Through great loss, we learned a valuable lesson.

I was in shock and could not believe that another one of my friends was gone. As I sat through the funeral services, I realized that it could have been me in that casket just as easily. After the service, I saw a familiar face in the crowd and recognized, Danny, who I had known since I was twelve years old.

In our early twenties, the two of us said goodbye to several of our friends who passed away suddenly from unnatural causes. In the wake of all that loss, we found something new. We reconnected and became closer, and we began to build a life together.

Soon after, I became a REALTOR® along with Danny being a third-generation firefighter. Both of us had families that opened our eyes to the different backgrounds people come from and gave us chances to get involved in the community. I still remember being a teenage camp counselor at the YMCA in L.A. and the tension in the room between members of rival gangs. I always wanted to know more about the people I met in my life and over the years, I became more interested in how all our stories interconnect.

When I first became a REALTOR® in my early twenties, I still thought I would eventually become a documentary filmmaker. However, the more I worked, the more connections I made with others. Even if I was not filming or telling the stories of people on the screen, I was connecting with them in person. Homes are powerful things and I believe that everyone should have a door they can lock at night. At some point, I enjoyed being an active part of the story so much that I left filmmaking behind.

Danny and I have built our lives around other people. Even though I am no documentarian, I love being involved in the community and the stories of others. Our two daughters like to join us every year stuffing backpacks in the fall, organizing the summer chili cook-off, and making monthly meals for the homeless. Danny has been a firefighter since he joined the Air Force at 19 and has never hesitated to help someone in need.

When we lost our friends all those years ago, there was nothing more we could do. I like to think that even though they are gone, they are still around in some way—always with us. However, there is nothing else we can do for them. What Danny and I realized was that though our friends were gone, there were still plenty of people all around us who we could do something for. So, when we see someone who needs help, we do something about it. Whether there is a burning building or an elderly neighbor who needs help around the house, we find a way to step up. We believe that we are all in this together and it is our responsibility as humans to help wherever we can.

We have been a team in real estate and in life for years and we love what we do. Our team is more than a business, it is a family. Danny, my brother, Nelson, and I built this team together and we have continued to grow with other agents joining us and new clients. Once we become a part of your story, you become a part of our family. What we love most about our job is getting to talk to so many different people and be a small part of their lives as we help them achieve their dreams through real estate.

Whether you are buying or selling a home, odds are you are moving as well. You are already worrying about getting all your belongings from point A to point B, and you have enough on your plate. It is our job as your agents to lighten your load and create a simple, comfortable real estate process for you. When we are done at the end of the day, we want you to look around and wonder, “That’s it? We’re done already?” We will always give you all the facts so that you can make the best-informed decision to fit your lifestyle. With extensive experience in VA loans (as a veteran family ourselves), residential sales, and investment sales, we can help you turn this transitional time into a pathway toward financial success. Our relationship does not end when the sale is over because that is not how we work. When we care about someone, it is for life. We will continue to be there for you whenever you need us as your lifelong REALTORS®.

Sincerely,

                           
Marissa Buss                                                                   Danny Lampert
REALTOR®                                                                       REALTOR®