It was one of the most stressful times of our lives. We didn’t know what we were going to do, but we kept pushing forward and finding solutions. Now, we see the true value in what we have overcome and the lessons we have learned along the way.

The market was doing very well when we bought our home in 2004. No one expected things to shift as rapidly as they did. It was a monumental moment for us as we expected our third child and planned to grow a family in that house. When our loan was ready to mature in 2008, refinancing was no longer an option. The market had flipped, and we felt like our dream was crashing down. I started researching short sales hoping to solve our problem. I began short-selling our home when suddenly I got the news – our house was foreclosing. It was devastating to our family.

During this challenging time, my husband was struggling to find a job. He worked in construction, but that industry had been severely impacted by the market crash. Overnight, everyone was struggling financially and trying to handle the effects of the market. One of our top priorities as parents was never to have our children in daycare. I stayed home with our kids while my husband provided for our family. When he was laid off, it was a crushing blow.

With three small children, we ran through our savings quickly. We started selling off anything we didn’t need and downsized to one car. My parents started bringing groceries to our house as we worked out what to do. Finally, I told my husband, “We have to go on welfare.” He didn’t like the idea of going to the government for help, but I reminded him that government assistance is there for moments like this. We didn’t have a choice – we needed help. Through the welfare-to-work program, he received assistance in updating his resume and successfully found a job. Even though we lost the house, we got off welfare within six months.

During this time, I started working in real estate to help cover expenses and create a career of my own. I took on an assistant position for a REALTOR®. As a very involved mother, I wanted a flexible job. The REALTOR® told me I would be working a maximum of 20 hours a week, but within the first month, I was averaging 60 hours a week. I quickly learned the ins and outs of real estate, but it was a hectic time in my life as I balanced work and the needs of our growing family.

Through that challenging period of our life, we learned just how resilient we are. With each setback, we found new solutions and forged a new path for ourselves. We were fortunate to have the support of our families to keep us afloat and offer emotional support. With the help of my parents, my husband and I were able to get our second home shortly after getting off welfare. It was such a relief after all our family had been through.

Over the years, I have evolved as a REALTOR® and set new goals for myself. Today I am proud to have created a real estate business with my brother-in-law and sister that embodies all of our shared values. My family and I experienced a lot of hard times early on. I am so grateful to be where I am today and to have achieved so much. The difficult moments in life have only made me stronger as I have learned how much I can overcome and the importance of embracing change. When I am not busy, I spend time with my five children and my grandson, coach cheer, and am involved in women’s ministry with my local church.

My personal experiences in real estate motivate me to help others as a REALTOR®. No matter what client I am working with, I do everything in my power to ensure they make decisions that align with their goals and will benefit them in the long run. I take my role as a guide very seriously and work hard to make the process positive and educational.

Sincerely,

AnnMarie Barajas
REALTOR®