I come from humble beginnings, but my father showed me what hard work and sacrifice can do. He held the door open for me, and now I can do the same for others.
I can only imagine how exciting and strange America must have seemed for my parents. My father, an immigrant from Chile, and my mother, an immigrant from El Salvador, met in California on student visas. My siblings and I grew up in San Jose and learned to speak English in school.
By the time I was in the sixth grade, my father, a janitor who worked late nights to support us, moved the family to Florida because he was worried about gang violence in our city. We traveled cross-country in a van and drove around until my dad found a house for us. He managed to get an assumable loan and we acquired a home of our own.
My parents didn’t speak English, so upward mobility was difficult for them. Still, I always saw how hard my father worked in his own janitorial business to care for us opening the doors to opportunity. In Florida, he owned an ice cream truck and always managed to support us. In fact, when I was 16, he bought me a car for all of $325. When I drove it, I could literally see the street pavement. But it was a car, and that’s what matters when you’re a teenager.
I was something of a rebellious party girl, which didn’t sit well with my dad, who was tough on me and my siblings. Of course, years later, I realized that helped me build character and find my way in life.
The party girl phase of my life came to an end when I became pregnant with my first child. I met Rolando, the man who would become my husband. When I got pregnant at 21, money was very tight, so I moved back in with my parents. I used the initiative I learned from my father and got a Section 8 voucher, a move that improved our lives. We moved to Brandon, Florida, where I still live, and I bought a home for our young family.
I worked in various sales positions for years, then got my real estate license in late 2006. That was the right direction for me since I’ve had an entrepreneurial mindset that was instilled in me by my father. By 2008, I was already successful, and sold 32 homes that year while pregnant.
Unfortunately, after about 20 years together, my husband and I divorced in 2013. I married again in 2022, and my husband, Johnny, helped me make the transition from being a real estate agent to a broker owning my own company. Today, my brokerage firm employs a total of seven people and helps families realize their dreams of home ownership.
Since I’ve often been on my own, I consider myself the true definition of a single mom. I put my oldest daughter, Avianna, through the University of Tampa, which makes her the first one in our family to graduate from college. I couldn’t be prouder of Avianna and my two other daughters, Anisya and Luna, as well as my stepdaughter, Madisyn. My entire family makes it a point to assist others in our community here in the Tampa Bay area.
That legacy of helping others goes back 16 years ago to when I started in real estate. I promised my father and myself that I would help people through my work as a REALTOR®. I feel very fortunate that I’m able to benefit others in my community, and I’ll always continue to do so. Giving back is one of the great joys of my life and one of my favorite parts about being a REALTOR®.
My passion is for making a difference. I build long-term relationships with my clients and am proud to call them my friends. I will walk you through every step of the process and provide one-on-one attention.
When I think about helping my clients, one particular story comes to mind. A client of mine came from Cuba, like so many others, to live the American Dream. She said she didn’t know if she could afford to buy her own home here. I told her I would help, and that’s what I did. I got her the right lender and guided her through the process, finding a beautiful home for her. On the day of her closing, I brought her both the Cuban flag and the American flag, and her eyes filled with tears. So did mine. I helped her accomplish her dream, and I’m forever grateful that I did.
Now, I’d like to help you find your own American Dream. Once your transaction is over, I’ll continue to be here for you as your lifelong REALTOR® and friend.
Sincerely,
Raquel Zapata
Broker-Owner