From a refugee to a real estate broker, my journey is a testament to perseverance and the surprising doors that hard work can open, fueling a passion to guide others along a similar path. 

 

In 2013, after years of renting, I finally bought my first home. For my wife and me, it was a huge achievement—a way to invest in our future and create something permanent for our family. But the process wasn’t easy; I had to learn everything about buying a home from scratch. 

 

When my family and I arrived in Phoenix as refugees in 1998, I was just 14. We were starting over, adapting to a new culture, learning a new language, and living in government housing, like many others in our situation. In my native country, only the wealthiest owned homes; mortgages and loans weren’t part of the system, so owning a home wasn’t something I grew up seeing as possible. But as I learned more about life here, I realized the importance of homeownership and wanted that stability for my own family. I was incredibly proud the day I achieved that goal.

 

Over the next seven years, I worked very hard to pay off our first home. I worked in healthcare, gaining experience in various roles from working in the ICU to oncology, a secretary to a phlebotomist. Often, I was working two jobs all while going to nursing school. For a long time, my goal was simply to have a stable, reliable career.

 

Then, a turning point came. While in nursing school, I met a fellow student whose parents were involved in real estate. She opened my eyes to the potential in real estate, not only financially but also as a way to impact people’s lives directly. I realized that many refugees around me still rented—not because they wanted to, but because they didn’t have the tools or the knowledge to navigate the path to homeownership.

 

Suddenly I saw real estate as a way to help others—especially those from backgrounds like mine—achieve homeownership and build wealth by investing in something that almost always increases in value over time. Unlike nursing, real estate offered no ceiling to what I could earn and the number of people I could help in my community. After a lot of thought, I decided to leave nursing school in 2018 to become a full-time real estate agent.

 

The beginning wasn’t easy. I followed every piece of standard advice: open houses, door-knocking, flyers, videos, you name it. But for a while, none of it worked. That’s when I decided to think outside the box and focus on where I could build the most trust and genuinely connect with people. I started reaching out to local churches and community centers, offering free talks on homeownership. Slowly, the community began to respond. Pastors welcomed me into their congregations, and I was able to share the steps to move from renting to owning, explaining mortgages, credit, down payments—everything I wished someone had told me years earlier. That’s when things really took off.

 

Since then, I’ve helped over 400 families become homeowners, many of whom thought it would never be possible. I’ve helped clients go from buying their first home to buying several rental properties, generating passive income. The best part is that this impacts future generations too, breaking the cycle of renting and teaching them the value of homeownership.

 

In October 2024, I opened my own brokerage, Deluxe Prime Realty. My vision is to create a full-service agency that supports every kind of real estate need, whether residential, commercial, or property management. I’ve built this with the mission to empower my community with the knowledge they need to make smart financial decisions and to see owning property as a way to build generational wealth.

 

Through this journey, it’s become clear to me that the power of homeownership goes far beyond just having a place to live. I’m committed to sharing everything I know so others can find the same security and pride that I first felt holding the keys to my own home. My goal is always to help my clients build on their investments. That includes helping people buy their first home, and eventually, turning that first home into a rental as they continue to upgrade and build on their initial investment. These creative options are my favorite transactions to work on, knowing I am significantly enhancing the lives of my clients and paving the way for future generations.

 

My approach is all about understanding and patience. I spend considerable time with each client to ensure they feel no pressure to rush their decisions. This method allows me to build lasting relationships and trust with the clients I serve. I listen to my clients’ needs and preferences, ensuring they make the most informed and beneficial choices. Even after the transaction is over, I remain a trusted real estate resource here for anything you may need!

 

Sincerely,

 

Oswald Nkengurikiyimana

Designated Broker

Call/Text (602) 930-8671 

oswaldazagent@gmail.com

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