Al Ayubi of CENTURY 21 Real Estate Alliance

Personal Profile

Throughout his career, Al Ayubi has proven one thing time and time again: he has the Midas touch.

His initial taste of professional success came while working in his first post-college position as a financial consultant with a New York-based wealth management firm Al's keen business acumen and networking skills helped him to quickly excel in this role (he secured $60 million in his first two years). However, shortly thereafter, he got married and had his first child, a change that prompted him to rethink the demanding, fast-paced lifestyle synonymous with consulting culture. To achieve a more sustainable, work-life balance and prioritize his growing family, Al decided to leave New York and relocate to California, a state he fell in love with while attending college at California State University - East Bay.

After moving, Al was eager to land another lucrative job on the west coast and, at the recommendation of a friend, briefly transitioned into the mortgage banking industry. However, by 2007, an interest in entrepreneurship, coupled with a desire for increased day-to-day flexibility, led him to pivot once again - this time, in the direction of a real estate career. Despite the perilous state of the then-market, Al considered his segue into the industry perfect timing.

"I needed the time to kind of scale up, and 2007 gave me that time to do it," says Al. "So, the first year was a learning lesson. I made 5% of what I was making the year prior, running a mortgage company. But it scaled up from there."

Fast forward 11 years, and it's clear that Al's business scaled, and then some. In 2018, he secured $70 million in residential and commercial sales, his highest grossing year so far in real estate. In addition to his focus on single-family, residential transactions, he is currently in the initial stages of developing three Pacifica-based, multi-family land parcels, ranging from a small, eight-family home property to a plot designed for 18-19 homes with accessory dwelling units. While keeping multiple irons in the fire simultaneously has contributed to his business's growth, Al also attributes his success to several other key practices, starting with a practical, client-centric business philosophy.

"Take care of the client. Do good work. Under-promise and over-deliver. And just put yourself in their shoes and accommodate their potential needs."

Additionally, Al leverages his extensive financial background to guide his clients towards fiscally responsible purchases. Prioritizing their best interests, whether or not it results in a deal, has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on Al's business.

"If it doesn't make sense, I tell them,

'I know you're excited and everything, but you're going to put yourself in a bad situation. Maybe you should think about it,'" shares Al. "But when it makes sense, I give them my two cents, and they're happy about it. And as a result, the majority of my business is referral based."

To adequately meet both personal and professional demands, Al has become an ace at maintaining a structured schedule. For instance, during the work week, he tries not to accept business phone calls after 8pm or before 7am and doesn't work on Fridays or Saturdays. These restrictions allow him uninterrupted pockets of time to spend with his wife and three children and to engage in personal activities, like exercising and meditating. His focus on intentionality also extends into the way he approaches his business to-do list and has helped to spur his productivity.

"Take maybe two to three things you can work on that you can accomplish every day, and that adds up to almost 1,000 things or more for the year, versus people who don't have any kind of structure," says Al. "That's what I try to do. I try to take three things that need to be done off my table every day."