What was your most interesting job before going into real estate? Engineering because I’m a people person and can’t just crunch numbers all day everyday for the rest of my life.
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Damascus, Syria and moved to Chicago in January 2013
Growing up, what did you want to be? When I was a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut. I know probably every kid wants to be that. In my teen years, I wanted to become an actor.
What do you do to relax when you’re stressed? Listen to music, go on a drive or both at the same time.
If you could meet any well-known figure (living or not), who would it be and why? Jeff Bezos. Maybe he will agree to mentor me, and maybe I can build something special for the real estate industry like he did with Amazon.
What is Chicago’s best-kept secret? Chicago has many but to name a few: 1) The view from Adler Planetarium. 2) Riverwalk. 3- Rooftops
What do you love most about the industry? I love being able to meet new people every day whether clients or agents. I was lucky to build some amazing relationships in this industry. It’s also somehow a fun industry!
How do you distinguish yourself from the crowd of agents? By being proactive and having high standards. I treat this job as a sales job, so I’m actually on the phone all day either prospecting for new clients, finding buyers for my sellers or following up on current deals. I also don’t overprice property even if it means me not getting the listing.
What is the most difficult aspect of your job? Time management and sticking to schedule. So easy to get distracted in this industry. That’s why creating time blocks has helped me so much!
What’s your best advice for generating new leads? Consistency. Whether you prospect by calling home buyers and sellers every single day like I do or whatever your method is, you have to be consistent and do it every day.
What has been your greatest accomplishment? After a successful career as a real estate agent, starting Zoubi Realty has been my greatest accomplishment in my life! Starting my own brokerage firm was my way to take my ambitions to the next level and challenge myself.
What are you binge-watching/reading/listening to lately? Reading lots of sales, entrepreneurial, leadership and self-development books. Listening to more EDM music and watching a show here and there on Netflix.
What’s your favorite meal in Chicago? Food is one of my favorite things about Chicago, and I’m always down for a great Italian meal in one of the many amazing restaurants Chicago has to offer.
Architecturally speaking, what is your favorite building in Chicago? Lincoln Park 2550 or 2550 N. Lakeview Ave. is definitely my favorite. The amazing French/Parisian architecture along with the luxurious condos and amenities in that great location makes it a dream building.
What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to you on the job? This is weird in a good way. I picked up a buyer client while I was out with an agent friend of mine. I was telling my friend about an open house that I was hosting the next day, the client overheard us and it turned out he actually was interested in that specific home. What are the odds? We ended up selling him a different home, though.
What’s one thing people are surprised to learn about you? That I used to be an engineer!
What is your favorite vacation spot and why? The Maldives because there is nothing like it on earth. It’s a true paradise!
In 10 words or less, what is your advice for someone new to the industry? Find yourself a mentor who has achieved what you want to achieve.
What’s your favorite real estate iPhone/Android app? Remine
Who are your favorite people to follow on social media? Ryan Serhant, Fredrick Eklund, David Guetta and Martin Garrix