Today we’d like to introduce you to Lea Zeqiri
Hi Lea, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Receiving my real estate license in 1998 and selling hundreds of homes in the DFW area, it became clear to me there was a deficit of homes move-in ready for the first time homebuyer, especially in the Hispanic market. There were not a lot of Spanish speaking realtors at that time. I set out to fill that void and 20+ years later I’ve repaired or rebuilt every type of homeowner’s nightmares from burned out houses to tornado flattened houses and everything in between. It was in this facet of real estate that I found my true calling. Refusing to put lipstick on a pig, I repaired the real issues. That is still my tenet to this day. I want to know that whoever the buyer is, they are getting a solid house. This commitment to quality and ethical treatment has meant that I not only have sold second homes to my clients, but I am now selling homes to their children. In 2007, I changed the focus of my business and expanded the investment side, helping distressed homeowners as the real estate market crashed. Saving many families from foreclosure, giving them a pathway to rebuild their lives. Since 2015, I began building custom homes with that same commitment to quality and look forward to the next decade as we continue to grow.
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?
Real estate is anything but smooth, lots of bumps and potholes along the way. The largest bump was the 2007 real estate market crash. DFW was more fortunate than a lot of the US. I had to pivot and fast. Buyers dried up over night and sellers struggled to get offers high enough to cover the mortgage owed on their homes.
As you know, we’re big fans of House Renovators, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
HR, I built from scratch. The housing crash and my husband’s health scare took most of my savings and forced me to start anew. It was scary but deciding to focus on the fix and flip side of real estate versus taking out buyers or sellers really made me stronger. I was able to fill a real need in the community. Real Estate Investors are often seen as predatory and some have earned that distinction. But, I brought my integrity and empathy that had always been part of my business and made it the cornerstone of my new venture as well. The most rewarding “flip” I’ve ever done could be called a “flop” if looking only at the net profit. But, I was able to save an 85 year old woman from foreclosure and allow her to stay in her home until the end. She became my friend and I am so honored to have been able to be there for her. I am equally proud to use these same ideals in my custom builds and enjoy seeing a family thrilled with their new home designed around them. I don’t think I’m capable of cookie cutter anything.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
We are in the midst of a real estate change now, similar to the 2007 crash. While, I don’t see anywhere near the losses that 2007 and 2008 caused, house prices have gone steadily down over the past two years after the initial, historic price jumps from the pandemic. While, I’m leary to call it a buyer’s market due to the continued lack of inventory, it has definitely been to the buyer’s advantage. Now, that interest rates are creeping down we will start seeing the increase in prices as well as more homeowners enter the market. The lack of inventory will increase as sellers are slower to sell, refusing to give up the incredibly low interest rates they procured and the inability to find something favorable to buy until the rates drop lower and their buying power increases.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://HouseRenovators.co
- Youtube: https://YouTube.com/TheFlippinRedhead
