The road to real estate was paved with life lessons. Luckily, I love to learn! My experiences in the Marines, customer service work and massage therapy all contributed to my future career.

I wouldn’t be where I am today or who I am today if it weren't for a culmination of several important moments that came before it. I wouldn’t have this career were it not for these experiences.

My first taste of the real world was with the Marines. I didn’t entirely realize what I was getting into. In my mind, the Marines were synonymous with the army. After joining the Marines, I realized just how different they really are!

Still, being in the Marines taught me the lesson I’d been longing to learn. It taught me how to be independent. The very reason I had left home when I did was to know I could stand on my own two feet and have the confidence that I would succeed.

I learned the next lesson after my son was born. He was premature. Massage therapy was one of the ways to ensure he’d be healthy. It helped with circulation and weight gain. While I’d worked steadily in customer service to provide for us both, massage therapy was the first time I’d truly felt drawn towards a specific job. It made a world of difference in our lives. I wanted to provide that for others. And it gave me the opportunity to create a schedule, so I could be home with my son when I needed to be. In a way, it was still a customer service job, but it was one where I could see the positive effects my work had on people. It was a role that was satisfying and motivating.

It was during that time that I understood what a career could really be. It wasn’t the same as a job that you need to have for financial reasons. This was something I had a personal connection to. I knew from that point on, any career I pursued needed to have a personal element.

As gratifying as my time as a massage therapist was, I wanted more. By then, I was married with a second child and needed something that still afforded me flexibility. It was important for  me to set an example for my kids. In the same way that my own father made sure that I had opportunities, I wanted my kids to have them and see the hard work they sometimes came with. Maybe most importantly, I was looking for a career where I could invest in myself. I found everything I’d been looking for as a real estate agent.

I learned not to live in doubtful thoughts. I also came to understand that real estate came with more delayed gratification than massage therapy. But helping someone with such a huge purchase makes the feeling so much more powerful. I was anxious to learn as much as I could.

Now I have the experience to back up the lessons. This is a job that requires humility and patience, and I deliver that to all my clients. I look forward to having the opportunity to work with you!

Handing over the keys to a new buyer makes the challenges all feel worth it. This can be a tough job, but it’s brought about the most rewarding experiences.

I’m always looking out for my clients and doing what’s best for them. I listen to what they say and consider the details. A pregnant client of mine with two young kids and a puppy was tempted by a home that didn’t have the amount of space she needed. After I sat down with her and expressed my concerns, she agreed. I talked myself out of a transaction that day. But soon after, we found a house that was the perfect fit.

I was looking at what she needed for the future. I look forward to helping you with your future needs too!

Sincerely,

Jessica Santizo
REALTOR®