Exploring Life & Business with Saro Hagobian of Saro Hagobian Real Estate PLLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Saro Hagobian

Hi Saro, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always had the desire to work for myself and be my own boss. My very first job was as a pizza cook at Barros Pizza when I was 15 1/2, working to save money for my first car. I worked my way up and eventually became “the boss.” But after about 10 years, I decided it was time for a change. At 27, I started thinking about my future and realized I needed better hours, better pay, and most importantly, the independence of being my own boss. That’s when I decided to start a pool and spa cleaning and repair company.

After about a decade in the pool and spa business, I partnered with a very good friend, and together we grew the company beyond what I could have imagined. In 2022, I sold my share of the business to my partner and finally made the leap into real estate—a dream I had since I was 22. I had even taken the 90-hour course back then, but when I failed the exam, I stuck with the comfort and good pay at Barros.

Fast forward to 2022: I began my real estate career at West USA, then moved to HomeSmart, and eventually joined the Laughton Team at My Home Group. The team environment provided limitless support and education, and I closed 8 deals in 8 months. But I wanted the challenge of finding my own leads, so I left the team model behind and joined Barrett Real Estate as a solo agent. I knew it would be an uphill battle, but I dove in headfirst—networking, joining a BNI group, and letting everyone know about my new career. People knew me as “the pool guy,” so I had to work hard to rebrand myself as a realtor.

Now, a year after joining Barrett, I’ve found my stride, and I wouldn’t change my journey for anything. Each step taught me something valuable and brought me to where I am today.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think the road has been relatively smooth for me. I learned about hard work at a young age, helping my father and grandfather at their photo shop in Glendale, California, every day after school. My tasks were simple—tidying up the shop, taking out the trash, fetching dinner for the crew—but looking back, those early experiences really shaped my work ethic. Of course, like anyone else, I faced a few bumps along the way, but none of them ever stopped me in my tracks. I always found a way to push through and keep moving forward.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I’m just an ordinary guy with a passion for helping people. Whether I’m working with an investor on a multi-unit deal or guiding a first-time homebuyer through the excitement and nerves of purchasing their first home, I treat everyone with the same level of care and dedication. I love the opportunity to educate my clients, answer their questions, and build genuine relationships with them and their families throughout the process. With nearly three years of experience as a licensed agent and a year at Barrett Real Estate, I can honestly say that I love what I do—connecting with people and making their real estate dreams a reality.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
My views on risk-taking are probably much different than most. In my 20s, my goal was to become rich! I had a new idea every week about how I’d make it big money overnight. But as time went on and I saw how much money I was burning through chasing those “get rich quick” schemes, I realized that this mindset was holding me back from committing to a single path. One of my biggest mistakes was buying into an ATM business that turned out to be a total scam. I emptied my savings account—$32,000—thinking, “This is it, I’m going to be rich,!” I even convinced three friends to join me in the investment. I am still friends with 2 out of three. I still kick myself for falling for that scam, but it taught me a valuable lesson. From that point on, I continued to take risks, but they became calculated and much more thought out.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Sarohagobian.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saro.hagobian/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saro.hagobian