Today we’d like to introduce you to Manuel Pablo Arnao.
Hi Manuel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Of course! I was born in Peru but moved to Los Angeles when I was 7 years old; I’m lucky enough to still speak fluent Spanish. I was raised in Pasadena and graduated from UC Riverside with a degree in Psychology; I’ve lived in West Hollywood the past 12 years and know the area like the palm of my hand; realtor plug there, lol. My degree has really helped me relate to people from all sorts of backgrounds in my personal life, but especially as I took steps towards my professional growth. It really helped me become a real estate agent.
My biggest loves are tennis, traveling with friends & family, the Real Housewives (my guiltiest of pleasures), & watching figure skating competitions! I love becoming friends with my clients; sometimes we end up going to movies together, grabbing dinner or drinks, or even checking out a show at The Hollywood Bowl; the classical music shows are my fave! In my downtime, I like to relax and catch up on TV; science fiction is my favorite genre! Oh, don’t get me started on UFO’s, extraterrestrial life, or the mysteries of spacetime, haha. Right now, I’m really excited about possibly getting a golden retriever puppy in the next couple months!
I’m a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Democratic party, and like to stay active by playing in the local tennis & dodgeball WeHo sports league; it’s a great way to meet new people and make friends. I’m also a strong supporter of Active Minds, The Human Rights Campaign, Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue, GLAAD, & the Hispanic Federation.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been an easy road. I immigrated to the US when I was a little kid; I learned at an early age the only way to get ahead would be through education and hard work. I was able to work my way through college and earn a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a focus on Industrial Organizational studies & Social Development; I’m also really proud to say I’ve been financially independent since I was 20.
In terms of my personal life, I started to come out my senior year of college- my therapist was the first person I told. To be honest, I never thought I would come out while I was growing up so it was completely unexpected yet amazing time in my life; I felt such a huge weight off my shoulders and I was the happiest I’d ever been. As the years passed though, and my life didn’t start to resemble Carrie Bradshaw’s or a Hollywood Romcom, I started battling depression on and off in my 20s; I used to be really hard on myself. Fortunately though, it made me into the person I am today and it’s one of the main reasons why I try to bring attention to mental health through my support of charities like Active Minds and GLAAD.
When I turned 30, I went on a spiritual retreat and took Ayahuasca. It was the most incredible experience; it helped me become less anxious, more confident in myself, and see the world through a whole new perspective. I came to the realization that real estate would be my lifelong career. It’s taken a few years to take off though since it’s a career path that takes a lot of financial investment and savings to launch; you’re basically starting your own business while being solely commission based. Also, building a loyal client base takes time; I was patient though- I took a couple of years to learn as much as possible and surrounded myself with the best in the field.
Through it all, deep down, I’ve always known who the real Manuel was. It might sound a little arrogant but I’ve always believed I was destined for great things if I was just authentic and worked hard enough.
As you know, we’re big fans of Compass. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Aww. Thank you! Yes, I’m a Realtor with Compass in their West Hollywood branch; we’re the top real estate brokerage in the country. I specialize in residential real estate focusing on homes in WeHo, Beverly Hills, and the surrounding areas. I’ve assisted in buying & selling luxury properties for the past decade in LA. My success and knowledge began by working with West LA’s top agents and it’s complimented by my utilization of the most up-to-date technology in the business, provided by Compass, helping me ensure transactions go smoothly.
Let’s face it though, real estate is about relationships. Some agents say or do anything to get their clients to make a move; that’s how they make their commissions and earn a living. But that’s not me. I see real estate from a different perspective… yours! Buying or selling a home is the biggest transaction most people will make in their life; that’s why I’m honored my clients trust me when advising them. I try to keep things fun and lighthearted though; I don’t have separate accounts on social media for real estate and personal life like most agents, they’re combined. I want people to get to know the real me and feel like they trust me so they reach out and connect. At the end of the day, I want to exceed my client’s expectations; I want to be their real estate advisor for a lifetime, not just one transaction.
Lastly, I understand all clients are different and, therefore, have different needs. My value comes from providing my clients with quality information and advising them so they make the best possible decisions that make sense to them and their goals. No deal is ever too small or large. My friends and clients are the heart of my business; their referrals are the best compliment I could ever ask for. Everything is connected so I aim to be kind and approachable to everyone in my life, no matter who they are.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
In my life, I strive to make educated decisions based on facts and past experiences; I try to avoid risks at all costs. In real estate though, risk is necessary. From trying new marketing ideas to increasing my monthly budget in order to implement these ideas, investment is necessary to further my career. There’s never a guarantee the money or time I spend will pay off but it’s a risk I choose to take daily.
Pricing:
- All my services are free so please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any real estate questions or needs, even if you think it’s a small or silly question. I only get paid the standard fee once my clients successfully purchase, sell, or lease a property. Buyers never pay the fee though; it always comes from the seller/landlord. Please follow/add me on social media to stay up-to-date with the LA real estate market or to just follow me on my adventures; I post a lot of fun content! I’d love to hear from you and help!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.compass.com/agents/manuel-pablo-arnao/
- Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/holamanuelpablo - Facebook: Facebook.com/ManuelPabloArnao
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/
HolaManuelPablo - Youtube: Youtube.com/ManuelPabloArnao
- Other: https://g.page/r/CRJbsKvq71YNEAE
Image Credits
Joshua Shelton & Edmond Leung
