I didn't dream of becoming a realtor! From a young age, I was very competitive. I played about every sport imaginable. I dreamed of playing basketball, not selling houses.

During my senior year in college, I bombed a sales job interview. The job was for the school newspaper. A short time after college, I landed my first job. It was in sales, working for the Chicago Tribune. My small college newspaper didn't hire me, but one of the most read papers in the country did.

My journey into real estate started in the newspaper business. My clients were real estate agents. I got to know their different personalities. I learned this vital truth: who you work with matters.

The industry had my attention. I wanted the satisfaction of helping home buyers and home sellers reach their goals.

It wasn't a smooth transition for me by any means. Newspapers became a medium of the past! I knew at that point I wanted to become a realtor, so I took a class to get my license.

If you've ever been to the Midwest, you know winters can be brutal. Why would I want to sell real estate in such cold weather? The answer was... I didn't!

I moved to sunny California and started my journey fresh!

I worked a sales job while I got my license and started to learn the lay of the land. I fell in love with the landscape and architecture of Southern California.

I'd left everything back in Chicago, so at this point, everything was new and exciting. I landed in Hollywood and began sitting in open houses to meet potential buyers.

I didn't have a vast network at the time, but I've always enjoyed meeting new people.

A few years into my real estate career, I met my wife. We moved to the Valley to live with her two kids. My step-kids.

While Southern California has a laid-back vibe, it doesn't mean people aren't busy! I noticed my clients were all working professionals. All required a home that fits their lifestyle.

Buying and selling isn't a snap-of-the-fingers process. It takes time. What I began to see is that my clients didn't always have the time. I drew from my past experiences in sports and the newspaper business. So I created the My Next Home Method to help you create a game plan.

Like I mentioned earlier, I love meeting new people! If you think we would work well together, let's connect! It could be over a round of golf or a casual coffee. I'll work to make your experience remain positive. Your needs are my priority. The truth that I learned in my newspaper days is that who you work with matters, lives on.