Today we’d like to introduce you to Janel Yglesias.
Hi Janel, 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?
My name is Janel Yglesias, I was born in Turkmenistan & immigrated to the United States when I was just 9 years old. My parents decided to settle our roots in Houston, TX and that’s where my journey to achieve The American Dream began. Being raised by a Turkmen mother and a Cuban father, it was very natural for me to navigate and adapt to different cultures and understand them as well. I speak four languages, them being English, Spanish, Russian, and Turkmen. Like many migrant families, mine sacrificed a lot in order to give me the opportunity to succeed and live the life one has always dreamed of. Today, I am a mother, a wife, and a successful real estate agent helping others achieve their goals of becoming homeowners.
Living in such a diverse and culturally-rich city has given me the opportunity to really know the local community and build close relationships with the people this city serves. I have been involved in real estate through my family’s home remodeling business for over ten years.
My experience hasn’t always been in real estate, however. I consider myself a dynamic journalist as well. I am a former Univision Houston TV news reporter.
In 2008, I moved to Miami, FL to attend Florida International University, where I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism & Communications. I came back to my hometown of Houston in 2013 where I began my career as a journalist for one of the top-rated local Spanish TV News Stations.
Throughout my career in news, I distinguished myself as an influential and credible journalist serving the community at the local and national level. During my years as a reporter, I was in charge of covering special news such as the death of Cuba’s dictator – Fidel Castro, Super Bowl LI, Hurricane Harvey and the Houston Astros World Series win, among others.
My work has taken me to be nominated four times to the Lone Star Emmy Awards. In 2018, I won the Sylvan Rodriguez ‘Best Houston Reporter Award’.
My drive for serving my community extends into real estate now, by combining my two passions. The ability to keep my clients armed and informed with programs and incentives not only for first time homebuyers and also seasoned homebuyers or investors. Whether finding the perfect home or selling, my diligence and understanding of what buyers and sellers want makes me a specialist in this field.
My years in Real Estate have given me the tools needed to have deep area knowledge and negotiation skills. This coupled with my communications and storytelling background has been critical for me as an agent helping my clients. My clients are my top priority and clear communication is key every step of the way.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not always been a smooth road. I do feel very fortunate to have started real estate with a strong following from my TV News Reporter days. When I initially announced through my social media accounts that I had transitioned careers into Real Estate back in 2019, I was pleasantly surprised to see the amount of support I received from family, friends, and those who have been following me and my career for many years.
I immediately began receiving calls and messages from people who were in the market to buy and sell a home. I definitely feel like I had an advantage. My first year in real estate, I helped over 20 families sell & buy a home. I dived in deep into the world of real estate and worked relentlessly to hone in my craft.
Of course, with this came many challenges. At the time, as a new agent and a new mom, it was difficult to manage the volume that was coming in, both personally and professionally.
Every deal is different and had its own challenges. There have been many lessons learned along the way in terms of situations that arise with every deal. The important thing is to know how to overcome them. I am fortunate to have a hand full of mentors and professionals who have been in the industry for many many years and have been able to help me find a solution whenever a struggle arises.
As you know, we’re big fans of your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Whether someone is thinking about listing their house, beginning their search for a new home, or have any questions about an area of town, I am here to help!
As a realtor, I specialize in First-Time Home Buyers. Finding the perfect home is the biggest financial and emotional decision in a person’s life. I know this from personal experience, as I have purchased and sold multiple times. It can be tough and uncertain. I am here to help navigate those waters and get you to your final destination, your dream home!
Think of my role as that of an intermediary between buyers and sellers. I have a close network of lenders, home inspectors and title companies who are an important part of the process in order to get the client to the closing table.
Aside from helping first-time homebuyers, I also specialize in Listings. I help people transition into their next season of life by helping them sell their homes. This takes strong sales and negotiation skills, an ability to multitask, and present the property to potential buyers.
My background as a news reporter has helped me learn this city in and out and has allowed me to get to know the community and their needs. This has transitioned into my real estate career. I know how to listen to my clients and their needs and wants.
I love what I do and I have a gift of making every single person around me feel special. Whether they are buying their first home, or second, or selling a home – I make sure they feel like they matter and their decisions are important. I could have 10 clients I am working with at once, but I will always make sure to make each one feel like they are the only one. Most importantly, I love Houston, the people, and everything this city has to offer.
I am known for my honesty, integrity and strong work ethic. I fight for my clients and treat them as family.
How do you think about happiness?
I am a woman of faith and family. My family and faith make me happy. This includes my son, my husband, and our dog, Gino. My family is my motor, they are my “Why”. The reason I get up every morning and strive to be better than what I was yesterday. They are my reason for everything I do.
One of the main reasons why I decided to reinvent myself and begin a new career as a real estate agent was to find a work-life balance. One that would allow me to manage my own time, without restrictions, and freely enjoy the things that matter most in life, which is quality time spent with the ones you love. I am happy to say that I have finally found that. And for that, I am forever grateful.
Nothing makes me more happy than to be able to spend time with my son and my husband.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.har.com/janel-yglesias/agent_janelygl?renew=1
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janel.yglesias/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Janel.Yglesias/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/janelyglesias
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU_zvu7IeX93VaVPJSUKZqg
