We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tony & Leila Savage a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tony & Leila, thanks for joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

I was carrying a heavy and awkward table to set up at my 6th vendor event in 2 weeks. After making multiple trips to my car to grab the information brochures, display items, and swag, I heard Tony and the kids call my name. They had come out to support me as I recruited and marketed a company that I had been employed with for years. That same company had massive layoffs a few years later, and my position was no longer funded.

We have a ritual of celebrating even with “bad news.” We don’t deny the grief, but we ultimately trust that we can make the best out of circumstances that happen to us. So, there we were sipping on a glass of champagne wondering how we were going to make up for my lost income. At that moment, Tony’s phone rang, and he took a call from a client who was selling their home. He stepped away from the table to talk with her.

As I sat staring at the bubbles rising to the top of the glass, I began to picture a new reality. What if I got my real estate license and worked WITH him? And that ‘s where the birth of Savage Realty started…

The next few years we spent in school, working a main job, and a side hustle and learning what we needed to start our own brokerage. Tony had been in real estate for over 20 years as a Realtor. He went back to school to get his Broker’s license. I went back to school to get my Realtor’s license, so we could work solely for ourselves.

In order to launch we started marketing on social media, invested in coaching, talked with tax and financial advisors, invested money in licensures, insurance, office equipment, marketing, etc. We got involved in networking groups, business associations, and professional development. We partnered with Habitat for Humanity for a bit and gave a portion of real estate commission to them from any referrals. We actually helped build homes with some of our clients, and supportive friends in Barrio Logan! P.S. My hat goes off to anyone who is not afraid of scaffolding!

There were numerous details, to figure out, budget meetings to be had, and clients to start serving! It took us a few years to iron everything out. Here we are 6 years later, going strong!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Tony came to San Diego in the 90’s after being recruited by the NFL as a Defensive Tackle for the Chargers. He had studied Social Sciences at WSU (Go Cougs!) and played on the football team there. He learned so much from being a professional athlete that is displayed daily in his confident, assertive, team mentality. Those qualities are gold when it comes to working with clients, other Realtors, and negotiating the best situation for clients.

After playing, he started investing in real estate. He bought his first investment property in City Heights. Soon after, he bought a Rosie ‘O Grady’s ( a bar in Normal Heights) with his business partner. He also got his real estate license and started working with clients and facilitating his own transactions as an investor out of state.

Leila came to San Diego for college and was invested in non profit work after graduating with her BA. She worked with teens in the foster care system to help prepare them for adulthood. She would drive them to the DMV to get their driver’s license, teach them how to write checks and open bank accounts, and provide support and guidance for them.

She had always had an entrepreneurial spirit. She decided to get her massage therapist licensure and open up a wellness business. She thrived and was soon also working for resorts and spas in La Jolla, and the beach areas. She took on a Director role and then transitioned into marketing and recruiting. Her passion for aesthetic, customer service, and marketing are skills that have been so valuable for Savage Realty and clients!

Both Leila and Tony have experienced how owning real estate can build wealth and support family. Because of their experience and knowledge of what it can do, they are inspired to educate and help clients to do the same.

If you have multiple revenue streams in your business, would you mind opening up about what those streams are and how they fit together?

Absolutely! We have passive income from owning rental properties out of state. Those properties have kept us financially afloat as we started our brokerage, and during slow times in the business.

We’d love to hear about you met your business partner.

I crashed Tony’s birthday party! We had a mutual friend that I worked with in the spa industry. After work, she invited me to join her to celebrate. We hit it off that night, and the rest is history!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.savagerealtysd.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savagerealtysd/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savagerealty