I thought I had found my calling at a young age, realizing I had a passion for teaching developmentally disabled children. But life took me down another path. I discovered other people that needed guidance and the powerful knowledge I could provide for them.

“No need to look so worried! I’ll show you to the classroom,” the head teacher smiled at me.

I was nervous as I followed her through the unfamiliar school. I‘d taken a psychology course at my high school and part of the program was to be a teacher’s assistant at a school for developmentally disabled students. I’d never taught anything before and felt anxious butterflies in my stomach.

My fear dissipated as I had more opportunities to work with the kids. I loved it and found myself learning as much from these experiences as the students. During my time there, I discovered what I wanted to do with my future: teach developmentally disabled children.

Then life happened.

I had had some teaching opportunities along the way that were very dear to me, but my husband at the time had an ambition for business. We owned a number of companies before getting into the real estate game. We bought everything from single homes and new builds  to mobile home parks and multi-family houses.

But something was missing. The fulfillment I’d felt as a teacher was sadly absent, and my heart yearned to continue to teach. It was during this time that I was offered a life-changing opportunity.

I was involved with a local investment group that would hold courses. I learned an immense amount from them. This was noticed by other members of the group, and I was offered a job facilitating a women’s investment class. I agreed, and it absolutely changed my world.

There were women from 18 to 80, struggling for a myriad of reasons. As they  asked questions, I learned their stories. A young woman who’d been financially dependent on her husband was in dire straits when he suddenly left her. An older woman hadn’t managed to save enough for retirement and was struggling with mortgage payments. I was able to give them the knowledge to utilize real estate as a wealth building tool. It’s the closest I’ve felt to people I’ve taught since that high school psych class.

I still travel for speaking engagements about real estate. But the teaching experience that stands out most was the one that helped those women become financially self-sufficient.

Then, I found myself raising my four children alone. I went from being a stay at home mom, homeschooling my kids, to being a single parent, working full-time. I loved my children more than anything in the world, but providing for four kids all on your own is a real feat. It was frightening. I knew my mother, the other most important person in my life, was there for me. That was a huge boost. And I had a successful career in real estate. But I knew I could do more. My time teaching that group made me realize that.

I became a regional owner in Southern California, essentially buying entire franchises. The scope was wide, and I rest easy knowing I did a lot of good for a lot of people.

That said, bigger isn’t always better, and I wanted more personalized interactions. I could put those teaching skills to use for my clients, work more closely with them and walk them through the entire process. So, I left the franchises behind to open a boutique brokerage. I have no regrets.

I’ve been able to hone my teaching skills to help me in my personal life and to guide my family. Not just my children, but their families, my grandchildren. It’s that same care I offer to all my clients. It’s not just the sale of a home. It’s a life-long investment.

When a client works with me, they can take comfort in knowing I provide business experience, knowledge, and the drive to pass that knowledge on. I’m set apart by my passion to serve people and my creative, out-of-the-box thinking. I want to hear what they have to say. It’s about them, not the sale. I’m the owner of the company and as such, take my role seriously. People have been known to underestimate me for my stature, but my track record shows a different story. I’m not here for this one transaction, I’m here for you and your family’s future ones, as you use these properties as the building blocks to your financial goals. My heart’s desire is for my clients to love their life, wherever they may be. I know a sale isn’t just about your shaping your present, it’s about shaping your future. If you work with me, I can guarantee that we will work together towards a bright future.

With gratitude,

Chandy Andre
Realtor-Owner