Real Estate is a topic that can be discussed endlessly. It’s a constantly evolving industry that can change on you in the drop of a hat. Buying a home is the American dream, and I can’t get seem to get enough of this exciting industry!  To understand, I have to take you back a few years. I was bored out of my mind, hopped up on way too much coffee, sitting in a cubical staring at a computer and selling discount auto parts to small shops across the nation. Fortunately or unfortunately, the main thing I liked about the job was the caffeine and talking to people.  I wanted out but was too afraid to jump into the extremely competitive commission only industry of real estate and decided the best way to learn was to first do New Home sales.

 I took my first job with a homebuilder in San Diego.  New Homes Sales was probably the most valuable experience I have had. It taught me about the sales and escrow process, and how key communication is in real estate.  During the peak of the market I met and spoke with 200 plus people a week.  I fine-tuned my people skills not only with buyers and sellers but also with loan officers, escrow agents, title reps, inspectors and appraisal agents. I learned to gage if people were coming in mainly for design ideas and information on the market or were sincerely interested in purchasing a home. Purchasing a home can be a tense and difficult time for both the buyer and the seller. They have to qualify for loans, constantly have people in and out of their homes and then essentially put their lives in boxes in order to move. I watched this process over and over again in San Diego, Orange County, and Riverside County. Trust me, I understand how stressful it is!

I’ve sold in multiple price ranges from high end homes in Carlsbad’s La Costa Green and multi million dollars homes In Covenant Hills to first time buyers in Corona. But by far, my favorite experience was working with the first time buyers in Corona. It was most gratifying helping them through the entire home buying experience. However, as much as I loved New Home sales, I knew it could not last forever.  The market softened, and I found myself out of work.

I then started working in REO’s and foreclosures, and I learned the short sale process from the inside out.  I know the important of dealing with the bank negotiator, the asset manger and the transaction coordinator and learned that many banks outsource the whole process to a default management team. I became acquainted with what the bank was looking for in a short sale package. It is indeed a constantly changing side of the market that any good agent needs to have a pulse on.

Another aspect of the industry I’ve always excelled in is Advertising/Marketing.  Social Media can be key in getting your home to stand out when there are three other listings in your neighborhood. I’m a young guy with face book twitter and blogging at my disposal.