Real Estate
So, you want to get into Real Estate?
An interview with Morgan Cummings Arafat
Morgan Arafat was born and raised in Brentwood and the Pacific Palisades. She attended the prestigious Brentwood School, then went on to the University of California Santa Barbara. After graduating, she moved to China where she lived and worked for six years. While living abroad, Morgan worked in education and relocation consulting, assisting Chinese nationals with their journey to the U.S. As she helped her clients find housing in America, she discovered her passion for real estate.
Upon returning to Los Angeles, Morgan worked as the sales and operations manager in Beverly Hills headquarters for the largest seller of foreign properties in China. She managed a staff of hundreds of sales agents in over sixteen offices across China. After two years of working within the company, Morgan was ready to develop her own business and work independently as a Los Angeles realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, California Properties.
Throughout her career, Morgan has worked on transactions totalling over $36 million. She has closed deals throughout California, Florida, New York and Michigan. Morgan’s vast international network of investors combined with her exceptional client service have earned her an unparalleled roster of referral clientele.
Morgan would love to help anyone interested in real estate that needs any kind of mentorship or a broker to work with, feel free to contact her on mcaestates@gmail.com!
I’d like to thank Morgan for agreeing to do this interview with me; I hope you find it helpful! You can find out more about Morgan on her instagram @morgan.arafat
How did you work your way up to where you are now?
Working your way up in real estate takes time and persistence. I’ve been at it for the last 6 years, and still feel like I have a long way to go. There is tremendous competition in this industry, so building long lasting relationships within your sphere and making your clients super happy is crucial.
When and how did you know you wanted to work in real estate?
I spent six years living and working in China in education consulting. I started referring so many clients over to agents in Los Angeles, and decided it would be a great fit for my skill set to do it myself.
Do you need any specific qualifications to work in real estate?
Just a real estate license for the state that you’ll be working in!
What is a common misconception about those who work in real estate?
That it’s easy money! People don’t see the months of working with buyers without a paycheck and all the paperwork and negotiation that takes place in a transaction.
What do you enjoy most about your career?
Making my clients happy and building awesome business relationships.
What's the most challenging aspect of your career?
The uncertainly. The real estate market is cyclical, and the ups and downs of the market are completely out of my control.
What qualities do you think a person needs to work in real estate?
Extreme persistence, patience, attention to detail, great networking and social skills are key as well.
Was there any other career path you considered?
Not really, I knew I wanted to do something within international business and have been interested in real estate for many years before I started. I was inspired very much by my uncle who ran his own commercial real estate company, and who also encouraged me to lean Chinese!
Is there something you know now you wish you'd known at the start of your career?
That success takes a lot longer than I thought it would. Be persistent, and don’t give up no matter how hard it gets.
What advice would you give to those wanting to work in real estate?
Go for it! The sky is The limit in this business, but be aware of the hard work and time that it will take to make money. Stay connected with people in your sphere , and make your clients so happy that they’ll want to refer all their friends and family to you. Referrals are everything in this business!
Thank you for reading!