Voice for Her Community
Most of this year’s honorees got into real estate despite the housing crisis. Christine Ko jumped in because of it. When her immigrant parents lost their home in the recession, she vowed to be part of the solution. Ko, 29, speaks Korean with clients, translating often-confusing real estate documents. She seeks to convey the full implications of home ownership. “Some agents defer financial questions to lenders, but when I sit down with clients, we crunch the numbers,” Ko says. “It’s more like a financial consultation.” Ko also counsels underwater owners and helps them apply for federal home ownership aid. She is president of the Korean American Professional Society, tutors English, and helps teach financial literacy to students. “By focusing on my community, I am building professional relationships and personal ones.”