Hi, my name is Joe Duenas
After 30 years as a Real Estate professional I have helped over 1000 clients buy or sell their homes. The lessons that I have learned and the friendships that have come along the way are priceless to me. They have also put me in a very special position to be able to share with clients some valuable advice and have some fun along the way.
Here are some of the answers to the most common questions I get asked about myself.
Why did I choose a career in Real Estate?
When I graduated from college in 1987, I had plenty of lucrative job offers in my field. I met my wife that same year and we started talking about our future, and two things became clear: There was no way my current field was going to provide our family with the life we desired and I was starting to think like my parents, I was so grateful.
I wanted to LIVE where we thought would be best for our future. I was willing to work however long and learn whatever I needed to learn in order to achieve that. With the limited capital that I had, I started in residential real estate sales. I have never looked back!
Why do I specialize with families?
One of the main reasons that I work with families is remembering both the joy and challenges that came with moving my family to our new home(s). I know what it’s like to have to make tough choices for your family, and I take pride in helping you navigate those choices. Sure, I have had a great career with much success. But I am no different from everyone else when it comes to all the emotions and challenges that a husband, father, and friend goes through in the journey of life.
Why do I live in Laguna Niguel?
My wife wanted to live here and I came kicking and screaming. She is the one who said this will be a great match for our life and how we want to raise our family. That was 20+ years ago and (like a 100 x’s since) she was so right! It is a young energetic coastal community that has all the offerings one could ask for. The lifestyle just keeps getting better and better and the future of this County is amazing!
Professional Tidbits.
2019, I just passed the 1100 mark in the number of career homes sales. That was pretty cool, but no match to the people that have come into my life.
Managed and built one of the largest Real Estate offices in South County. Stressful, exciting and many times very fun. So many agents asked me why I gave that up and went back into sales. I tell them the truth, nothing beats being face to face with people and walking alongside their buying & selling journey. In addition, some of the agents drove me crazy…hee hee. That part is funny.
The early years.
My parents came to America from San Salvador as young adults with kids in tow and a burning desire to give their kids the opportunity for a better life. I was the youngest child, fortunate to be born in the United States. My parents had factory jobs from 9-5, but from 6:00 pm to midnight and on weekends, they focused on their real estate empire.
Sounds fancy until you hear how it started: A condemned duplex home in the worst part of town that was boarded up for years. The city was offering a program of zero down, deferred payments if somebody committed to rehabilitating it for the good of the neighborhood.
As kids, we weren’t excited about it… especially because every time we got done with one home, my parents would sell it and buy two more. My mom was an entrepreneur to her very core and she saw the vehicle that would provide the life she desired for her family, and she eventually inspired me to get into the real estate business as well.
Right before my 13th birthday, my parents had saved enough money to move us to an area with many activities, and a few years after that, we moved again into an exceptional area with great schools, parks, and a community that was so accepting and inviting.
I quickly came to realize why my parents were so driven & focused – they wanted to provide for us. I often told them how guilty I felt that they always had to work so hard, and it didn’t seem fair that my brother, sister and I got all the benefits from it. They always smiled and said someday you’ll understand.
Becoming a parent.
I clearly remember the emotions I felt when my first child was born. I saw the power of that clarity my parents had and it all made sense. Like all fathers, I cherish providing for my family and am committed to contributing my time to my kids’ daily lives. My business provides the ability to balance my time and be there for all my kids’ activities.
Many would say I work very hard, and I do, however, my life is a cakewalk compared to my parents.
What drives me?
Clarity: Clearly knowing where we are and where we want to go is the foundation of our journey.
- How we serve each other starts with understanding.
- Getting to the “Why” of our needs.
- Clearly knowing what the end result will be.
Balance: A strong belief that we need to constantly strive for a healthy balance between all of our responsibilities & priorities.
- Our careers can be very exciting and become all-consuming – stay aware.
- Our family & friends should always get the most of our attention.
- We were not meant to do this alone – be engaged.
Contribution: The greatest investment we do is in people.
- When one has truly committed to serving others the contribution is high.
- When someone gives us their trust it is truly humbling.
- A village needs all of us to contribute.
After all these years, I’ve been blessed beyond belief with the life my wife and I have been able to live with our kids. If a little guy who started out with broken English, who grew up in the toughest streets of L.A. can do it…anybody can. I have a true heart of gratitude.
