Today we’d like to introduce you to Melva Garcia.
Hi Melva, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
In 2001, shortly after the birth of my daughter, I was in the midst of a divorce, and I quickly realized that I needed to go back into the workforce. I was soon to be a single mother of three small children and needed a career that offered some control of my time. A good friend was a loan originator for a major lender and she recommended me to her manager. I had no experience in the mortgage industry but I did have a passion for sales and a legal background. I interviewed, was hired, and trained, all within a couple of weeks. Working in the mortgage lending side of sales, I helped buyers through the intricacies of getting approved for their home loans and in 2007, with the encouragement of family, friends, and clients, I ventured into a career in real estate sales. US markets were on a rapid decline and eventually, our economy fell into the ” Great Recession”. Realtors were flocking out of the industry and I was jumping in…feet first, but not blindly.
And the love affair began. After years as a realtor, I was inspired to open my own real estate brokerage, where I successfully mentored a team of agents and gained recognition as a luxury broker. As a Miami native, I’ve had the profound pleasure of helping buyers and sellers transition their families into the next phase of their lives. To have others trust me with the most important and significant transaction of their lives is an honor and a privilege that I don’t take lightly.
My focus is and always has been to provide others with the type of service that I would expect – high-quality, concierge-type service. My clients quickly become great friends and my dedicated team of sales agents assists clients with all of their real estate needs. My years of combined knowledge in every aspect of the real estate industry – from negotiation and financing to selling and purchasing – have helped me help my clients and turned them into lifelong friends.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I came into the industry in 2001. Interest rates were low and business was booming, and then, in 2007, we began to feel a change. Lenders were already seeing default rates skyrocketing and many lenders were shutting down. I was a single mother of three and could see that the lending market was shutting down. I’m a very inquisitive person and while working in the mortgage industry, from time to time, I would come across investors that were doing cash-out refinances. Many of them would tell me that “they were getting ready for when the bubble bursts”. In other words, they felt that the market was going to crash and that’s when they were going to buy. They would wreak the benefits of foreclosure sales. I realized this would be the perfect time to go into real estate sales. I had a database of clients that were ready and able to buy.
I transitioned into the real estate sales sector when many agents were desperately leaving the industry. It was a difficult time, but I made the best of it and stayed positive. I showed many abandoned and vandalized properties. It was not the pretty side of real estate that we see in the magazines. I knew that real estate is cyclical and that I just needed to keep working and making connections.
It was not a smooth transition, but it made me stronger and I learned to appreciate business at every level. Whether foreclosure or luxury real estate, I’m appreciative and am very grateful to continue to grow and learn in the real estate industry.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I help others through life’s transitions. The largest transaction in a person’s life typically involves selling or finding a home… a place where they feel happy and comfortable. That’s where I shine. I love helping others through this transition. Whether the move is due to a growing family or downsizing empty nesters. I become vested in my clients and their lives and my clients always become good friends.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The real estate market is cyclical and you need to be ready to adapt to the changing markets. Also, be mindful of spending in strong markets. Be financially prepared for when the market takes a downturn.
Contact Info:
- Email: melva@melvagarcia.com
- Website: https://melvagarcia.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melvagarciarealtor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melvagarciarealtor
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO7H8JVSyhrEmq1ZQDq8d6A/videos
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/melva-garcia-miami-2
- Other: https://www.zillow.com/profile/melvagarciarealtor
Image Credits:
JML Photo Services
