From our cloudy hometown in Seattle to sunny Phoenix, Arizona, it’s been an adventure filled with ups and downs. Chasing the sun and a different lifestyle, we have created the best life here. Now, I can help others do the same! After spending years dealing with endless rainy weather, I finally reached the point where I was ready for a change. My wife, Kirsten, and I had gone through the motions and built stable careers for ourselves, but when we thought about the next chapter of our lives, we knew we had to change something. We wanted to enjoy where we lived. Kirsten was hesitant to take the leap, but I believed if we could find the right location, we could create the life we always wanted. Instead of dreaming about vacations and living for those times off, we could find a location that felt like a vacation year-round. It was a big decision to leave behind the familiar and take on the unknown. Our hometown was filled with family and friends, but we left it all to start a new adventure in Arizona. When we first came here, we thought it was just a desert. We didn’t do a lot of research about the location – the sun was our biggest motivation. It didn’t take long before we realized just how incredible this place was. From hiking trails to boating on lakes, you can do it all. We never expected to have so many possibilities and opportunities. It worked out great because we have plenty of things to do as a family with our two daughters, Sloan (age 8) and Summer (age 3).
While I had built a great career as a buyer at corporate Costco, I had always known I wanted to try something else. I thought I would stay in sales or something related to my work, but when COVID hit, I found myself with some downtime. I decided to take my real estate classes, and it all started rolling from there. Transitioning into a commission-based job was a risk, but I was excited and ready for a challenge. I continued to work at Costco part time in the mornings, stocking shelves until 9 a.m., and then I could focus on real estate for the rest of the day. It was a good balance that helped me ease into a commission-based income. Being a buyer, I had to negotiate with vendors, which helped me understand how to communicate with people effectively, whether it be with peers, clients or bosses. I started getting feedback from my clients in real estate who appreciated my availability, followthrough and timely responses. It was a great feeling having this leap of faith pay off. Since moving to Phoenix, my family and I have enjoyed many things about the area. We love hiking and taking advantage of the close proximity to different activities. From going to the beach in Mexico to skiing in Flagstaff, we have it all. We even have a big lake nearby where we go boating and wake surfing. Of course, it wasn’t easy being away from family at first, but having my brother here before we moved made the transition easier. Since then, Kirsten’s parents and sister have also moved to Phoenix, so we have a strong support system here. Phoenix has quickly become our home. Overall, my journey has been an exciting one. From Costco to real estate and everything in between, I’ve learned a lot about myself and what I’m capable of. I’m excited to see what the future holds. Now that I know a lot more about Phoenix, I can help locals find the right community that meets all of their needs. For me, it is a full-circle moment to help others find their own perfect place here.
Negotiating a fantastic deal for my clients is the most exciting part of my job. If I could do that every single day, I would!
