"I was learning and learning constantly.”
A man who was homeless as a teenager and on benefits has transformed his life by launching a £1 million real estate business.
As a 16-year-old, Tony Habib King was kicked out of college for poor attendance and had no clear path until he met his future wife and they got married two years later.
He said: “Education was never for me. I wanted to learn from others. People were experience.”
Just seven months later, his wife became pregnant.
They moved into Tony’s home in Chorlton, Manchester, they quickly realised the new arrangement wasn’t working out, so they decided to find somewhere else to live.
They found themselves in a homeless hostel for two months.
Tony said: “The hostel wasn’t too bad.
“As long as we were together, we were together, we were alright. We were so loved up at the time; we were constantly as one.”
The couple later moved into a flat in Cheetham Hill after their families put some money together.
After a year of claiming benefits, Tony knew he had to kick-start his life and get a job.
His father got him a job in real estate, which is where his journey began.
Tony explained: “I approached my dad and said, ‘We need to do something, we’re on the dole not doing anything’.
“That’s when my dad got me a job in real estate and that’s when it really began.
“I was working in property management but we were doing other stuff like debt management. I was learning and learning constantly.”
Tony built his way up in the company and remained in the role for 10 years.
After a decade, he realised he wanted a new challenge and approached his friend Zak Jennings who had his own letting company in Manchester city centre.
Tony worked as a manager for a year.
In April 2022, Tony went on to set up his own business with Zak, called Gold Ace Real Estates.
The business operates out of Manchester and recently opened an office in the Middle East.
Tony said: “We’ve got estate agents here and in Dubai.
“We opened them at the same time. There are building going up there constantly.
“In one month, we made a profit. We have a six-person team and over there [Dubai] we’ve got 12.”
Tony says the business – which operates in sales, lettings, managements, investments and off-market deals which coincide in property cash buying – is now worth around £1 million.
Tony added: “I’ve got a blacked-out Mercedes.
“I deserve where I am now. I was destined for it – but that’s only part of it.
“I know how successful I’m going to be and no one is really going to get in my way. The King became the ace.”
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