The real estate market has been challenging for home buyers, investors, and realtors alike for the past few years. One man who has weathered the high prices and come out on top is John Singson, a well-known real estate entrepreneur in Southern California. John, the Founder and CEO of Singson Real Estate, has developed a reputation for having a bit of a sixth sense about the market, and we sat down with him to learn more about his background and about why he has been so successful in an industry that is vulnerable to economies, politics, and even pandemics. 

“I think one reason I’ve been able to do as well as I have is because no matter what decision I make, I give myself win-win options,” John says. “I am someone who changes their mind all the time, but I make sure that both option A and option B will be a guaranteed success. I never let myself be faced with choices that will take me nowhere, and I definitely am not afraid to think differently from other people.” 

John reveals that he has had that mentality since growing up in the Philippines. “I observed people and saw that true leaders were rare,” he reflects. “If one person went right, there were usually a lot of people following them. I thought that being different was key and that I should go left, basically.” 

As John has paved his own way, trusting his intuition and rising in his industry, he has come to believe that a person is either “weird rich or normal poor.” As he explains, “You absolutely must do something different and weird, in a creative way, to stand out and remain successful. How can you expect to be different when you follow other people? Remember, in business, being different is good.” 

That philosophy has helped him to build his real estate empire and to earn the respect of his community. John was voted as the Top Rated Real Estate Entrepreneur in Southern California. He has also been on the short list of The Top 75 Most Influential Filipino-Americans in America. The level that John has risen to is undeniable, as he works among high-powered individuals and continues to break records in the real estate market. He has been awarded by large groups as well as city and government officials for his real estate career. 

What is interesting about John, however, is his presence: he may come from a well-known, powerful political family in the Philippines, but he remains down to earth and unassuming. He brushes off the deep and influential family background roots of politicians and chooses to remain focused on his own real estate empire and other investments in California. 

At the center of his work is a desire to help individuals and families reach their own goals through real estate. A great negotiator, it is not unusual for him to sit side by side with clients and help them to strategize their real estate investments. 

“I learned from my family that life is all about people,” John says. “I have been described as being one of the biggest fish in the real estate market, and it’s true – I am always looking for great deals that can make a great investment. However, it’s not about the investment itself but about what it can do for people. I try to show my clients that the moment they stop investing is the moment their money starts dying.” 

Over the years, John has helped many families achieve their investment and personal goals through real estate. “I tell every team member that no matter the level of real estate, we never decline a client. Each one is important because we are after the help that they need. The money comes last.” 

John believes in investing because even though it will always have some level of risk, it ultimately can take away most of life’s emergencies and worries. “What kind of life do you really want to have?” he asks. “When you go on vacation and must calculate everything, that’s not a vacation. I want to be more financially free, and the way to achieve that, I believe, is to keep investing. What I have learned so far is that you need to have the money ahead of time before the need for it comes, or else it will be too late. If you have reserves for the rainy days, then it will feel like it never rained.” 

John does not hesitate when asked what he would do if he were given $100M. “I would immediately start another business; buy more assets, such as watches and real estate rentals; and spend the rest,” he replies. “I believe in putting my money to work for me.” 

John has a few pieces of advice for anyone who wants to improve their life. “Learn from wealthy people,” he suggests. “Rich people do what is hard, which is why their lives are easy. Last, remember that in life, you will either win or you will learn. If you drop the ‘lose’ mentality, you will see on bad days that you never really lose. Instead, it becomes a learning experience that, yes, can sometimes be very hurtful, but more often than not, it will turn out to be a wonderful blessing.” 

For more information on John Singson and Singson Real Estate, please visit the company’s website.