When one door closes, another opens. I’ve learned the importance of embracing those open doors and taking chances, because you never know what incredible paths they might lead you down.

  

In 2012, my wife and I came to the states where I was planning to go to college. We are high school sweethearts, so taking on such a big move together made it slightly easier having each other. We knew there were real opportunities here and planned to make the most of it. 

 

 Then an Army recruiter offered to pay for my entire college education through a program designed for foreign students who spoke a second language. I didn’t know fully what I was getting into, but like I said, I came here ready to embrace the opportunities, so I said “Yes.” In 2016 I raised my right hand, earned my citizenship, and became a U.S. soldier.

 

What I didn't expect was how much I would love it. The brotherhood. The discipline. The belief that you get out exactly what you put in. All of that became the foundation for my real estate career. 

 

After five years at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, where I served active duty for the United States Army, I was ready to transition to the reserves. My wife, Bruna, had relocated with me during my years of service, so now it was her turn to decide where we go. She chose Tampa. It was perfect: sunshine, beaches, great entertainment, and one flight away from Brazil, where we are from.

 

As we settled into Tampa, where we knew no one and were completely starting over, I had a job lined up that fell through. But my wife didn’t skip a beat. She said, "Why don't you get your real estate license?"

 

 It reminded me of a LinkedIn message I had received months ago from Sunny Alexander, the broker of Red Sash Realty, who was looking for military professionals to join her brokerage. I reached back out to Sunny, told her I was finally in Tampa, and she walked me through everything. How to get licensed. What the work really looked like. What to expect. She became my mentor and broker. It was completely unlike anything I had done so far, but I wasn’t a stranger to embracing new challenges and new experiences. 

 

What set Sunny apart to me was her genuine care for people over profit. I watched her give away part of her own commission to help a veteran close on a home. That told me everything I needed to know about the kind of agent I wanted to be too.

 

My first transaction was buying our own home. It was a huge learning experience, and gave me the chance to figure it out before working with anyone else. Today, I see my role as an advocate and true partner for my clients, here to protect their best interests. I have talked sellers out of listing because their mortgage rate was something they would  never find again. I have helped clients move boxes on moving day or clean their home before showings. When I see something that needs to be done, I jump in and do it!

 

I don’t see myself as a salesman. I see myself as someone who educates, shows up, and tells you the truth, even when it’s not what you want to hear. This approach has defined my real estate career and is an extension of my commitment to service from the military.

 

 It was a huge transition for our family moving to Tampa, but we couldn’t be happier here. Our sons, Nicholas and Braden, keep us busy with soccer on the weekends. We also found a great church community and I am still part of the Army Reserves. This has been such an incredible chapter in my life, and I know this is just the beginning!

 

One of the things I love about real estate is that I am not behind a desk. I am outside, moving, meeting people, walking through homes, connecting with families at some of the biggest moments of their lives. There is a whole world behind the scenes that most people never see: lenders, inspectors, contractors, negotiations, hard conversations. There are a lot of moving pieces, but I genuinely enjoy being the problem solver and getting everything done on my client’s behalf.

 

The best part about real estate for me is the relationships. Every deal I have closed has come from Army connections, my church community, or people who trusted me enough to refer friends and family. That makes the work all the more meaningful. With every client, I am here to answer questions, provide helpful information for making decisions, and offer support in every way I can so they can achieve their goals. My aim is to be a lifelong resource, someone you can always count on long after the transaction is over!

 

Sincerely,

  

 

 

Israel Saraiva, REALTOR®︱Veteran

Cell 801.687.2631

Israel@RedSashGroup.com

IsraelSaraivaRealty.com