We recently had the chance to connect with ERTUGRUL ERTUC and have shared our conversation below.
ERTUGRUL, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
What I’m most proud of building — that nobody sees — is Resilience. More Resilience.
Life throws curveballs. Moments that test your patience, shake your confidence, and make you question if you can keep going. I’ve faced setbacks, interruptions, and challenges that felt impossible — and each one forced me to grow stronger, sharper, and more determined.
In real estate, that resilience shows up behind the scenes: the late nights solving problems no one notices, the phone calls keeping clients calm when everything feels uncertain, and fighting for their best interests when walking away would have been easier.
It’s not glamorous. It’s not as visible. And as you know, people often only see and care about the results rather than the process and progress — but it’s through that very process, that unseen effort, that trust is built, loyalty is earned, and meaningful relationships are formed. In the end, it’s this resilience — the part nobody sees — that shapes every success: in business, in our lives, and in the people who trust us.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
When I arrived in America in 2009, I didn’t know a single word of English and didn’t have a single contact. My only goal was to learn the language and somehow build a life here.
I had no idea how hard it would be. Alone in a new country, I faced financial and mental struggles that tested me in every possible way. For two years, I couldn’t even afford a $150 bike. My daily lunch was two apple pies from McDonald’s — not by choice, but because that’s what fit in the budget.
I didn’t tell my family how bad things were; my mom would’ve been heartbroken. I just couldn’t do that to them. So I decided to face it alone. I had come 10,000 kilometers from home — failure simply wasn’t an option.
Even now, whenever I eat an apple pie at McDonald’s, it’s not just a dessert to me. It’s a reminder of where I started — the struggle, the grind, and the resilience that shaped me.
Over time, I learned English, started working an office job, and pursued my master’s degree. But with only $2,000 a month to live on, I had to make bold moves to stay afloat. I began subleasing and using Airbnb before it was even a trend — a creative way to reduce my rent and fund my education.
That’s when the seed for real estate was planted.
I didn’t realize it then, but I was already learning the fundamentals — managing properties, understanding value, and seeing firsthand how real estate could change a person’s life.
Years later, I met my now-wife in 2016. We got married in 2019, and just before COVID hit, we bought our first home — right before the real estate market took off. That moment confirmed what I already knew deep down: this is where I belong.
My background in civil engineering gave me an edge in understanding homes, while my MBA in finance taught me how to analyze investments and spot opportunities others might miss. Combining the two, I built my real estate business from the ground up — brick by brick, deal by deal.
Today, people know me as Ertuce — Real Estate Agent, Investor, and Social Media Creator — serving the entire DMV region as a licensed professional in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. I specialize in residential homes and investment properties, helping buyers and sellers make smart, confident decisions.
My buyers trust me because I can identify potential issues in a property that others overlook. My sellers appreciate my creativity in marketing their homes — especially through social media, where I share real, practical, and honest insights about real estate and life.
But beyond the skills, what truly defines me is resilience — the one thing I’ve built that no one sees. The discipline to keep showing up. The perseverance to push through when things get hard.
Those invisible traits became the foundation of my success — not just in business, but in life.
I’m proud of how far I’ve come — from eating two apple pies a day to becoming one of the top real estate agents in the DMV area. But my story isn’t about success. It’s about possibility.
It’s proof that if you stay disciplined, keep learning, and never stop moving forward, you can change your entire life — just like I did.
If you’re on your own journey — whether in real estate or in life — I hope my story reminds you:
You don’t need to start with everything. You just need to start.
For readers intrigued by real estate, investments and road trips, I encourage you to follow and support my social media channels on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. I share valuable insights and information to assist you on your real estate journey. My commitment is to provide the highest level of service with honesty and helpfulness, ensuring a positive experience for anyone seeking guidance in their real estate endeavors.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I can’t recall one specific moment that shaped how I see the world, but my earliest memories all share one thing — I was always on a mission. Whether it was doing homework in elementary school, playing soccer as team captain, or chasing the highest grade in math class, I approached everything like it mattered. I wanted to give it my best, stay disciplined, and stay organized — because I loved seeing effort turn into results.
One of my first rewards for that mindset was a blue bike my dad bought me after I did well in school. It wasn’t just a gift — it felt like a trophy for the sweat and hard work I put in. Looking back, I realize it probably had a bigger impact on me than I understood at the time. My parents raised me to believe that rewards should come after effort, not before it.
While other kids wanted money for lunch or small treats, I preferred earning it. By middle school, I was already helping my dad on his minibus part-time, collecting fares as his little assistant. It wasn’t about how much I made — it was about the pride of earning it myself. To be honest, I was still making more than most kids who were just handed lunch money each week.
That habit of working for what I wanted stuck with me. I used my hard-earned money to hang out with friends — going to the fair, buying books I loved, or playing games at the internet café, since we didn’t have computers at home back then. But it always felt different knowing I earned it. Over time, I realized it’s not just about the reward at the end. It’s about the journey — the process, the lessons, and the grind that shapes you along the way.
Because once I reach the goal, that victory moment is brief — and the question quickly becomes, “What’s next?”
Now at 37, a lot has happened since those early school days, but I still carry that same mindset. Discipline, consistency, and self-reliance built my character. The challenges have gotten bigger — but so have the rewards. I’ve learned to see hardship as an opportunity — a chance to build something truly valuable. Hard work and struggle push you out of your comfort zone — and that’s where real growth happens.
The more I learn, the more I realize how little I actually know — and that’s the beauty of growth. My goal now is simple: to keep progressing, keep improving, and bring as much value as I can — to myself and to the people around me.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Not just once, but many times I almost gave up — yet now I see and deeply appreciate how much it mattered that I kept going. Let me give you a few examples from the very beginning — my starting days in the U.S.
I was preparing for my U.S. visa appointment, with all my documents perfectly ready. I had never been abroad before or applied for a visa. Despite being fully prepared, I was denied on my first attempt. Many people thought trying again would be pointless, but I told myself: I have everything ready. I’ll try one more time. If it doesn’t work, I’ll take a different path.
The second attempt paid off despite all the hesitation. I got my visa. I felt more confident and had nothing to lose — that’s why it was worth trying. It may have seemed like a simple stamp to the visa officer, but for me, it opened a completely new path. Those first years in the U.S. shaped my character through hardship, resilience, and hard work. Without them, I might be a very different person today. That was my first real lesson in persistence.
Then I arrived in the U.S., and the real challenge began. It wasn’t the pink, movie-like world I had imagined. I was completely alone, starting from zero, learning a new culture, trying to survive financially, and learning English — all at the same time.
For the first seven months, I couldn’t speak or understand English well at all. Simple things — taking the metro in DC, buying groceries, even basic conversations — felt overwhelming. I was frustrated, exhausted, and often depressed. But I kept going. Slowly, day by day, my language skills improved. After about a year and a half, I became fully proficient — one mountain climbed, but many more challenges awaited.
As I reminded myself that persistence and patience are the only ways forward, I pursued my master’s degree while working seven days a week for just over $2,000 a month. There were days I thought about giving up and going back home, but I knew that each grind would lead to reward. Four years of hard work, discipline, and patience later, things started to pay off — I got a raise, more vacation days, and a better position. I finally felt grounded and capable.
And years later, when I started my real estate career, the challenges didn’t stop, of course. It was at a different level and a different stage. I had no network, and the beginning felt impossible. Many times I wondered if I should return to a traditional job. But the struggles weren’t a sign to quit — they were a sign that success requires effort, learning, and patience. Every obstacle is a lesson, and the bigger the challenge, the more rewarding the result. From previous experiences, I knew more grind leads to more reward.
As of now, I am in the top 1 percent of Realtors nationwide, serving the entire DMV area with licenses in DC, VA, and MD, and with over 5,000 people in my sphere. Imagine again that kid who couldn’t speak English for seven months — and see how far I’ve come.
So here’s the truth: Don’t give up. Keep going. Every challenge, every failure, every moment of doubt is shaping you for something bigger. The reward is always worth the effort.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
Perfectionism.
I like discipline and being organized, and I’ve always believed in doing things at a high level. But with time and experience, I learned that perfectionism is just a delusion. It kills action and progress — and when progress dies, so does improvement. The more you plan and prepare for perfection, the more you fall behind on actually doing the work.
I used to try to make everything perfect before I even started. Then I realized how much time and energy I wasted planning instead of moving forward. The truth is, you can’t know everything or control every outcome. You just need to start — take action, learn along the way, and build on your mistakes.
I’m not saying what you create shouldn’t have standards or value, but chasing perfection before you even begin is a trap. So yes — that’s the belief I’ve changed. Perfectionism is it.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes, definitely. Because you have to go through that phase — there’s no shortcut. Failure should never be your option, no matter what. I had to face that through different phases and timelines of my life, and honestly, it’s one of the hardest things to do.
When you’ve already succeeded at something, everyone’s supportive — everyone’s clapping for you. But when you’re still in the learning curve, when you don’t know if it’ll work out or how many times you’ll have to fail before it does… that’s when it really tests you.
During that phase, I often hesitated. I’d ask myself, “Am I really going to be able to do this? What if I fail miserably? What if nothing works out?” The what-ifs never stop. That’s why the first step has to be believing in yourself when no one else does. Then you pair that belief with discipline, action, and consistent progress toward your goal.
It won’t happen overnight — but with patience and persistence, things start to move. Then momentum builds, and that’s when things really start happening.
The truth is, most people want the trophy, but they don’t want to go through the process what takes to earn it. Especially in my early real estate days — when I didn’t know anyone and was building everything from zero — that process tested everything in me.
And here’s something I’ve learned that matters more than most people realize: keeping promises to others is very valuable, but keeping promises to yourself — that’s the most powerful. That’s where real discipline and growth are built.
When you look in the mirror, you know if you could’ve done better.
For example, when I used to take a long lunch break or push a task to “tomorrow,” I’d catch myself. Deep down, I knew I wasn’t being honest with myself — I could’ve made that one extra call, sent that one more email, or pushed through a little longer. Those small moments are what separate progress from stagnation.
Business — and life — aren’t about doing things only when you feel like it. It’s about doing them especially when you don’t.
I had those moments early on — way more often back then — and even now, they still come often. But when they do, I ask myself:
“Are you keeping the promise you made to yourself — or are you picking the excuse again?”
So remember this: believe in yourself even when no one else does, and keep the promises you make to yourself. That’s where real transformation happens.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ertuce.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ertuce.tv/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ertugrulertuc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ertuce.tv/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ertuce
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ertuce
Image Credits
Ertugrul ERTUC (Ertuce)
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