Deborah Villanueva

AGENT FEATURE

WRITTEN BY ZACH COHEN | PHOTOS BY NESTED TOURS

“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.”

— Jennifer Lee

Growing up in Texas, Deborah Villanueva dreamed of a life of adventure. Her mother and two aunts worked for a large airline, and Deborah was fascinated by adventure, travel, and culture.

“The thought of traveling the world intrigued me,” Deborah reflects. “Put me on a plane, train, boat, auto — I will travel!”

As she transitioned into adulthood, Deborah set out to make her dream a reality. She had never lived away from home, but she decided to make a bold move. She packed her bags, got on a plane, and moved to Hawaii, where she didn’t know a soul.

“When I lived in Texas straight out of high school, all I knew was that I wanted to get out of where I was. I felt stuck. Where I went was 3,800 miles away. I had never been away from home. It was scary. It was just me and my dog. That was it.”

Deborah’s determination to follow her dreams has borne sweet fruit in her life.

“It was the most magical time. My off days were spent hiking, island hopping, and or just spending time at my favorite spot, Yokohama Beach. It was the best five years. It was beautiful,” Deborah beams. “And being on my own taught me responsibility, the importance of hard work, and that failure or fear of living on my own was not an option.”

In Hawaii, Deborah was a travel consultant and bilingual tour guide. She met her husband Ray, a military servicemember, in 1993, and in the ensuing years, the couple married and welcomed their firstborn, Ryan, into the world. In 1997, Ray accepted military orders to Tinker Airforce Base, birthing a new adventure for the family.

Setting Down Roots

In Oklahoma, Deborah and Ray purchased their first home, a new construction house that was completed in 1999. Deborah was engaged with every step in the building process, from selecting the home site to the floor plan to the finishes.

“It was this process that became the beginning of what would become my career,” Deborah reflects.

However, Deborah’s experience with her real estate agent was less than stellar; the agent was practically non-existent throughout the process.

“Our real estate agent left us at the front door of a model home in Moore, and we did not see her until the day of closing six-plus months later.”

Deborah recognized an opportunity. So, she got licensed and so began her real estate career.

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

From day one, Deborah committed herself to providing industry-best service. She has built her business by educating her clients on the process of home ownership and building relationships. She’s formed a niche in new construction, which generates most of her business.

Over the last 23 years, Deborah’s business has continued to grow; in 2021, she had one of her best years to date, closing 57 transactions for $14.35 million. She also runs a small team. Her husband, Ray, a law enforcement officer, is also a licensed REALTOR®; he has been licensed for 20 years and remains active in the business. Deborah has an administrative assistant, Moriah, a transaction coordinator, Mireya, and recently hired a buyer’s agent, Drew.

“Building my business has been a journey. As my business grew, I had to grow and expand into a team consisting of an administrative assistant, a transaction coordinator, and two buyers agents. We didn’t get to where we are today because of me. It’s been a team effort,” Deborah says. “Moriah, my assistant, has been there with me throughout this journey. I don't know what I would do without her. Her work ethic is amazing. She's incredibly detailed and responsible. If she says she's going to do something, she does it. My transaction coordinator, Mireya, has been in business for two years, and she’s incredible.”

Deborah’s daughter, Alyssa, recently began studying to obtain her real estate license in parallel with her studies to become a nurse anesthetist.

Giving Thanks

As Deborah reflects on her real estate journey, she immediately taps into a sense of gratitude. Her career and her brokerage have allowed her the opportunity to put her faith and her family first. Her son, Ryan, is now 25, and Alyssa is 22.

“I just celebrated 23 years in the business, and I can honestly say I love what I do,” Deborah smiles.

Outside work, Deborah continues to have a thirst for travel and adventure. She visits Hawaii at least twice a year and takes regular trips nationally and internationally. She holds a real estate license in Hawaii and is pursuing homeownership on Oahu. Yet, despite her love for travel and adventure, Oklahoma has indeed become home.