Alexandra Warren moved to working in real estate after a six-year career in aviation as a flight attendant with Etihad Airways.
The career switch felt like a natural progression, says the 32-year-old South African, who lives with her husband and four-year-old daughter in Al Raha Beach, Abu Dhabi.
“A role in aviation as cabin crew or flight attendant has you at the front line dealing with people, so you need strong interpersonal skills,” says Ms Warren, who works as a sales consultant at Crompton Partners Estate Agents in Abu Dhabi.
“Those are easily transferable skills. In real estate, too, we work with different people, so it was a natural transition.”
Ms Warren, who is from Cape Town, finished a bachelor's degree in arts with a major in communication and psychology.
She’s been in the UAE for more than 11 years and has worked in property for just over two-and-a-half years.
What was your first job and salary?
My first job was right out of university in 2013, when I joined Etihad Airways as a flight attendant at the age of 21. I worked this job for six years. My salary at the time was around Dh11,000 ($2,995) to Dh12,000 a month. It fluctuated, based on our flights and rosters.
I was travelling, enjoying and exploring, until Covid-19 happened and I was one among many of the cabin crew who were made redundant.
Tell us about your current role. What is your salary now?
I joined real estate over two years ago. I started off doing rentals and the average salary would range between Dh12,000 to Dh13,000 a month. It's a commission-based job. During an exceptional month in leasing, I would make around Dh25,000 to Dh30,000.
A year ago, I was promoted and transitioned into sales. The salary has increased significantly, especially in the past six months. My July salary was around Dh195,000. It’s hard to give an average figure as the income varies every month.
I did a deal in February for an off-plan project. Sometimes, the developers take time to pay us. So, some of my commission in July would have been from a deal that was done a few months ago.
On average, I earn about Dh70,000 to Dh80,000 a month. But it depends on the deal that you're making. We do not receive a basic salary, so what you put in is what you get out. You need to hustle hard to make money. This industry is all about trust, building relationships and networking. In this industry, referrals are important for your business.
Do you manage to save and have considerable savings?
I do. When I was doing leasing, it was quite difficult to save because my salary then was significantly smaller. With sales now, we're in a much better position where I'm able to provide or have a cushioning. I'm saving now and looking at investments of my own, which will probably be real estate as well.
I have around Dh250,000 worth of savings now. That is a significant number from somebody who was a housewife two years ago.
What asset classes do you invest in?
We've only been investing in real estate. We own the three-bedroom apartment that we live in, which has appreciated well since we bought it. It was worth Dh2.5 million when we bought it last year and took out a mortgage to pay for it. It’s currently worth Dh3.6 million.
We also own a land plot in South Africa. Plots there are rare and valuable, so those perform well over a long period of time. We plan to eventually build on it, rent it out or sell it to invest and diversify our portfolio. It’s currently rented out as a storage unit.
My next investment will also be in Abu Dhabi real estate: a smaller property with a low entry point in one of the up-and-coming areas.
Do you have any debt?
Nothing except the mortgage, which my husband has been paying off. People say some debt can be healthy, but I haven't reached that stage yet.
Growing up, were you taught how to handle your finances?
Yes. My parents would tell me to work hard to build a good future for my kids and save every month, while still trying to maintain a healthy balance. That was something my dad always tried to instil in me.
My father also has a strong real estate investment portfolio, so he's been able to guide me.
What are your major monthly expenses?
The mortgage mainly. Personally, my main expenses are on my daughter, pets, a nanny, gas and utilities. I pay municipal tax on our property in South Africa. I also pay service charges for our home here.
How do you budget your salary every month?
It depends on the money I earn that month. I do not live above my means. I budget by trying to set aside a certain amount for savings every month, just so I have that financial cushion.
I just save what I can, at least more than half my income every month.
Have you started saving for retirement?
I haven’t started saving for retirement, but I've started saving. I do not plan to retire anytime soon. My goal right now is to focus on investments in real estate that can provide me with a passive income stream when I retire. A certain amount of interest would come in and I wouldn’t have to stress. That's something my parents have done for themselves. I see the way they live and that's something I want for myself.
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Do you have an emergency fund?
Yes, my savings. I'm working on increasing that number.
What do you spend your disposable income on?
Activities with my daughter, going out with friends, dinners, personal upkeep and retail therapy. I spend a maximum of Dh2,000 on myself each month.
Do you worry about money?
Everyone worries about money, especially when you have the responsibility of kids. I wouldn't say that I can't sleep at night. But we all want to be comfortable.
We consider my kid’s expenses as she grows up. My husband's work covers her school fees. But when she goes to university or college, that's an additional expense.
I work hard to provide a comfortable life for my daughter. Having properties that have appreciated gives you a strong sense of reassurance, and knowing that we don't have liabilities in South Africa.
What are your financial goals?
My goal is to continue closing deals to bring in an income for myself, perform better than the previous month and the prior year. I want to exceed the targets that I set for myself.
What is your idea of financial freedom?
To not worry about finances, have a safety net and streams of income coming in from all my investments. Financial freedom is to be comfortable enough to eventually retire, not stress about finances and not live month to month.
Do you earn passive income?
Not yet. The rent that we earn from our plot in South Africa is paid towards the municipal levies every month. Our next investment will generate passive income, so it should be a rental property in the UAE or South Africa.
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