Founder of Sang Min Lim Law Firm and Sang Min Lim Real Estate (currently associated with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and Keller Williams Realty), Sang Min Lim is a Korean entrepreneur, real estate agent, and lawyer. He carved out his success in the United States in the residential and commercial real estate sectors and now assists his clients in doing the same.
Lim, otherwise known as 임상민 in Korean and 林相旻 in Chinese, works in property investment in Southern California and Nevada. He carries education in ways that recent immigrants to the United States can enter the dual markets and specialize in making those entry points low-risk and high yield for his fellow Asian and international immigrants.
We wanted to learn more about this multifaceted professional, so we chatted with him about his history and recommendations for success in the steadily-rising property industry in 2022.
Passion-Fueled Education
Native to Seoul, South Korea, Lim emigrated to the United States to attend Ivy League polytechnic, Brown University. With an undergraduate degree in Economics, he went to the University of Southern California (USC) to complete a law degree.
While working to earn his law degree, Lim discovered a passion for the “red hot property market” in his area. As a result, the powerhouse of talent simultaneously earned a real estate license in California while pivoting his law studies to real estate law. He is now a practicing lawyer in California and Nevada, specializing in navigating complex real estate deals for his primarily-expatriate clientele.
Specialized Advice
Lim recommends doing your research, finding an agent who understands what you want, and working with experts in the field.
Do Your Research
“Learn as much as you can about the larger markets in which you are interested,” said Lim. “Focus on each property as its own entity, rather than lumping a neighborhood or area together and assuming all the information will be the same. Your research can include online searches, real estate publication reading, and visiting the properties in person. I also recommend asking your realtor tons of questions – they are here to help you.”
Lim mentioned that making sure you choose a realtor who understands and prefers you to have many questions is vital, so be sure to research multiple agents before settling on one. More on that notion in the next section.
He also stated that it is wise to ask relevant questions to the people who live or work in the area in which your potential new property resides. These people tend to be quite honest and usually love talking about these kinds of things – people do love to discuss themselves and the goings-on in their worlds.
“The more information you have about a potential property purchase or one you want to sell, the better,” said Lim. “That way, business dealings are much more streamlined because you and your agent will have all the answers, and you can get more value for your money.”
Choose the Right Agent
And like we noted above, make sure you select someone empathetic with your life situation and willing to talk about it and answer all your questions – be it about properties or how your personal story aligns with said properties. Know how you will manage what you are investing in with the help of your agent.
“Choose an agent that not only exhibits qualities of expertise but also that you feel comfortable with on a personal level,” said Lim. “While I don’t close the door to anyone, I deeply understand the needs of my clients that immigrated to America because I can empathize with their story. In addition, I learned a lot about how hard it can be to step into a culture that isn’t yours and try to figure out what to do and how to live in a way that will help you build a good life.”
He stressed this point because he wants to impart the importance of choosing an agent that aligns with your situation in life. For example, suppose your goal is to invest because you are starting a family. In that case, your priorities and bandwidth will be much different than if you are a single person with a thirst for a career in property investment.
Team Up with Experts
Lim uses his extensive knowledge of online marketing platforms to his client’s advantage by researching potential property purchases. It is helpful to select an agent that knows how to do this to your benefit. On the flip side, a good agent will also use these same platforms to promote the properties their client wants to sell.
A seasoned agent with industry connections knows their way around the internet and can spotlight their clients’ properties on the most successful listing sites.
“Finding a dedicated, knowledgeable, experienced, and empathetic real estate agent from a firm with the same qualities will be your best chance at having a prosperous and enjoyable real estate experience,” said Lim. “I have such a passion for this industry, and I hope that what I’ve shared can instill that passion in others.”
About Sang Min Lim
Sang Min Lim is an Ivy League graduate, lawyer, business broker, and real estate agent. He is the owner of Sang Min Lim Law Firm and Sang Min Lim Real Estate. He is a real estate agent licensed in California and Nevada and an attorney licensed in California and Nevada. The entrepreneur was admitted to the California State Bar and Nevada State Bar after passing both exams on his first attempt. For real estate consultations in the Las Vegas, Los Angeles County, and Orange County areas, please contact Sang Min Lim.