September 2023 Blog Topic: What inspired you to start your own business? If you do not own a business, what inspires you when you see a business functioning and functioning well or meet an owner?
By Sharon Loduca, Real Estate Professional in Ontario, Canada
When life throws unexpected challenges our way, it often leads us down paths we never imagined. For me, that path was entrepreneurship in the world of real estate. Let me take you on a journey of why I decided to start my own business.
My background in business management for both profit and non-profit organizations provided me with valuable skills and insights, but life took a turn when I became widowed and needed greater flexibility in my schedule to care for my three homeschooled children. Little did I know that this shift would eventually lead me to follow my lifelong fascination with homes and their stories.
From a young age, I was captivated by the concept of homes, not just as physical structures, but as vessels of human stories and aspirations. Growing up in a remote corner of Newfoundland, I watched my father, a brilliant man with only a grade 3 education, build his own home from the ground up. He hewed the support by hand, and he taught my brothers the value of hard work and resourcefulness. They invested in their homes on a weekly basis, using their paychecks to buy lumber as their cash flow allowed. Mortgages and credit cards were unheard of in that world. Instead, they relied on the support of friends and their own sweat equity to create their homes.
My move to Ontario as a teenager exposed me to a completely different world of home building—one dominated by land developers, builders, contractors, subcontractors, unions, labor laws, realtors, lenders, brokers, inspectors, and appraisers. Here, homeowners rarely drove a single nail into their homes’ frameworks. This stark contrast intrigued me and sparked my curiosity about the multifaceted world of real estate.
My journey into real estate was anything but planned; it felt like destiny. It all started with a piece of vacant land that I financed, followed by the acquisition of summer properties. Eventually, I found myself buying and selling homes of my own. My foray into mortgage financing was the stepping stone that allowed me to delve deeper into the industry.
I began to understand the concerns and pain points of my clients intimately. I was there for them every step of the way, from listing to closing, and years later. 😊 My clients knew that I genuinely cared about their well-being, which led them to entrust me with their home purchases and sales. That was the foundation upon which I built my real estate business.
In my business, I take pride in working closely with clients, lenders, appraisers, and inspectors. I help clients navigate the complex real estate landscape, offering personalized strategies that prioritize their interests. Behind the scenes, there’s a lot of meticulous work involved, but it often feels like creating magic—the magic of helping people find their dream homes and make significant life transitions.
The relationships that have blossomed from these endeavors continue to grow and strengthen, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of my client’s home journeys. From financing a vacant piece of land to becoming a trusted guide in the world of real estate, my entrepreneurial journey has been a rewarding one, fueled by my passion for homes and my unwavering commitment to my client’s happiness.
In conclusion, my decision to start my own real estate business was born out of life’s twists and turns, and my genuine fascination with the world of homes. It’s a journey that has allowed me to combine my business acumen with my deep-seated love for helping others create their own stories within the walls of their dream homes.
