ABOUT

          As far back as I can remember, I’ve always had a passion for helping others. I imagine it came from my home life growing up. Being the son of two immigrant parents struggling to make it in a new country and culture, we never had much of anything. My parents worked hard, doing whatever remedial jobs they could find to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. While we may not have had a lot of stuff, we did have two things: a willingness to help others and a welcoming attitude. We bounced around apartments in Queens – from Jamaica, Woodhaven, Richmond Hill – until moving to an apartment in New Jersey when I was in middle school. Our home, no matter how small, was always an open door for my friends. My parents would always be willing to share what little we had with their friends and it was something that came naturally to me. It’s where I believe my passion for helping others comes from.

 

          It wasn’t until years later, after I moved out, that my parents bought their first home. That was a great accomplishment for my parents, and I remember how proud they were moving in. In some way, that moment may have led me to where I am today.

 

          First though, my early career path landed me at the United Nations. When I first got the job, I was overwhelmed with pride and gratitude. For someone with my background, who had served at my local church during college and taken an internship at the Bowery Mission’s homeless shelter, this was a dream come true! My journey at the UN lasted 9 wonderful years, and spanned a period in my life where I got married and had two kids. And while I learned a ton, met some great friends and developed myself professionally, towards the end, there was something missing – I was missing the personal interactions of helping people! I had a decision to make. I had a super comfortable, stable job with great benefits. A job I could keep until I decided to retire. But even with all the comforts of the job, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to make a change.

 

          After a year of careful thought and consultations with family and friends, I decided to pursue a career in real estate. I considered my strongest assets – resourcefulness, interpersonal skills, empathy, problem solving and an ability to build trusting relationships – and knew real estate would be a great fit. Best of all, I’d get the opportunity to help others with one of the most important life decisions they’d make – buying or selling their home.

 

          In my first year, I helped more people in a deep, personal way than I had in my prior roles. Sharing the joy of someone who just bought their first home, or helping someone sell their home for top dollar has been super rewarding. I’ve helped clients purchase and sell property, buy their first family business and embark on their first real-estate investment. So far, it’s been a great ride and I look forward to helping many more friends realize their dreams through real estate, much like my family was able to do so many years ago.