Shareen Mossa Is Here to Help People Find Their Way Home

Shareen Mossa knows what it feels like to step into unfamiliar territory.

She knows what it feels like to grow up between two worlds. She knows what it feels like to become independent before she was fully ready. She knows what it feels like to work, save, sacrifice, and figure things out because there was no other option.

And now, as a REALTOR® with Park Co., Realtors, she wants to use all of that lived experience to help others—especially first-time buyers, immigrant families, Kurdish families, single parents, and anyone who feels overwhelmed by the home-buying process—feel seen, supported, and understood.

“I’m just here to help people and support them and guide them in the right way,” Mossa said. “It took so much to get where I am today. It really, really did.”

For Mossa, real estate is about stability and confidence. It is about helping someone walk into a process that can feel confusing, intimidating, and expensive—and making sure they never feel alone in it.

“I would never try to push anyone to buy something that they didn’t feel like was their actual home or feel comfortable in,” she said. “Buying a home is a really big milestone. It’s a lot of money. I would want them to have the best experience and get them into the best home that’s going to be for their future.”

Growing Up Between Two Worlds

Mossa’s family came to the United States in 1992. She grew up in a large household—13 people in all, including her parents and 11 children. Her background is Kurdish and Muslim, and much of her childhood was shaped by the traditions, expectations, and values that came with being raised in a close-knit Kurdish household.

At home, family, faith, respect, and responsibility were central. Like many children of immigrant families, Mossa often found herself learning how to move between two worlds: the culture and values she was raised with at home, and the American culture she was growing up around outside of it.

“It was kind of hard to fit into both versions of being Americanized and then having such a strong culture of growing up Kurdish and Muslim,” she said. “Trying to balance that dynamic of everything.”

Because of those cultural expectations, much of her childhood centered around family and home life rather than the kind of carefree activities or weekend adventures some of her peers experienced.

“Honestly, not much,” she said when asked what she did for fun as a kid.

As she got older, that upbringing helped shape her sense of independence. At 16, she became a mother. At 19, she moved out with her son and never moved back home. That was when life forced her to grow up quickly.

“It really taught me how to become more independent and teach myself how to work, save, and rely on myself,” she said.

Becoming a Mother Young

Mossa does not romanticize how hard that season was.

Having a child at 16 meant missing out on parts of being a teenager. While other people her age were out having fun, she was home taking care of her son, working, and trying to build a life.

“It was really challenging,” she said. “It’s like being a kid and having a kid. You lose out on a lot. You lose out on doing things that normal teenagers get to do.”

But that experience shaped her.

It taught her organization. It taught her independence. It taught her how to keep moving even when life felt heavy. And perhaps most importantly, it gave her a deeper understanding of what people are carrying when they walk through the door.

Mossa believes that empathy is one of her biggest strengths as an agent. She knows what it is like to be under pressure. She knows what it is like to be a young parent trying to make smart decisions. She knows what it is like to want something better for your family.

“You know what people are going through,” she said. “You know exactly what other people are feeling.”

A Love of Homes, and a Bigger Purpose

Before real estate, Mossa worked in retail, waitressing, and as a leasing agent. But homes had always interested her.

“I’ve always had a hobby in homes,” she said. “I don’t know what it is, but I’ve always just loved houses. Even in my free time, I just drive around and go look at houses—even still today.”

Real estate offered the possibility of flexibility, a stronger income, and a career that could help her support her son. But there was another motivation, too.

Mossa wanted to help families who may not know how to navigate buying a home—especially Kurdish and foreign-born families who may face language barriers, cultural barriers, or simply a lack of familiarity with the process.

“I always thought it would be really nice to help out other Kurdish families too, or foreign families that don’t know how to purchase a home or know anything about it,” she said.

Her own parents have lived in the United States for more than 30 years and have never owned a home. Mossa said she is now helping them through that process.

“They’ve been here for 30 years. They’ve never owned a home,” she said. “I’m actually in the process of helping them get one right now.”

For her, that is exactly why this work matters.

A house is not just a transaction. It can represent belonging. It can represent permanence. It can represent the kind of security a family may have spent decades working toward.

The Kind of Agent She Wants to Be

Mossa is clear about the kind of REALTOR® she does not want to become.

She has heard people talk about experiences where they felt rushed, dismissed, or treated like a number. She has heard stories from buyers who felt like their agent did not care, did not explain enough, or just wanted to close the deal.

“I just can’t imagine ever being that way,” she said.

She does not want to pressure people into a home that is not right for them. She does not want to gloss over concerns or push clients toward whatever is fastest. She wants her clients to feel informed, comfortable, and confident.

“I’m not one of those pushy agents where every house I’m going to show you, I’m going to tell you, ‘This is nice. This is the one,’” she said. “I would never do that.”

Life With Her Son

Outside of work, Mossa’s closest relationship is with her son.

The two travel often, play video games, and share a love of food. They have been to New York, Arizona, Florida, Mexico, and more. They once took a road trip from North Dakota to Arizona and circled back around California and Paris are also on the dream list.

“We like to travel a lot together,” she said. “We both really like food, so we will literally travel anywhere to go try new foods together.”

“Never Give Up on Your Dreams”

Mossa’s story is not one of an easy, straight path.

It is a story of growing up in a large immigrant family. Of trying to balance culture and identity. Of becoming a mother at 16. Of moving out at 19. Of working jobs, saving money, and figuring out adulthood while raising a child.

It is also a story of refusing to quit.

“I want people to know to never give up on their dreams,” she said. “It’s always possible, and never let anybody stop you. If I can do it, anyone can do it.”