MATT CLEMENTS BROCHURE- EXECUTIVE AGENT MAGAZINE

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Executive Agent of the Month

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Matt Clements

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EXECUTIVE

MATT CLEMENTS Meet OC’s SurferRealtor®

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Written by H. K. Wilson - Amy Nikki Photography

att is a fourth-generation Realtor® who grew up on the beach at Laguna Niguel’s Salt Creek Beach Park, now a popular community called Monarch Beach, within the city of Dana Point.

A phenomenal young athlete with 2 very competitive brothers all whose performance in soccer and baseball was notable, his later-than-average start and taller-thanaverage stature made surfing — the sport he most wanted to excel at — difficult to conquer. But Matt was willing to do the work it took to achieve international status in the sport. He got a coach, and he learned with every loss. His tenacity finally won him a spot on the starting lineup of his high school surf team and as a contender in that year’s state finals. He turned pro just a few months after graduating from high school.

When he later obtained his real estate license, Matt embraced the opportunity to continue a legacy begun by his Grandpa Jack joined thereafter and preserved by every successive generation in his family. It was also a great way to contribute to his hometown, while continuing to enjoy his first love — surfing.

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Today, Matt is well known in Laguna Niguel and beyond as a leader in both his profession and community.

As CEO of The Clements Group at Keller Williams Realty, Luxury International Division, in Laguna Niguel, he is a top-producing agent with a depth of market knowledge unrivaled by his competitors. He is founder of the Orange County Young Professionals Network, author of the Young Professionals Network Playbook and past president of the Orange County REALTORS®, the largest REALTOR® association in California, with more than 17,000 members. He is also the youngest person ever to hold this elected office.

Believe it or not, surfing and real estate have quite a few things in common. After struggling with this seeming duality of both the love of surfing and the love of selling homes earlier in his career, Matt says he has fully integrated both personas, which he has turned into a unique brand. His social media handle is @SurferRealtor.

“There are a lot of common denominators in being a pro surfer and a pro Realtor®,” he says. “I finally embraced that I had a story to tell.”

Now, Matt tells that story often to inspire his colleagues and others to achieve their dreams. And when you think about it, being a SurferRealtor® is a little like being a super hero — and not just for the cool attire.

So what are the similarities between being a pro surfer and a pro Realtor®? Matt can name many.

You have to show up every day.

“In pro surfing, it’s important to have a daily action

checklist. You have to know what you’re doing — you can’t just show up and guess. It’s the same in real estate. You need a schedule, and you need to keep doing the activities every day that will help you succeed. In surfing, you show up and practice and try out new equipment. It might take three months until a maneuver is perfect. In real estate, you practice scripts and listing presentations until it just comes naturally.”

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You have to stay in the right mindset.

“If you want to master something, you have to live and breathe and think about it all day. You have to be in the headspace all the time. It’s a very strategic part of competing. Real estate requires that too. Part of it is always having appointments, reaching out to people and following up.”

You have to associate with the best.

“I was one of the top 150 in the world in my sport, and being around those guys forced me to get better and try harder. I saw how they did their techniques and made certain maneuvers look good, and I wanted to do the same thing. I competed against two world champions, -- in the US Open of Surfing against Tom Curren (3 time World Champion) and at the Pipeline Pro against the 1st Hawaiian World Champ, Derek Ho, at the heaviest of waves in the world to compete, Pipeline, and it taught me a lot. That’s why I seek out people in real estate who know more than me. I surround myself with the best, and my hero is someone I used to read about and study, Bob Wolff, someone I’ve spent a tremendous amount of time with, been mentored by both in the field, and in life, and shared the boardroom table in several leadership committees on the board, and on the road traveling; we share common practices, and both work by referral; I’m just 20 years behind him, Bob said to me once, if I knew, what Executive Agent Magazine

you know at your age, I’d really be a force in the game.

He is very proud and says that I’m doing exactly what he does, and we mirror each other in many ways; we are still very close to this day.”

You have to have sponsors.

“In pro surfing, you have to have sponsors who pay for your tour so you can be present and compete. I had contracts with Gotcha and Oakley that I held for 10 years. In real estate, my sponsors are my title team, escrow officer, home warranty representative, transaction coordinator, my legal team/general council, and of course my awesome mortgage professionals. I’ve been working with my escrow officer for 10 years, my home warranty company for 10 years and my title representative for 5 years. Sometimes sponsors change, and it’s okay to change from time to time to make sure you have the best team around you.”

And you have to dress the part.

“I rode for MCD (More Core Division) an elite international team under the Gotcha International Sportswear surfing brand, and had an unlimited supply of clothes and gear with their logo. In real estate, you have to dress the part to be the part. If I show up in flip flops and board shorts, my clients probably won’t take me seriously. That’s why I put on a suit every day.”

Matt Clements wears only two kinds of suits: a wetsuit and a business suit.

As a lifelong resident of Laguna Niguel, Matt knows literally every street and has friends in every neighborhood.

He is active in the local chamber of commerce, chaired and vice-chaired a committee at the city and has twice run for city council, missing the seat by only a small margin. Elected officials frequently seek his advice about real estate and other business matters. In real estate, he is

hardworking, honest and a “gnarly negotiator.” He’s also a guy who gives and receives a lot of hugs, and also sends and receives a lot of thank you letters.

“I love being in my hometown,” he says. “It’s the coolest little town in the world.”

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Matt Clements Keller Williams Realty – KW Luxury International 27941 La Paz Road #C, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 Tel: 949.842.8797 Email: matt@mattclements.com - Web: https://mattclements.com DRE # 01389133