Between Two Doors: A Conversation with Oksana Leslie, Mobile, Alabama Realtor

 


Between Two Doors: A Conversation with Oksana Leslie, Mobile, Alabama Realtor

If you're looking to buy or sell a home in Mobile or Baldwin County, Alabama, you’ll want to meet Oksana Leslie. With six years in real estate and an incredible 65 transactions closed this past year alone, Oksana is a powerhouse in the industry. But her journey to success in real estate is as unique as it is inspiring.

In this episode of Between Two Doors, I had the pleasure of speaking with Oksana about her background, her love for Alabama, and her advice for homebuyers and sellers.

From Uzbekistan to Alabama: Oksana’s Journey

Oksana’s story is anything but ordinary. Born and raised in Uzbekistan, she lived through the collapse of the Soviet Union and realized she was no longer part of the broader Soviet identity but a citizen of Uzbekistan. With changes in language, currency, and identity, she saw her world shift overnight.

Her journey to the United States started in 1998 when she came on a fiancé visa. She built a life in America, living in multiple states before settling in Alabama, where she has thrived both personally and professionally.

Before real estate, Oksana worked as a teacher, earning a degree in Russian Language and Literature and teaching 5th grade in Uzbekistan. She later found success running a home remodeling and painting business, where she documented home improvement projects on her YouTube channel, Oksana Alabama, USA. It was through her online presence that a subscriber first suggested she become a real estate agent—and the rest is history.

Building a Real Estate Career Through Social Media

Oksana’s entrance into real estate was driven by her online presence. Before getting her license, she had already built a substantial following, sharing insights about life in Alabama, home renovations, and the real estate market. When a subscriber asked why she wasn’t a real estate agent, it sparked an idea—and she ran with it.

Today, her YouTube channel has over 58,000 subscribers, many of whom follow her for insights into Alabama living, home-buying tips, and her humorous takes on life in the U.S.

Her First Transactions and Growing Her Business

Oksana’s first few years in real estate were slow—only two transactions in her first year. But as her social media presence grew, so did her business. Many of her clients have found her through YouTube and Facebook, particularly those relocating to Alabama from other states, including California, Seattle, and Oregon.

One of her most notable clients was a cash buyer from California who found her through her videos and purchased a $400,000 home. That moment solidified for Oksana that content creation was a powerful tool in real estate.

A Unique Approach to Real Estate

Oksana takes a practical, no-nonsense approach to real estate, helping clients make informed decisions. She frequently advises buyers to do their own research—from checking out neighborhoods at different times of the day to using resources like:

  • GreatSchools.org – To evaluate local schools and their demographics.

  • SpotCrime.com – To assess crime rates in prospective neighborhoods.

Rather than simply telling buyers what they want to hear, she equips them with the tools they need to make the best decision for their families.

Memorable Real Estate Stories

Every Realtor has wild stories, and Oksana is no exception. Two of her most memorable transactions include:

  1. A Buyer with 17 Cats – A woman moved from California to Alabama, bringing 17 cats with her in a van. The home she purchased had to be carefully chosen, ensuring it could accommodate her feline family. While Oksana typically keeps in touch with clients, this was one situation where she opted to let things be!

  2. The Honey Closing Gift – Oksana worked with a veteran who used a VA loan to buy a home. When the transaction closed, I personally gifted them a jar of honey from my own beekeeping farm. This unique, thoughtful gesture stood out as a truly special moment for everyone involved.

Advice for Home Buyers and Sellers

Oksana’s top advice for buyers:

  • Drive through the neighborhood at different times of day to get a feel for the area.

  • Use online tools to research schools, crime rates, and amenities.

  • Be realistic about your expectations, especially when relocating from out of state.

For sellers, she emphasizes:

  • The importance of strategic pricing – Overpricing a home leads to longer time on market.

  • High-quality marketing – Social media and video tours make a huge difference in attracting buyers.

Beyond Real Estate: Passion for Helping Others

When Oksana isn’t selling homes, she’s giving back to her community in meaningful ways:

  • Immigration Interpreter – She works part-time as a Russian-English interpreter for immigrants, assisting with everything from medical appointments to Homeland Security interviews.

  • Blood Donor – Oksana regularly donates platelets and blood, seeing it as a way to help people of all backgrounds.

  • Gardening Enthusiast – She grows exotic plants, including angel trumpets, passion flowers, and satsumas.

Work With Oksana

If you're looking for a real estate agent in Mobile or Baldwin County, Alabama, Oksana Leslie is the Realtor for you. Whether you're relocating, buying your first home, or investing in property, she brings expertise, honesty, and a deep passion for helping people.

📞 Phone: 850-324-2244
📺 YouTube: Oksana Alabama Homes
📷 Instagram: @OksanaAlabama
📘 Facebook: Oksana Leslie

About Between Two Doors
Between Two Doors is a podcast where I talk with Realtors about their journey, aiming to connect home buyers and sellers with agents on a more personal level. I ask "right brain" questions that go beyond transactions, focusing on the experiences, values, and passions that make these professionals great at what they do.

Listen to more episodes at: https://www.betweentwodoors.com

Sponsored by:
Success Mortgage Partners
https://www.natecarver.com

NMLS Numbers:
NMLS: 130562, LO NMLS: 2004738
Licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI). Equal Housing Opportunity.
https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.com

📞 Contact: 972-807-5044

Follow Us on Social Media:

Location: Mobile, AL, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Meet Ashley Hart: North Texas Real Estate Expert Redefining Real Estate and Resilience

Image
  Meet Ashley Hart: North Texas Real Estate Expert If you’re looking to buy or sell a home in Flower Mound, Texas, or the North Dallas Metroplex , you need to meet Ashley Hart . With a background in marketing and architecture, she has taken the real estate industry by storm, making a name for herself as one of the top 1% of agents in her market. From Marketing to Real Estate: Ashley’s Journey Ashley’s journey into real estate started while she was working as a marketing coordinator for her father’s architecture firm . At the same time, she and her husband were investing in properties. To save on agent commissions, her husband suggested she get her real estate license. Once she started taking classes, she realized real estate was a perfect combination of her skill sets —marketing, customer service, and business management. In March 2019, Ashley earned her real estate license and embarked on her new career. The first year was tough—Ashley had zero clients . But through perseverance,...
Read more

Between Two Doors: Real Estate, Faith, and Family with Paige & Jeremy Tanner

Image
  Between Two Doors: Real Estate, Faith, and Family with Paige & Jeremy Tanner Welcome back to another episode of Between Two Doors ! Today, we had the pleasure of speaking with Paige and Jeremy Tanner , a powerhouse real estate duo based in Mobile, Alabama . Their story is an incredible journey of faith, investment, and service , and we can’t wait to share it with you. From Investment to Full-Time Real Estate Paige and Jeremy’s journey into real estate began in 2019 , with a dream of building passive income through investment properties. What started as a long-term financial strategy quickly turned into a full-fledged career. Jeremy had always been drawn to real estate, working in construction during his early years and being inspired by successful investors around him. Paige, however, took some convincing. Jeremy spent ten years encouraging her to get her real estate license , and when she finally did, she fell in love with the industry . Now, they work together, helping hom...
Read more

Between Two Doors: A Conversation with Realtor Melissa Hardy, in South Lake Texas

Image
  Between Two Doors: A Conversation with Melissa Hardy, Southlake TX If you’re looking to buy or sell a home in the Southlake, Texas, or greater North Texas area, you need an experienced and dedicated real estate agent. In this episode of Between Two Doors , I had the pleasure of speaking with Melissa Hardy, a top-performing real estate agent who is passionate about serving her community, particularly veterans. A Journey into Real Estate Melissa’s journey into real estate began in 2020 after raising and homeschooling her children. With her kids off to college, she was ready for a new challenge. Her twin sister, a real estate agent in San Antonio, encouraged her to get licensed and join the industry. “I took 2020 to study for my license because, well, we didn’t have much else to do,” Melissa joked. She officially became a real estate agent in November 2020 and quickly established herself as a trusted professional in the field. With strong family ties to the military—her father and h...
Read more