The Shalhout Team, Real Estate Agency

Thank you to everyone who is making my birthday so special this year! Ahmad and I had a very difficult year, but it feels like the universe is changing it's tide the last few months and I am so grateful to be starting this year bathed in so much love and joy!

Little Miss Lyra rode along on showings with her mom & dad today. She's into finding the perfect home with the perfect cozy spot to nap away her days. . . . #dogsofinstagram #communityovercompetition #creativeentrepreneur #beingboss #wearethecreativeeconomy #northcountysd #northcountysandiego #realtoring #iloverealestate #lifeofarealtor #wannabuyahouse #homeownership #buyingahome #realtorlife #buyersagent #womeninrealestate #allthingsrealestate #oceansidecalifornia #lovemyhouse #lovemyhome #homeiswheretheheartis #homesweethome #myhomevibe #lovewhereyoudwell #smmakeifebeautiful #smallbusinesssandiego #osideornoside #visitoceanside #madeinsandiego #sandiegosmallbusiness

Miss Lyra is #rideordie for her mommy, so she rode along on showings today. She found all the perfect princess spots to cuddle in every house. . . . #makewaves #communityovercompetition #creativeentrepreneur #beingboss #wearethecreativeeconomy #northcountysd #northcountysandiego #realtoring #iloverealestate #lifeofarealtor #wannabuyahouse #homeownership #buyingahome #realtorlife #buyersagent #womeninrealestate #allthingsrealestate #oceansidecalifornia #lovemyhouse #lovemyhome #homeiswheretheheartis #homesweethome #myhomevibe #lovewhereyoudwell #smmakeifebeautiful #smallbusinesssandiego #osideornoside #visitoceanside #madeinsandiego #sandiegosmallbusiness

And just like that, they're homeowners! I haven't posted in a while, but my last post was about this lovely lady - one of my closest friends since 3rd grade - calling me about a big move for she and her hubby, and whether they should consider buying a home in their new city. . . We talked about their goals and lifestyle and took a look at their finances and it seems like a good time for them to look at their options. We got their paperwork together and got them prequalif...ied for a mortgage with a payment they were comfortable with so we knew what price range we were looking in for their first hime. We prepared by discussing the process of selecting a home, making an offer, and what to expect from the home-buying process, if they decided to move forward. Then it was off to looking at houses in-person after about a week of scowering every house in their price range online and ranking them. All of that research paid off because they found the perfect house on their first day out looking!! We had some specific criteria - it had to have 2 bathrooms, a good amount of land for the pups to run, it needed to be updated (these two have NO time for renovations right now), and they really wanted a view. But most importantly it needed to be a GOOD INVESTMENT! That list of must-haves made it easy to know it was The One when they saw it! It is updated, has a view, has 2 bathrooms and a huge yard. It also has a partially finished basement that in time they can turn into a rental unit, which will both increase the price of their home and allow them to offset their mortgage payments by renting it out! We made an offee under the listing price and after some negotiation we were under contract on their first home - 10 days after she first called me! This was a dream home purchase- during inspections they found out the home was in near-perfect condition and every repair that they requested from the seller was agreed to. Even better, they found out during the appraisal that the home is worth more than they paid for it!!! . . We're just 40 days from that first call, and they're moving in today! Amanda and Clurie, congratulations my friends! See more

Want to learn more about Shalhout Team, Alex, and how we came to be? Check out our feature in SD Voyager Magazine that came out last week! We'd love to know; what was your turning point in your life/career when you knew it was time to go to new heights?