We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sahar Shalash . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sahar below.

Sahar , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Taking charge – I took charge of my dream and manifested it against statistical odds. Opening LRG Realty was a risk that family and friends warned me against. They pushed back saying I was to young, not enough experience, but it was my dream all along and I took charge of it. Now it’s a reality.

In 2017 I actually obtained my broker license however I was still hesitant on starting my own. Unexpectedly I accomplished a break through when I was awarded as a “Top 10 under 40” honoree. That’s when I knew I was capable of opening LRG Realty. The rest is history.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I never give up. I am a go getter and I believe in creating your own chances. I also believe that nothing comes to you and that you have to work hard for it. I pursued my real estate career when I was let go and lost my job from corporate america for circumstances beyond my control. I didn’t want to be at the mercy of someone else. I wanted to create my own fate.

I had a sales background freelancing in college selling automobiles and made a substantial amount of money. I spotted an opportunity for a used car dealership and discussed it with my father for a potential family investment and proposed that I would operate it. My dad suggested that I should tap into my natural tendencies of being an outgoing extrovert with a taste for a particular aesthetic in interior design. So, real estate brokerage was the natural choice.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

One of the biggest risks I took in sales was my very own purchase. It was an in person event on a Friday morning in a foreclosure auction. I had a house in mind in a city that was very lucrative. I was going in to bid and win. I was risking many factors such as purchasing site unseen. In addition to not seeing the property I didn’t have the funds. I had the $10,000 deposit requirement and a small amount of money saved. However bidding against other bidders when my turn came I kept outbidding them when in the back of my mind I’m thinking I better generate this amount of money. While I was bidding I kept thinking this is crazy what If there’s foundation problems or mold or any number of things that could go wrong however that didn’t deter me from outbidding all the competition. Sure enough I won and was thinking to myself I am completely insane. Not only do I not have the money but I’m buying something in the hundreds of thousands that I haven’t seen. I heard horror stories where investors have had foundation, water damage, mold the list of nightmare issues goes on.

After winning the bid I found a lender that said I could get a loan for $116k – I managed to borrow the remaining money so I secured the funds. Once I got ownership of the home I went to the house for the first time and knocked on the door and I got no response. I left a note on the door requesting that they give me a call and I was willing to pay for their moving so they don’t destroy the house. I got a call from the previous owner and she was really polite. She scheduled a time for me to go into the home as well as take the keys and the garage opener. The house was absolutely breathtaking and I was really grateful that I made the decision to win the bid against all odds.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In the beginning of my real estate career I didn’t have a sale or any transaction for over 3 months. I started thinking I was in the wrong field. I became so eager that I took charge and went door knocking. I managed to get a gentlemen who was getting ready to be divorced and gave me the opportunity to list his house.

After listing the property on or around 4am I received a call from a buyer who advised he was desperately looking in this area and was at Starbucks asking me what I wanted to drink to show him the house immediately. I fell asleep and woke up few hours later thinking it was all a dream. However I look at my phone and see the call that came in at 4am asking me what I wanted at Starbucks. I called the buyer and apologized that I fell back asleep however I could be there in short order for his showing. He stated my Starbucks was cold however insisted on getting me a new one. After seeing the property he immediately offered a significant amount over list and my seller accepted.

That is when I realized that real estate is the right career for me. However taking charge is what needed to be done.

Contact Info:

• Website: Lrgrealtyoh.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/saharsells?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sahar.shalash.7?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahar-shalash-0a5193b2