Today we’d like to introduce you to Acenya Villalobos.
Acenya, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
One of five kids, I grew up in San Diego. My early childhood was not easy or fun; both of my parents were drug addicts. Every year a new elementary school, sometimes two schools per grade, due to the constant shuffling. This made school difficult for me later in life.
My parents never attended any of the school functions and often, we wouldn’t even make it to school because our parents were either using or living through the aftermath of a drug binge. A memory from the second grade is very vivid, some bad characters had come into our home and were basically holding all of us kids and our mother hostage until my Dad returned home, weapons were involved. All of us kids were held in a room, my brother snuck us out of that room and we ran to the safety of our neighbor’s house. I remember the neighbors calling the police then allowing us to call our uncle. Needless to say, we never went back to that house. I remember my mom saying we were camping at the beach in a camper truck, soon my older brother and I both realized, the family was homeless living in our vehicle. Eventually my parents beat their addictions and were to able to provide a better more stable life for my younger siblings.
Our grandparents were amazing to me, they did all they could to provide clothes, food and sometimes shelter, as we lived with them on and off. For short periods of time here and there we did have our own place but there was never much furniture and it never felt like a home to me. In the fifth grade, my teacher announced that he had a couch for free and to let our parents know. That was the first couch I can honestly remember us ever having in our living room. Our diet was mostly Top Ramen and fried potatoes. My dad can make a mean Top Ramen and fried potato dish. I still make it for my kids sometimes.
School was a challenge for me due to the condition of our home life. I dropped out of high school in 11th grade. And at the young age of 17 with a 25-year-old boyfriend, I was pregnant I thought having a baby would change everything I could be an adult I could live on my own and I wouldn’t have to live with my parents.
At 18 I had my son Cody, I wouldn’t change that for the world, he is my everything and the one person that taught me what true love is and how that feels. I loved my son so much that’s all I could think about was giving him everything. Within two years, I was a single mom, working two and sometimes three jobs to make ends meet.
At the age of 21, I went to interview with a temp agency. The lady there was so kind and so willing to help me. I told her I need a job from 8 to 5 so I can be home with my son. She convinced me that the perfect job for me was escrow. She explained to me that I could start out as a receptionist and perhaps work my way up. There was no college degree necessary or required. I was so excited to have only one job and an 8-5 pm job! I can finally have the evenings with my son.
I soon started as a receptionist for a major title escrow company. I worked there for about a year, working my way up to an escrow assistant within that year. I was soon recruited, and I started at another major title/escrow, as an escrow assistant within two years, I was an escrow officer. I ran my own desk as an officer for many years. I was making $80,000 plus a year as a single mom. My son had all the name brand clothes that I wanted him to have. I was making a great life for us here in beautiful San Diego.
Everything was going great and I met someone, we were together for 13 years and married for eight, from that marriage I gained a daughter Angela. I had my son Cody who was five and we later had a little boy together, Brandon. This relationship did not end well, including a custody battle and my finances being totally exhausted through the court fight. In was absolutely brutal. To have worked so hard, thinking I had a perfect life and watch it all disappear. For the first time in my career, I was fired. I would go to work but couldn’t focus; all I could do was cry. I needed to talk to someone, someone who shared my faith, a Christian counselor.
You see, my faith got me through my childhood, being a single mom, finding a career path, and finally just living a happy life. I needed that same faith to get me through this too. And it did in a very big way! After a few months of counseling and getting my head on straight, I turned back to my career path. It made me a good living once yes but how do I make as much as an Attorney with no College degree? I needed to make more money. You see all of the years working as an escrow officer, I worked many hours and a lot of weekends. I always Envied the sales reps in our office, always a smile on their face and driving a Mercedes Benz! How do I get that job? I need to make more money and I want to smile again!
I took the plunge and became an escrow sales exec, that said sales executives only make a commission. I took a huge pay cut to take a chance on myself for my family. Within that first year, I was making money and getting the bills paid. Within two years, I was up to about $10,000 a month. Wow, I thought ok I am doing this. How much more can I make? I went to work, I met new people, I built new relationships, and I really started learning the in’s and the outs of the real estate business. I met a Sales Rep from a local Title Company who became my biggest fan and mentor. He taught me that you can make as much money in this business as you want. After two short years of making my way up the ladder in Sales, I was putting money away again. Soon I was able to get more time with my son and start to co-parent with my ex-husband. My first goal. Fast forward a few more years, and here I am living my best life.
As of Dec 2019, I am engaged to an amazing man that I met because of my faith and career path. I’m living a happier than ever life with all five of our kids and two beautiful grandchildren. Twenty years now in title working with some of the best in our industry, in San Diego and throughout the United States. I’ve chosen to hang my hat at Orange Coast Title because, like me they are committed with this mission statement.
Whatever it Takes – This is our attitude in deciding how far we are willing to go to satisfy our customer’s needs. The only boundaries are legal and regulatory. Whatever it takes in the areas of effort, time, attitude, knowledge, experience, etc. is what we intend to provide to our customers. We Close Deals – This is our fundamental approach to transaction management. Everybody in a transaction is in it to close it. Nobody gets what they bargained for unless it closes. Closing the transactions that open with us is a driving concern in everything we do! We’ve got you covered!
My career in Title and Escrow has saved me more than once. No matter what your childhood brings, you remember you can do and achieve anything you put your mind to.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Putting yourself out there in a sales position can be scary but overcoming those fears has provided me with the ability to reach more of my goals. Another challenge is finding a company that truly supports my goals and visions. Sometimes a company can make it an uphill battle. Leaving one company and moving to another is never easy but it is important to always be open to new opportunities. Once I was introduced to Orange Coast Title, I knew I found my match.
Please tell us more about your work. What do you do? What do you specialize in? What sets you apart from competition?
I am a Sales Executive at OCT. I work with Real Estate Professionals across San Diego County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Las Vegas Nevada, Phoenix, Arizona, and Miami, Florida. Everything gets kicked upstairs!! We don’t say no we find a way to say YES! When you have a deal that other companies say can’t be done, bring it to Orange Coast, we’ll get it done! This is our mantra and what we are known for in the industry, we put our clients first!
What set’s me apart is I can fulfill requests locally, regionally and nationally, in residential, commercial and major lender accounts. Orange Coast Title is and will be the preeminent Underwritten Title Company in the United States. We will continually work to grow our organization by being the premier ABA (Affiliated Business Arrangement) partner for Real Estate professionals and by unparalleled service from our Lender Service Group and our Builder Services/Commercial Division.
We will enhance and develop the tenet that Orange Coast Title is a “Sales Company” adhering to our “Customer is KING” and “Whatever it Takes” philosophies throughout our growing geographical footprint. Our creative decision-making will be driven by our “Commitment to Service since 1974” to Real Estate Consumers and the Professionals who serve them, a company history of profitable operations and continuing to be the best place to work for “industry-leading” Title/Escrow professionals.
Core principles that include Truth, Commitment, Accountability, Personal Responsibility and Vision will guide us while we maintain a “bias for action”.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
First and foremost God. In family: All four of my Grandparents for being there for my family. They were a huge part of my life and I owe so much to them. My Aunt Joanie and Uncle Rick for showing me what a real family looked like. I always looked forward to going to their house on the weekends or Summer vacation. My Mom for beating addiction and achieving her goal of becoming a Registered Nurse at the age of 50!
My Dad who didn’t have to be my Dad but did and who also later in life beat addiction. My kids for keeping the drive alive within me. My fiance Mike aka Sexy Beast for showing me that true love does exist. He is my biggest fan and my rock! My best friend Nichole who has stood by me and pushed me through countless obstacles life has thrown and her 20 plus years of friendship.
In business: Masud Sarwary for taking a chance on an Escrow Officer and believing that I had what it took to transition into Sales and be successful. Thank you Masud! My Mentor, Ryan Lipsey, who taught me all about strategic business partners and for seeing something in me, I knew existed but didn’t know how to find it. Thank you Ryan. Joe Capriotti, My Sales Manager. Joe thank you for teaching me to speak Broker lol. You are a Fearless Leader and I am so proud to be on your team!
Contact Info:
- Address: 7801 Mission CenterCourt #200
San Diego, CA 92108 - Website: www.octitle.com/acev
- Phone: 8582053562
- Email: aceitwithace@gmail.com or acev@octitle.com
- Instagram: @aceitwithace
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acenya.benoit
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