Get to know jen
Jennifer Ouk | DRE #02079511
The Resident Foodie
There’s a famous quote which says that if you find a job you enjoy doing, you’ll never work another day in your life. Those words have certainly rung true for #TEAMFAST agent Jen Ouk, who once dreamed of being a lawyer but later discovered that real estate was her true passion.
Born and raised in Oakland, California, Jen
The Resident Foodie
There’s a famous quote which says that if you find a job you enjoy doing, you’ll never work another day in your life. Those words have certainly rung true for #TEAMFAST agent Jen Ouk, who once dreamed of being a lawyer but later discovered that real estate was her true passion.
Born and raised in Oakland, California, Jen studied criminal justice at San Francisco State University.
“I originally wanted to be a lawyer, but I realized it just wasn’t for me,” she says, adding that she came to that realization after eight years of working as a paralegal for an estate planning attorney.
Although law wasn’t her ultimate calling, she did enjoy certain elements of the job – some of which helped pave the way for her career in real estate.
“I was already working with real estate documents, transactions, and contracts, and I really liked that aspect of the job. So real estate was a really natural transition for me.”
“Real estate is my life. When you’re passionate about your job, it doesn’t feel like work because you enjoy it so much,” Jen says. “It’s a really gratifying feeling to know that I can help someone with a home purchase or sale, and that they’re trusting me with one of the biggest assets of their lives.”
‘I’m always learning’
Jen goes out of her way to take care of her clients, serving as their advocate during the buying and selling process.
“I never want my clients to feel like a number. I want them to know that I am genuinely here to help them. I want them to trust me.”
One of the best examples of Jen’s outstanding service was when she helped two teachers purchase a home in the area where they worked – even though the odds were stacked against them and one lender had already turned them down.
“I was able to find a lender that offered a down payment assistance program. They qualified for the mortgage because of that program. Being able to strategically guide them through that process and be there when they received the keys to their new home was an amazing experience.”
The experience was especially meaningful for Jen because her sister is also a teacher.
“Teachers don’t get paid nearly enough, and that frustrates me. So being able to help two educators purchase a home in one of the most competitive and expensive markets in the Bay Area was extremely rewarding.”
Jen goes above and beyond for her clients, and believes in approaching every transaction with integrity, transparency, and a great work ethic.
“My parents always worked super hard for everything we had, and that work ethic was instilled in me at an early age. I never take anything for granted, and I’m never content with anything in my business – I’m always learning, growing, and trying to improve.”
Her desire to keep learning is one of the reasons that Jen chose to join #TEAMFAST.
“The team is really collaborative, and everyone is always willing to help each other out. We don’t view each other as competition, it’s a close-knit family environment.”
Jen also attributes her success, in part, to her enthusiasm for learning.
“In the early days, I took every constructive criticism and made sure that I implemented it in my business. That’s what I always tell younger agents – don’t get offended when someone criticizes you. Take that experience, learn from it, and bring it to your next transaction.”
Will travel for food
When Jen isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her daughter Aiyana and volunteering at her school. She also enjoys biking, hiking, and camping.
A self-described “foodie,” Jen can also be found trying out new cuisines on the local (and not-so-local) culinary scene.
“I like traveling for new food and experiencing new flavors. I love a good restaurant and a good cocktail.”
Her favorite food is sushi, but her adventurous spirit has led her to try far more exotic delicacies.
“The strangest thing I’ve ever eaten is deep fried scorpion, when I was in Thailand. But it really just tasted like the seasoning they fried it in,” she says, adding that she introduced her palate to cricket on the same trip.
Jen’s next culinary adventure might take place in Europe or Japan, two destinations that are on her bucket list. But until then, you can find Jen showing houses and signing contracts in the East Bay.
“I just love waking up every day and doing my best for my clients, whether they’re an investor or a first-time homebuyer. I get to meet so many people from different backgrounds and walks of life, and that’s part of what makes my job so great.”
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