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“Women, Wealth and Real Estate” is a special series for Women’s History Month spotlighting the diverse stories of women who created wealth for themselves and their communities through real estate and power moves.
Real estate has long been a powerful tool for building wealth, providing opportunities for financial independence and creating lasting legacies. For women, this industry offers unique pathways to greater control over their financial future, freedom and choices in life.
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Shauna Skarin, with nearly 20 years of experience in the real estate industry, is a shining example of how one can leverage real estate to achieve financial success and personal empowerment.
Turbulence
Skarin’s journey into real estate began in 2004, during a turbulent time. Having relocated from Lima, Peru, to Beverly Hills, California, due to a political coup, she was introduced to real estate through her ex-boyfriend, who worked in the industry.
What started as a casual introduction soon turned into a full-fledged career when she was recruited into the title insurance side of the business on April 1, 2004. She has not looked back since, recently celebrating her 20th year in title insurance.
For many women, real estate represents more than just property; it’s an avenue for wealth creation. Skarin, who holds a BA in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was drawn to the human side of real estate. She was fascinated by the connections formed throughout the buying and selling process, which often marked the largest financial transactions of many people’s lives. It wasn’t long before she realized real estate ownership could be the key to unlocking true financial independence.
Homes build wealth
In Skarin’s experience, the wealthiest people she knew all had real estate holdings, whether as homeowners or investors. This realization was pivotal.
“Some people see a house as a home, while others see it as a widget for wealth building,” she reflects. Embracing the mindset of seeing real estate as an investment opportunity rather than just a personal asset, Skarin began setting aside a portion of her earnings into a fund for her first home.
Her chance came in 2008, just as the U.S. recession was hitting its peak. During the downturn, Skarin leveraged the down market, purchasing a townhouse in Mar Vista, California. “It was one of the proudest days of my life,” she recalls. Since then, she and her family have embraced the “buy and hold” strategy, purchasing new properties every two years — a smart move allowing them to build wealth, all while minimizing tax burdens through strategies like property depreciation and capital gains tax breaks.
For women considering real estate as a path to financial freedom, Skarin has one piece of advice: “Sock it away, then leverage your money!”
She emphasizes that young and single women, in particular, should see real estate as an accessible and highly effective tool for securing financial independence. She herself demonstrated this by setting aside a percentage of every paycheck into a dedicated account until she could afford her first down payment. “Real estate does not discriminate against women purchasing real estate. If you buy it, put your name on it. You can do it,” she says, offering a powerful message of empowerment.
However, the path to real estate ownership and career success is not without its challenges — particularly for women with caregiving responsibilities. Studies have shown that motherhood creates significant barriers for women entering and advancing in many industries, and real estate is no exception.
According to multiple studies, women continue to bear a disproportionate amount of domestic labor, including cognitive, childcare and household duties, which can significantly impact their professional lives. For women in real estate, this often means the juggling act between attending early morning networking events, showing properties and managing client relationships while simultaneously meeting the needs of their families.
Networking isn’t easy for working moms
Working mothers can face significant challenges in real estate, where networking and business development are often done before or after the traditional workday. Many networking groups start as early as 7:30 a.m., making participation difficult for women with young children.
Skarin is acutely aware of these barriers. “The timing for specific and impactful meetings is a huge challenge, especially for working mothers,” she shares. As a solution, Skarin has created a “lunch” meeting space that allows working mothers to attend networking events at more convenient times.
This extra layer of responsibility in the domestic sphere means that women often have to work harder to prove themselves in their professional careers. In fact, a 2022 study from Pew Research found that working mothers face more significant professional challenges than fathers, who are often rewarded with more flexibility and support.
Despite these challenges, Skarin’s experience demonstrates that women can succeed in real estate by finding creative solutions, building support systems and staying committed to their goals.
The statistics support this belief. According to the National Association of Realtors, women are making significant 24 percent of women, compared to 11 percent of men, and women-owned households are increasingly becoming key players in the real estate market. However, there are still barriers to entry, especially for women balancing work and family life.
Skarin is acutely aware of women’s challenges, mainly working mothers in real estate. Many professional networking events are scheduled early in the morning, making them difficult for mothers to attend. She has taken it upon herself to create “lunch” meetings to allow women the flexibility to engage and network without sacrificing family commitments.
Women leading the way
Looking ahead, Skarin is optimistic about the future of women in real estate. She believes that the more women take leadership roles, the more it will inspire change within the industry.
“Being the change is what brings change,” she said, echoing the sentiment that women’s visibility in leadership positions is key to breaking down barriers and empowering the next generation.
As women continue to make their mark in real estate, Skarin’s story reminds us of the immense potential this industry holds for financial growth, freedom, and choice. Through investment, hard work and persistence, women can take control of their financial futures — one property at a time.
Melanie C. Klein, M.A., is a sought-after empowerment and mindset coach working with individuals and teams across the country to align and integrate their personal and professional spheres for increased success and abundance without compromising their joy.
