In this Conversating with Yhorlife we got to conversate with CEO of Pacific Playa Realty, Urb & Lux and Strategist Teresa Mack. Teresa is so infectious, bubbly and professional that I couldn’t stop Conversating. Teresa’s energy is so authentic and her knowledge in this industry is unparalleled you’ll want to purchase yhor next home, condo or join her groups to stay informed. I hope you enjoy this Conversating as much as I do - Enjoy!

How would you introduce yourself to people that are unaware of you …

I am a comprehensive Real Estate Professional. It will be an experience that is more than the transaction. As a person you have goals, expectations, and obligations.

In a real estate transaction to cover all of those (things) we cannot be just about the paper, and the property.

We have to be where do you want to go with that property, and how you are going to get into it.

You are CEO of Pacific Playa Realty, Urb & Lux. Specialist, and top Agent. What do you foresee as the biggest trends in 2025? Why do you think real estate has continued to be an investment staple (even with all the risk & uncertainty etc.)?

So, here we are in the middle of 2025 … so I have to get started on giving my view on 2025, because we are heading toward the middle of the year.

I say real estate is like coffee. People who want it, need it, and they will get it. A person who wants to be in control of their housing situation, they will find a way to do that.

They will find a way out of living at home, or renting, and they will make their way into ownership – because they will see what the benefits are (of owning their own home).

It is a double whammy, you put a roof over your head and you are sitting inside your bank. Your home is increasing in value even if you do nothing. Over time real estate has shown us unequivocally that it increases in value.

It might have valleys and peaks, but if you stay the course in a real estate investment, we have not seen a time that it has not recovered – even in 2008.

In 2008, we thought the sky was falling. Now here we are in 2025 and prices have doubled what they were when we were at the belly. Which was the lowest point of prices in 2008.

I think that real estate persists because of these two purposes. It serves a personal need to be housed, and in control. It also serves as an investment opportunity that is accessible to most people.

Now with all the Tariffs in the news, and the blood bath on Wall Street as a result of the Tariffs. With analysts projecting that we are heading into another 2008. People who have recently bought, or thinking about buying (a home) … when do you advise is the best time … or do you wait until it actually explodes, or just jump in?

There is a lot of uncertainty and fear about the Tariffs and are economy. When I listen to Real Estate Economist, they are not saying that real estate is declining in value, or that we are heading for another big drop in real estate.

I honestly thought that they would say that the market would soften, but they are not. There is a supply and demand issue also.

We had such a long period of time that people purchased real estate at low interest rates. Those people are slower to sell their properties, because they are going to lose that interest rate. The lower interest rates will not ever come back in this life time. So that is creating pressure on the supply side of the real estate market.

There are a lot of people that wanted to buy before the interest rates started to increase. Once the rates started to go up, they stopped. So, those two factors are going to kind of cushion the real estate market from a deep decline.

I would also say to anyone that purchased recently … they did not purchase for the short term. Hopefully their realtor did not say let’s buy this today, and sell next year. I don’t think there is anyone in the industry that thinks this is possible anymore.

They bought it for the long term, they bought something that they could afford – they can afford the monthly payment. They have a long- term view of how long they will be in the house. For however long it takes for them to see the season when they want to sell. They are going to be fine.

As well think of this … if they’ re renting and their landlord needs to increase their rent because their costs are increasing – they can do that.

However, a bank cannot do that on your mortgage, as long as their mortgage is fixed. People who are invested in the market, and they see their investments decline; (because no investments are full proof) – they are going to have to ride it out, and probably not sell.

As well they may not have liquid funds to purchase, that is creating a situation in the market for those folks who were going to buy before the market dropped. If they were going to liquidate their investment for the downpayment; they are unable to do that. Or they have a smaller amount for the downpayment. The other option is that they will have to shop at a lower price point.

You are also an Attorney, and a former CPA. How did you parlay that knowledge with building yhor Company/Brand (you are yhor brand) …

Interestingly enough as an Attorney, and as a CPA I was an employee. I was not in a leadership position other than for my task. I think in terms of building my brand, and building the company that was all learned opportunity.

Now what my foundation built was the confidence that I could be - a good Lawyer, Public Accountant, Customer Service person, or anything.

Those skills persist through challenges is what led me to be willing to do something different. I never had to market myself as a Lawyer, or CPA because I was an employee.

Take where you are, and know that that is building a foundation of confidence and skill.

What are your tips for a healthy mindset …

A pause in the morning, it is important. I don’t care how hectic the morning gets, or what emergency comes up in the morning.

As a CEO of a company with eighty-five agents I have a lot of moving parts every day. As well we also manage four other companies.

I insist on thirty minutes of peace no matter what – one – I am going to meditate from 5mins to 15 mins; two – I pray … so that I feel that whatever is out of my control is in somebody’s hands. Then I look at the most urgent thing first and attack that only. So, having a very structured professional schedule is very important if you have a busy life.

I was not aware of this as an employee, because an employer tells you when to come to work and what to do. When you are an entrepreneur, you must have a set of things that you do regularly. So, when the emergencies come up you know where you can make the compromise, and when you can deal with it. I think that is important.

Are you old school with pen to paper, or are you more modern and have everything on your phone? I am little Miss. Everybody I have my full schedule, Google calendar, and that is six calendars that come together. I have a team, a family, my personal appointments, and the company appointments.

The other two calendars are holiday and birthdays, four of them are calendars in motion every day, Now, those I use on my phone because I am collaborating with other people.

I, am the type of person, like you, that needs to write things down. So, every evening, I write out what I have done that day, and what I need to do tomorrow. That list comes from what was left over from that day.

I do look at my calendar the day before, and the day after. So that I am able to see if I have early morning appointments that have been put on my calendar.

I use both. You have to figure out the type of person that you are, and the type of people that you are working with; the people that I am working with demand to use technology. Or, I would have a paper calendar.

Even when I put things on my phone calendar, I see the notification; but for some reason it never sticks in my mind. When I write it down …it can be three weeks from now, and I remember it. Oh! I am the same way too. So, I am taking a coaching class, I take it three times a year, and it is called Accelerate Coaching.

It is sixteen sessions, and it is all about habits that are essential for a successful entrepreneurial adventure, that is what I call business.

The last session we implemented the nightly planning sheets. I looked at those sheets and thought … at night I am trying to go to bed, wind down and watch Netflix and go to sleep. But it is essential. Yes! I equate that to packing up ‘for school’ the night before.

You have to look at the digital calendar as well, and then you have to write it down. Yeah … I put my phone away at a certain time. No, you have to do that; because you remember those things that you miss. And that is what I missed doing yesterday, and that is why this morning is chaotic.

On ***your website*** you have a quote … ‘ I fell in love with real estate fifteen years ago, on a quest for independence and income and a real opportunity to contribute to my community”. Essentially you see Real Estate as freedom. What specifically about Real Estate did you see as independence and income… since you are a lawyer and a former CPA? And why is contributing to your community so important to you? …

Independence was my time. When I was an attorney, I was a trial attorney, and while I had a lot of power when it was on my desk; when it was time to go to court whatever the judge said for me to do, or whatever the investigation required I had to be there. Whether my kids were in the hospital, or it was back to school night, and that became my conflict.

I really wanted the freedom to leverage other people if I needed the time, or to schedule a time that worked for my life.

Now I love my work, but I do not work to live. So, that was the independence that I was seeking – the ability to manage my time. However, I thought it (real estate) was more like what I saw on television … uh no! I quickly learned that it is more like practicing law. It is extremely demanding and time consuming. But I do have the flexibility for someone else to show up when I cannot.

However, it can be incredibly rewarding and financially rewarding depending on the work that you put into it. I like that … because if I am not making the money that I want, I know why. And if I am making the money that I need it is because I am putting the effort in.

Commitment to community … I was raised in a family that had a commitment to our community. My father was a civil rights leader, and my mother was a teacher. I was just raised that together we are better, and you should always leave where you come from better than when you got there.

So, that is how I operate. My community has been great to me, they have supported me, and they have had my back during difficult times as well. So, I try to give more than I get, and it always ends up in reverse. When you are giving you always get more.

What is your personal favorite architectural design (homes) if you could select one style of home to forever sell, and it wouldn’t feel like selling …

Oh, so hard. I am going to give you the top two. Spanish style for sure, because I like historic, warm, cozy, and architectural details. But I also like a Contemporary house. Oh! Really! … Yes, I do. I like the clean lines. I like minimal space – now that is me personally.

I really love whatever my client is looking for. When I can find them that home that speaks to them, and they say ‘this is my house’. I feel the butterflies. I listened to what they wanted, they worked hard enough and we did this together. So, let’s try to close it down.

So, you don’t feel like the contemporary style gets old … No, no I don’t. It might be because of the area that sell. But midcentury is different from contemporary, but a lot of times it is a blend in them. Those are also the popular styles, and maybe that is why.

Yes, I do like the sleekness of it … but I also like the warmth of the Spanish style. Remember the house that you guys came to see? Well, that was contemporary, and you liked it. Yes, but that was a blend though, and had a more of a Latin feel. Yes, true. The designer brought the warmth in (the way that he designed it).

It (the home) was clean… and minimalist … yes which I love. The architecture of that home was very Latin with the ensuites of the bedrooms.

No one has a smooth journey. What was the most pivotal part in your journey? Did you ever feel like quitting when you were starting this business …

Oh yes! So, this company started as a national franchise. We had a very cookie cutter set of rules that we had to follow. It was good because we had to learn how to run a brokerage.

At one point the owner of the brokerage, Munif, said ‘I don’t want to follow this cookie cutter, we are not a cookie cutter community, or brokerage’. That is when he decided that we should break away and be independent.

I on the other hand was like we will not leave the mother ship, we don’t know what we are doing – what are you talking about. He said ‘yes, I am sure’. That was when I took a leap of faith to go out on our own and leave the corporate system behind.

I was afraid. Yes, I had to look at it this way – you have run a very successful franchise for five years. If you have not learned enough to stand on your own two feet what is going on here. And it was the best thing that we ever did – and that was the pivotal point.

It really unleashed my confidence in my ability to do things, in my, and our own way.

Did you ever feel like quitting … okay which time? No, lol … yes like three times a day. If you are on a growth trajectory like we have been on; there is no way that you cannot say that you have not felt like quitting at some time.

When we rolled up to our building that had been burnt to the ground, and everything that we owned was in ashes and water – yeah, I did feel like maybe this is God telling me ‘You should try to do something different’. But it wasn’t … it was more of an opportunity to push through a hard time.

When I first started in 2006 and the market tanked in 2007, and 2008 … I thought maybe should I go back to my job? But I am way too vain to go back with my tail between my legs.

So, I just had to push through. And I learned more in that difficult time – I feel more invincible after going through that recession as a young realtor.

Yeah … if you have not felt like quitting then you have not grown to your full potential. Because it is on the other side of that feeling that something big is going to happen. I so agree! Especially during tax season, I was like ‘I am going to give you your money back – I cannot’. I typed those emails like three times (then deleted them). No learn from this, so that it is not repeated. Exactly! True.

What are your three staples of clothing that make you feel yhor most confident …

Well, I am a simple dresser. This is probably the fanciest that I get. I like a neat black dress that is either tea length, or knee length so that it is conservative enough. I also like a red dress, that is our brand color so I have to have something with red. Also, a good pair of slacks with a good fitted top.

I am an easy dresser, and I don’t like spending a lot of time thinking about it. Okay, when you have a big business meeting, or a large networking event – what is your go to? For me it is I will always wear my dad’s blazer, that is my go- to. Besides my mom being my ESA dog.

Well, I have to tell you … I put on my skin and I feel invincible. Really!?! There is no outfit, there is no hairstyle – it really is on the inside for me. Now I may have to say Affirmations, I may have to review how I am going to walk in with confidence. But it really is my skin. It really is. Oh, okay Gandhi.

What are you most excited about for the remainder of 2025...

I am excited for growth in our businesses. One of the reasons it was so busy today, we have two new Recruits downstairs, we have three new Loan Officers, and I have my son starting work with me today – he had to go off and meet an Appraiser. I am excited for the growth.

You know we are recovering from that fire. This is the first year that we can breathe and move forward. It is tough that it is happening in this economy. In this political environment where everyone is angry, uncertain, and afraid. So, it will be challenging – but that is what is in front of us.

If you are not growing … you are shrinking.

What are some of the most rewarding parts of your job?

Young new Agents, getting their first transactions.

What is your favorite way to unwind… Being by the water

TERESA MACK - CEO OF PACIFIC PLAYA REALTY & STRATEGIST

MUNIF ALI - FOUNDER OF PACIFIC PLAYA REALTY & ENTREPRENEUR

NEHA ASSAR PANCHAL - PREMIER HENNA ARTIST & ENTREPRENEUR