Alee Heidar and his girlfriend, now wife, were living in Washington D.C. when the couple took a leap of faith to move together to Seattle, prompted by her job opportunity at Nordstrom’s corporate office here. As Alee recalls, “I had never visited the area, but we were excited to move to the West Coast for a lifestyle change and a new adventure.”

With a Bachelor's degree in Government and International Politics from George Mason University, Alee began his career in consulting, but increasingly found the work unfulfilling and sought a career that would capitalize on his entrepreneurial spirit and passion. “Real estate had always been of interest to me, but I just never took the leap to get my license,” he explains. But after following the real estate market in our area, Alee saw an opportunity to deliver a higher standard of service excellence. "With my wife’s encouragement, I took a break between consulting projects to study and get my license,” he says.

Quickly gaining experience, Alee delivered outstanding results, working with brokerages Keller Williams, COMPASS, and The Agency RE. This February, he moved his team, The Heidar Group, to Engel & Völkers in Kirkland - located in Carillon Point. Talking about the goals which motivate him, Alee says, "I am focused on great work and outcomes for my clients, rooted in an understanding of their needs and wants. My number one goal is to protect their interests. I do not want to sell them one property, I want to sell them their next one, and then their kids’ properties too.”

Raised by parents who came to the United States from Afghanistan, Alee appreciates his good fortune. “My father and mother left Afghanistan during the war of the 1980’s,” he explains, “and that meant leaving everything they knew to live in a new country, learn a new language, and start a new life. I can’t imagine what that's like. I’m grateful for the opportunities my parents gave us, enabling me to work in a fulfilling field delivering something valuable to people.”

Engel & Völkers is a global luxury brokerage with a large international footprint, yet is still able to offer boutique service and local expertise, which Alee sees as a foundation for growth for The Heidar Group. “My younger brother, Yama, just moved here from California to work with me, and he brings a fresh set of eyes," Alee continues. "Seattle and the Eastside are our focus, and our business is evenly split between buyers and sellers. We have a separate division focused on development and I have built a network of connections among builders and developers, and also with property investors, to help them acquire land.”

Alee and his team invest in the highest quality marketing materials including social media, luxury videos, and direct mail. Alee sees The Heidar Group as uniquely authentic in its approach, communication, and service, and he is committed to providing the same quality of service to every client. “Whether we're selling a condominium for $500,000 or a single-family home for $5 million, we listen and genuinely care about our clients and their goals," he explains. To match the person to the property, Alee builds long-term relationships with clients. “People always say business and personal should not mix. I disagree because if you like me personally, you will want to do business with me. If someone trusts me and feels comfortable with me, then when the time comes for business, they'll think about me. I never talk about real estate in a social setting, but everyone knows what I do,” he points out.

Passionate about what he does and how he works, Alee says, "Every property, every family, every individual has a story. Every environment makes you feel something, and you must listen to those feelings. Oftentimes clients buy the first house they walk into because they instantly feel the connection. I can advise on many things, but I cannot tell a client how a property makes them feel. I never push them. I tell them that whether it takes one day or one year, it makes no difference. We'll be there with you every step of the way."

Alee has received multiple awards including being featured in the 425 Business Magazine's ‘40 under 40’ list, and Seattle Agent Magazine also named him as ‘Who's Who in Seattle Real Estate'. He has also been consistently ranked in Real Trends Top 1.5% of agents nationally. Brokers reach out to him all the time, fueled by his presence and reputation on social media as well as by his awards and recognition. Alee's goal is to remain authentic to his team's values of working with honesty and integrity and is committed to collaborating and working with people who hold themselves to a higher standard. “We're building our business organically, through relationships,” he says, “and everything we do must feel authentic to us.”

He has been involved with organizations such as Give Back Homes and Habitat for Humanity, as well as participating in fundraising events for schools on the Eastside, to which he intends to devote more time in the future - he is always looking at ways to give back and volunteer.

For Alee, success is multifaceted, and always starts with the individual’s happiness and sense of fulfilment. “If you are not content in your own life, then it’s hard to be successful and show up as your best self,” he confirms, “and success is not just monetary. Success for me is giving the keys to a client and seeing the excitement on their face: we're selling our clients their dream home."

Bringing a high energy to everything in his life, Alee believes positive energy is contagious. “I'm very big on mindset, energy, and creating a positive atmosphere," he concludes. "People want to work with people, as everything is about relationships and finding a genuine human connection. I always lead with kindness and respect, whether it's in my personal life or business. I have to stay true to myself and my beliefs in order to show up the best for my clients."