Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Kim.
Hi Angela, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
In 2007 I moved back to San Diego from London. You see, I caught the real estate bug after renovating homes in the UK and decided to create a business of my own called ‘Angie’s Bungalows.’ It turns out that it was the best decision I ever made because when I decided to go back to work full-time in 2013, I already had a strong foundation in Real Estate, and getting my real estate license was a natural extension of my passion. Since then, I have been helping families buy and sell homes in San Diego.
I grew up in Orange County and graduated from UCSD in Sociology with minors Music and Law. I furthered my love of learning and got a Master’s from Cardiff University, UK in Sustainable Transport Planning. I had the rare opportunity to live and work in Europe and Asia for almost a decade, where I worked as a Sustainable Transport Planner and made friendships with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. During that period of time, I also bought and sold, and renovated several Victorian homes. It was during this process that I fell in love with architecture, design and witnessed how transformative a home can be and what it symbolizes.
People say that I am one of the kindest and friendly people you will meet. I have been told I have a happy resting face. I love staying active by dancing! You will often find me hosting a game night with friends, trying out a new restaurant, or soaking up the sun at my favorite beach with my 3 kids and Spot our lovable mutt.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My vocation didn’t present itself to me on a silver platter. It found me. I was going to be a civil rights attorney and fight the good fight. I thought I was going to be the first generation of my family to break molds and glass ceilings. And I guess in a way you can say that I have many decades later, but it took a lot of blood sweat, and tears to realize my worth. I didn’t intend to give up my career as a lawyer to get married so young and move across the pond to Europe to study city planning and sustainable transport design. I became a young mother of three children that were born in three different countries to follow and support her husband’s academic career. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I have the opportunity to live, travel, study, and work in Europe different countries. Networking, creating strong friendships with people that I wouldn’t have been privy to should I have stayed in SoCal, from the arts, journalism, technology, curators, musicians, and, of course, scholars in the Ivory Tower that surrounded me for many decades. During that period of time, I project managed (as a faculty wife and stay-at-home mom) several home renovations which led me to enroll in the Chelsea School of Interior Design and Architecture. I didn’t know that the culmination of these life experiences and further education led me to start my own real estate investment business in San Diego. My divorce, a traumatic one, they usually are, made me pivot, and I became my own Boss as a real estate agent. I would spend countless hours at an open house, networking, door knocking, and showing homes whilst worrying about leaving my young children at home and having my neighbors or friends call the police on me for negligence or even worse yet my Ex-Husband. I have a child that is special needs and suffers from mental health challenges that 95% of parents never face. I did it the only way I knew how. I empowered my children to be independent, to know what to do in a crisis. I reminded them constantly to look after one another and to be each other’s accountability partner. I like many women, recently divorced, who have been out of the workforce for decades, was overqualified, not able to apply for loans due to lack of stated income on tax returns, and was cash poor. Again, I wouldn’t change if for the world. A wise person, close friend once told me, ‘Your life experiences show up in your work.’ I am living proof of that. In the 10 years since I have been honing my practice, I have become the top 3% Real Estate in all of San Diego. That’s out of 49,000 active agents, A Broker managing a team. I may have rambled on for a little bit that is the reality of hustling when you have no other option but to put your head down, work smart and hard. The road became lighter once I intentionally surrounded myself with others, that was a reflection of my determination and positivity.
We’ve been impressed with AK REAL ESTATE, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I help my clients successfully buy and sell residential real estate. This requires a lot of relationship-building knowledge. Sometimes it requires me to wear different hats. I’m a therapist, life coach, business coach, data analyst, interior designer, contractor, and entertainer. I do all of this while negotiating contracts and getting them the best or highest possible price on their investment. I am most proud of my client’s love letters. Their experience working with me and feedback is what sets me apart from others in this industry. I have been called a ‘mama shark’ ‘negotiator, created a sense of community, made us feel confident, straight talk, optimistic, empathetic yet firm. Well-connected. What can I say? I am queen of networking.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Surround yourself with people who are intentional. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, especially of those who are successful. Be open to trying prospecting actives that take you out of your comfort zone. Manage your time and get yourself an accountability partner! My clients trust me because I am vulnerable with them, and they feel the ability to open up to me. Sales is about understanding human nature. Learn as much as you can and be an expert in that.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.homesbyak.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelasellingsandiego/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angela.kay.kim
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akrealestatesd/
- Youtube: @angela_kimsd
