When you think of a career transition, moving from law enforcement to real estate might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, for Brian Hoh, his experiences as a police officer not only paved the way for his success in real estate but also allowed him to continue his ultimate mission – to serve and protect others.

 

Brian’s relationship with real estate started when he was kid, growing up in the Bay Area. His father was, and still is, a local agent to the Bay Area. Brian often accompanied him to the office, sitting in on meetings, handing out flyers at open houses, and going to showings. He later joined his father in 2015 after graduating college.

 

Although Brian always thought he’d go into finance and had a degree in Managerial Economics from UC Davis, he couldn't see himself tied to a desk job after completing his first internship. Instead, he did some traveling after college and upon his return to the states, took his dad’s advice and got his license.

 

“It was an interesting time,” Brian recalled. “I was living at home, fresh out of college, and my motivation level wasn't the same as today. Working alongside my dad on a professional level, however, really gave me insight into how he operated and how to conduct yourself. I learned a lot from my dad but mostly shadowed him, doing maybe one deal on my own. I wasn't very active, but it opened the gates for me and got my feet wet.”

 

In 2016, Brian’s girlfriend at the time, now wife, Dijana, had the opportunity to transfer from a junior college to Sacramento State. This was Brian’s cue to strike out on his own. Plus, his goal was always to buy a house, and he knew that was much more of a possibility in Sacramento than the Bay Area.  

 

Upon moving to Sacramento with Dijana, Brian faced a difficult decision: continue in real estate where he didn’t know anyone or explore a new career path. He had always envisioned himself joining the military. Although he was drawn to the structure, the ability to travel for free, the career opportunities and honorable nature of the military, he never made the leap. However, he saw law enforcement as the next best thing.

 

“When I told my wife and family that I wanted to join the Sacramento Police Department, I could sense everyone’s jaw dropping through the phone,” he said, laughing. “It was a shock for them considering that no one in our family had ever been a first responder, let alone a police officer.”

 

In the summer of 2017, Brian enrolled in the Sacramento Police Academy and started his journey to becoming a police officer. “The academy was unlike anything I had experienced up to that point in my life,” he said. “In hindsight, it taught me a lot about myself and my future ability to conduct real estate. The discipline, integrity, honesty, and tenacity it took to get through the academy was forever instilled in me and would serve me forever.”

 

Brian spent the next 3.5 years patrolling the streets as an officer. From downtown, Natomas, and East Sacramento, he gained a better appreciation for the city and for people, interacting with both “good guys” and “bad guys” every day. He worked graveyard patrol by choice because he wanted to “do what cops did on TV – chase criminals, make arrests, and ultimately protect the residents of Sacramento.” Although he enjoyed being an officer, it was a big adjustment for him.

 

“A lot of people, when they become police officers and first responders, commit not only themselves but their families to the lifestyle. The obvious change was the risk factor – encountering any situation on any given night, not knowing what you're walking into. Some shifts felt like the world was on fire, and others were uneventful. Shootings occurred frequently, homicides, suicides, all leading to longs nights that go well into the morning.”

 

“When you go on a call like that, you have to think about the process and what you need to find out while rendering the scene safe and keeping yourself safe, while protecting the scene and getting all victims and suspects in place. So, I consider myself more organized and structured in my job today because of that.”

 

Despite the long shifts and risk-factors, Brian was committed to his career. Then, in 2020, Dijana became pregnant with their first daughter, Lena. While he was absolutely thrilled, the next year and a half seemed to fly by for Brian, balancing long shifts with being a father to his newborn daughter. He often went on 24 hour stints of no sleep.

 

Brian knew he couldn’t spend the next 25+ years like that. Then, Dijana told him they were pregnant with their second child, Ella. “When I found out we were having Ella, I began transitioning myself mentally back to real estate. Luckily, I kept my real estate license active during this time. At the end of the day, I wanted to spend more time with my family,” he said.

 

When Brian entered real estate this time, he had a completely different perspective than the first time. He had a newfound purpose in life – to provide for his family. Being able to spend more time with his girls and control his own schedule was the breath of fresh air he needed. Plus, he loved the people aspect of real estate, being able to help them just as in law enforcement, but in a different, safer light. He hit the ground running and really dove headfirst into his career.

 

The majority of Brian’s business today comes from law enforcement, from the tight-night group of people who trust him immediately because of his background. He was able to not only tap into his first-responder family, but he also utilized his brokerage, Compass, to expand his professional network and connect with agents all across the country. Just two years into real estate now, 60% of his business is referral-based, 35% come from his law enforcement sphere, while the remaining comes from open houses and online leads.

 

Looking ahead, Brian envisions obtaining a broker's license and building a solid team in the Sacramento area. Despite his desire to grow, he remains passionate about staying involved in day-to-day real estate transactions. "That's what I've found I love to do, whether in law enforcement or real estate, helping people is what it’s all about,” he said.

 

Outside of real estate and spending time with his family, Brian is an avid runner and cyclist. He enjoys the idea of endurance and seeing how far the human body can go.

 

Brian's shift from chasing criminals to chasing property deals, swapping high-speed chases for open houses and more time spent with family, allows him to still serve others, just in a different, safer light. As he continues to push himself and his business to its boundaries, it will be exciting to see just how far he goes.