Today we’d like to introduce you to Maricruz Acuna.
Hi Maricruz, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I was born and raised in Mexico, in a very traditional catholic family. Got married to my college sweetheart at a very young age and had 3 kids. Life was like a fairy tale, until I found myself divorced at 40 years old, and had to leave my country in 2010 because of the violence caused by cartel wars.
Moving to the USA sounded like a great adventure, but it was definitely harder than I imagined. As an immigrant single mother, I remember being scared too many times. One day, I was running in Town Lake asking God for a sign to decide if we should stay or go back to Mexico. Then, I climbed the stairs at the Lamar bridge and saw graffiti on the train track that read: “Life is change, be flexible”. That was a quick answer!
Staying was definitely the right choice. Austin has been amazing to me and my family, people are friendly and always willing to help. I have been blessed with many new friends and accomplishments, such as finishing a master degree, publishing a book, and finding a new partner in life. I have watched two of my kids graduate as proud Longhorns, with the younger one about to become an Aggie this Fall. Sounds like a fun mix, right?
I try to give back by volunteering in different organizations, which has led me to learn more about this complex and diverse city. My heart is still full of love for Mexico, but my present and future are definitely in Austin, which I am happy to call home.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In 2014 I remarried, and during our honeymoon, my husband had a terrible accident where he almost drowned and broke his spine. We came back to Austin in an emergency evacuation ICU jet, with my husband’s lung capacity at 10%. After fusion surgery, we found ourselves dealing with rehab, hospital bills and pain killer addiction. Nevertheless, we feel lucky because he is alive and walking.
Like every other struggle in life, obstacles are in your way to make you stronger and learn to appreciate what you have. Can’t say I always understand why things like this happen, but hardship has directed my path and made me who I am today. I also want to say that I couldn’t have never done anything without the love and support of my amazing family and friends.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have worn many different hats in life. My major is in Computer Information Systems, my master in Education, but most of my life I have been in Real Estate. However, when we moved here, I had to go back to square one because everything is different.
Since then, I worked hard and have been able to make a successful career, meeting amazing clients and colleagues along the way. My work at Realty Austin allows me to use the most advanced tools to provide the best service and continue my professional growth every day.
I love to help people who are relocating to Austin because “been there, done that”. I take a lot of pride in showing them this wonderful city and guiding them through the craziness of its market. Buying a home is a huge step, one that requires a lot of small steps in between, and my job is to lead the way to help my clients achieve their goal as smoothly as possible.
Being bilingual definitely helps, and my background in Education and Computer Systems, allows me to offer a full package for my clients. However, I believe what sets me apart is the fact that I make an extra effort to get to know my clients and truly understand what they are looking for. I feel very passionate about not only helping them find a house, but helping them find a place that feels like home.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
As I mentioned before, I am also a writer. Have many stories that no one has read, published a book in Spanish, and wrote a couple of screenplays. In order to be a good writer, you need to be a good reader. I read anything that comes my way, especially fiction and history. I also watch movies and TV shows as a writer, questioning the story on every turn and driving people around me crazy. I wish I had more time to write, not only to publish but for myself, for the passion I feel for the written word and the pride I take when I finish a story. It is definitely something to look forward to when I retire.
Related to my job, I read blogs and lifestyle pieces about Austin to help me be better informed, and continue my Real Estate education to be able to provide a better service. In this ever changing market, I am up to date with apps that can make the process easier for my clients. I also show many houses through Facetime and record tons of videos with my phone. I’ve even had to take some social media classes from my kids so I can use it to promote myself and my listings.
We all had to use Zoom a lot last year to survive through the pandemic, but in my case, it opened new opportunities to participate in seminars for investors in Mexico and to have consultations with clients all over the world.
Contact Info:
- Email: maricruzacuna@realtyaustin.com
- Website: www.maricruzacuna.com
- Instagram: acunamaricruz
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=maricruz%20acuna
