During the most difficult time of my life, I didn’t know how I was going to get through it. I started focusing on all the good in my life instead of the bad. As I worked through those hard times, I learned a valuable lesson.

I remember the exact month, July 2007, when everything started to change. Suddenly, immigrants could no longer get mortgages. The financial crisis was destroying the real estate business. I had close ties with the immigrant community as a native Irishman myself. Before this, I had partnered with a colleague, and we opened our own boutique real estate office. Things had been going great for business up until this point. On top of the financial crisis, I had a very young family. It felt like everything was coming down all at once.

When I first came to the United States to play basketball, I was amazed at the strong Irish community in Philadelphia. I played in a Gaelic football men’s league that was 100% immigrants. It began to feel like a home away from home. Many of my cousins and friends moved here in the 80s, and I decided to do the same. Through Gaelic football, I made connections and started working at a bank.

From there, I worked in the mortgage field and obtained my real estate license. Through the close connections I made in the immigrant communities, I established a trustworthy reputation and become a full-time REALTOR®. Unfortunately, many of my Irish friends in the US were moving back to Ireland in the 90s. My business took a hit as my clients slowly moved away.

Despite the setback, I carried on. I married my wife in 1992, and we had our first child not long after. The more involved I became with the community, the more my business succeeded. It was so rewarding to help people navigate the real estate market and achieve their goals. As my success continued to build, I made more efforts to preserve the Gaelic football tradition with my children and fellow Irish families. Sports have always been a fundamental part of my life. I recognized the important role sports played in bringing a community together in my own life. I wanted to make sure that tradition was carried on into my children’s lives.  

As we started our family, three boys came along with their own exciting challenges. Our fourth child, a beautiful baby girl, was born prematurely in 2003. We didn’t know it then, but she would later be diagnosed with cerebral palsy. My wife gave all her time to help her with her treatments and therapies. We didn’t know what challenges she would face in the future.

During this time, the new real estate office had issues and needed to close down—I was devastated. I thought the business would help me provide for my family, but instead, it put me into debt. Through all of this, I continued focusing on my personal real estate business. It took time, but after a few years, the market began to turn around, and my sales quickly picked up. As my daughter got older, it became clear to us that she was not going to let her diagnosis affect her life. If she wants to do something, she is going to do it!  Throughout that difficult time in my life, when everything seemed so uncertain, I kept pushing forward and focused on what was most important to me – family, faith, and friends. I found a new appreciation for all I had in life, including my family, culture and career. By focusing on the good in life and staying positive, I was able to get through the hard times. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my family and coaching, watching or playing sports.

As a REALTOR®, there is nothing more satisfying than walking a client through the entire process of buying or selling and finally reaching the day when they achieve their goals. The reward of making my clients happy is why I became a REALTOR®. I am committed to serving my community and helping guide people through the entire real estate process.

My experience in diverse markets gives me the edge needed to be successful. As we work together and identify your needs, I promise to educate you and offer my honest, professional advice. I maintain consistent communication with my clients so that all your questions are answered in a timely manner. My priority is to help you through the entire process from start to finish. Once the transaction is over, I will continue to support you and your dreams as your lifelong REALTOR®.

Sincerely,

Tom Higgins
REALTOR®