Ask anyone who has relocated, and they will tell you about the challenges they faced getting settled.  Now imagine yourself as a 21-year-old refugee, fleeing uncertainty and violence, moving to a new country, full of dreams and ambition.  Enter Sinan Falah, an up-and-coming Coldwell Banker agent making a very big name for himself in just two years in the business.

Born in Baghdad, Iraq on July 4, it’s as though he was born to seek independence and success.  His family left Iraq after the war began in 2004, fleeing to Jordan then Egypt.  His father worked as a mechanical engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and his mother was a teacher. Obtaining a quality education for Sinan and his brother was a priority for his parents, and Egypt provided them the best opportunity for that. So, the family moved to Cairo where Falah graduated from high school and was accepted to the prestigious British University in Cairo (MSA) to complete his engineering degree. 

Fast forward a few years, they decided to make the United States their home as part of the resettlement of refugees in 2009. Falah and his brother came to this country first, followed by the rest of the family a year later. At the time, they did not know exactly where they would be settled but he had done his research, learned about OSU, and hoped to one day enroll there. They were settled in Hilliard and instantly felt very much at home.

Falah applied to OSU to transfer his credits but did not get accepted initially. His dad would later encourage him to move to Buffalo, NY, on the advice of a friend to attend college there. After obtaining his associate's degree in civil engineering from Erie Community College and receiving an acceptance letter from The Ohio State University, he folded his mattress into his trunk and drove back to Columbus! From there he graduated in 2017 with a degree in engineering/construction systems management while working full time for Jewish Family Services as a career consultant, a job he found most gratifying. “I loved the job because I was helping people. I was given a chance to live a better life by coming here, so it is my job in return to help others.”  In that capacity, he was able to assist other immigrants in understanding US culture and how to succeed. 

Everything in the United States depends on working, so Falah noted the importance of showing others new to the country how to be productive members of society. His genuine gratitude and enthusiasm for the opportunities afforded him are obvious when speaking to him. Being a role model for other immigrants is a big responsibility that he doesn’t take lightly as he aims to inspire them to live their dreams. Falah is proud of the fact that he was able to help hundreds of families obtain jobs in Columbus and get settled. “I can’t forget when the Director of Refugee Social Services Program Tariq Tarey approached me in a meeting and said ‘I want to hire you with us at JFS. Be prepared to start ASAP!’”  He excelled in the position and is the only Middle Eastern individual they have hired to date. 

Later, Falah worked with HDR Engineering on the largest and most expensive transportation project in Ohio’s history alongside the Ohio Department of Transportation as a construction engineer. He moved up the ranks to work with Hill International as a project engineer for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. That opened the door for him to work with the government – his goal was to join the Corp. of Engineers like his father.  So in 2018, he joined the Department of Defense (DSCC) in Columbus as a civil engineer, and from there, he felt his engineering knowledge could be useful in the real estate industry.  He became a licensed REALTOR® in January 2020, just as COVID was hitting the country.  

He was ready to go right out of the gate, completing over 32 transactions his first year and over 55 transactions in 2021 to end the year as the number one individual producer for his office.  He remembers telling his assistant manager, Terry Bryant, he didn’t want to be just anyone. He wanted to be the best from day one.  Falah credits his sphere with helping him build his business as not just another REALTOR®, but someone who will go above and beyond.  “I always aim to be honest, transparent, helpful, unique, and the best at whatever I do.”

No stranger to long days, perhaps the secret to his success has just as much to do with the time he puts into work, as it does with his strong desire to help others and give back to the community.  “My passion is to help the community. The agent is the third eye for the buyers. I can see things that they can't because of my engineering background.” Falah has built his reputation by being someone others can count on and he takes it very seriously. “I am a big believer in karma. If you take care of God's creatures and help them, you will be blessed and God will help you.”  Falah believes this job is about more than money, saying “It’s not about buying and selling. It’s about helping and educating.” 

With so much ambition and a burning desire to impact as many lives as possible, Falah does not often take time for himself.  He and his wife Mimi, also of Middle Eastern descent, are raising their daughter Mila with the same emphasis on morals and mindfulness they were raised with.  They hope to instill the best of both Middle Eastern culture and American life, feeling blessed to be part of both worlds. 

Falah believes “ease is the enemy of progress. Work hard and success will follow.” As he builds a team to help manage his growth, he values collaboration with like-minded people who are motivated more by giving than receiving. He is committed to helping inspire, lead, and one day coach other agents.  “Time is priceless, but achieving dreams is more priceless and worth achieving. Each human has a message in this life that needs to be completed accurately, precisely, and perfectly no matter how long it takes you, period.”

It’s hard to walk away from a conversation with Falah and not feel inspired. He truly embodies the essence of the American Dream. “Every idea started with a dream. I learned through my journey that we have the ability to create our own luck. We may not control the opportunities people give us, but we do have the ability to work hard on the things we want to do in our life”.