NICOLE STINSON

EXECUTIVEAGENT MAGAZINE

Nicole Stinson Executive Agent of the Month

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Nicole Stinson Living True to Her Passion

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Written by Haley Freeman

ealtor® Nicole Stinson prides herself on a lifetime of career choices motivated by enthusiasm rather than dollars. Following her life’s passions has come with many successes, not the least of which has been in real estate. A New York native and mother of two who has called the Santa Clarita Valley home for nearly

30 years, Nicole first discovered her passion for real estate during the heat of the Great Recession.

Nicole recalls, “A friend of mine who is an attorney and real estate broker said, ‘You’d be great in real estate.’ When the market crashed and so many agents were getting out of the business, it seemed like a difficult time to be an agent. But he said, ‘You’ve always had a passion for helping people, and this is when people need help.’”

“That’s when the lightbulb went on for me, that real estate is more than just sales. It’s about helping people navigate what is likely the largest transaction of their lives. At that time, it often meant helping them save their homes by avoiding foreclosure, or getting them the best possible short sale scenario so they would be ready to buy again once they were back on their feet. Some were just walking away from their homes or trying to do modifications and getting scammed. Those first few years in real estate were stressful and a lot of work, but the challenges came with a lot of rewards in terms of helping people through desperate times.”

Two years after joining boutique agency Estate Realty Group (ERG), Nicole became a co-owner of the company. As a broker-owner, she continues to consult with families about their real estate needs through many of life’s most significant events. While she represents clients in traditional real estate transactions, Nicole also assists people with the dissolution of real estate assets related to trusts, probate, death and divorce through referrals she receives from local attorneys. Nicole’s professional knowledge and extraordinary compassion for people make it possible for her to achieve favorable results during trying circumstances.

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“In cases like these, clients need somebody with patience who is willing to do some handholding. I enjoy helping people in sensitive situations, and I take the time to look at each case individually and evaluate what they need.”

Through her unwavering commitment to putting people ahead of profits, Nicole is ensuring that ERG remains a boutique brand with a reputation for unparalleled representation and unmatched client care. “We’re growing, but we’re being very selective with the agents we hire. We don’t operate as a cookie-cutter agency, since we’re con-

stantly making decisions that are in the best interests of the client. We don’t go into a listing appointment with a pre-made presentation because we realize that the answers are never going to be the same for any two people. Our service is always personalized and based on what they need.

And we don’t give awards here for being the top-producing agent because we don’t want our agents’ decisions being driven by money or rank — we want them to be motivated by helping people. We realize that a boutique agency like ours isn’t for everybody, but that’s okay. We’re interested in attracting agents who have the same philosophy we do.”

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Nicole says she also doesn’t advertise or engage in traditional client prospecting. Instead, relationships are the currency of her business, and she maintains a strong presence in real estate, business and charitable sectors throughout the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys. In 2018, she was nominated as one of the Top 51 Influential People in the Santa Clarita Valley and as a Rising Star Woman in Business by the “Santa Clarita Valley Business Journal.”

Nicole spends substantial time meeting and masterminding with other Realtors®, as well as serving industry organizations and mentoring agents one-on-one. She is currently serving her third term on the Southland Regional Association of Realtors® Council, her second term as a board member for the Women’s Council of Realtors®, and

she holds leadership positions with several other Southern California organizations.

“To me, networking is all about listening and learning from other agents, no matter how much time they have in the business. I enjoy making relationships and creating trust with my peers. Meeting other agents is probably more important than any ad I could place. If I have the respect and trust of the people who will be getting our offers, I know I can create the best outcome for my clients. I spend about 10 percent of my time mentoring others who are not with my brokerage. I’m always willing to take a phone call from someone and answer a question. If good agents share ideas, we can all help each other be better, and that raises up the whole industry.”

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Nicole is also passionate about supporting her community. Eight years ago, she was having lunch with a friend, when she sketched out an idea for a charity event on a bar napkin. Six weeks later, she hosted the first SCV Charity Chili Cook-off with a robust attendance of 600 people.

The event has since become an anticipated annual happening with attendance in the thousands. “We were trying to figure out how to help small non-profits — the underdogs who never have a chance to get noticed and get funds because businesses are supporting the bigger charities. Our idea was to raise money for a different charity every year.

We’ve gone from raising $5,000 to $70,000, and this year, our goal is to raise $100,000.” Last year’s proceeds benefited the local school district.

Nicole is now channeling her passion into writing a book, “My Truth,” in which she speaks candidly about things she has learned so far on her journey. “It’s about being your true and authentic self, even if it’s not what everybody else in society expects — being willing to speak up and say what you know is true.”

“My Truth” is scheduled for release in March of 2019.

For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/ PerceptionVsReality/?ref=br_rs.

Time and again her clients have voiced their five-star opinions of Nicole and her team. A recent seller commented: “I absolutely believe there isn’t another Realtor® who could have sold our house and got us the money we wanted. I always felt like I was her only client. She thinks outside the box and makes things happen!”

A repeat client said: “I was very happy to work with Nicole Stinson for a second time. She is a professional, knows the market and is very easy to work with. Nicole and her team keep you updated during the entire selling process. I would highly recommend working with Nicole to sell your property! Nicole had a buyer for my home in less than three weeks, and the sale was without issue! I highly recommend Nicole Stinson!”

Nicole’s transparency, professionalism and selfless service create a lasting bond with the people she serves. “I love getting paid for a job well done, but that’s not why I do it,” she says. “When we work with a client, it becomes something more personal. Everyone on the team knows what’s going on with each client and is ready to respond with the help they need. We’re here to make sure every person has the best possible real estate experience.”

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