Roh Habibi’s Luxury Real Estate Playbook

Few in luxury real estate can say their journey began on a donkey’s back. Yet that’s precisely how Roh Habibi, founder of The Habibi Group and standout agent in San Francisco’s hypercompetitive market, got his start — navigating the treacherous Hindu Kush mountains as a toddler, cradled in a baby carrier strapped to his father’s back.

From there, his story doesn’t slow down. What follows is a tale of reinvention, grit, and strategic brilliance. Habibi’s conversation with Luxury Presence reveals a world of uncommon tactics and philosophies that separate him from his peers. Here are five unexpected truths that emerged during the podcast.

Being a guide, not a salesman, builds staying power

Coming from a background in finance, Habibi observed that the decision-makers in a high-net-worth individual’s life aren’t just the individuals themselves, but also their gatekeepers. So he embedded himself into those circles, not as a marketer, but as a utility.

“The CPA is an incredibly important person,” Habibi explained. “Very high-end CPAs are working directly with these people because when they want to make a purchase or a sale happen, literally the first person they call is the tax person.” Wealth managers, trust attorneys, and even family lawyers all became part of his strategic referral ecosystem. His value proposition? Providing instant intelligence, market analyses, and solutions to make his partners look brilliant.

“Call me,” he said. “I’ll give you the answers. I’ll give you the tools. I’ll give you the resources, and then you could go speak back to them and you look like an absolute rockstar.”

By the time the client is ready to transact, the introduction is already warm and the trust is fully transferred.

Looking to the hotel industry for inspiration

In an industry obsessed with comps and square footage, Habibi looks instead to hospitality to shape his approach.

A book about the Four Seasons hotel brand became his template for transformation. “It talks about basically their whole framework,” he said. “It worked out so well that it created this lifelong group of people that will not stay anywhere else. They won’t stay at the Saint Regis, they won’t stay at the Ritz — they are Four Seasons through and through.” He continued, “Wow! I can apply these directly to my business and my brand and my practice. Let’s really, really love [our clients]. Let’s create these amazing experiences and that could help us continually build our brand.”

That idea, that the client’s experience supersedes product, became a cornerstone of his own methodology. He mirrors the concierge model: Seamless, anticipatory, invisible when appropriate, and unforgettable when needed.

Lack of mentorship becomes its own motivator

Despite his success, Habibi doesn’t romanticize his early years. His biggest professional regret? Operating in the dark.

“I wish I had a mentor figure,” he admitted. “I wish somebody would’ve helped me walk through this whole entire thing, because, God, it would’ve saved me so much time and effort and money and failures and missed opportunities.”

This absence of guidance sharpened his instincts. Without a blueprint, he reverse-engineered success by immersing himself in the systems that control wealth — financial firms, legal structures, family offices — then translated those lessons into real estate. That sense of mission now guides how he leads others.

Survival instilled a second-generation hunger

Habibi frames his immigrant background as a story to tell and as a forge that shaped him.

His family fled Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion. “For about eight nights in seven days, we traveled basically on donkeyback with these Sherpas over the Hindu Kush mountain range into Pakistan,” he said. “We had to live there in a refugee camp for almost nine months.”

The weight of that sacrifice shapes every decision. “My ‘why’ is to not let everything that [my family] did be taken for granted,” he said. “I want to be here, be present, and absolutely do everything that I possibly can to excel and milk the opportunity of what we like to call the American Dream.”

That urgency translates into ambition, but also into a sense of stewardship of his family, culture, and of his tremendous sense of opportunity.

Cultural fluency builds trust faster than credentials

Language skills may be an afterthought for some professionals. For Habibi, they are tactical tools.

He speaks English, Farsi, Dari, and Arabic: A repertoire that allows him to navigate luxury circles across continents. But for Habibi, it’s not just about vocabulary, it’s all about resonance.

“I could speak not just their language, but understand their values and what moves them,” he explained. “Real estate’s very global now… that cultural fluency helps me build a different type of trust.”

Where others might rely on institutional credibility, Habibi builds rapport through a reflection of customs, concerns, and convictions.

Building a brand with Luxury Presence

Roh Habibi’s success is built on frameworks. He treats his business like a long game, infused with clarity, elevated by service, and sharpened by lived experience.

If you’re looking to reimagine your real estate brand with the same depth, insight, and cultural sensitivity, partner with Luxury Presence. We specialize in turning your unique story into a powerful asset.

Let’s create your presence with purpose.