MARIA BARRAGÀN Maria is the most experienced agent at Mega REC Real Estate Consultants in Maria knows firsthand the challenges of buying a home in the Her goal was to help many immigrants to reach their homeownership dreams. Through community seminars, newspaper column, and brochures, she educated prospective buyers on everything from creating and fixing credit to finding low-interest home loans and down payment assistance programs. For those who have the down payment money but not the income for a single-family mortgage, Barragàn finds multifamily dwellings, where the rental income helps offset the mortgage cost. Her passion is to help immigrant and minority families become homeowners. Barragàn became a full time Real Estate Agent Associate in 2001. “Minority families need education; some of them just do not know they can afford to buy a home.” She says. To better serve her clientele she is always looking for new ways to smooth immigrants’ path to ownership. “I’m amazed at how these people trust me. I have a big responsibility to them,” she says. “But they have helped me too, to grow and get better at what I do.” The work is financially rewarding as well. Barragàn closed over $9 million in sales in 2005.
