Leo Sanchez went from teaching civics to reaching more than $7 million in his real estate business during his second full year as an agent. He explains how buying a Chicago two flat, educating clients through consistent social media content, negotiating credits, building genuine relationships, and learning from experienced mentors helped him create momentum. Mahmoud Faisal Elkhatib and Leo also discuss why consistency matters more than perfection and how the right professional team can make a complicated purchase easier to navigate.
Before entering real estate, Leo Sanchez taught politics and civics. His ability to explain complicated subjects, understand different personalities, and build trust with students became a natural advantage when he began helping people buy and invest in property.
Leo did not leave education behind when he changed careers. He expanded his classroom. Instead of teaching students inside one room, he now uses conversations, consultations, and social media to help buyers understand their options and make more informed decisions.
A multifamily property can create income and reduce your monthly housing cost, but the contract, financing, inspection findings, credits, and legal review must work together. EV Häs helps Chicagoland buyers understand the transaction before they commit to the closing.
Mahmoud Faisal Elkhatib is a Chicagoland real estate and foreclosure attorney, investor, entrepreneur, and former real estate broker. Through The Bow Tie Edge, he brings together professionals who can explain how real estate works beyond the theory.
Mahmoud focuses on the legal and practical details that shape a transaction, including contracts, attorney review, title issues, financing conditions, negotiation strategy, and the relationships between the professionals involved in a closing.
Leo Sanchez is a real estate agent with Realty of America who was born and raised in Humboldt Park. Before entering real estate, he worked as a teacher and taught politics and civics.
Leo purchased his first investment property in his early twenties and later built his business through educational content, referrals, community relationships, and consistent communication. During the conversation, he explains how his background as a teacher continues to influence the way he guides buyers and builds trust.
Leo became interested in real estate when he decided to purchase an investment property in his early twenties. Family members and friends warned him that he was too young, interest rates were too high, the property would cost too much, and managing tenants would create problems.
He moved forward and purchased a two flat. Leo occupies the upper portion of the building while renting the first floor. According to Leo, the tenant pays most of the mortgage, allowing the property to function as both his home and an investment.
The purchase did more than provide a place to live. It showed Leo that real estate could become another way to educate and create opportunities for people around him.
Leo estimates that approximately half of his closed business comes from social media. The remaining portion comes through referrals, events, and personal recommendations.
His content is not limited to property listings. He educates viewers about single family homes, condos, and multifamily properties. He discusses the advantages and disadvantages of different choices, shares what he is learning as an investor, and gives people a view of his daily life.
That combination allows potential clients to understand both what Leo knows and what it may feel like to work with him. The content creates familiarity before the first consultation takes place.
Many professionals delay posting because they are worried that the lighting, editing, message, or presentation will not be perfect. Leo experienced the same discomfort, but he continued publishing.
Some videos are polished. Others are recorded in his car, during a walk, or while getting coffee. His rule is to capture the idea before he forgets it or begins overthinking it.
The early videos may not look perfect, but they create the experience needed to produce better content later.
Leo also focuses on engagement rather than chasing views alone. Consistent posts help him remain visible, nurture the audience he has already built, and give people repeated opportunities to learn from him.
Leo applies one of the most useful lessons from teaching to every client conversation. Different people need information presented in different ways. A successful professional must understand who is listening and adjust the explanation without losing authenticity.
Before discussing financing, property criteria, or transaction strategy, Leo spends time learning about the person. He asks about family, occupation, recreation, and personal goals. This creates a relationship before the technical conversation begins.
Once that relationship exists, he leads with information and expertise. The client is not simply being sold a property. The client is being guided through a decision by someone who understands the reasons behind it.
When Leo purchased his two flat, he used first time homebuyer assistance and negotiated more than $20,000 in credits during the transaction. He explains that he ultimately did not bring money to the closing and received approximately $6,000 after the transaction was completed.
That result was specific to his property, financing, negotiated terms, and eligibility. It was not created by one program or one professional working alone. The lender, agent, attorney, and other members of the transaction had to understand what was permitted and how the pieces could work together.
Leo emphasizes that clients may select any professionals they trust, but transactions often move more smoothly when the agent already has reliable relationships with the lender, attorney, inspector, and other parties involved.
A strong team does not guarantee a particular financial result. It improves communication and helps the buyer identify available options before those opportunities disappear.
Credits, grants, inspection negotiations, lender conditions, and attorney review can all affect the amount a buyer needs at closing. EV Häs helps Chicagoland buyers review the contract, negotiate appropriate terms, and coordinate the legal side of the transaction with the rest of the professional team.
Leo describes real estate as a cycle. Several deals may appear at once, several may fall apart, and another week may pass without a new appointment. That uncertainty can make the mental side of the business more difficult than the technical work.
His response is to focus on consistency rather than motivation. Motivation changes from day to day. Consistent actions allow the business to continue even when immediate results are difficult to see.
Mentorship has also played an important role in Leo’s development. During his first year, he met regularly with experienced professionals who helped him think about growth, leadership, discipline, and balance. Leo credits his own work for the progress, but he also recognizes that guidance helped him avoid trying to solve every challenge alone.
Leo became interested in real estate after purchasing his first investment property in his early twenties. He discovered that the communication and educational skills he developed as a civics teacher could also help buyers understand properties, financing, and investment decisions.
Leo purchased a Chicago two flat. He lives in the upper portion of the property and rents the first floor. He explains that the rental income covers most of the mortgage.
Leo publishes educational videos, property insights, personal experiences, and day to day content. The posts allow potential clients to learn from him and become familiar with his personality before contacting him. He estimates that social media produces approximately half of his closed business.
No. Leo creates some polished videos, but he also records informal content while walking, sitting in his car, or getting coffee. His approach is to publish useful ideas consistently rather than waiting until every detail feels perfect.
No. Leo’s result came from the specific assistance programs, negotiated credits, financing terms, and closing figures involved in his purchase. Eligibility and permitted credits vary, so buyers should review their options with their lender, agent, and attorney before relying on a particular outcome.
