Three years ago, one of the largest developers in China, the ShiMao Group, sought out a RE/MAX associate to sell its residential units in high-rise developments in Shanghai, Beijing, and Nanjing to U.S. buyers. That associate turned to Liu and her mother Nancy for help. The trans-Pacific deals, which also include shopping center developments, have netted Liu more than $5 million in overseas sales each of the last three years.

A career is born: Liu's original career goal was financial consulting -- not real estate -- but after her mother was hospitalized three times in six months for exhaustion, she asked for Liu's help. "It started out as, 'OK, I'll help you,'" says Liu. "Now I'm sure this is what I'm going to do for life." Liu, who immigrated from Taiwan as a child, spent three months in China last year and says she now speaks like a mainlander.

Ad blitz: Liu also sells properties in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. She and her mother spend more than $300,000 annually on advertising, including TV, radio, magazines, bus benches, and billboards.