Real Estate Agent

Property Investor tina koh on the porch of her bayside home

     TINA KOH

“The accounting course is our date night: I’m always looking forward to Wednesdays!”

I am a property investor, a dental clinic manager, a student  and a mother.

Even while I was studying for my a Bachelor’s degree in Science and Commerce at the university in Auckland, I knew that I didn’t want to sit in an office 9-to-5. I thought there had to be something more than that. It got me thinking about financial freedom and wealth.

I also had other reasons to think about financial independence. I lost my dad to cancer when I was 18. After his loss, I went through depression – it was my lowest point, and my family’s.

When he passed away, the stability of my family was lost. He was a successful businessman, and everyone depended on him. With him gone, I watched my mother and siblings really struggle to get through life and its challenges. Continue reading →

Adrian Butera director of Compton Green real estate at ease in his office

     ADRIAN BUTERA

“If I think something’s great and I believe in it, I can’t leave it. I’ve got to do it.”

I am a Real Estate agent and auctioneer. I am also the director of Compton Green Real Estate.

I went to Parade College in Bundoora, squeezed through year 11 and had no real aspirations to do year 12. I was offered a cadetship to be a Training Manager at Safeway where I had already worked before. So I decided to do that; at 18 it was a big role for me.

Even from that early age, I was driven, I wanted to be a young buck – in something, though I didn’t have a clear idea what. Funny thing is, I remember looking at some course brochures: one for a real estate course, and one for electrical and lighting design. Both appealed. But then my father offered me an opportunity to go into business with him, and I put that decision on hold for a while. Continue reading →

Flight attendant Susie at home

     SUSIE *

“I got to the stage where I’ve been flying for over twenty years, and I needed a change.”

I juggle two roles: a flight attendant and a real estate agent.

I didn’t do very well in high school as I was more interested in boys and partying. After high school, I found I didn’t have any real job prospects. So I went to work for my dad, who was a chemist. He trained me up to do dispensary work, fill out scripts and do customer service, which allowed me to get a better role within a bigger chemist franchise two years later.

I worked there for seven years, progressing within the company. By the time I was 25, I was managing the whole branch, doing the payroll, buying stock and overseeing staff. I did enjoy it, but knew I didn’t want to do that for the rest of my life. Continue reading →