I had a good steady job that I’d held for a long time. But as my family grew and my children became more active, I knew my family was my priority. The long hours and the inflexibility didn’t work for me. But a new career meant starting all over again.
It was an intimidating thought. I’d worked comfortably in the same role for a decade. But I wanted to be there for my family, and I could sense the economic storm brewing.
My own experiences growing up were different from that of my kids. I grew up in a rural farm country. We worked hard to get by and still didn’t have much. My parents divorced when I was 13, and from that point on, most of my growing up happened in Houston.
When it was time to look to the future, I considered the things I enjoyed and the things I knew I was good at. I liked to put things together, to build. I considered engineering and even pursued a formal education in it for a while. But I came to realize there was one challenge in that field that I didn't want to face: being trapped behind a desk. Office work simply wasn’t my style. When I admitted that to myself, I was able to find a much better fit.
I got into new home sales and was much happier. I found my niche. I was outside, I was active, and I was in a great industry. It was a great career for me for 10 years.
During that time, my family was growing. I have three kids, and they were all involved in sports and extracurricular activities. Meanwhile, I was working long hours with little flexibility in my schedule. That, coupled with a shifting economy, made me reconsider things for the first time in a long time. I liked what I did, but couldn’t help but wonder if there could be a better opportunity for me out there.
On top of everything, we were in the middle of moving. My wife is a college professor and had just gotten a job here in Maryland. Any network I may have had would be left behind in Dallas.
Because of my work background, I was familiar with real estate and Realtors. That seemed like a natural, if lateral, move to make. But it was still a huge decision. Would I leave my old job behind? As an agent, I could adjust my schedule in a way that would allow me to be there for them. But I’d be leaving a job that I knew and had found success in to start over with something different.
But when it comes to choosing between what will be best for the family and what would be most comfortable for me, I pick family every time. With that fueling me, I started a new career in Real Estate. It wasn’t an easy start. I was beginning the journey at a challenging time. Even in a good market, most agents only last a year or two. I was used to working on commission, but not to the extremes found in real estate.
I had my moments of doubt. I even talked to other builders about returning to construction. Our conversations reinforced what I already knew—I couldn’t be the father I wanted to be while I was working those hours. It was also the first time I was working for myself. It wasn’t something I had considered before, but I realized just how much I enjoyed it. There was no instruction manual, but the positives outweighed the negatives.
As time went on, the market leveled out, and business was better than ever. If I could survive in the previous years, I knew this would be no problem!
And now I can help other families through my career. I look forward to helping you and your family on the journey home!
Pursuing real estate meant building up a skill set that would best help my clients. I’ve been committed to that since I first entered this business. Even experienced buyers and sellers can use the expertise of a knowledgeable real estate agent. I’m proud of the fact I can deliver that to them. And I work across all markets. I’m able to combine those skills with my background in marketing, contracts, and negotiations. I walk my clients through every step of the process. There’s nothing quite like the joy of leading someone to their next dream home.
I recognize that real estate is an ever-evolving industry. I need to evolve with it and stay knowledgeable about the changing trends. I educate myself, so I can educate my clients and deliver the best customer service possible. I can hardly wait for the next transaction with you!