Garibay Realty Team Makes Community Their Mission

Decking the halls in downtown Salem is no small task. Just ask Ruben and Erin Garibay.

The husband-and-wife couple behind Garibay Realty Team with HomeSmart Realty Group oversaw the installation of this year’s downtown Christmas lights — a spectacle only made possible by careful planning and hundreds of collective volunteer hours.

Though the job is a massive undertaking, for the Garibays it is a labor of love.

“I enjoy seeing everybody happy and getting to see the smiles on their faces,” said Ruben, who serves as vice chair for the Salem Main Street Association, which also organizes the annual Downtown Salem Holiday Parade. “I’ve always thought of myself as a giver.”

That spirit of giving is what motivates the Garibays year-round, whether it’s leading Salem Brokers Tours with MVAR; advocating for local businesses with the Main Street Association; or supporting school fundraisers and other charitable organizations. Together, the Salem natives have dedicated themselves to building and strengthening community.

“We always want to make it better,” Erin said. “We all live here and want to help it improve.”

Collaboration Over Competition

Part of that mission has led both Erin and Ruben to careers in real estate, guiding individuals and families through what can often feel like an overwhelming process.

Erin was the first to receive her REALTOR® license in 2016. At the time, Ruben was working a steady corporate job to support their growing family. The Garibays have now been married for 18 years and have two kids, 15-year-old Olivia and 13-year-old Uriah.

Ruben joined Erin in real estate in 2021, won over by the prospect of a more personally fulfilling job. “Now, I’m living the life that I’ve always been jealous of,” he said.

The Garibays were nominated for Realty Team of the Year and Erin was nominated individually for REALTOR® of the Year at the 2025 MVAR Awards Banquet. Earlier this year, the couple also took it upon themselves to revive the Salem Brokers Tours through MVAR. Tours are held on the second and fourth Wednesday each month, highlighting a different area of the city.

Agents, lenders, and title companies are all invited to join, Ruben said. The goal is to foster networking and collaboration over competition.

“We’re all part of this big spiderweb, right?” he said. “We all need to work together.”

Called to Give Back

On the community front, the Garibays have a lot on their calendar.

Along with his role on the Salem Main Street Association, Ruben is the Leadership Development Manager for the McLaran Leadership Foundation and an alum of Leadership Salem, the organization’s flagship program for local professionals to get involved in city service. Erin is also currently a member of the current 2025-27 program cohort.

“Ruben would come home each time and tell me about it. I could see he was really excited and learning a lot of things, a lot of different points of view,” Erin said. “I wanted to be a part of that and see where it could take me.”

Meanwhile, Erin is a board member for the Saxon Foundation at South Salem High School, supporting teachers and academic programs. Ruben is also a board member for their local neighborhood association, the Southwest Association of Neighbors (SWAN).

“I think we’ve been called to give back to our community,” Ruben said. “I’ve always believed you should give back more than you receive.”