Facing a tough situation, we learned a valuable lesson.
Laura and I have been together since 1991 when we first started dating in high school. Over the years, we’ve gotten married, started careers, and had three wonderful kids. We built a life together and then one day everything changed.
In 2008, I lost my job unexpectedly. We still had Laura’s salary from her job at the DMV, but with three young children and a new mortgage, it wasn’t enough. The next couple of years were hard and more than once we tore foreclosure notices off our front door. We didn’t know how we were going to make ends meet and the thought of losing our home was unimaginable.
We did everything possible. I worked three jobs at a time for a while, only sleeping 4-5 hours a night so I could supplement our income before embarking on a new career. Laura worked with the bank to modify our loan, begging them to give us a chance to stay in our home. I was never worried that things wouldn’t work out, because I knew that I would do whatever it took to make it. It was tough for Laura and the kids, changing our lifestyle dramatically and the threat of losing our home was real. Every asset we had besides our home was cashed out or sold. Once we did all of that, I was able to start something new—my barbershop.
When the shop first opened, I spent seven days a week there from open to close for over a year. I’ve always loved the nostalgia of barbershops and the creative possibilities in a haircut. Relentlessly, I worked to build this new business from the ground up and after a couple years, it became a hub for our community and a big part of our lives. Though I never imagined my career path would lead me in this direction, it became obvious that this is where I needed to be. We didn’t have to worry about losing our home anymore and through the process we found something we love even more—working with people and being an active part of the community.
I built up that shop and its business for several years before realizing most of my time there was spent connecting my customers with other people. So, one day I decided to connect with them even more as a REALTOR®. It wasn’t long before there was an influx of clients from everyone at the barbershop and shortly after Laura joined the team, leaving behind a 21-year long career at the DMV to do so. Together, we’ve gone up from there.
What we realized during those difficult years building a new career and business was that with enough hard work anything is possible. We will do whatever it takes to get the job done for our clients just as we did for our family.
We love spending time with our kids, family, and friends. We enjoy taking RV trips and going to the beach. This community is our home and has been for decades. One of our biggest passions is our work with our local charity, Friends of Folsom, through it, real estate, and our barbershop, we’ve become a part of the lifeblood of this community and wouldn’t have it any other way. Our favorite part of our job is using our unstoppable force to help clients reach their dreams.
Buying and selling a home is a huge undertaking and it can be a big source of stress. We take the stress out of real estate. With both of us on your side, one of us is always there to take your call. Entrusting us with the sale or purchase of your home isn’t something that we take lightly—it’s one of your biggest investments and a lot of times the place you call home. We pride ourselves on our clear and honest communication throughout the process to keep you informed and up to date and not on the outside fretting over the details. We’ve been through a lot together and we have learned that no matter what happens, we will do whatever it takes to get the job done. Folsom is our home and has been since high school. We know and love the people and communities here and will continue to help you after the deal is done as your lifelong REALTORS®.
Sincerely,
Aaron Ralls Laura Ralls
REALTOR® REALTOR®
