About Me

I firmly believe that I can only serve you fully by having a deep understanding of what you really want to have happen in any given real estate deal. The best way to do that is to create a personal relationship that transcends your initial reasons for calling me. That means that I'll be getting to know you and your family, and you'll be hearing about mine. Rest assured, the day I hand you the keys to your new home will not be the last time you hear from me. We're not just starting a short-term business relationship here. I truly do want to be Your Real Estate Consultant for Life!

My Family

You may have guessed from my photo that I am Vietnamese. My family arrived in the USA when I was seven (in 1979) after an arduous journey that involved several weeks on a small boat in the South China Sea, many months in refugee camps, and the miraculous day when we were invited to live in the USA. Since arriving here my family members have been very successful in a variety of endeavors. We have truly embraced the "American Dream".

Of course, I look Vietnamese but my name isn't Vietnamese at all! I am married to a wonderful man, Ken Scott, and we live in San Jose. He's a Silicon Valley success story in his own right, with several successful startups to his credit. We've been together for over 10 years, and we're busy living Happily Ever After.

How I Got Started in Real Estate

I started in real estate in 2000. My first job was processing loans for a mortgage broker. While I was there I saw virtually every aspect of home finance: correcting/adjusting a client's credit status, finding the right loan program, and working with the real estate agent and the client to close the financing. Seeing the process from the financial side first has given me a very real appreciation for the importance of financing in the home buying process. It's simple, really: no money, no sale!

Why I'm a Real Estate Agent

I transitioned to being a Real Estate Agent in 2002, with a special emphasis on helping first-time home-buyers. There's no way to adequately describe the feeling of accomplishment I get from seeing the look on someone's face as they take the keys to their first home. I really don't have to look very far to find deep satisfaction in my job. I take great pride in the fact that many of my clients have come back to me to help them find their second! I even have some client families, where I've been able to help several generations in the same family. When those babies grow up, then I'll help them, too!

The Current Lending Crisis

My strong background in home finance gives me a lot of insight on what lending programs are available, and what makes sense for my clients. It was that sense of "what's right" that led me to pass up a number of deals in recent years. To be frank, many lending programs available over the past few years were far, far too lenient with the borrowers. They were a great way for the bankers to get more people to buy homes, but all too often people ended up buying homes that they shouldn't have. I am pleased to say that not one of my clients have been caught up in the current crisis. I like to believe that it's because I wouldn't let them buy a home that they couldn't really afford. Financing is everything, even though sometimes it's not fun.

Believe It Or Not, This Is The Time To Buy!

The current economic climate is scary, so it's perfectly normal to think that you should hold onto your money. However, it's actually times like these that the biggest financial gains are made. Bay Area housing prices have fallen by 30% over the past couple of years, so now you can move into a very nice home at a much lower price than you think. It all depends upon your financial circumstances.

If you have a stable income and a decent down payment in the bank, then the climate is actually perfect for you. Lending rates are back down to very low levels, and lenders are falling all over themselves to lend to people like you. If this sounds like you, then get in touch with me! I'm sure I can find you a fantastic deal!

How Can I Help You?

I truly love what I do, and my greatest pleasure is seeing people get a home that's right for their needs. I've lived in the Silicon Valley area all of my adult life, so I'm very familiar with San Jose and the neighboring cities. More often than not I can tell you right away about a neighborhood and its schools. I speak English and Vietnamese fluently, I speak Spanish fairly well, and I even have some remnants of the Mandarin I learned during the year I spent in China during college. (Just don't expect to talk with me for very long in Mandarin, or you'll probably hear some Spanish mixed in there!)

How Can I Help Your Friends & Family?

If you feel that your friends and family could benefit from having their own Real Estate Consultant for Life, please take a minute to tell them about me. Feel free to tell them about your experiences with me, and how you feel that I can help them, then give them my name and contact information. I'll take great care of them. There's nothing like a personal reference: a friend telling a friend about another friend. It's the best kind of advertising - the kind money can't buy.

I look forward to working with you, and seeing that look on your face when I have the honor and privilege of handing you the keys to your new home!

Leanna Scott
Your Real Estate Consultant for Life