Meet Trailblazer Amber Boskers

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Boskers.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My husband and I are Canadians and we started traveling down to the metro-Phoenix area from Calgary, Alberta to escape the cold and take Arizona Cardinals football as we became season tickets holders. Fun, sun and football were what brought us here (and to Raymond James Stadium to watch the Cardinals almost but not quite beat the Steelers for the Superbowl). However, it was the warm hug of Arizona air every time we stepped off the plane that made us feel like we were home. So, we began our dream to one day move our family to beautiful Arizona. We started with investing in single-family rentals in the area and have continued to add to our portfolio over the years. The goal is to have our money work for us so we don’t have to, and investing in rental properties was how we are going to achieve it. Our children were getting older and I felt I was ready to shift from dedicating my time volunteering at their school and on the PTA to growing our real estate business and getting back to following my interests. I joined Zion Realty and just last month our family was granted permanent residency status here in the United States after a very lengthy two year legal immigration process. Woohoo! We are so grateful to have the opportunity to experience this great nation and call it our home. In celebration of this huge event, I am excited to be officially launching my real estate business here in the Greater-Phoenix area. Whether you are looking to buy or to sell, I can help you with all your Arizona Real Estate needs.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Life is an adventure and despite our best efforts to follow the open road of least resistance, it never usually works out like that. What fun would that be anyways? We experienced many struggles that kept our family apart with my husband working in one state and myself and our children living in another. He traveled home as much as he could but it was hard being apart. In a new country, new city, new neighborhood, new home, new schools, new healthcare system, and no family around made things interesting. Having two gifted children also added significant challenges. But we made the best of it all. The biggest struggle was always knowing our future in the United States was uncertain. Yet being grateful kept us grounded; we trusted and believed that things would work out for the best. And still do.

We are defined by what we believe, who we are when no-one is looking, how we care for what we have been blessed with (family, relationships, resources, finances, our health, our neighborhood, our community, etc.), and our resiliency to overcome whatever season comes our way. Struggles and challenges are set-ups for step-ups to bigger and better things. Mindset is everything as is surrounding yourself with people who are real, supportive and lift you up. Be true to yourself, grow your strengths, discover your passions, and go for it. I also recommend finding a good mentor to learn from. Someone who has been there, done that and who just wants to help others become better at what they do (and has the skills to actually get them to do it!). I am very fortunate to be part of an incredible women’s (real estate) mentorship program right now and it has been remarkable in growing me personally and professionally. Being part of a supportive group of like-minded individuals all striving for improvement is so incredibly inspiring and motivating that it changes you for the better.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a financial freedom finder, also known as a Realtor, with Zion Realty in metro-Phoenix. My husband and I have been investors (beginning as international investors and continuing on as local investors) with over a decade of real estate investment experience in buying, renovating, holding and renting out single-family residences in the area. With established contacts in residential real estate, commercial real estate, property management, mortgage lenders, hard-money lenders, contracting, accounting, and more, I can direct buyers and sellers to the right resources to help reach their financial goals with Arizona Real Estate. What I am most proud of is helping others achieve the American Dream of owning a home, growing personal wealth by owning rental properties, buying space for their growing business, buying land for their dream house, moving up because of a growing family, down-sizing to travel/enjoy retirement/simplify things, or selling a home to be closer to family or to get that dream job. Being part of a growing brokerage led by an amazing woman, having a sphere of incredible real estate industry professionals, and being in an exciting industry in the awesome state of Arizona makes every day full of possibilities.

We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 67% of all Realtors are female with the typical Realtor as female, college educated, a homeowner, and is 54 years of age with a median experience of 8 years. Looking for things from an investor perspective, I think one of the biggest barriers influencing women in the industry relates primarily to home ownership. Unfortunately and historically speaking, women make less money than their male contemporaries, and the historical trend has been that women waited until marriage to purchase a home to meet mortgage application requirements. But things are changing, and mortgages have too. Statistics show that the future of home-buying in today’s market is female, millennial and Hispanic. Single-women continue to be one of the fastest-growing real estate home buying powerhouses in the industry and more millennial women are purchasing properties at a higher rate than millennial males. Women are realizing that that dream of home ownership is not dependent on a partner or spouse and are investing in their financial futures by purchasing a property. Little savings, good credit, a steady job, responsible debt management, and homeownership can be attainable in less time than one would think… and why stop there? Stay in the property for a couple of years, make regular payments, then leverage the home by refinancing to pull out equity, rent it out, and buy another home. Wealth building is an available option for people and the word is getting out. Barriers are crashing down and women are taking control of their financial future. Let the fun times begin!

Contact Info:

• Website: amberboskers.com
• Phone: 4805994818
• Email: amber.zionrealty@gmail.com
• Instagram: amberboskers
• Facebook: @AZRealEstateAmber
• Twitter: @AZRealEstateAB

 

 

 

 

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.