While working for a large pharmaceutical company in the 1990s, Phoenix Realtor Oleg Bortman read the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad about people who work for their money versus people who let their money work for them. At age 23 he bought his first investment property in New Jersey. He kept buying and moved to Arizona to live the “true American dream … and transition from working for big corporations to working for myself.”
That dream has special meaning to Oleg, who was born in the Ukraine. In 1979 when he was 3, his family emigrated to the United States – a year before the Soviet Union closed its borders for nearly a decade. When Oleg moved West, he realized he didn’t just want to be an investor, he wanted to give other people the same opportunity he has had. He loves working not only with buyers, but with sellers and investors as well. Oleg has been in real estate for more than 10 years, as it continues to be his dream career. Now Oleg helps others enjoy the American dream of home and property ownership. He works at a very specialized boutique real estate firm located in the lobby of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel called Biltmore Lifestyles Real Estate, where he is part of a team called “The Suits.” His team specializes in residential re-sales and resort properties, including selling a villa on the grounds of the Biltmore on the rare occasion one comes on the market. This location in the lobby of the Biltmore gives the firm close contact with people who have vacationed in Arizona for years.
“It’s a great niche,” Oleg says. “From October through April the Biltmore is sold out. That means people from 700 rooms walk past us every day. We have access to international and vacation buyers seven days a week. It’s a huge advantage. Every day we talk to people who have been visiting for years and have decided they want to buy a second home or relocate.”
Oleg says his Jewish values for fairness come into play when he works with clients: “I have a fiduciary responsibility to make sure everybody gets true value for the property.” Oleg and his wife, Jenny, have two children, Levi, 2, and Lily, almost 1. The family belongs to Temple Solel, where Levi attends preschool.
Oleg Bortman/“The Suits” 602-402-2296
Arizona Biltmore, 2400 E Missouri Ave.,
Phoenix | thesuitsaz.com
