From the Warehouse to the Closing Table: Meet Juan Romero, the Agent Who Never Gave Up

by Kim faines

Have you ever sat at your desk—or stood on a factory floor—and wondered, "Is this it?"

Maybe you have a steady job. The bills are paid. The routine is comfortable. But deep down, there is a little voice whispering that you were meant for something else. Something bigger. Something that actually changes people's lives.

If you are nodding your head right now, you are not alone. In fact, you are exactly where Juan Romero was just a few years ago.

Juan is the newest real estate agent at Dream Select Realty here on Long Island, New York. Today, he is helping families find their dream homes and assisting investors in building wealth. But his path to the closing table wasn't a straight line. It was a journey filled with hard work, a few bumps in the road, and a massive leap of faith.

In a recent episode of the Dream is Real podcast, we sat down with Juan to hear his story. It is a story about leaving a safe career in logistics, battling through the nightmare of the real estate exam, and learning how to sell by knocking on strangers' doors.

Whether you are looking to buy a home, thinking about selling your property, or even considering a career change yourself, Juan’s story has something for you. Let’s dive into the incredible journey of Juan Romero.

Life Inside the Box: The Logistics Years

For over 10 years, Juan Romero’s life revolved around boxes.

He worked in the logistics and warehousing industry. It started when he was just 17 years old. His cousin worked at a pharmaceutical warehouse and told Juan he could get him a job. Juan spoke to his guidance counselor, got his papers signed, and went to work.

It was a good job. He worked for several different companies, including big names like LNK International and Castella Imports. He learned how to manage inventory, how to communicate with teams, and how to make sure products got from Point A to Point B.

But as the years went on, Juan started to notice something.

He worked with a diverse group of people. They came from all walks of life. But whenever they talked about the things that made them truly happy, it was never about what happened inside the warehouse.

"I’ve always noticed that their biggest excitement in life, or their greatest accomplishment, would be, 'I just bought a house,' or 'I’m buying a house,'" Juan recalled during the podcast.

It clicked.

Juan realized that the things people value most are the essentials. He calls them the "Big Three":

Food
Transportation (Cars)
Housing

He realized that housing wasn't just about having a roof over your head. It was a major life event. It was a symbol of success, stability, and the American Dream. Juan looked at his career in logistics and realized he was helping move boxes, but he wanted to help move lives.

He wanted to be the person who handed the keys to a family entering their new home for the first time. He wanted to be the guide who helped someone navigate the biggest financial transaction of their life.

So, he decided to make a pivot. He decided to become a real estate agent.

The Barrier to Entry: Battling the Real Estate Exam

Deciding to become an agent is the easy part. Actually becoming one? That is where the work begins.

In New York, like in most states, you have to complete a rigorous course and pass a state exam to get your real estate license. It sounds simple enough, but as many aspiring agents find out, it is a test of endurance.

Juan decided to take the self-paced online course.

On paper, self-paced courses look great. You can study in your pajamas. You can learn on your own schedule. You don't have to drive to a classroom at night after working a long day. It seemed like the perfect fit for Juan.

But there is a catch. When you are studying alone, you are... well, alone.

"It was interesting," Juan admitted. "I got all the way to unit 15 out of 17. But they give you a limit, like a year or something, to finish. I literally ran the time out."

Can you imagine? Juan had done almost all the work. He was two chapters away from finishing the course. But because life got busy and he didn't have a teacher pushing him, the clock ran out.

He had to pay for the course again. He had to start from Chapter 1.

Most people would have quit right then and there. They would have said, "Maybe this isn't for me." But Juan didn't quit. He swallowed his pride, paid the fee, and started over.

The Lesson for Aspiring Agents

Juan’s experience is a valuable lesson for anyone thinking about getting into real estate. He says if he could go back and talk to his younger self, he would give one piece of advice: Go to a class.

"I think I probably would the second time just go into a class," Juan said. "I feel like you get that interaction with other students. There would be times where I would have questions, and I would have to go on online forums to look it up."

When you are in a classroom—whether it is in person or on Zoom—you have a community. You can ask questions. You can hear other people's questions. You have a teacher who keeps you accountable.

If you are struggling with the self-paced course right now, don't feel bad. It happens to the best of us. Take a page out of Juan's book: forgive yourself, reset, and keep going. It doesn't matter how you start; it matters how you finish.

The Toughest Sales School on Earth: Door-to-Door

While Juan was working in logistics, he also dipped his toes into the world of sales. But he didn't start with something easy. He started with one of the hardest jobs in the world.

He sold internet services for Verizon... door-to-door.

If you have never done door-to-door sales, let’s paint a picture. You are walking through a neighborhood. You walk up to a complete stranger's house. You knock on the door. You have no idea who is behind it. They might be eating dinner. They might be in a bad mood. They might hate salespeople.

And you have about 5 seconds to convince them not to slam the door in your face.

"It's a cold conversation every five minutes," Juan explained. "You initiate a conversation pretty much from zero every single time."

This experience was grueling, but it was the perfect bootcamp for real estate. It taught Juan skills that you cannot learn in a textbook.

1. Reading Body Language

When Juan knocked on a door, he had to make instant assessments. Is this person busy? Are they open to talking? Are they the decision-maker in the house? "You have like two minutes to make five assessments," Juan said. This skill is critical in real estate. When Juan meets a client at an open house, he can instantly read the room. He knows when a buyer is excited, even if they aren't saying it. He knows when a seller is nervous. He can adjust his approach to make them feel comfortable.

2. Building Trust Quickly

In door-to-door sales, you have to "disarm" the person immediately. You have to show them you aren't a threat and that you are there to help. "I show up at your door and you don't know why I'm there," Juan said. "So it's kind of like guiding you, breaking down the ice first." This is exactly what a great real estate agent does. Buying a home is stressful. Clients are often on edge. Juan knows how to break the ice, lower the stress levels, and build a relationship built on trust.

3. Handling Rejection

"My first question was, 'What if they say no to me?'" Juan remembered asking his trainer. "The answer was: 'Go to the next house.'" In real estate, deals fall through. Buyers change their minds. Inspection reports come back with issues. It happens. Juan has the mental toughness to handle the "no" and keep moving forward until he gets the "yes" for his clients.

The "Sponge" Mentality

Now that Juan has his license and has joined the team at Dream Select Realty, you might think he is ready to do it all on his own.

But Juan is smarter than that.

He knows that passing the test is just the beginning. The real learning happens in the field. That is why his strategy for his first year is simple: Be a Sponge.

"There's always that saying, 'You don't know what you don't know,'" Juan said. "As much as you know the test and the course, it really does go into details about everything, but there's that personable aspect of it. What happens when a person just comes in and says, 'Hey, I'm ready, but I don't have this one thing?' They didn't teach me that."

Juan is leveraging the incredible resources at Dream Select Realty. He is working with experienced brokers and agents who have seen it all. He is asking questions. He is shadowing deals. He is absorbing every bit of information he can so that he can serve his clients better.

This humility is a rare trait. Many new agents come into the business with an ego. They want to act like they know everything. But the best agents—the ones who last 30 years in the business—are the ones who never stop learning.

Goals for the Future

Juan isn't just here to participate; he is here to succeed.

When asked about his goals for his first year, Juan didn't shy away. "I would say my goal would be about 8 to 10 sales for the year," he stated.

For a brand-new agent, closing 8 to 10 deals in the first year is a fantastic goal. It shows that he is hungry. It shows that he is ready to work hard.

But Juan’s vision goes beyond just the next 12 months. He is looking 20, 30 years down the road.

"I really hope in 30 or 40 years that I can look back and say, you know, yes, it took me two tries on the school portion, but once I did it, I didn't look back," Juan said. "I want to have a nice and comfortable life for myself and my family... and to know that I was able to facilitate or help people through that process speaks to me."

He sees himself potentially moving into commercial real estate or real estate investing down the line, but for now, his focus is 100% on residential real estate. He wants to help regular people buy regular homes and achieve extraordinary dreams.

Why You Should Work with Juan Romero

There are thousands of real estate agents in New York. Why should you choose Juan Romero?

It comes down to one word: Selflessness.

When asked about his best character trait, Juan paused. He admitted that talking about himself is hard because he rarely thinks about himself.

"I don't really think about myself," Juan said. "I do think that's a quality that I find would be helpful in this industry because at the end of the day, when a person comes in, I want your benefit. I want to help you. For me, I'm just the helper in this scenario."

In an industry that can sometimes feel pushy or sales-focused, Juan is a breath of fresh air. He isn't trying to sell you a house you don't want. He isn't trying to rush you to close a deal so he can get a commission check.

He views himself as a guide. A helper. An advocate.

If you are a first-time home buyer, Juan is the perfect agent for you. He remembers what it is like to be new at something. He knows what it feels like to be nervous about a big decision. He will walk you through every step of the process with patience and clarity.

If you are a seller, Juan brings that tenacity from his door-to-door days. He knows how to market a product. He knows how to find the right buyer. And he knows how to negotiate to get you the best result.

The Dream is Real

Juan’s story is a reminder that the "Dream is Real."

Whether your dream is to buy a home, sell an investment property, or start a brand new career, it is possible. It might take hard work. You might have to restart a course. You might have to knock on some doors. But if you keep going, you will get there.

Juan Romero is living proof.

He went from moving boxes in a warehouse to moving families into their dream homes. He went from a self-paced student to a licensed professional. And he is just getting started.

If you are in the New York or Long Island area and you need a real estate agent who will put you first, look no further than Juan Romero. He is ready to help you reach your goals.

Ready to connect with Juan?

Cell Phone: 516-983-1571
Email: jromero@dreamselectrealty.com

Give him a call. He picks up his phone. And if he misses you, he will call you right back. That is the kind of dedication you can expect from the newest star at Dream Select Realty.

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