When Erika Elshamy was 19, she decided to buy her first home. She found the house she wanted and placed the earnest money deposit. That earnest money along with her real estate agent then promptly disappeared. In the aftermath, Elshamy decided to become a real estate agent so she could protect others from having to go through the same awful experience.
“From that point on, I said I’m going to obtain my real estate license so I know this industry and no one will ever do this to me or my clients again,” Elshamy said.
It is this integrity that made Elshamy a commercial real estate advisor the Menlo Group is excited to add to its company. She joins the growing Phoenix brokerage as their newest vice president.
“We’re thrilled to have a client advocate of Erika’s caliber join Menlo Group. Her experience and dedication to her clients will enable her to quickly get established in the Phoenix commercial real estate space,” said Tanner Milne, Menlo Group founder.
At Menlo, Elshamy plans to treat her clients the right way, unlike her first experience with real estate.
“I believe in putting the client’s interest first. I think that’s why I’ve always done very well in real estate because my philosophy is just to do right for the client and have integrity during the whole transaction. I make sure it’s all for the best interest of my client and not for me,” Elshamy said.
This has even extended to forfeiting some commissions to ensure the client is served well. This attitude has followed Elshamy throughout her entire career.
Elshamy originally moved from Los Angeles fifteen years ago when her husband was offered a job in the valley. When she lived in L.A., she practiced residential real estate part time helping friends and people she knew.
After she moved to Phoenix, she started practicing real estate full time, but was still focused on residential. It wasn’t until recently she decided to make the leap to the commercial side.
It was the challenge of commercial real estate which first drew her to it.
“It’s the fact that you’re involved with putting businesses in a position to succeed. I feel like I’m a part of such a major episode in the owner’s lives. Whether they’re expanding their business or opening a new one,” said Elshamy. “It’s very exciting to me that I’m the person who will help them find the ideal space where they will grow their company and contribute to the economy.”
Elshamy helps retail businesses looking for a new place to call home in the East Valley. Specializing in retail allows Erika the opportunity to work with salons, stores, agencies, restaurants, furniture stores and any direct to consumer business when searching for their ideal commercial space.
When searching for a new home for her commercial practice, Menlo Group was a natural fit for both herself and them.
“I like Menlo’s energy. I like that their values are aligned with mine. They have integrity on their list of values and they have a very positive energy. The whole office is very professional. I just feel like this company is very aligned with what I believe in,” Elshamy said.
The feeling between Elshamy and Menlo is mutual.
“Erika fits our core values and has the dedication needed to excel in commercial real estate. She’s a true professional and is guided by the interests of the client. She has enjoyed success in residential real estate and I have no doubt she will be even more successful in commercial real estate,” said Bryan Bunker, COO of Menlo Group.
When Elshamy isn’t at work, she’s at home being a wife and a mother to three children. She’s also active outdoors, which includes running. It is also her outlet for giving back to the community as Elshamy often participates in the charity runs throughout Phoenix. Elshamy also makes time in her schedule to help Feed My Starving Children, located in Mesa.
If you need help finding a retail space, you can call her at 480-659-1777 ext. 107 or email her at [email protected].
Menlo Group Commercial Real Estate is a full-service commercial real estate brokerage that services the industrial, retail, child care and general, medical and dental office markets in the Metropolitan Phoenix area. We exist to illuminate the path to success for our clients, advisors and employees. Yes, we're a commercial real estate firm. But really, that's just the avenue we've chosen to help people find their own definition of success. Finding just the right location and structure for a client, the right tenants for a building, the right fit for advisors and employees. Those are the things that drive us every day.