Vegas Born Realtor Crystal Elijah-Ramos, broker/owner of Vegas Born Real Estate Services, dreamed of working in a leasing office as a child since her family lived in several different apartment complexes while she was growing up. When she was old enough to rent her own apartment, she found applying for a lease was a daunting task, so she went to real estate school and began her career as a leasing agent. Within two years, she was promoted to assistant manager and then property manager, where she remained for 10 years. After going back to real estate school, she decided to try her “luck” in sales and eventually opened her own agency during the pandemic in 2020.
“I was the first person in my family to become a homeowner, and I wanted to provide the excitement and happiness I felt when I bought my first home,” said Elijah-Ramos. “The most important thing that first-time buyers should know is that it’s not as scary as they think.”
Crystal can introduce prospective buyers to programs that can help with down payment assistance, although it does help to have a sizable down payment saved. Even though interest rates have risen, renting can be more expensive than a monthly mortgage. Additionally, a home warranty can provide peace of mind, just like having a maintenance man sent by the leasing office when there’s a problem.
Vegas Born Real Estate Services also works with many sellers. And being a local through and through, Crystal has sold countless homes across the entire valley.
Since no home transaction is the same, Crystal spends at least 10 weeks mentoring and training new Realtors in her office by having them shadow her from escrow to closing to handing over the keys to the home. She wants them to be that client’s Realtor for life. Referrals are everything in this business, and Crystal keeps in touch with her clients all year by taking them to lunch and throwing client appreciation parties.
Crystal knows this town so well that she has been called “Vegas Born Crystal” by her friends. And after living on just about every side of the valley throughout her childhood, she can rattle off a zip code just by knowing the cross streets or give directions like she is a human GPS.
As a member of the Las Vegas Realtors Community Outreach Committee, Crystal participates in several fundraisers and activities throughout the year. Her personal favorite non-profit is The Just One Project which provides pantry items to Southern Nevada neighbors. No matter how tired or lazy she feels, she always tries to participate in fundraising efforts for programs that support teens, like the Nevada Partnership of Homeless Youth. In recognition of her outstanding dedication and ongoing contributions to the Las Vegas Women's Council of REALTORS, Crystal earned the REALTOR Member of the Year Award in 2022. She is now representing the Council as a 2023 Ambassador.
For pleasure Crystal, a proud owner of season tickets, tries to go to every Las Vegas Raiders game that she can. Most of her childhood friends came from California, so she became a Raiders fan by default. Watching sports was a big thing in her house since her mother worked in the sportsbooks at both Bellagio Resort and Casino and New York New York Hotel & Casino; her father and brother also played every sport. After hearing for years that Las Vegas would never have a professional football team, Crystal was very excited to hear that we were getting a team. “I love to share my excitement with others, and I have taken family, friends, and clients to the games.”
This Vegas born and raised Realtor is a true local through and through. She is looking forward to helping more locals and soon-to-be locals on their new home journey in the city she loves.
“The most important thing that first time buyers should know is that it’s not as scary as they think.”