I was filled with joy as I hugged my children close, relieved to be home. I felt like I’d already missed so much. But I wasn’t going to miss anything else.

My own father was a Vietnam veteran. He had joined the military at a young age and went on to be successful as a civilian when he returned. I had a tremendous amount of respect for him. In our household, his veteran status was a point of pride.

At 19, I was considering following in his footsteps. I felt joining the military would be a great way to help me get focused, continue my education, and find my way in the world away from home. While my father had served in the Army, I decided to join the Air Force, as it always held an extra level of intrigue for me. Also, unlike my dad, I was enlisting during peacetime in 1999. It seemed as safe as any of my other options. In 2000, I became the father of twins - a boy and a girl; and everything seemed to be working out pretty well.

America was attacked on September 11, and the life we knew changed in an instant.  My unit was ready to deploy anywhere in the world at a moment's notice. That day, it seemed like the whole base had gone crazy. In the ensuing years, I was stationed in Afghanistan, then Iraq, jumping out of planes and calling in airstrikes.

In 2005, I had a decision to make.  Should I reenlist, or should I return to civilian life? I thought about my time in the military. I’d made a lot of friends there. Many had died in combat. I didn’t want to be part of that statistic. Especially not with the five-year-old kids that were waiting for me at home. What if something happened to me? In the end, the decision was easy. I moved to Las Vegas and made the return to civilian life.

When I had full custody of the twins, who were still very young, I got a job at the post office. My previous time in the Air Force had revealed opportunities -- but the whole point of leaving was to be able to see my kids. I knew a federal job would keep us going, get food on the table, and provide benefits.

But it wasn’t my end goal. It was still long hours with a lot of bureaucracy. Taking time off was a feat of goliath proportions! We struggled more than I let on. I didn’t want the kids to know how worried I sometimes was.  And, I wanted a job where I was helping people.

In 2008, a friend of mine who was successfully buying and selling real estate encouraged me to get my real estate license. No sooner had I gotten it than the economy took a nosedive. For the next several years, I thought about how I should really use that real estate license at some point. While I still had work, I began looking into it.

Most importantly, it was a major way to help people. It seemed like the perfect job!

When the market picked up, I already wanted to make the switch. It required a leap of faith. It was difficult, and the beginning was frightening, but it provided my family with everything we needed.

My time in the military proved invaluable. It gave me skills in responsibility, self-discipline, creating my own freedom, and building a strong worth ethic. I was employing them all. They’ve given me the life I wanted. They can give you the future you want too!

There’s a local center in my community that’s had a big impact on my life. It’s a homeless youth center for struggling women between the ages of 16 and 24. At so early an age, they already have a life of struggles. I started volunteering there in 2018, imparting lessons, leading meetings, and being a person to talk to. I like to think I help. I like to think I’m leading them towards a better future.

That’s also how I view my work. I hope my clients aren’t facing the same hardships, but every person has a burden. Buying or selling a house can be just that. But I can help as a real estate advisor—that goes beyond the sale—and show my clients the way to a better future.

While I can’t deny this is a sales profession, it’s also a service calling. I know my clients work hard for their money. My job is to advise them in making the best investment. I look forward to the opportunity of doing that for you! 

Sincerely,

Jason Garcia, Real Estate Advisor