).

I have found that true purpose comes with helping others. Everyone on this Earth needs help in some capacity, at some point in their lives. You would be remiss if you thought otherwise. There isn’t a soul who was able to achieve all they set out to do with little or no help. It’s just impossible. You can’t do everything; just like you can’t know everything. There is always something more to learn and there is always help that is needed in some way. I am not any different. If ever I have a goal in mind, I know I will need to make connections with certain people to help me reach it.

One goal that I’ve had all my life (and I’m sure many of you have had it too), was to become a homeowner. Growing up in an apartment, I used to be awe inspired when going to hang out with my friends who lived in houses. Five-year-old me didn’t know that “homeownership” could apply to apartment style homes/condominiums, co-ops or townhouses, nor that simply residing in a house didn’t necessarily mean you owned it, she just loved the idea of living in a stand-alone house.

When I grew up and actually set a goal of homeownership, after much procrastination and self -doubt --which only stemmed from not knowing, my husband and I reached out to someone who knew. My realtor (now my mentor) gave us the information and resources we needed to start the process of purchasing our first home.

I want to be that person for someone else. I felt so enlightened and relieved that homeownership was actually in my grasp! I was really excited to learn that you don’t need perfect credit or tens of thousands of dollars to purchase a home. With a lot of guidance from her and a mortgage consultant, we were able to close within five months of starting the process. However unbelievable it sounds, it’s true. Having the HELP we needed when we needed it --- it made all the difference in the world.

I’m not saying that everyone should go out and buy a house now. People go through different stages in life and homeownership may not be the stage you’re in. It might not even be something you’re aspiring to do. I’m just saying that when/if you are, it is attainable. People tend to have negative thoughts that minimize their ability to do whatever it is they want to do. The voice in their head isn’t encouraging, but belittling, and disheartening. These limiting beliefs are what hold us back every day. I’m sure that with a little education and a lot of help, people can overcome these self-deprecating obstacles.

So.. I say all that to say, the feeling that I felt on closing day is a feeling that I would absolutely love to help others achieve. The pride and that feeling of accomplishment is like no other.

It was then (actually a few months later, after settling in) that I enrolled in real-estate school. I found my “why” and I decided that I would try my best to primarily focus on new home buyers – providing them with as much information as I can to help them reach their goal of homeownership.

I may not have closed a deal yet, but that’s not what the process is all about. I’m willing to give what knowledge I have to help people obtain the understanding of what it takes to purchase a home.