When one door closed, I was faced with a choice. Through taking a risk and betting on myself, I learned a valuable lesson and built the life I had dreamed of.

 

I could not believe it. Never in my whole life had I been fired before, and it was devastating. In the 30-minute drive home, though, I saw this for what it really was – an opportunity.

 

 

Before Real Estate, I worked in automotive sales. I always enjoyed helping others, and when a single mother came looking for a reliable car, I steered her away from a junky Camaro that had caught her eye. It had been sitting on the lot a long time and my honesty with her was the beginning of the end for me. What I didn’t realize during our conversation was that my Sales Manager had been behind me listening to everything.

 

In the process of buying our first home a year earlier, I met a REALTOR® who asked me if I had ever considered a career in Real Estate, since I spoke both English and Spanish fluently. As soon as he planted that seed, it began to grow. At that point in the 1990s, only a handful of agents in the whole city spoke Spanish, so there was a lot of opportunity. While I had been offered another job in automotive sales that paid more, I continued to think about what to do next. After talking it through with my wife, I decided to take a chance on real estate.

 

That first year was tough, as I did not earn nearly as much as I had before, but I enjoyed what I was doing so much more. I remember that first anniversary after I got my license, we were totally broke. I 

took my wife at the time on a tour of this luxury model home in a nearby high-end neighborhood for her gift. We dreamed about one day owning one ourselves.

 

Little did I know we were on a journey to do exactly that. We bought our first home shortly before I started my real estate career, and not yet understanding the market ups and downs, we ended up 

having to sell it early on. However, after scrupulous saving 

and paying off debts, we were eventually able to buy our home back, before landing in that neighborhood we dreamed of. 

 

In the decades since I became a REALTOR® in 1992, there have been a lot of ups and downs in the economy and my life. I never quit real estate because I enjoy being a part of others’ lives and advocating for them to reach their dreams.

 

Sometimes life feels full of surprises, but they are often exactly what we need to learn a lesson. Being forced to sell my home was 

humbling, and through it I learned extensively about finances so that when the recession hit, though it was stressful, I was prepared to weather the storm.

I am a forgiving person because I know I am far from perfect. It is easy for me not to take things personally because I recognize that we can never know the full story of 

everyone around us and what is going on in their lives at that moment. That understanding has helped me move forward, take ownership and grow more than I could have ever imagined.

 

Somewhere along the way, I realized everything happens for a reason. It is not always clear at the time, but when one door closes it can be exactly the opportunity we need to open a new one. Whenever I am not working, I enjoy woodworking and barbecuing. My favorite part of being a REALTOR® is delivering the results my clients want once they put their trust in me, then continuing to do the same for all their friends and family.

 

I will always advise you on your best options. Sometimes that means waiting. Once we get started and I understand your goals, I’ll help you work toward them and encourage you through the process while creating the best long-term plans to help you get where you want to be. Real estate is a tool, and I’m happy to help my clients build wealth through investing. I am fluent in Spanish and English. I’ve been a licensed REALTOR® for over 30 years and experienced the market through ups and downs. The only constant in all that time has been the people. Many of my clients have been working with me since I first began in the industry because relationships matter more to me than any commission. Through my work renovating properties, I have a good understanding of what potential issues could come up in a home. I’ll always take a closer look to save you time and money and help you plan for what is next. Once the transaction is over, I will continue supporting your success as your lifelong REALTOR®.

 

Sincerely,                                                                 

Alonzo Luna
REALTOR®
(817) 263-1100
Alonzo@LunaTeam.com