S1: E24 | Real Estate, Real Skills, Real Opportunity

In this episode of Gator Bites, Daniel McLemore sits down with Martha Morian, Crystal Meyers, and Ava Rambo to explore the world of real estate from three unique perspectives: education, industry, and a brand-new professional entering the field. Together, they discuss LSCO’s Real Estate program, what it takes to earn a license, the discipline and business skills needed to succeed, and why real estate is about much more than just selling houses. From ethics and contracts to mentorship and market trends, this conversation highlights how LSCO is preparing students for a dynamic and rewarding profession.

About Lamar State College Orange:
Lamar State College Orange (LSCO) is a two-year, state-supported institution located on the banks of the Sabine River in Orange, Texas. As part of the Texas State University System, LSCO is committed to transforming lives and communities through the continual pursuit of academic, professional, and personal excellence. Serving more than 5,500 students, the College offers associate degrees and certificates in academic, technical, and workforce fields, providing new and unique opportunities for growth and success. With a focus on accessibility, affordability, and innovation, LSCO serves a diverse student population, including a high percentage of first-generation college students. Through strong community partnerships, dedicated faculty and staff, and innovative student support services, LSCO is the bridge connecting those it serves to a bright, Orange future.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:07

Hello everyone and welcome back to Gigabytes, the official podcast of Lamar State College Orange, where we interview faculty, staff, and students to give the community an inside look into life here at LSCO. So today we're talking about a field that touches just about everyone at some point in their lives, and that's real estate. So whether it's buying your first home, investing in property, or building a career helping others navigate the market, real estate plays a huge role in our communities. So joining us today are three guests who each bring a unique perspective to this table. So we have Martha Morion, she's the program chair of the real estate program here at LSEO. We have Crystal Myers, who's the team leader of the Crystal Myers team with Remax One, and then Ava Rambo, who's an LSEO student who recently earned her real estate license and then will soon graduate with an Associate of Applied Science in Business Real Estate Management. So Ava's also working with Crystal's team. So we've got a full pipeline represented today from education to industry to even a brand new professional entering the field. So thank you all for being here.

SPEAKER_02 1:10

Thank you for having us. Thank you for having us.

SPEAKER_00 1:12

So for our listeners who may not really know yet, tell us about yourself and how you really became involved in real estate. And we'll start over here with Crystal.

SPEAKER_04 1:21

My name is Crystal Myers, and I am let's see, I've been licensed since October of 2017. I'm a mom of two boys. I was uh and a wife and uh am from the Orange County area. My, so this is my home. It's the place I love to serve. And uh I was a paralegal for 16 years prior to getting into real estate. So I really feel like that helped kind of catapult me into the real estate market. Um I serve as the president of the Orangefield ISD Education Foundation Board and um member of heavily heavily uh ingrained in our Beaumont Board of Realtors um association. I serve on different committees there as well. And education is uh the committee that I serve on most and is am working on being a co-chair in that committee as well. I really enjoy education and just and teaching and mentorship. And so it's kind of how I fell into having a team. And um, I think my team we started in 2019, uh, which was really new in my career, but I felt like it was the time that it was all kind of organic the way it happened, and now we're a team of six, and so serve the Orange County and Southeast Texas area. That's exciting. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 2:34

Well, um, I got into real estate, I guess, like many, and many who are actually in the program that I'm a part of, um needed a second job, wanted a little something else, wanted something to supplement my income. Um, but that connected me with community and with people. Um, I love serving people and I have a marketing background. Um, so was in the marketing industry for a while, and then I got into education, teaching marketing, and then looking for that second career, that second supplemental income, um got into real estate and just fell in love with it and found I could do both and kind of have two careers, but I could balance it with my family life and um you know with what I needed to do and having that second option and that opportunity as an adult and looking at a different career opportunity. Many of our students do that, and I feel like I can relate to them in becoming a realtor, but then um I've been in education now teaching marketing for over 18 years, and I've been with the LSEO at the beginning of this real estate program. So I feel I bring I bring a unique aspect as an educator, but also as a realtor um, you know, to this program and and just love being a part of this LSEO community.

SPEAKER_01 3:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 3:55

So my name is Ava Rambo, and I'm 18. I'll be 19 on Saturday. Oh, happy birthday. And I got into real estate through Essence Specker, which is uh on the team with Crystal, they're leaders together. And I honestly I've always wanted to do real estate, but I also wanted to do nursing and didn't really know what I wanted to do. So Essence talked to my parents and she was like, I think she'd be really good at it. And so I started shadowing her and Crystal and the team and just working with them in August of this past year. And it was kind of like a flex period where I didn't really have classes I needed to take for anything, but I'm a part of the ambassador program, so I had a year paid for technically, and so it was a semester worth of work, and I was like, yeah, I'll get my license, and that's what I'm going for now. So I'm very excited, and I've had a bunch of support and help, so I think that's helped out a bunch.

SPEAKER_00 4:54

It sounds to me like once people get the real estate bug, they don't really know how to get rid of it.

SPEAKER_01 4:58

That's the honest thing. Yes. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 5:01

I don't want to go talking about real estate at the ballpark and at the grocery store in the middle of the aisle. Uh kind of follows you everywhere.

SPEAKER_00 5:09

Might be more than a bug, it might be a parasite rather than hangs on.

SPEAKER_04 5:13

Right, right.

SPEAKER_00 5:14

And I love too what you're saying, Martha, about the the marketing side of it too, because uh a lot of times I I've worked a lot in just real estate working with other real estate agents and stuff in my marketing roles, just because those two industries really are synonymous.

SPEAKER_02 5:26

And it doesn't seem like on the surface it should be, but it is absolutely absolutely and they're both so business foundation focused. You have to have a concept and an understanding of business, basic business principles for marketing, and the same for real estate. Um, to be successful, you're as a realtor, you're running your own business. You are responsible. You may be with a broker and you may have a lot of training and protocol that that brokerage already has set in place, but you yourself are you're managing yourself. You are running your own business.

SPEAKER_04 6:01

And that's the beauty of it, is everyone can kind of run their business as as they see fit. And if you can grow as much or as little in this industry as you want, but you definitely have to be disciplined and understand those business skills and how to market yourself, you know.

SPEAKER_01 6:15

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 6:16

So let's talk about that. So, Martha, you can you give us an overview of the real estate program here at LSCO? Um, what can students expect uh if they decide to pursue this path? You know, there's a there's the certificates, there's the associates, you know, you go through, we're talking about what these skills are that real estate agents need, but what is it that the program delivers for us?

SPEAKER_02 6:33

Well, and and I'll also um, you know, comment on LSEO's programs in general. I mean, their their pathways, their trade pathways, and what they set up for students today. You don't have to feel like you're in this four-year program and I'm going to spend all this money. And what if I don't like it? And what if I get out there and I can't use it and it's not what I thought. Um LSEO offers so many certifications. So you can get your real estate certification, you can get the required um 30 hours that Trek, the Texas Real Estate Commission, requires for you to have to have to be able to sit to take the state license, state and nation national licensing tests. Um, or you can go into the two-year program and earn the Real Estate Management Associate of Applied Sciences, where you also are given some other courses and get an associate's degree. And then you're applying these things. And then if you choose to pursue your career, your education further, pardon me, not just your career, but your education, you can go on to a four-year university. If not, you get this here in a two-year program, you get a certification, period, if that's all you are looking for, or you can build an educational background and build some of those business skills, take some other business courses in the Associative Applied Sciences and move right into the workforce and be prepared to do that. Um you know, we do set you up with um learning how to be disciplined and having to self-pace yourself. We are online, strictly online. There is no classroom, there's um not a lot of student-teacher interaction, um, which honestly mirrors what happens when you're in the real estate community. You have to have a lot of self-discipline and a lot of dedication to improving yourself and and setting aside that time. Um most of our students I have found, we do have some who start this program as early as high school in dual credit. But most of the students that I've had in let's see, I've been with this program when we started it five years ago. So in 21, I've been the program director for two and a half years, but I'm also an adjunct instructor. I've been an instructor from the onset. And I find that most of my students are looking for that second career or that change, but they're still working. They're still working full time, they're still managing families, they're still managing life. And um this course, these courses, um, allow you that opportunity to start pursuing something new, pacing it in your own time, um, getting it done as you can get it done. I mean, the instructors were always available for questions and interaction with messaging and our emails, but you really get a taste of what it's like on your own in your own time, and is it going to fit into my lifestyle?

SPEAKER_00 9:33

Yeah. Yep. I love it. So, Crystal, from the industry side, what makes real estate such an exciting and rewarding profession to be a part of?

SPEAKER_04 9:41

Oh, gracious. That's a good question. Uh little loaded. Yeah, right. I honestly um I think we sit as realtors as the intersection of really a lot of exciting things. I mean, it's it's opportunity, but it's also relationships and it's um it's the exciting part of uh owner home ownership, right? That's the American dream. So you you're involved in these relationships um kind of at the intersection. You get to to be a part of big life decisions, but also um really put your your knowledge and skill set to work. And um every day is different. There is not a single day that uh there I always tell my team there are no two transactions that are alike. Uh you may have similar circumstances, but what's important to you versus me um changes on the daily. And so it definitely allows you to um, it is it has grown my relationships. Uh, it's grown my community. Um, it's given me the opportunity to be more involved in my community. Um, I'm I'm definitely, I feel like realtors in general, um, when you look around and you see things happening, whether it be different foundations or different organizations, at the heart of a lot of those are realtors. And they give back as much to their community as they do uh intake. And so I think that we've just had the ability to really touch a lot of lives in a lot of different ways. Um it's just an ever-evolving industry too. Uh you can't really get bored with it because it's changing a lot and has changed a whole lot, even just since I've been in the industry. But I feel like um it's just a career path that opens up the doors to so many different opportunities that uh you I would have never dreamed um, honestly, as I started. I I wrote my first contract the very first day uh my broker hung my license, and I've never looked back. And um it it takes a lot of grit, it takes a lot of work ethic, but it's definitely a career path that uh you the sky's the limit, really and truly. I know that sounds so cliche, but it's true. It's you as much work and effort and effort as you want to put into something, you're gonna see the fruits of that labor, but also the the relationships that you get from it are um I don't know. It's it's probably been my greatest joy.

SPEAKER_02 12:00

And I'm going to jump in if I may. Yeah. You commented, you you used a term that I'm familiar with, and I'm sure Ava is now familiar with, but realtor.

SPEAKER_01 12:10

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 12:11

You um people don't understand the legal responsibilities that come with that's right. And you don't no one can call themselves a realtor unless you were licensed by the state of Texas.

SPEAKER_04 12:25

And a member and a member, that's right.

SPEAKER_02 12:27

And you have to um it's more than just finding someone their first home. It's more than helping someone find, buy a piece of property for investments. Um, if you're in in like any sort of agricultural sales, ranch, land sales, home sales as well, but any type of sale of land or structure, the legalities that go with it, and you are the legal representative of the people that you are helping, whether you're representing them as a seller or as a buyer. We have a very strong, as a Texas Real Tour, that's that's the official term and trademarked. Um, we have a very strong, significant legal and ethical responsibility to serve our clients.

SPEAKER_04 13:19

It is a profession. It truly is not a hobby. It is definitely something that uh I'm very passionate about coming from the legal background that I do have. Uh we have standards of practice that we absolutely have to follow. Um, our clients are always uh have to be put before ourselves. So um you you work for free for a long time uh and hoping to get that transaction to closing, but it's more than a transaction. It that is somebody's livelihood. It's most often the most expensive purchase they'll ever make in their life. Uh it comes with a lot of um contractual legalese that they don't understand that they don't want to necessarily read. And you you are their guidepost for all of it, you know? And so you yourself have to understand it. You have to know what you're conveying. And um, and it doesn't die at just getting your license, right? We have continuing education that we do every year and lots of designations and opportunities for further growth. And um I I have six designations and I am continuing to work on those. I love, I love the education side of it, but it just makes you a better realtor um through and through and then a mentor as well.

SPEAKER_02 14:28

So and you're honored to, I mean, every transaction that I did, I was honored to be that representation for my clients, you know, um, knowing that not everyone wants to read all the fine lines and all of the things. And we hold your hand through it all and we explain it all so that the process, again, like Ava said, or, you know, or Crystal, I can't remember, um, you know, sometimes it is the most significant purchase you have and or may well ever make.

SPEAKER_01 14:56

Right.

SPEAKER_02 14:57

And knowing that as a realtor, that I can make that transaction easy for you and enjoyable and um, you know, help you through that process, it is so rewarding to hand them those keys. That's all right. You feel so proud of the work that you have done. So all of this, all of the courses and all of the continuing education you have to do makes it all worth it when you just hand over those keys to someone and um, you know, then you're ready to move on to the next one. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 15:29

And sometimes it is, it's it's not the excitement. Sometimes it is closing the door on a chapter of their life that's emotional and hard, right? We don't we don't always walk through the pretty stuff in real estate to um you end up being kind of a counselor, you end up being um some emotional support on the other end that you don't necessarily fully expect as you're attending class that that you might be that for that person. And, you know, we represent people that have have lost a loved one and are having to sell their estate, uh their home that they grew up in or their childhood home. We we have situations of divorce and there's situations where it's not always the the pretty sunshine and roses, but the fulfillment you get on the other end of walking that that with them and and help guiding them to feel like sometimes they're in a position where they don't feel like decision making is easy. And so um being able to be equipped to do that for them is uh is very rewarding.

SPEAKER_00 16:20

Yeah. So Ava, you're in a really unique position right now, right? So you're finishing the program, you've already earned your license, and you're working in the field already. So what has that transition from student to professional been like? And you're able to listen to what these ladies are saying during this too, right?

SPEAKER_03 16:36

It really has been super smooth just because of the support I've had with the team. They've really helped me with the actual professional side of it with anything that I need. And then with my school part, it is online so I can do it when I'm not working on my real estate stuff. And then I also have the support from the school and all my teachers that like some places might not have. And so it's really it's been smooth for me, and I've never looked back like thinking, oh, maybe this isn't what I want to do, because I've had the support that I have. So it's definitely I would recommend either shadowing someone or finding a place that you would have the help on both sides of it, especially if you're going through the whole program versus just getting your certification because you're not stopping once you get your license. Like you're still going and doing school. And so to balance both it is not it's not difficult, it's just a lot because you're working and you want to focus on all your actual business and work when you still have those five classes that you have to do your work for and focus and learn more to put into the program. But it's been smooth for me.

SPEAKER_00 17:45

Right. But it's like setting up that foundation for the future too, is it's you know, some of the classes that you take are marketing is not part of um uh the the real estate license, the certificate, right? No, but it is part of the associates. Yeah, yeah. Because it's again, it's so synonymous with it. But so is things like QuickBooks and um learning the accounting and all of that, because there's there's things that a an associate's degree can add on top of a real estate certificate that just make you that much more valuable, right? Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 18:13

Yeah, the classes have helped so much. Like uh, I just took three classes this past eight weeks, and I felt like I learned stuff in every single one of the classes that I could put towards my career. And then I'm about to take marketing and business principles. Do you know?

SPEAKER_00 18:26

Do you know who your professor is for marketing?

SPEAKER_03 18:28

You told me.

SPEAKER_04 18:32

She is so mature beyond her years, too. And I have to say that that is definitely something that um she has such incredible work ethic. And that is really and truly what um what just blew us away from the start. I mean, we she's the baby of our team, but she is definitely uh she can hold her own when it comes to just ideas and um organization, and she is incredible in all of those skill set for sure that she has picked up, I have no doubt from a lot of what she has learned for sure. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 19:04

That's exciting. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_02 19:05

You know, one thing I'd I'd like to say too is that with any type of education, um sometimes the education part, everybody's like, oh, you know, I've got all of this to read and I have all of this, like I just want to go do it. But you have to have the education, you have to have that foundation and you have to have that discipline to get through it. That's right. Um but what you're going to do specifically with the real estate program, but also really any any other certification program, you have to have the education. But once you get past that, once you earn that certification, once you earn that associate's degree, um, you then go into your field. And here we're specifically talking about the real estate field, and you are going to take the foundation that you learned and then learn how to directly apply it through whoever your broker is. And they're then going to take you out and just walk you into it. And it's it's so much more than the textbook.

SPEAKER_01 20:05

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 20:05

But you have to get through that textbook part and that discipline to set you up. Um, and that's one thing that I just love about LSEO's programs, and and again, being part of this program is, you know, we try to structure the classes like, you know, this is what you've got to do. I mean, it's not easy. And the the test is not easy. And if you can't pace yourself and discipline yourself for any certification program, um, I can only speak of the real estate program. If I was not disciplined and if I had not taken the time and cared enough about what I was doing to really put in the effort to learn the material, being self-paced, I would not have done well. But I was so proud of this of myself when boy, when I passed that test and I was able to like walk inside. You know, it made me just more proud of the education and what I put into myself to further my education, to further my knowledge, to further my learning of something new. And then being able to step in and apply it, that's when it gets fun.

SPEAKER_04 21:13

But you know, so much of what we learn is uh applicable to daily real estate life. I mean, the all of the contracts, especially, but even uh the the um the finance classes and things, all of those you're you while I try to stay in on my lane as a realtor and I'm not teetering into the uh lending side, et cetera, you do have to explain a lot of those things to your clients. But sometimes as realtors, we have to ask the lender some pretty hard questions as well. And why haven't we thought about this avenue? Or I have done this with another client. Is this a possibility with this client? So I do think all of those skills and all of those things that you're learning in the classroom, you will apply. Um, this is definitely not a career that you lose it or use it and lose it, or you know, uh, it's not like some of your Algebraic equations where you're, you know, I mean, you really do, uh, you have a lot of um daily application to what you're learning in the classroom for sure.

SPEAKER_02 22:09

And you move from that strong community of LSEO's classrooms and whatever that classroom looks like, whether you're physically sitting at a desk or you're self-pacing online, um, I our advisor teams here are amazing. Um, and they help prepare you and talk you through. Should you just do the search certification program or should you do the applied science or you know, go on to the associate's degree program. And then you move from this community, which I absolutely love. It's just this wonderful, and I think it's a smaller being a smaller community. I have students though from all over the state. So, you know, that's fun too. But you move from this wonderful little community into your trade community. And um and I think LSEO really sets its students up for success in in that.

SPEAKER_03 22:59

I think so too.

SPEAKER_00 23:00

Awesome. So, Crystal, when you're bringing on new agents to your team, what what traits are you looking for?

SPEAKER_04 23:07

I can honestly tell you that my probably number one trait is uh integrity and character and seeing that someone is um self-disciplined, that um I I care far little about experience, far you know, less about experience more so than I do. Are they um someone of integrity because our business is relationship driven? Uh we spend a lot of time with people, like I said, walking through very hard things and and very fun things, but very uh important pieces of their life. And so I want to know that that person is relationship driven, um, but also um lacks, you know, doesn't lack integrity because what we do, we have to put the client first always. And so sometimes that's hard when you know you're going, gas is expensive this week and I have a house note to pay and those things. But you also have to remember that this may not be the perfect house for them. And you you start out a transaction, you're excited that you've written a contract and um, and you may show up for inspections and find a lot of really scary things that the buyer is not willing to walk through. And so you start all over again, and that process sometimes could take months. And so you have to have somebody that's patient, that's caring, that um, but is enthusiastic, but also really driven. Uh I I love that about Ava. She is very driven. And um, so one of the first questions I ask somebody is before you come to me with a question, what what would you do in this situation or scenario? And what I'm looking for is someone that's going to exhaust efforts and really have tried to figure it out and reason for themselves before coming to me and wanting me to do it for them. Uh, and so, and I think that's huge as part of the self-discipline that uh Miss Morien was talking about, that you have to be able to in this field kind of think on the fly and be quick and go to resources. And um, so that's important to me when and when finding a team member that fits our um that fits our team and our group is that that they operate with a lot of integrity, that their relationships matter to them. Uh, but being community-based and career-minded and focused, uh, like I told you before, this is my career. This is my livelihood. I don't have any other form of income. So I treat it as such, and uh, that's what I love about the profession is uh being a professional in the profession. So awesome.

SPEAKER_00 25:28

I love that. So, Ava, what's one of the most surprising things that you've learned during your coursework and then during your licensing process?

SPEAKER_03 25:36

Um I would say like that you learn a whole bunch doing your coursework, but then it's like there's a whole bunch more to it once you're there's a whole other level. It's like, yeah, here's the basics of it, but then you take it like a hundred times more, and then that's actually what you're doing. So you definitely learn a bunch, but then it's also like you're still you're always learning. It's and it's not surprising, but it's just I mean, it can be a lot for some people that don't think a lot go into it. Like they're like, oh yeah, this is only one semester of work, I want to do that, and then they don't realize like, no, you're gonna keep doing it. Like you're constantly learning. So I would say that's the most surprising, I guess. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 26:17

We joke often that you drink from a hydrant in real estate. Like it definitely feels like you're drinking from a hydrant. So but it's but it's not in a bad way. I I don't I hate to say that that it really and truly it's um it's exciting. I mean, there's really fun things to to learn and do every day. I mean, um and and different, but you can be um as proactive or um, you know, and and there are times where you can take a step back a little bit and let things, you know, work and all the work, the hard work that you've put in kind of go in and and sit on autopilot a little bit too. So it definitely um can be as much or little as you put into it for sure.

SPEAKER_03 26:56

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 26:56

So uh Crystal Martha, I'm gonna ask y'all this one. What what um i the real estate market's really kind of gone through a lot of changes in the past few years.

SPEAKER_01 27:04

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 27:05

Uh trying to say that lightly, but it's gone through a lot of changes recently. So what trends are you seeing right now in our area and just in in Texas in general?

SPEAKER_04 27:13

Um, I can say that uh, you know, I like I told you guys, I started out, I hit the door running from day one of being licensed. I wrote my first contract, my very first showing, and I started pre-pandemic, but right after Hurricane Harvey. And so there was a lot for, you know, a lot of people looking to having to move. Um, lots of flooded and gutted properties that were sold. And and then we moved into that pandemic era of just hurry, hurry, hurry. Uh buyers didn't have a whole lot of choice. Uh, to the last couple of years, we're seeing a whole lot of um kind of halt and, you know, abrupt with interest rates increasing and um, but also a lot of buyer's remorse where they purchased something and didn't really look into it the entire, you know, read all the fine print and felt like that, you know, they or they bought something that they quickly outgrew and now they're having to kind of sit. Um, so but one thing I can honestly say, I feel like in our industry and the whole that we've seen is we become a more balanced market in Southeast Texas. Um we are so fortunate where we live uh that we're kind of in a bubble shielded by our amazing industry and um and energy, you know, supplements here where we live. So we don't feel, I feel like the pressure that certain markets across the state have felt. Um I attend a lot of classes with other realtors across the state, and we have definitely seen big changes in bigger metro areas than we've seen here. But I will say that buyers have a lot more choice now and um they're receiving a lot more concessions. We've we've seen a lot of um growth. We, we, we have a steady increase, I feel like, in um in home values. I mean, we we see a gradual, it's not just an explosive amount of um equity that and we saw a little bit of that in the 21, 22 era, I think. But um, but it kind of swung the pendulum started swinging the other direction and really made us start focusing as agents on pricing property and how we were pricing property because um it it was scary to think, okay, a buyer's buying at the top end of the market, and if they can't live in this house next year or need to get rid of this house next year, what's that gonna look like? Those are all things as realtors we have to consider. And um, so we're in a lot more balanced, I feel like, market, but I do think we're gonna we're starting to see a little tick down of rates. Uh they're a little volatile still, but definitely in a much more improved than the last two years. And um so I think it's an opportunity for growth. And and I think we are gonna see, especially in Southeast Texas, uh more growth with more, you know, master plan community properties coming into play that we had never seen before here. And um, so I think there's a lot of excitement on the horizon for real estate here for sure.

SPEAKER_02 30:01

I think one thing too, though, that again, what a realtor brings to the table for anyone looking at buying or selling anything, um their office space, their building, their family home they grew up in, their a piece of property, whatever it is, um, realtors have to stay on top of the industry trends. They have to stay on top of the market. Laws are changing, interest rates are changing, the the normal everyday person doesn't understand those things and doesn't really know those things. And um, we have to do that. We have to stay on top of those things. Um, our continuing education classes that we're required to take every year or every two years. Those um, but also with your board of your board of realtors, your local board, another community that you're a part of, you have to know specifically what's going on in your community. Um Katrina, Harvey, any of these tornadoes, storms, whatever it is, these natural disasters, some people are like, oh, let me just go in and buy this up. Well, there's more to it than that.

SPEAKER_04 31:07

Insurance, flood insurance, flood zones, um, all of that has been a major contributor in real estate, uh, I would say for sure, and our trends too, sadly.

SPEAKER_02 31:16

But that's where the necessity, the importance of having a realtor to guide you through the legalities and what if what do these trends mean? I mean, everyone watches these shows, you know, on television. And oh gosh, you know, I'd love to, I'd love to sell that million-dollar house and I'd love to go in and you know, do all of that. And and can can you do that? Absolutely, in your own way and in your own time. But um, you know, we do so much more. So much more. You know, when you were talking about the trends, again, that's why I just think it's so important that you understand what realtors do and their legal and ethical responsibilities. Um, you know, that's we're just representatives for really anyone.

SPEAKER_04 32:01

We're a huge voice in our state as well. I mean, um property owner right ownership rights. Uh, we have a big um foundation or, you know, a political action committee called Tree Pack that is heavily um supported through uh property owner rights. You know, we are we are looking at, we always say we're not a red party or a blue party, where they're they call it the purple solution. And it's it's so much, there's so much more to being a realtor than than just showing a pretty house, I can promise you. Uh, and that I think is what makes it so rewarding. Um, but we just talking about trends, groundwater rights is gonna be a huge thing this year. We're starting to see a lot of um education things being put out to go get yourself, you know, again, you have to be disciplined. You've got to go learn and continue to make yourself um, you know, put yourself in positions where you know what's going on. Um, you want to know what's being built in your community. You want to know what, you know, if there's zoning changes happening, you want to know I I can't tell you how many times a new foundation goes up somewhere and somebody calls and says, what's going in there? And it's great to be able to tell somebody what's going on, you know, but if you're not involved and you don't pay attention to those things, yeah, you're not gonna know. You know, it's part of our profession to be in the to be in the know.

SPEAKER_02 33:14

Yeah. And that's what I always tell my students at the very beginning, you know, welcome to my classes, you know, welcome to your choice and coming into such a dynamic industry because it is dynamic and it is not a static. Um, you don't just sit behind a desk and wait for a contract to be set in front of you. It's it's very dynamic dynamic and very exciting. And so I love when I have students, you know, pursuing this career, career choice because I know what it looks like on the other side. And um, it's great seeing, you know, our program grow and seeing more people come in and seeing students like Ava actually get to see her in person, which is what's so fun here because, you know, for me being strictly online, they're just a name. I get a little introduction email. This is who I am, why I decided to take this class. And um, you know, I don't always have that opportunity to see them in person and and congratulate them for the efforts that they put into the program. And so um, Daniel, thank you for having me today because this was just a treat to be able to see her in person. So thank you.

SPEAKER_00 34:17

So to kind of round us out for for someone listening who really might be curious about becoming a real estate agent, what advice would each of you give them before they got started? And we'll start with you, Ava.

SPEAKER_03 34:28

Um, I would say you have to want it. And not only that, you have to understand what goes into it. It's not just, oh, I want to be a real estate agent just because it's fun and you get to dress cute and kind of work where you want. It's like there's a lot more that go into it. And if you want to be a good real estate agent, then there's even more that goes into it versus just, oh yeah, I'm a real estate agent and like I make my schedule because technically you don't. You work all the time. And so it's just you have to want it to be it.

SPEAKER_00 34:55

I just saw an Instagram reel this morning that was talking about um normal work hours, and they were pointing at the clock and doing bank hours, and they did like these hours, and then somebody said, and the the the title came up real estate, and the guy just started rolling his hand like a windmill.

SPEAKER_04 35:10

It's 24 side. Yeah, you don't get a break. There's not a single holiday in the Texas contract at all. Yeah, they don't really look at that. You know, they they recognize federal holidays, but that contract just keeps on ticking.

SPEAKER_00 35:24

So what advice would you give?

SPEAKER_04 35:25

Uh I would say uh same as Ava, you've got to be driven, but I would say shadow, shadow, uh go find uh a realtor in Southeast Texas that looks, you know, that is busy and that is working and that this is their profession. Um, and and go shadow. You would be surprised how many would be uh, you know, absolutely inclined to have you tag along and um and see what the day in the life really does look like because it's different every day. So and I would say shadow for a few days. Uh don't just do one because it definitely is um something that you can kind of glean some insight into what what it really looks like as a career.

SPEAKER_00 36:04

And just from what I've known, uh, just about every real estate agent would be welcome to the idea of, yeah, come hang out with me for a day. Yeah, there's very few that are gonna say I'm too busy for that. That's right, absolutely. There is a commonality between realtors that if you need help, you come sit with me and I'll you I may not be able to tell you everything, but I can I can uh help you along the way.

SPEAKER_04 36:23

It's a camaraderie, it's an industry uh to me that uh yes, do we have to compete against each other for for property or for listings and such? Yes. But I find that um the kins, you know, the kinship that we have and the the passion that we have for serving others in our community uh far to me outse, you know, far surpass anything else. As uh they we're always willing to help each other. We I can pick up the phone, even now, almost 10 years into the into the business, and call my own mentor and say, I have guess what I learned today? Or have you had this happen today? And um there's not a lot of professions out there that I feel like you can really bounce uh those things off of and uh and no fear of judgment and concern about that. Uh we all grow together and we've had a lot of change, like I said, in this last year. So being able to grow and and experience that together um is has been very rewarding.

SPEAKER_02 37:18

And I would tell any of my students, I tell told my children this, and I tell all of my students this, um, even some of my friends, if you have an opportunity presented to you, walk through the door and try it. Because you can always say you tried it. There's always a lesson in the try. Um but if you never try it, you'll you may have regrets. And if you have that feeling, if you have that like, I really think I want to do this, and you're trying to figure out something, especially like for a lot of my students, this is a career change. This is a scary thing. I have a student right now who drives a truck and is looking at real estate. I mean, you wouldn't have thought, but there was something, there is something in him that's wanting him to pursue this opportunity, this career choice. And if you have that in you, do a shadowing. Look, go talk to people. And if you've got that feeling inside you, go for it. And if you feel like you want to be a realtor, oh my gosh, it and again, I mean, I'm passionate about it because I've done it and I love it. Um but if you've got that something in you, then that means there's something in you already that this probably will work for you. So go for it, do it, take the chance. And you know, being able to come to LSEO and take a certification program, just do the certification program, pacing it out yourself on your own time with life as it is and whatever that looks like for you. Uh why not?

unknown 38:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 38:57

It's not a get rich quick business, but it is a business that you can you will be rich because of the fulfilled in so many ways.

SPEAKER_00 39:07

Agreed. Well, this has been a really great conversation, and it's exciting to see that Lamar State College Orange is really helping prepare the next generation of real estate professionals while also staying closely connected with leaders in the industry. So big thank you to Martha, to Crystal, and to Ava for joining us today and for sharing your experiences and insights. So thank you guys.

SPEAKER_02 39:26

Thank you for having us.

SPEAKER_00 39:27

And be sure to keep up with the latest Gator Bytes podcast episodes on the LSEO website, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Thank you for tuning in, and we look forward to bringing you another conversation soon.