Victoria Safran

Leading With Compassion

By Chris Menezes

Photos by Sasha Marceta with Skyview Experts

Photos taken at Cranbrook Custom Home at The Heights in Rochester

As the new broker and managing partner of the latest RE/MAX Eclipse location in Lake Orion, Victoria Safran is full of excitement, gratitude and ambition. Since entering real estate just six years ago, she has completely transformed her life. Now, she’s looking forward to helping others to do the same.

“I joined RE/MAX Eclipse right when I got licensed and can’t ever imagine working with another group of people,” Victoria said. “So when Levan, Ryan and Nick — the three brokers and mentors who I have looked up to and learned so much from — asked me if I wanted to open a Lake Orion office and be the employing broker, there was only one answer: yes. To be able to grow with Eclipse and the people who have been there for me since day one is truly so exciting. I’m honored to be their business partner.”

With offices in Troy, Bloomfield Hills, Waterford, Rochester Hills and Sterling Heights, the Lake Orion office is the sixth location for RE/MAX Eclipse. Lake Orion already has six agents and is poised for big growth — that is, if Victoria has anything to say about it. She is incredibly passionate about growing the team by “showing the agents in the area how RE/MAX Eclipse supports their agents and how amazing this brokerage can be.”

“What makes all the agents here awesome is that everyone is a team player. We all work our individual businesses, but when there is anyone who needs help, we share and are always there for each other,” Victoria said. “I’m hoping to grow the Lake Orion office quite large and be the go-to agency for your real estate needs in Lake Orion.”

Victoria has become a strong leader in the business because of how she shows compassion and understanding toward others. These qualities, however, did not come without a cost.

When Victoria was 17 years old, she lost her brother to a rare genetic disorder — a disorder that Victoria also carries. “He died suddenly, within four days. It truly changed my view on life and family forever,” she said.

While Victoria says the rare genetic disorder is harder on males, she has not gone unscathed. In fact, at 26 years old, Victoria was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis, which is ultimately what led her to real estate. She was working part time as a server at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar — after she had already traveled all over the U.S. with the North American International Auto Show as a model for Chevrolet — and was looking for something more.

“I knew I wanted to help people and provide another level of customer service; I just wasn’t sure how I was going to do that with two smaller children as well,” Victoria explained. “When I got diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis, I knew a different path had to be taken. I lost a lot of myself. I couldn’t work out, I wasn’t active, I couldn’t stand through a concert. I was in pain as I tried to make it through each day. I had the most trouble with my hands, and I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do that I would enjoy that also wouldn’t kill my hands every day — real estate was that solution.”

Victoria joined RE/MAX Eclipse in October of 2015 and hasn’t looked back. One of her biggest motivators in growing her business has been her family. She and her husband, Benjamin, a Marine Corps veteran, have two sons — Joey, 12, and Johnny, 8.

Life is too short. Being kind and compassionate can go a long way with people.

“My sons were both given a high chance to have the same genetic disorder I have, but they both beat the odds. The fact that they are happy and healthy is truly a blessing and such a miracle to me. How can I not work hard for them?” she said.

Now that Victoria lives only seven minutes away from her new office, she has even more time to be with her family, to pour herself into her community through RE/MAX Eclipse - Lake Orion, and to continue being that voice of compassion and understanding to as many people as she can.

“Everyone goes through things and situations they don’t talk about, and we all need a reminder of that sometimes, to be understanding,” she said. “Life is too short. Being kind and compassionate can go a long way with people.”

BROKER SPOTLIGHT on Victoria Safran from RE/MAX Eclipse - Lake Orion