The best teacher will always be experience. Setbacks aren’t failure—they’re lessons helping you learn and grow.

In my early twenties, I opened a restaurant in downtown San Diego. I’d always known I wanted to be an entrepreneur, and when the opportunity came up, I jumped in. I felt confident I could figure it out as I went, but it came with a lot of learning curves. The hours were long, the stress was constant, and when the 2008 market crash hit, it became even harder to keep things going. Even as we started to gain some local buzz, the financial pressure had already piled up. After about two and a half years, I made the decision to walk away.

That experience turned out to be one of the most important in my life. It taught me how to budget, how to prioritize time, and how to separate what makes money from what doesn’t. I learned the kind of pressure business can create—and that sustainability matters just as much as ambition.

During that transition, I began helping my mom with her real estate company. She’d run her own brokerage for years, and growing up, I saw how hard she worked. We’d tag along to open houses, sit in the car during showings, and watch her build relationships with clients. She was charismatic, driven, and fully committed—but the business demanded everything from her. While I admired her dedication, I also knew that if I was going to build something of my own in this industry, I wanted to do it differently.

I started behind the scenes—transaction coordinating, accounting, anything that gave me a deeper understanding of the business. The more I got involved, the more I appreciated the impact real estate had on people’s lives. When my mom began talking about retirement, I stepped in to support the corporate side. After a couple of years under her wing, I transitioned her agents and operations into my own company, now 5RG Realty and 5RG Lending Group.

From the beginning, I built with intention. I didn’t want growth to come at the expense of time, health, or family. I learned in a business class the Five Rights: the right decision, the right people, the right knowledge, the right timing, and the right purpose. That philosophy inspired the name 5RG. To me, success isn’t just about systems or scale—it’s about growing sustainably while staying rooted in the values that matter most.

 Today, I lead a team of about 20 agents and stay active as a Real Estate Broker and Mortgage Consultant. I’m closely involved in client relationships and focused on supporting my agents’ growth and success. I still work hard, but I’ve been intentional about creating something that doesn’t require sacrificing everything else in the process.

I’ve been married to my wife, Melanie, for over 15 years. She’s been part of this journey from the start, and her support has meant everything. We have two daughters, Abri and Haven, and I do everything I can to be present in their lives. I’m not perfect with balance, but I’ve made clear choices to protect our time. I also stay active through fitness, golf, and martial arts, and I enjoy coaching and mindset work to continue learning.

 The lessons I’ve learned on this journey have impacted how I serve my clients, too. Success doesn’t look the same for everyone. For some, it’s finding that dream home to build memories in. For others, it’s building passive income and creating long-term freedom through real estate. My role is to help define what that looks like for you—and to make sure you have the insight, support, and strategy to get there.

As the owner of both a real estate brokerage and a lending company, my goal is to provide a complete solution for clients: handling buying, selling, financing, investing, and property management all in one place. Everything I offer is designed to simplify the process and give you clear, actionable guidance from start to finish.

 

Because I’m directly involved in every part of your transaction, I’m able to give you answers and advice without having to send you elsewhere. Whether it’s about the sale, the loan, your budget, or long-term investment planning, I make sure you have the right information at the right time. When we sit down, I can break down the full picture—what to expect, what’s possible, and what makes the most sense for your situation. Just as important as finding the right home or selling at the right price is understanding how the financing fits in. My job is to make sure you feel informed, confident, and supported from start to finish—with everything you need in one place!

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Rommel Reyes

Broker-Owner

DRE #01901789 | NMLS #829952

Cell Phone (619) 948-7132

mrreyes@5rgroup.com

www.RommelReyesSD.com