Real Voices Podcast

Amira Lajam wanted to work in real estate before she even knew it was possible.

 

Growing up in Northern Mexico, Amira loved creating dream homes for her dolls, but never knew she could help real people find their own dream homes.

 

Through work as a hairstylist and helping her husband build an auto business, Amira held on to her love of real estate, and eventually was able to get her real estate license and embark on the next chapter of her life.

 

For Amira, the best part of being a REALTOR® is seeing the joy in her clients when she hands them the keys to their new homes. Her natural compassion and urge to help can keep her clients spirits up even in this turbulent market.

 

“Don’t lose hope,” she tells them. “We’re going to find the right place.”

 

To learn more about Amira and her strategy of hope, listen to this episode of Real Voices on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Youtube!

For Louis Dettorre, his work as Arizona Real Estate Commissioner is more than a job; it’s an honor. 

 

Louis has worked with the Arizona Department of Real Estate for 10 years, and has become attuned to the unique challenges facing the Arizona real estate market, especially as the state experiences rapid growth. 

 

For Louis, his top priority is maintaining integrity in the Arizona real estate market, and making sure that everyone who calls into his office, agent or consumer, gets the help that they need and the answers they deserve. 

 

To learn more about Louis and the changes he sees coming to the 2022 housing market, listen to Real Voices on Apple Podcasts, Youtube, Google Podcasts and Spotify!

Some people predict that the advance of technology spells the end of the real estate agent. Todd Sumney thinks these people couldn’t be more wrong.

 

Todd sees technology as the real estate agent's greatest ally, connecting buyers, sellers and lenders in more efficient ways than ever before. He sees that realty has “gone more virtual and become more efficient,” especially in the past two years.

 

He also sees agents as more valuable than ever in an age of conflicting information about properties. “I see examples everyday of top REALTORS® helping their customers navigate the real estate process, and customers needing that.”

 

But for Todd, despite the advances in tech, the best tool of the trade is still connection. “There are plenty of agents who would be willing to help other agents. Just ask.”

 

To hear more from Todd, his best advice for agents in a rut, and what excites him most about 2022, tune in to this episode of Real Voices!

Growing up in the East African country of Burundi, REALTOR® Gloria Ndayishimiye had a yearning for independence and public service early on. Today, she’s on a mission to help her people gain the American dream of homeownership she herself cherishes so much.

 

When she came to America in 2015, she found both opportunities and hardships; overjoyed at being able to own a home as a woman (something almost unheard of in her native Burundi), she struggled through buying a house with no knowledge of English, relying only on her phone’s translator.

 

Gloria uses her own experiences to help her clients, many of whom are Burundian immigrants, navigate the sometimes complex world of homebuying and experience “the smiles and joy of buying a house.

 

Listen to this episode of Real Voices to learn more about Gloria’s journey from immigrant to inspiration!

In the latest episode of Real Voices Podcast from Equitable, we sit down with Mila Baird, REALTOR®.

 

Mila Baird hails from Ukraine, where her parents and grandparents built their family home from scratch. Seeing this happen when young, Mila says “I was always curious…and coming to the US enlightened me. Everyone here looks at how a home is staged but I would look for scratches, and how the plumbing was done.…”.

 

Mila, who speaks three languages, came to the US with no English language skills — “It was like starting as a baby,” she says. “It doesn’t matter which level you came from, you start everything from the beginning, just like building a house.”

 

As a newer agent, Mila discusses the market and short inventory, and the challenges faced in the current climate as well as entering into the industry with limited clientele. “If you don’t have any inventory on top of having no clients, that’s the hardest part.”

 

Find out more about Mila’s journey into real estate, her attitude, and gratitude from her upbringing on this week’s episode of Real Voices Podcast — find it on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube today!

In this episode of Real Voices Podcast, we take a look back on our interviews in 2021, and revisit the wisdom and wit our guests have had to offer.

 

2021 showed us that all roads can lead to realty. Our REALTORS® have been musicians, educators, and boat captains; some are natives to their communities, and some have come from as far as Iraq. While they may come from very different walks of life, they all share the love of real estate and community that has helped them make their careers a success.

 

As we look back on 2021, we hope that you’ll take the lessons our REALTORS® shared with us throughout the year to make 2022 your greatest year yet!

 

Listen across a multitude of streaming services including YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts, and relive 2021 with us!

In this episode of Real Voices Podcast, we take a look back on our interviews in 2021, and revisit the wisdom and wit our guests have had to offer.

 

2021 showed us that all roads can lead to realty. Our REALTORS® have been musicians, educators, and boat captains; some are natives to their communities, and some have come from as far as Iraq. While they may come from very different walks of life, they all share the love of real estate and community that has helped them make their careers a success.

 

As we look back on 2021, we hope that you’ll take the lessons our REALTORS® shared with us throughout the year to make 2022 your greatest year yet!

 

Listen across a multitude of streaming services including YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts, and relive 2021 with us!

In the latest episode of Real Voices Podcast from Equitable, we talk with Dawn Bahr, REALTOR®. 

 

Growing up on a dairy farm in South Dakota, being a real estate agent was the farthest thing from Dawn’s mind. However, she has used the work ethic, honesty, and sense of community she learned from her childhood to help her clients and colleagues achieve their goals since 2003. 

 

For Dawn, one of the biggest challenges she sees among the REALTORS® she mentors is finding motivation and consistency. Dawn’s solution is finding your “Big Why”: the one thing that gets you up in the morning. 

 

Find out more about Dawn’s journey into real estate, her latest projects, and more on this week’s episode of Real Voices Podcast — find it on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube today!

In the latest episode of Real Voices Podcast from Equitable, we talk with Sandy Martinez, REALTOR®. “I needed a career change and I feel like my connection with people is really what drove me {into} this career,” she says. “I just like to be challenged.”

 

From a fast food chain to a pediatric dental assistant, Sandy wanted to grow beyond where she felt limited at those times and made the choice to further help and connect with people by becoming a real estate agent. “The relationship with clients is so important,” Sandy says. “I just want to make sure that if there is something that I can remedy that’s maybe not favorable, then like, okay…let’s work on that.”

 

On feedback and testimonials: “I love to see the appreciation when they realize what I’m doing is genuinely to help them.”

 

From her traditional Mexican household, familial background, and values which informed her character and passion in her career path, listen to Sandy’s journey in this week’s Real Voices Podcast — find it on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube today!

In the latest episode of Real Voices Podcast from Equitable, we talk with Sandy Martinez, REALTOR®. “I needed a career change and I feel like my connection with people is really what drove me {into} this career,” she says. “I just like to be challenged.”

 

From a fast food chain to a pediatric dental assistant, Sandy wanted to grow beyond where she felt limited at those times and made the choice to further help and connect with people by becoming a real estate agent. “The relationship with clients is so important,” Sandy says. “I just want to make sure that if there is something that I can remedy that’s maybe not favorable, then like, okay…let’s work on that.”

 

On feedback and testimonials: “I love to see the appreciation when they realize what I’m doing is genuinely to help them.”

 

From her traditional Mexican household, familial background, and values which informed her character and passion in her career path, listen to Sandy’s journey in this week’s Real Voices Podcast — find it on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube today!