Daily Inspiration: Meet Perla San Luis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Perla San Luis.

Hi Perla, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am the 17th child of my parents. I grew up in the Philippines with 15 boys and my only sister. I am the youngest in the family. Growing up, my parent’s priorities are a roof over our heads and food to eat. They were my inspiration. I have always dreamed of a better life. My first accomplishment in life was getting my bachelor’s degree in Broadcast and Communication at age of 20. I started working and never asked for a penny from my parents.

At first, I wanted to follow my dream which is becoming a celebrity. I had an opportunity to work in TV and radio in the Philippines to pursue my dreams. Due to unpleasant experiences working in TV and radio, my dreams were crushed. This experience taught me a lesson in life, keep moving forward not backward. After I left TV and radio, I landed a job for a big telecommunications company in the Philippines. There are at least almost a hundred applicants and only 30 will be chosen as International Telephone Operators. I was one of the 30 who got selected.

After a year of being an International Telephone Operator, I was promoted to a supervisory position then after another year, I was promoted to a managerial position. Making 6 figures in the Philippines at age of 22 was still not enough. I was hungry for more. I was always looking for opportunities. I knew if I stayed in the Philippines, I will never get there! I moved to WA State in May 1998. My first year being in a new country was a struggle.

Starting from zero was a struggle especially if you do not have a family to support you. This did not stop me from achieving my goals. My very first job in Seattle was inside sales rep for a cellphone carrier. That lasted only for 8 months because the company moved its operations to another State. Then I got a job as a collection specialist for major banks. Working for big banks gave me the experience of starting up my own mortgage company. I formed my mortgage company in 2004. Then in 2008, the mortgage crisis hit the entire US. I was affected and I was forced to close my company.

I know a lot of people in the mortgage industry who lost their lives and assets. I kept going, I always had a plan and don’t easily get discouraged. I stayed in the mortgage industry and real estate business. I knew the mortgage crisis was temporary. I partnered with other mortgage companies who stayed in the business. I moved to AZ 2 years ago to get more sunshine. I discovered that living in AZ gave me more opportunities.

My 15 plus years of experience in the Mortgage industry got me where I am today. If I gave up in 2008, I would have not gotten where I am today. Presently, I held a position as VP for Residential lending for Draper and Kramer Mortgage Corp.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, my biggest struggle was when I moved to WA state by myself. I was scared! I am a catholic and I believe in Almighty God. I always pray daily, morning and evening. I learned this from my parents. Prayers are my weapon to get me where I am today.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am in the financial, mortgage, and real estate industry. I have been working in the Financial Mortgage industry for 15 plus years and in Real Estate for 7 years.

I have experience in both sides, Mortgage, and Real Estate. This what’s separates me from others.

My commitment to all my clients is to utilize my skills and experience in helping make their dreams of owning a home a reality.

Any big plans?
My plans for the future are to help everyday people like you and me to achieve their financial independence. According to recent surveys North Americans are facing serious financial challenges. 33% or more than 77 million Americans don’t pay their bills on time. 39% carry credit cards debt from month to month.

Only 59% of adults say they have savings. It is ironic that we live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, but we always have money problems. We can work hard all our lives but retire poor. We do so much to raise our kids just to see them finish college with a lot of debts. Debt becomes a way of life. We don’t have much and we don’t know much. Financial issues are not often discussed and financial products are not always explained.

Most people have trouble balancing their own checkbook and reading a financial statement. We all want to have a comfortable retirement but few have a plan. It’s possible we don’t know what we don’t know. We need to change and tasks won’t be easy. But we need understanding first. This is my goal, to help everyday people like you and me to learn the simple rules of how money works.

Contact Info:

• Email: perla.sanluis@dkmortgage.com
• Website: https://www.dkmortgage.com/sanluis/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Perla-San-Luis-Draper-and-Kramer-Mortgage-Corp-NMLS-ID-1068072-163320615824624