What Growing Up Around One of San Diego’s Most Successful Real Estate Investors Taught Me About Building Wealth

What Growing Up Around One of San Diego’s Most Successful Real Estate Investors Taught Me About Building Wealth

By Ghada “GG” Benitez

When people ask me why I believe so strongly in real estate, they often assume the answer begins with my career.

It doesn’t.

Long before I became a California Licensed REALTOR®, earned my Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS®) designation, or helped international investors purchase property in California and Dubai, I was watching someone quietly build wealth one property at a time.

That person was my brother-in-law, Sabah Toma.

Most people know Sabah today as a respected San Diego entrepreneur, commercial real estate investor, and the author of Her Name Is America. What many don’t know is the remarkable journey that brought him here.

Sabah immigrated from Iraq with very little. Like so many immigrants who arrived in the United States searching for opportunity, his first years were defined by uncertainty, long workdays, sacrifice, and faith. He has often described working 16 to 18 hours a day while wondering whether all the struggle would eventually pay off. It did, but not overnight.

Growing up around him gave me a front-row seat to something I didn’t fully appreciate until years later.

Real wealth is rarely created by chasing the next trend.

It’s built patiently.

The Lesson I Witnessed Firsthand

One of the things that always stood out to me about Sabah was that he never spoke about getting rich quickly.

Instead, he talked about ownership.

He believed that if you owned quality real estate in the right location and held it over time, appreciation, rental income, and disciplined decision-making would do the heavy lifting.

That philosophy has stayed with me throughout my own career.

Whether I’m helping a family purchase a home in La Jolla, advising an investor looking at Del Mar, Coronado, Rancho Santa Fe, or Carmel Valley, or guiding an American client purchasing property in Dubai, I find myself returning to the same principle.

Real estate rewards patience.

Why Location Still Matters

San Diego has always been defined by scarcity.

You can’t create more coastline.

Communities like La Jolla, Del Mar, Coronado, and Rancho Santa Fe continue to attract buyers from around the world because they combine lifestyle with limited inventory.

That doesn’t mean every property is automatically a good investment.

It means understanding neighborhoods, timing, long-term demand, and local market dynamics matters more than ever.

One of the themes Sabah discussed during our conversation was that buying real estate isn’t simply about purchasing a building.

It’s about making thoughtful decisions over decades, not months.

The Biggest Lesson From Our Conversation

Toward the end of our interview, I asked Sabah what the most important lesson from decades of investing had been.

His answer surprised many people.

He didn’t say financing.

He didn’t say appreciation.

He didn’t even say location.

He said one word:

Trust.

Trust with lenders.

Trust with brokers.

Trust with sellers.

Trust with business partners.

Over time, credibility becomes one of the most valuable assets an investor can own because opportunities increasingly come through relationships.

As someone who has spent years helping clients navigate both California and international real estate transactions, I couldn’t agree more.

Markets change.
Interest rates change.
Regulations change.

Your reputation stays with you.

Why I Created the California Connect Podcast

Many people know me through The Dubai Connect™ Podcast, where I interview government leaders, developers, economists, attorneys, mortgage experts, and investors about opportunities throughout Dubai and the UAE.

The California Connect Podcast was created for the same reason.

I wanted to preserve the stories and wisdom of people who have spent decades building businesses, investing wisely, and contributing to California.

These conversations aren’t simply about buying and selling real estate.

They’re about the mindset behind long-term success.

For me, there was no better way to begin than by sitting down with someone whose journey has inspired my own family for years.

Watching Sabah build a life through perseverance, integrity, and real estate reinforced something I now tell my own clients every day:

Real estate isn’t simply about property.

It’s about creating options for your future.

Whether that future is in La Jolla, Del Mar, Coronado, Rancho Santa Fe, Carmel Valley, or even halfway around the world, the principles remain remarkably similar.

The markets may differ.
The opportunities may evolve.

But discipline, patience, and trust continue to stand the test of time.

I hope you’ll watch our conversation and discover why his story continues to inspire me decades later.