Today we’d like to introduce you to Annette Pelayo.
Annette, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in the Los Angeles area, growing up mostly in Whittier, CA. My mother is from Sinaloa, MX and my dad is from Jalisco, MX. They met in the USA, were soon married and then had me. I am the eldest out of four daughters with a thirteen-year difference between myself and the youngest. As you can imagine, it is quite chaotic when we’re all together. My parents have a restaurant and that is where I learned first hand the value of money, hard work and being able to help all sorts of people. As a child, there were a lot of “take your kid to work days” where I would roam the restaurant or sit with different customers to speak with them. It turns out I loved hearing about people’s days and what went on with their lives. Eventually, I did everything there from washing dishes, waiting, and helping manage the restaurant.
Once I graduated from high school, I left to college and attended UC San Diego. It was quite a culture shock and I struggled being isolated from my close-knit family. In 2015, I graduated with a BS in Management Science and a BA in Spanish Literature. That same summer, I got my first job out of college and started working at a company that provided jobs for travel nurses across the U.S. While there, I worked in everything from billing, account management, credentialing, customer support, and recruitment. After being in a big company for a couple of years, I knew that wasn’t the direction that I wanted to take my career. I always knew that eventually, I had to run my own business, as I had grown up seeing one. I wanted something where I would feel passionate about what I was doing day in and day out. I love talking to people and being a part of their lives, so I decided to get my real estate license. After doing real estate part-time for a while working my full-time job, I was finally able to transition into pursuing real estate full time. It’s been a struggle, but it’s also been a blast getting to help so many reach their personal goals.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, but I wouldn’t change a thing about it. Not being originally from San Diego, I felt that I constantly had to put myself out there to get my name out. It’s an industry where you really have to put in time and work before you start seeing the benefits. I also struggled being away from my loved ones, as we are a very united family. Although, with running my own business, it has made it possible for me to be more physically present to my family.
Alright – so let’s talk business. What else should we know about your work?
I am a real estate agent with Compass and have been working in the field for roughly three years. Compass has been wonderful to work with because of how technology forward it is and the various unique programs that it offers from other brokerages. I absolutely love working with first time home buyers and helping people sell their homes in order to continue to a new chapter in their lives. Really I love working with all sorts of people! I am known for being easily available and if we were not friends at the beginning, we are surely going to be friends at the end. I like to believe that I help make something frightening, like buying or selling a home a much more calm and straightforward experience. As easy-going as I can be, I also fight for my clients. I make sure that they are content and happy with their big real estate move.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m not sure how I feel about luck. I would say I have been lucky, but a lot of it has to do with constantly preparing and training so that once the right opportunity comes up, you are able to make a move. After receiving my real estate license, I started interviewing various agents and offices in San Diego to get an idea of what was out there. I got to meet Melissa Gutierrez through a friend and we just clicked. A few months after, I was working with her part-time, and soon after that, I was able to make Real Estate a full-time career for myself. She became a wonderful mentor and friend in getting my real estate career going.
Contact Info:
- Phone: (562) 397-5372
- Email: annetteyvonne.realtor@gmail.com
- Instagram: annetteyvonne_
Suggest a story: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
