https://www.rickrochon.com/
This is partially a review for…read moreother home buyers/sellers, and a partial love letter to Rick, so buckle in.
I've lived in San Francisco for 25 years. The city is my first and for the majority of my adult life which I've been single, it's also been my only love. As a young waiter I voluteered at different nonprofits and post grad school and well into my career, as a single income household, I still volunteer and also serve on nonprofit boards primarily because I lstill ove my city and community.
But as hard as I've worked, and as much as I love this city, I never dared to dream of home ownership. I would have loved to own a home, but I didn't feel anywhere near capable of navigating that process, I was scared to do it alone, and I was sure I didn't have enough financial resources to make it happen.
I'd also love to be a Sultan and have a stable full of horses, sushi for dinner every night and a private jet. Both scenarios seemed equally attainable.
Enter the picture Mr. Rick Rochon. He thoughtfully, kindly, patiently, and supportively walked me through each step of the process. It was about a year from our intial discussions to fruition of my new home. All the while he honored my naivete, was never condescending, dismissive, or derided my learning curve and always gave me the power to decide what resonated with me. He knew when to lead and when to let me lead.
I expected a steep learning curve full of pitfalls but I had no idea the vast, countless landmines that awaited me in the home buying process. It was more complicated, and frightening than I had imagined. I had been so afraid of doing it alone, but I didn't. I had Rick. He checked on me almost daily for 3 months from when we found my now home, to after we closed escrow.
This isn't an investment property, I'm not flush with cash, I'm a brown guy who came from a place that gave a million reasons for me to not survive much less thrive. I've had to work hard for what I have, I've done it alone, and have always known hard work is never enough.
Rick helped me align my community, a dream I never dared to dream, and my resources to rewrite an outmoded narrative I hadn't been the co-author of. The end result of holding the course and trusting myself, and his expertise and guidance, is that I'm not only a homeowner in the city, community, and neighborhood I love. But I'm in a home I NEVER thought I could afford, but will do so with unexpected comfort. And it's the home I plan to be hauled out of feet first!! (no really if I die there I'll be a happy camper)
This is a long ass review. So if you've gotten this far you're either buying what I'm putting down or are rolling your eyes. But the long and the short of it is; Rick is a critical and revered friend now, because he helped me do what I couldn't on my own, and what my family could not.
For 25 years I've picked San Francisco year after year, when it would have been easier to leave. But in 2021 with Rick guiding the process, San Francisco chose me back and I've never been more grateful, humbled, and excited about my future.
Rick was my respectful and dignified champion, advocate, friend, mentor, and rock through what was the most challenging and scary thing I've ever done with disturbingly high stakes.
Here ends my review, with so much gratitude. Thank you for believing in me Rick and helping me get to the next amazing place of growth... and for the baller ass home I never dreamed I'd have. Thank you, Thank you.
