Ember Realty: Empowering Homeownership & Community Bonds

• I had an interest in business at a young age. I had an eager desire to always improve products, streamline processes, and find new ways to provide a service. I almost did not go to college because I thought it would delay my start in business. However, because I did not know what business I wanted to own or create, I started by going to college to get some ideas. It was at college that I discovered my passion for finance. It was not much of an attractive subject to most, but I was hooked. I loved learning about banking, business, personal finance, investing, and real estate. I eventually found my way into real estate as a realtor and my eager desire to always improve services and processes kicked in. I felt I could do things better and offer more to my clients if I owned my own company. The finance side of me also told me that this is how I can create more value and earn more.

• In a nutshell, I help friends, family, and acquaintances make educated decisions by representing them as home sellers and home buyers. I also assist individuals who want to invest in real estate by educating them on the various options and then supporting them through the process.

• The very name of my business, Ember Realty, embodies what sets us apart. Think of a campfire. It’s dark, you are surrounded by wildlife, and there is a clear sky, but you can’t see any of that because the brightness of the fire won’t allow your eyes to adjust to see your surroundings. The beauty of camping is everything that surrounds you. When the flame dies down and you have ember coals, you still have a source of heat and light, and can even be the source of a new fire in the morning. However, you can still see the trees, the stars, the mountains, and everything that surrounds you. At Ember Realty, our clients are the big picture. Buying and selling a house is your journey, your memories, and your legacy. I am here to provide light and comfort throughout the process. And let’s face it, the only way to make a perfect s’more is with the embers.

• While my high school friends were reading fantasy or thriller books, I was intrigued by books like The Richest Man In Babylon and The Millionaire Next Door. Rich Dad Poor Dad and Who Moved My Cheese were books I couldn’t put down. When I was old enough to start investing, real estate was what I learned about, so it made sense to become a realtor so I could earn more and save more when investing.

• When my wife and I bought our first house, I enjoyed the process so much that I wanted to help others through the same process. I was so involved with the contracts and all the papers we had to sign. I was not a realtor when we bought our house, but I was reading the fifty-page contracts thoroughly and understood them. This was very natural for me, and I knew I could help others understand their decision’s impact so they knew the right choices to make.

• Becoming a realtor was not a hard decision for me. I caught on very quickly, and I was hooked. But there came a time when I was contemplating staying with my first brokerage or branching off and starting my own. This was extremely difficult because it was a very good friend of mine who owned the previous company. I knew this decision would be hard for him. I did not know how this would impact him or our friendship. I had to weigh my options. I came to the conclusion that I could either stay with him and keep one person happy, or I could start Ember Realty and create a better experience and service for all my clients. This decision came at the sacrifice of a very good friendship, and that was hard to accept. But it has helped me get closer to reaching my full potential. Growing my business has blessed my family and has helped me think more positively about myself and what I do as a real estate professional.

• Every time a friend (a new friend or long-time friend) closes on their purchase or sale of their property, it is the proudest moment of what I do. These people have entrusted me with some of the biggest decisions of their life. When they got to the signing table, I could not be more proud of them and for myself. This moment is not the finish line like other agents consider it to be. It is the beginning of a new chapter in the life of a good friend. I couldn’t be more proud.

• This is the real trick. I use the pen and paper method. Every thought or idea I have gets added to my to-do list. After I tackle all the urgent items, I turn to my to-do list.

• I read articles and reports on the economy and the real estate market. I have a lot of ideas to stay innovative, but the implementation of those ideas is difficult. I will admit that this is a current challenge for Ember Realty. We are in the beginning stages of implementing artificial intelligence into our marketing, but we have more that we need to do in this area.

• Open IA (Artificial Intelligence) is a technology that has been around for a while, but its accessibility has recently been made easier. I fear that others in my industry are using this powerful technology to remove themselves from the equation. I am excited about how this will impact my business by requiring me to be even more personable and involved. I use Open IA to level the playing field among content creators. Open AI will provide me with the content for videos and market knowledge, but I still need to be the one to record a video and relay that information to my followers, customers, and clients.

• People need to feel appreciated and recognized. A big differentiating factor when I started Ember Realty was that I did not want to use similar marking techniques of other brokerages like paying for cold leads, baiting strangers into my website to collect personal information, or paying for lead-generation sources. Instead, I wanted to support my sphere; people I already know, and people who know me. I provide value to them by writing newsletters every month on relevant information to them. I host client appreciating events to say thank you for the trust and consideration of hiring me as their realtor. I host other events where I provide fun activities for families and individuals to enjoy. These events are often connected with a charity to provide some greater good to others. According to the National Association of Realtors, only 9% of realtors contact their past clients. I maintain a strong relationship with my clients by being part of the 9% that stays in touch with them.

• The second client I helped after getting my realtor’s license was shopping for a piece of land and wanted to put a doublewide trailer on the property because they thought they would not qualify for buying a traditional home. After an honest and open conversation, I was able to convince them that doublewide trailers do not appreciate in value the same way a traditional single-family house does. Years after purchasing their first single-family home, their special needs daughter is flourishing in school, they are contributing members of their community, and they have over 35% equity in their home due to appreciation. They are creating a legacy for their daughter which has left a lasting impression on me.

Absolutely!! I give back in a couple of different ways.

1. God. I am a youth pastor at my church. I truly believe that I have been blessed with so many talents, experiences, faith, and confidence that I want to help provide those gifts and blessings to others, especially youth so they can learn those things at a young age.
2. Family. I am the neighborhood watch coordinator where me and my family live. I feel this is a way I can give of my time, dedication, and experience to help improve the lives of my family and the other neighbors in our community. 
3. Country. At the close of every transaction, I ask my clients if there is a special charity they would like Ember Realty to donate to in their honor. We have made donations to charities all over the country to benefit all sorts of great causes. When much is given, I feel it is expected to give in return.

• Ember Realty and its employees believe in taking care of our community. Perhaps it is the Scout mantra “leave this place better than the way you found it” that was instilled in me that motivates us to actively host regular neighborhood trash clean-ups. When we take pride in where we live, we start to take action to improve it which in turn, supports our neighbors, which can have a trickling effect that could benefit more people than you know.

• The more clients I assist, the greater the number of individuals are receiving superior service. My objective is not only to expand my client base, but also to prepare for onboarding other self-motivated and service-oriented realtors later this year, who aspire to be treated as business owners. As a prospective broker, I aim to empower successful agents by providing the necessary support to elevate their businesses.

• I am currently working on educational and motivational YouTube videos to help prospective clients learn more about the local real estate market. So many people are moving from out of state who have no idea what the area is like. I want to provide content to help them make the right decision for them and their families. I am also generating a list that I call my Core100+. This is a list of 100 service providers I exclusively recommend to any homeowner to help them be successful. There is so much to do as a homeowner to take care of your home, your investment, your family, your neighborhood, and your community. I want to provide a list of trusted professionals to help you do that.