I initially studied engineering because I was genuinely interested in the field. It wasn’t until I met two real estate that I found my true calling.

I was standing in a Brooklyn home, watching two agents show homes to my friend. I listened to how they spoke, watched how they moved through the space, and something clicked. I thought, “I could do this. In fact, I’d be good at this.” I’d spent years working in restaurants, learning how to read people, how to connect, and how to make someone feel at ease. Suddenly, I saw a new path open up in front of me.

But let me take you back a bit. I was born in Jiangmen, a city in southern China, not far from Hong Kong. My parents pushed me to go to college, which was no small feat—only a handful of students from my class made it. I studied electrical engineering, not because I had a burning passion for it, but because it was practical and at the time I was genuinely interested. After graduation, my life took a turn when my sister moved to the United States. My mom insisted that I join her. Back then, moving to America was a dream for many.

I landed in New York and settled in Brooklyn, where I’ve lived for the past thirty-four years. My first years here were spent working in restaurants. It was hard work, but it taught me how to deal with people from all walks of life.

That day with the real estate agents changed everything. I asked them how to get started, and they told me: go to school, pass the exam. So I did. In 1996, I got my real estate license. At first, I juggled both jobs—restaurant work by afternoon until night, real estate in the mornings. But after just three months, I’d closed three deals.

My goal shifted: I wanted to build a career, not just a job. The early days were a whirlwind—back then, people would decide to buy a house after just one or two showings. But as the years passed, the market changed. More agents flooded the streets, and deals became harder to close. I realized I needed to keep learning, so I invested in training, paid for classes, and learned everything I could about negotiation, presentations, and handling objections.

One of the biggest challenges—and turning points—came in 2011, when my partners and I decided to open our own brokerage. It was a leap into the unknown. Suddenly, I wasn’t just responsible for my own deals; I was managing agents and making decisions with my partners for the whole office. It was stressful, but it forced me to grow. I learned to lead, to train, and to support others. It changed me.

On the personal side, becoming a husband and then a father were huge milestones. I met my wife, Joyce, back in China. We did long distance for a while before I returned to China to marry her, and she joined me in New York two years later. When my son, Felix, was born, and later my daughter, Angel, everything changed. The responsibility was immense. I worked harder and pushed myself further, all for my family.

These days, when I’m not working, I love to travel—there are so many places I still want to see, from Africa to Taiwan and Malaysia. On weekends, you’ll find me playing mahjong with friends, laughing and competing over the tiles.

Looking back, my journey has been full of unexpected turns and growth. Through it all, family, resilience, and a willingness to take risks have shaped who I am today.

What makes me different from other realtors is my experience—over thirty years in this business. I started in 1996, and through all these years, I’ve seen every kind of market and situation. My clients benefit from that experience because I know how to make the process smooth and efficient; when people trust me, things move quickly and easily. I also have a unique background as a bank appraiser for two years, which means I have a deep understanding of how to price homes accurately—something most agents don’t have. That knowledge helps my clients get real, fair prices, whether they’re buying or selling.

I’m also very honest from the beginning, always putting everything on the table so there are no surprises. Over the years, I’ve built strong connections with local real estate attorneys, appraisers, and engineers, which helps resolve difficult situations and makes transactions go more smoothly. I also train my agents in my own way, focusing on what really works. All of this together is what sets me apart.

 

Sincerely,

Carey Yang