There's a moment in every soldier's life when the mission changes. For me, it wasn't in Afghanistan; it was the day my kids were born. I realized the risks I was willing to take before suddenly meant something different.

After years of chasing adrenaline—jumping out of airplanes for the Army and working SWAT in law enforcement—I found myself craving stability and safety. Once I had children, I just wasn’t interested in the high-adrenaline activities I once enjoyed.

In fact, my job as a police officer placed me in dangerous, high-risk situations. Although I’m grateful for those experiences, I wanted something safer that would give my kids the certainty of having their father around as the years went by. That’s when real estate, which had always been in the background, suddenly felt like the answer.

Becoming a REALTOR® was an unexpected turn for me since I’d always been involved in either the military or law enforcement. At 21, I joined the Army and spent four years on active duty, much of it in Afghanistan as a targeting officer. My job was to identify threats—a high-stakes, high-pressure role that taught me how to stay calm when everything was on the line.

While serving, I had an instructor who introduced me to real estate investing. By 2010, I bought a home that I eventually turned into an investment property. I loved every detail of the process.

Although I excelled in the military, my personal life was suffering from the strain of being overseas. One day, while I was in Afghanistan, my wife, Christel, called me and said, “It’s time for you to come home.” I knew she meant it.

 I returned to the U.S., and when Christel said she wanted to move to Florida, we made the leap. We settled near Orlando, starting over without any local connections.

Up until then, the military had been my entire life, so I joined the closest thing I could find: law enforcement. The work was intense—rewarding, but dangerous—especially after we had our two children, Elora and Arlo. The risks I was willing to take before suddenly felt heavier. My priorities shifted; I wanted to be present for my family, not just provide for them.

 Throughout all these changes, real estate remained a constant thread. I’d continued learning about the industry ever since buying my first house, and I loved it. Although I returned to military contracting for a while, the pull toward real estate only grew stronger.

In 2022, I finally got my real estate license, starting part-time before transitioning full-time in 2024. Going from a stable paycheck to self-employment was a challenge, especially as the sole provider for my family of four. But my kids gave me the courage to do it—failure simply wasn’t an option. I leaned on the skills I’d developed in the  military and law enforcement: staying calm under pressure, negotiating difficult situations, and always putting people first.

Outside of work, my life revolves around my family. We live close to Disney, and taking the kids there is our favorite way to unwind. Their joy is my joy. I also volunteer with veteran-focused charities whenever I can, giving back to the community that shaped me.

Looking back, real estate isn’t just a job—it’s my way of building a future for my kids, leading by example, and helping others find a place to call home.

With 15 years of experience in real estate investment, I bring both deep industry knowledge and an investor’s perspective to the table. I offer a unique combination of passion for real estate, genuine care for my clients, and strong negotiation skills. Thanks to my background, I stay calm and effective in high-pressure situations. As a negotiator, I can handle tough scenarios and advocate effectively under stress. I don’t falter under pressure, and I’m not afraid to push back when needed.

I’ve always been drawn to service-oriented roles and naturally gravitate toward helping people—whether that means educating first-time homebuyers about the process or literally rolling up my sleeves to help a client prepare their house for sale. I don’t just talk about caring for clients; I go out of my way to make sure their needs are met, even if it means stepping outside the typical agent role. At the same time, I’m highly data-driven and tech-focused, always staying on top of market trends and using technology to make smart, informed decisions. I believe most agents are either strong negotiators or great with people—I pride myself on being both.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Justin King