“Only the paranoid survive in real estate,” says REALTOR® Alec Bon at Tierra Antigua Realty. “It’s the people who are worried about their next check. It’s all about the hungry dog running faster.” As a 25-year-old real estate agent, Alec knows the importance of being hungry for his next deal. 

“I’ve got no money coming in from a side hustle,” he admits. “For my Mom and I, this is our passion.” His mother, Mari Bon, is also a REALTOR® and Alec proudly followed in her footsteps. 

Interestingly, real estate wasn’t initially on the radar for Alec. He was attending the University of Arizona getting his business degree in Management Information Systems. “I didn’t get any joy out of what I was learning,” he admits. It wasn’t the first time that his plans had changed. Alec had high hopes of being a college football player, but that also came to a screeching halt. 

After playing college football at a junior college for one season, he sustained a significant shoulder injury when he tore his labrum. He had a choice to make–either keep playing football and face a more significant surgery down the road or hang up his cleats. Alec chose the latter. 

“I got surgery and transferred to the University of Arizona and struggled with finding my identity again,” he comments. “I was known to everyone as Alec Bon the football player, but when the doctor told me I shouldn’t play football anymore, I was lost. It took me about 6 months to find myself again.” Real estate was the answer he was searching for. 

“I associate my football injury with how I have been successful in real estate,” says Alec. “It pushed me to do more.” Real estate also gave him a passion and a purpose to be his best. 

After graduating college, Alec entered real estate with full steam ahead. He says, “Real estate wasn’t a Plan B for me. It was Plan A once I decided to do it. I didn’t apply for other jobs.” He went all in, under the direction of his mother. 

She played a pivotal role in his startup. Alec emphasizes the importance of having a built-in mentor, acknowledging that his mother's experience and support have been invaluable.

"Complacency is your number one enemy in this business," Alec says, echoing his mother's wisdom. The unpredictable nature of real estate keeps him on his toes, pushing him to think ahead and constantly seek new opportunities.

Alec got his real estate license at the young age of 22. “My Mom put me right into the fire,” he jokes. “To this day, I am still bouncing ideas off her. She has given me an edge over my peers who are my age.” 

He has also helped his mother as well. “Earning a business degree was very beneficial,” he admits. “I know about financials, loans, and technology. I was able to streamline a lot of processes for my Mom.” What used to take an hour for her now takes 20 minutes.

When Alec isn’t working, he still loves football. You can find him catching this action-packed sport at Trident, where he loves to eat with friends and watch the game. He also likes coaching football at Salpointe Catholic High School. 

“I started coaching in 2020 and I’m starting my fifth season this year. It’s been awesome. I love doing it,” he raves. Keeping active in the game that he has loved so much is priceless to this Top Producer. “Football has given me so much with friends, memories, and experiences,” he says with pride. 

“I get a lot of purpose too, watching players develop through the years. I recently had my first freshman team finish their senior season, which was very rewarding,” he candidly comments. 

Coaching football at Salpointe is also a way to give back to the school that gave Alec so much. “It’s a tight-knit community,” he comments. “I like going back and seeing all the people that have impacted me over the years.” 

Although his days as an offensive lineman are behind him, Alec continues to mold future players in the competitive sport of football. He will never forget winning his homecoming game his senior year. “It was a storybook kind of thing,” he reminisces.

In addition to coaching, Alec stays active in coaching CrossFit at his gym. He adds, “I also volunteer for the Arizona Bowl, which is a non-profit college football game that takes place at the end of December.” 

In his free time, you can find Alec with his longtime girlfriend Julianna, whom he has been dating since high school. He also enjoys traveling and seeing everything the world has to offer.

Alec wouldn’t be where he is today without the guidance of his mother. “I owe everything to her,” he raves. “It’s very easy in this job to take a day off, but my Mom is keen on the fact that you can’t do that in this business.” 

Looking forward, Alec is putting the pedal to the metal in real estate. As he says, “Why not push the envelope as far as you can?” He’s always looking to the next month, securing more business, and seeking to be the best he can be. As he says, “Next month’s mentality is how we live.”