Today we’d like to introduce you to Eduardo Duran.
Hi Eduardo, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Born and raised in El Paso, Texas – I grew up in a predominantly Latino environment. My parents, both Mexican immigrants that have established themselves in the United States through a tremendous journey of hard work – instilled into me a diligent work ethic and a sound moral fabric. They taught me these lessons through their own example – throughout my childhood they demonstrated what it meant to be relentless, consistent, and honest in one’s work. My daily routine consisted of waking up bright and early as a family and all heading to work and school. My mom would pick my brother and I up from school and take us to work at her small flower shop business. I saw my parents pour themselves out for the future of our family – their singular goal with all this work was to grant a better future for my brother and I. They have been tremendously inspiring to me in my pursuit of creating Lease With Ease and their example motivates every step I take. I am very blessed to have had my parents’ example and know that one day I will pass this along to my own children. This instilled many values and virtues into my character, including but not limited to my work ethic, self-confidence, and above all, my prioritization of relationship building.
When I moved to Austin in 2019 in pursuit of a college education at UT Austin, I had no idea I would have the opportunity to grow a business while still in school! I began my journey in real estate during my freshman year, where I got licensed and began to work with a few of my close friends in their search for student housing. My client base grew steadily and I took a leap of faith during my junior year – I formed my own leasing team, Lease With Ease LLC! We have since expanded our team to its current size of 6 agents, a media manager, and a transaction coordinator. This is where we currently stand, and I speak for the rest of the team at LWE when I say we are excited to see what the future holds!
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?
I began my college career at UT before COVID had spread to North America. I enjoyed one “normal” college semester – 16 weeks of going out with friends and learning my way around this crowned jewel we call home: Austin. When March of 2020 came around, nearly all of the student population left the campus area. I watched all my friends go home and soon enough, I was one of the few that remained in what was now a ghost town. The weeks and months that followed were lonely and quite depressing; everything was closed, classes were on Zoom, and I found myself becoming increasingly lethargic and idle. It was at this low point that I decided to get my real estate license. I wanted an avenue to invest my time and energy into, something to actively work at and grow, something to call my own. I obtained TREC licensure and began helping my friends secure housing for their next semesters at UT, an experience that brought me the purpose and joy I was lacking before. I fell in love with real estate and haven’t looked back since. There have been MANY speed bumps along the way; learning how to file taxes as an LLC, setting up website domains, competing with larger firms, marketing to our niche, and staying afloat financially in the early stages of the business, just to name a few. I firmly believe that every difficulty experienced on the road to success is not a setback but rather a lesson learned or wisdom gained that will aid in future endeavors. I am overwhelmingly thankful for and proud of every member of my team; without them and the excellent work they do, LWE would not be where it is today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Lease With Ease?
Lease With Ease is the largest student-led real estate company in Austin. Our team prides itself in the values of honesty to our clients, diligence in our practice, and delivery of the ultimate leasing experience. We are all students at the University of Texas, which brings a youthful vibrance and energy to the client experience that is hard to come by in the more traditional, entrenched world of real estate!
Although our main focus lies in serving and empowering UT students in their search for housing, we aim to provide real estate services to all Austinites… With the hectic nature of the college lifestyle, it is often difficult for students to make time for their housing search. Combine this with general lack of experience in the field, and you get a situation that is stressful, frustrating, and time-consuming. Our core mission is to alleviate this pressure and help students find their next lease with ease, at no cost to them whatsoever.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What’s not to love – Austin is a city brought to life by diverse and unique personalities. I absolutely love how one city can undertake the title of a corporate powerhouse (the next silicon valley??) while continuing to be a nature-centered vibe-town. As a student, the energy of the city is contagious and it almost feels surreal that I am able to follow up a busy week of school and work by melting my worries away hiking on the Green Belt or a floating concert on the river.
Being a third-year at UT Austin, I have noticed an increase in violence downtown. As a student who enjoys Austin’s nightlife, the violence on 6th street is alarming and on the rise which is a serious concern that should be put out dry.
Pricing:
- $0.00 for an agent to help you find a rental!
Contact Info:
- Email: leasewithed@gmail.com
- Website: www.leasewithease.live
- Instagram: @leasewithed, @lweleasing
Image Credits
Maggie Vereb
