Elisha Lopez | Transformational Leaders in Real Estate | Exeleon Magazine

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ELISHA LOPEZ

JASON GELIOS

ting Authenticity

Eve r y

decision that we make, says something about who we are. These decisions are a relection of our thoughts and actions. For most people, these decisions are weighed down by external inluence and approval, taking away the most important aspect behind such decisions – authenticity.

It is said that the privilege of a lifetime is to become who we truly are. Instead, we are drifting more and more apart from our honest, authentic selves.

At the heart of it, being authentic requires three key aspects –vulnerability, transparency, and integrity.

This very authenticity is what makes Elisha Lopez a transformational leader that she is today.

The owner of Ocala Realty World, Elisha is an inspiring igure in the real estate industry for her preserving attitude and her fearlessness when it comes to being authentic.

Featuring as the Cover of our latest issue of Transformational Leaders in Real Estate, we look into the story of Elisha and much more.

WHERE MAGIC HAPPENS

For Elisha, the idea of being a strong and powerful woman boils down to someone who is willing to make a meaningful change in her industry or in her business, all the while inspiring others to do the same.

She integrates the same thought in her leadership and inspires other women by encouraging them to be their authentic, genuine self. Elisha emphasizes on the importance of not changing who you are at your core or changing your principle and standards on the basis of what others think you should be.

“Even if being your authentic-self causes conlict at times, at the end of the day you have to be happy with yourself,” she explains.

She points out that following this route of authenticity takes one's life, business, career, and their leadership to a whole new level.

“I think a lot of women in leadership get stuck because they are trying to be what everyone wants them to be, and don't realize that you have to be you. When you are you, that's where the magic happens.”

THE PUSH

For Elisha being a leader wasn't a natural occurrence. Growing up, she was always a shy and introverted kid. She recalls, “I was the kid that hid behind my parent's and let them do all the talking.”

As she grew older, her introvertedness became all the more terrifying as she was unable to confront public situations.

However, she mentions that her husband constantly pushed her to come out of her comfort zone. Eventually, she garnered opportunities to speak at different events and became a licensing instructor. She noticed how more and more people were willing to listen to her and follow what she had to say. This led her to come out of her shell and embrace her authentic self as a leader.

“This authenticity of who you are and being genuine with others and wanting to truly help others, just kind of pushes you into leadership position, rather than somebody just waking up and self-proclaiming themselves as a leader,” she mentions.

Although Elisha never considered herself to be a leader, she had this natural progression into becoming one.

ENTERING THE REAL ESTATE SCENE

Elisha never imagined or intended to become a realtor. However, similar to her progression in leadership, she gradually progressed into the real estate industry.

Elisha's husband, Luis Lopez, has been an established realtor for a long period of time. Staying together, Elisha picked up a lot of ideas about the industry through her husband and eventually became his assistant.

At that time, Elisha was ixated on her dream of being an interior designer. “I could see myself designing gorgeous luxury homes in South Florida,” she remembers. Her husband, however, insisted Elisha to get her real estate license.

Following graduation with a bachelor's degree in Interior Design from The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, she was working as Luis' real estate assistant and also as a designer for a builder in Palm Beach, Florida. The builder eventually closed their doors due to market shifts and Elisha was out of work in her ield of choice.

“My husband reiterated that you have got to get a real estate license. This time, I did decide to get the license because I was not one to just sit around and wait for things to happen, I always need to be productive, making an impact on my life, my families

and other people's lives, so it was just obvious I would inally get licensed, and I did.”

Since then, Elisha has worked alongside her husband and the duo haven't looked back ever since. She mentions, working with her husband to be an absolute rollercoaster but what in life is not. I'd rather be experiencing the ups and downs with him, having the same goals for our lives and our family building our legacy.

“CANNOT BURN THE CANDLES AT BOTH ENDS”

A major part of what makes Elisha herself is her journey. However, this journey is relatively unknown to many people.

“They don't know that it's been almost 11 years now that I have been on a huge health journey

She adds, “Almost eleven years ago, I was working so hard, barely sleeping, barely eating, and we were just going and going and going to stay aloat because of the shifts in the market.”

Eventually, the stress and lack of sleep caught up to her and her adrenal glands crashed. “I could barely get out my bed,” she recalls.

Today, Elisha prioritizes her health over everything else. She is laser-focused on her mind, body, and soul. She makes sure to give ample time to her family, eat in a healthy manner, take care of her body, and minimize stress.

“I think a lot of women in leadership get stuck because they are trying to be what everyone wants them to be, and don’t realize that you got to be you. When you are you, that’s where the magic happens.”

For Elisha, taking care of herself goes beyond self-care, it is imperative for her as it effects everyone around her. She explains that if she is not feeling well, she won't be in a state to take care of everybody else, including her business and her real estate agents.

She is determined to help her agents garner deals, help them grow, be there to support her husband, and be the best mother to her kids.

Elisha points out that her mother used to always mention “You cannot burn the candles at both ends.” Although, she always knew what it meant, today she knows what it stands for.

Nonetheless, she believes that

everything happens in our lives for a reason. In order to have gotten to where we are and to continue to move forward, it is important to understand the past and realize that adversities are the pathway towards improvement.

THE AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE

To ensure optimal experience for their clients, Elisha and her husband encourages their agents to be authentic and transparent, instead of just following a script or pre-written dialogue.

Elisha stresses that when one is authentic it's conveyed to the potential client, and they are able to feel their authenticity. They realize that the agent is determined to help them achieve their real estate goals,

instead of only caring about making a commission through the sale.

“If the consumer feels that your no.1 objective is to make a commission, you lost them right away,” she asserts.

As a realtor, providing your customers an authentic experience will facilitate a connection or relationship that goes beyond just a business transaction. “Most of my closest friends I met through real estate. It's such an amazing business, where the relationships that you make and build throughout the years end up becoming friendships for a lifetime.”

PATH AHEAD

Moving forward, Elisha wants to keep teaching as many real estate students / agents as she can as a broker and through ORW Real Estate School. She along with her husband want to leave behind a legacy and impact the lives of these students, irrespective of them choosing to pursue real estate as a career or not.

She takes a lot of her teaching from her own instructors and coaches and wants to instill those same ideals into her students. Through her school, she wants to empower people that if you set your mind on to something, it can be made into a possibility.

Elisha's husband guided and taught her about the ins and outs of the industry. She is determined to pass this knowledge, coupled with her own experience in the industry, to aspiring and emerging realtors in the coming years.

Exeleon Magazine features some of the leading players in business and shares their journey of excellence to inspire aspiring leaders across the globe.

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THE DOWNTURN OF THE AMERICAN DREAM

Written By: Michaela Green, Licensed Realtor in Houston, TX

The American Dream” is

widely heard in big speeches and is a selling point for the public to aim for big and avail the opportunity of becoming successful. However, over the years, the American dream has become a nightmare for young adults, especially millennials and Gen Z –leading to the downturn of the American Dream.

The general trend among the younger generation is to acquire as many 'assets' as possible. While this releases dopamine and creates a sense of achievement in their minds, it is essential to realize that the American Dream has been deined only in terms of material possessions, encouraging Americans to go beyond their limit and eventually face a inancial crisis.

Since 2014, the average household income has decreased by $2000 in middle-class families, with an average household debt of around 130% of the salary. Alarmingly, the household savings rate is nearly zero!

The last great recession happened in 2008 that had a lasting impact on Americans. Millennials are drowned mainly in student loan debts; unfortunately, the median income is the same as in the 1970s, after considering inlation. Although a lot more people are employed today compared to the 1970s, still a fewer percentage of them own their houses. Even so, a third of them are currently living with their parents.

homeownership among young adults.

HOUSING BUBBLE

If you're aware of the Great Recession of 2008, you must know what a housing bubble is. For those looking to investigate this matter, let's make it simple for you to understand. As the house demand increases, the prices follow an upward trend. This is exactly what a housing bubble is.

Giving a brief history lesson, investors shied away from stock investments and turned to economical mortgage rates, increasing the demand for st property at the start of the 21 Century. Also, to incentivize nonstock investments, fewer regulations were put in place, which implied that a high income was not required to get a mortgage; however, the turmoil was not anticipated as those payments accumulated with interest rates rising at the same time.

The investments were such that when the buyers couldn't pay, the lending organizations went bankrupt, and the lending structure crumpled.

This proved to be one of the primary reasons for the slowdown in the real estate market. Even as America regained control of its economy, property building did not become as normal as it was.

THE GAP BETWEEN PROPERTY PRICES AND INCOME

In the modern era, property prices are insanely high. Additionally, the average household income is failing to maintain a constant ratio with the rising prices. According to bankrate.com, the median price of houses grew 30% as opposed to an 11% increase in median household income in the last ten years.

At the time, homebuyers enjoyed the privilege of property costs ivefold the mean salary. But after the market collapse in 2008 – aka the Great Recession – that ratio increased to sixfold, that stabilized eventually. Recently, the average property costs have soared again and are seven times greater than the average household income.

For instance, the national median home price was around $121,500 in the 90s. That was around twice the average income of around $50,000. Whereas in 2020, home prices rose close to $359,000 while the median income is limited to around $67,500.

This is one of the reasons why the younger generation is inding it extremely challenging to buy a new property in the current era.

HIGH DEMAND, LOW SUPPLY

As of now, the millennials are the most populous adult generation, outnumbering boomers in 2019. As the population of these young adults increases, the need for homeownership grows simultaneously. To give some perspective, before the COVID-19 pandemic, homeownership was ever-increasing among millennials.

On the other hand, the older generation have kept their ground and continued residing in their old homes. This creates a negative supply and an increasing demand for houses as fewer homes are sold in the market, and more buyers are looking for relatively affordable homes.

The boomers are also cognizant of the fact that the prices have signiicantly risen, and taking advantage of that, they are making competitive offers which makes it harder for the younger generation to buy new property.

STUDENT LOAN DEBT

According to several research, millennials are drowned in college debt which is correlated with a delay in homeownership. If we take in to account the inlation, the millennials are far behind boomers in homeownership rates.

72% of student debt holders believed their debt would delay them from purchasing a home for several months up to 8 years. More speciically, 19% of student debt holders believed their debt would hinder them from buying a home for more than eight years!

Although we saw an increase in homeownership among millennials during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is still a void in homeownership rates that needs to be addressed. To ill this gap, incentives should be given, such as the Transforming Student Debt to Home Equity Act of 2022. This act provides leverage to students who have cleared their student loans,

such as subsidized mortgage loans, and discounts on government-owned homes along with inancial aid for making down payments.

FIRMS & ORGANIZATIONS STEPPING IN

Considering the increasing home prices and the harder it is to afford a new place, large irms and organizations have seen a business opportunity. They have bought single-family properties for rental purposes.

This is not new, but seeing the recent trends and lesser affordability, the phenomenon is growing. Smartly enough, the investors have bought singlefamily homes because that is the type of irst-time house buyers goes after.

CONCLUSION

Conclusively, homeownership among the younger generation has a sluggish rate compared to the boomer generation due to the pertinent factors that affect it. We have discussed ive essential elements that have caused this gap in the market, and we hope this helps you broaden your perspective on the downturn of the American Dream.

About Michaela Green

Michaela Green is a licensed real estate agent with half a decade of experience representing investors in buying and selling property in the Greater Houston area. Through her extensive knowledge of the marketplace, Michaela is able to represent investors in finding properties that produce the highest return on investment. Michaela founded 'The GreenCollective'in2022,acompanythat alignshercorevalueswithherpassionfor real estate. Michaela has with National Assistants Ministers (NAM) to help survivors of Hurricane Harvey start fresh by selling their distressed properties and helpfindanewhomes.

RUDY LIRA KUSUMA

CEO | Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty - California

Defying the Conventional Odds of the Real Estate Industry

Some leaders enter an industry, get an understanding, identify a gap in it, and then by illing up that gap, they climb the ladder of success. On the other hand, some just immediately upset the existing order, reject conventional approaches, and wait for success to arrive on their own. They continue to monitor existing techniques that may be at odds with industry needs, and raise the toughest questions, ultimately providing a solution and disrupting the industry.

Rudy Lira Kusuma very certainly became a part of the latter company when he irst entered the real estate sector and uprooted its traditional practices. Rudy revolutionized the way real estate procedures were handled and created new standards that not only beneited the customers, but also the company's salespeople.

CHANGING THE NORMS

Rudy began his career in the real estate business back in 2007. While working for his irst broker, he was urged to grow the company by using conventional techniques of cold calling and door knocking. As a sole agent, he grew dissatisied with the existing structure, which he saw as restricting both clients' and agents' abilities. Rudy, as well as many other agents before and after him, eventually concluded that it was a fruitless effort in the end.

Rudy founded Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty in response to such a traditional, inadequate method of business operations in the industry. He wanted to cover the overwhelming demand for both customers and brokers. Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty did exactly that and made a signiicant break from conventional real estate models by assembling a big team in which each member had a particular role to play.

Each person at the business had a singular emphasis, regardless of their position or department. They were asked to focus only on one element of their work - to improve their ability to perform their tasks more effectively, which directly will help their buyers and sellers.

Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty deinitely lived up to this promise, implementing a business strategy that places customers at the heart of its operations and encourages the success of its agents and brokers. Its clients gain success signiicantly by working with brokers who are completely focused on them, as well as having access to any houses that match their requirements, even those that are not posted on the internet.

A DIRE NEED OF CHANGE

Rudy came to the conclusion that being a member of a team is the best approach to succeed in today's

professional market. Agents may go solo, but there is a possibility that things will not turn out well for them. The way conventional solo agents operate, he contends, makes it impossible for them to remain competitive in a market that is always evolving.

Over 70% of real estate brokers spend their time prospecting, door knocking, and cold calling, according to Rudy, who speaks via statistics. In contrast, just 30% of the agents get to spend their time providing real service to the customer. These agents are always juggling a variety of duties, which results in a poor connection with their customers, and eventually, the loss of clients in the process.

While the aforementioned agents strive to provide a high-quality service, they are also unable to earn a suficient income. Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty was established to address this issue as well. Rudy's agents, in addition to providing great service, were also able to reap substantial inancial beneits, which eventually helped the business achieve its objective of keeping agents and clients happy.

THE DIFFERENTIATING FACTOR

There are two reasons that Rudy and his irm distinguish themselves from their conventional real estate rivals. The irst and most important is the area in which Rudy allows his agents to develop as a team. He places a strong emphasis on building and expanding real estate sales teams rather than working them on their own in the business. Rudy does not, in essence, develop good leaders; rather, he develops excellent business owners.

The second element that distinguishes the business is the length of time it has been in operation - 15 years. Moreover, it is important, in Rudy's opinion, to be trained by a strong leader in the real estate business. In contrast to the other organizations, Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty does not teach the same traditional methods This industry expertise unquestionably distinguishes the irm from its competitors.

INDUSTRY-WIDE RECOGNITION

Rudy has extensive expertise in pre-foreclosure sales, short sales, and divorce sales, as well as trust and probate transactions. His dedication to the real estate

business has resulted in him being awarded many industry awards, some of which are as follows:

•2013 & 2014 Five Star Real Estate Agent Award, Los Angeles Magazine

•2014 RE/MAX International Chairman's Club

•2014 RE/MAX International Hall of Fame

•2013 January - Current, RE/MAX Elite Realty Top Producer Agent of The Month

•2013 RE/MAX International Top 100 California Region

Rudy and his company are well-known for their business, but they are also well-known in the community for their charitable contributions. One of the main beneiciaries of their charity is the Los Angeles Children's Hospital, which provides care to children of all ages, including those who do not have health insurance coverage.

Rudy's fundamental business philosophy of putting customers irst is embodied in the company's actual name. He will maintain the prominence of this designation in the future and will continue to serve as the leader of his irm. With the launch of Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty's ofices in California, he hopes to expose other real estate agents to his groundbreaking approach of selling homes in the Golden State.

GUIDING OTHERS TO SUCCESS

Rudy offers some straightforward, but dificult advice for aspiring and rising leaders in the real estate industry. He urges aspirants to work hard to develop their abilities. If they are now contacting 20 people each day, they should increase that number to 200. According to him, the sector is evolving at a fast pace, and in order to continue and remain competitive in it, they must take a proactive approach.

www.YourHomeSoldGuaranteed.com

Author & Realtor Community Choice Realty

JASON GELIOS

THE PIONEERING REALTOR

What according to you makes one a transformational leader? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?

For me, being a transformational leader means knowing who you are and what you stand for. In real estate, I'm known for providing value to others irst without any expectations. Those who interact with me learn that they can count on me as a source of value and a solution provider to their needs. When you go out into the world leading in this way, you set a good example that people feed off of.

Talk to us about your growing up years. What is your earliest memory as a leader that you can remember?

Throughout middle school I developed major behavioral issues and could not keep my impulses at bay. I would disrupt classes and often get suspended. My behavior led me to repeat the 6th grade. This brings me to my earliest memory of being a leader because I had decided to try out for the 8th grade basketball team to help curb my enthusiasm. Many had said that I should join the team because I was tall for my age. While I was not a very good player, making this decision on my own deined what a leader has to do-to go against the grain in hopes for a positive outcome. Fast forward to the moment where I had grown tired of where I was in life, I had to become my own

leader to change the path I was on for a better future. Little did I know that others were watching what I was doing and gaining inspiration from my actions.

What prompted your interest and subsequently your foray into the real estate industry?

I was introduced to the mortgage industry through a family member who said that I would be great at sales. Some years earlier I had met my wife and was inspired by her commitment to her goals of wanting to become a nurse. I watched her study for tests as we spent hours in libraries. That was when I decided that enough is enough. It was time to pursue my own goals and to design a life that best suited me. I decided to take the plunge to become a professional sales person. Something inside me didn't want to be where I was. I certainly did not want to continue making the lower income that I was making in those jobs. That was the point in my life where I decided to change direction and reinvent myself. Once I made that decision I never looked back.

What is the approach followed by you in order to ensure optimal client satisfaction through your services?

I approach others as a value provider meaning I only focus on what problem(s) I need to solve for them so that they can be successful. Whether it's a home buyer

looking for their next home, a home seller wanting the most money for their property, or even a colleague asking me for advice, I provide them value irst without expectations so they can ind success.

Talk to us about your book Think Like a REALTOR®. Why would you recommend someone to must read the book?

My goal in writing this book was and still is to educate people on the real estate process with tips driven by real world experience which could save someone thousands of dollars. I've always had a love for books as far back as I can remember so it was a no brainer to share my expertise in the form of a book. It's been my experience that people don't seek real estate advice until they absolutely need it. The goal of this book is to provide real estate education in a medium that is easy to understand and digest.

I recommend anyone looking to buy or sell residential real estate to get a copy of this book to avoid the expensive mistakes that could happen in real estate. I also recommend real estate agents get a copy to learn valuable lessons that they may not have known prior to reading this book.

What has the journey been like for Jason Gelios over the years? Looking back, what would you have done differently?

I would say my biggest regret is not getting started in real estate earlier in my life. When I began in this industry, I was married with kids and working to be an active igure in their lives. It was challenging to learn a whole new industry and put in the time to excel at it. This is why I educate my children on the importance of building a life irst before taking the plunge in other areas such as marriage or deciding to have children. It would have been much easier for me to hustle and achieve success faster without other obligations. A part of me does feel that these moments and challenges deined who I am today so maybe I wouldn't be the same person had I not gone through those times.

What has been the biggest roadblock during your journey? What has been your biggest learning?

I would say the biggest roadblock during my journey has been the lack of time. I'm someone who has many things going on at once, so it can be challenging to get everything done to my satisfaction. This is why I'm always juggling time management between work and personal activities to be sure that I am paying attention to both. I also learned early on that there is no balanced time management. I've learned that sometimes things will get out of balance, and we have to acknowledge this and move forward.

What would be your advice for aspiring and emerging business leaders in the real estate market?

I feel that real estate leaders need to adapt further to the ever-changing role of a real estate agent. I've seen many ofices providing the same formula to all agents without really looking at how the professional can excel their own way. The real estate leaders that will succeed going forward will be the ones who adapt to the real estate agents needs by showing them how to build their own brand and get business on their own. Figuring out different ways to get in front of those who want or need to buy or sell a home. Real estate leaders should learn what the individual agent is good at and build their training around those things.

Finally, what does the future look like for you, both professionally and personally?

I'm continuing to build my brand and business by offering my expertise through leading news outlets and platforms. I'm also working on my second book, which is my passion project, about how we can change our life for the better and live a life that is on our own terms. My overall focus is to continue being a value provider in my space.

WALKING THE MILE REALTOR

When Michelle Oates-Duda

began The Extra Mile Realtors, it wasn't a fancy marketing ploy or brand positioning strategy.

Rather, it was an indication of the commitment that she was willing to offer; a commitment to go beyond one's expectations.

A powerful woman in every right, Michelle has built a name and reputation in the real estate industry that echoes success. Today, she is one of North Central West Virginia's top real estate producers.

A POWERFUL WOMAN

WALKING THE EXTRA MILE WALKING THE EXTRA MILE ↘

For Michelle, powerful women come in all shapes, sizes, and ideals. She mentions, “One's power comes from within. It's how you feel about yourself and your connection to the world. Powerful women possess numerous attributes that allow them to be successful leaders.”

Moreover, a powerful woman is one who is committed to never giving up and standing up for what they believe to be right. Irrespective of the obstacle, a powerful woman keeps grinding and ighting.

These beliefs and thoughts are central to Michelle's moral compass,

much of which can be attributed to her growing up years.

“I was raised in a very stable and loving home where I watched my father work hard and become a successful businessman. My mother was a wonderful stay at home mom who was always there for my brothers and me,” Michelle recalls.

From a young age, Michelle's parents encouraged her to pursue leadership roles and ind her voice to be an independent and hard-working woman.

They were both hard workers themselves and inculcated an actionable attitude within the entire

household. “They taught and displayed an admirable value system which I see in myself to this day.”

REAL ESTATE

A lifetime learner and explorer of new things, Michelle started out her career in the banking and accounting space. Following this, she spread her wings across different industries. However, with the real estate industry, she found her true calling.

“The real estate industry is everevolving and sparked my interest in exploring a different career,” she mentions.

Moreover, real estate gave her the opportunity to be her own boss and build relationships with people in her community and beyond.

Within the irst two years of her entering the industry, Michelle generated an enormous interest and demand for her services. She realized she needed help and Zack Pell was her answer.

“Zack started with me as an assistant while attending college. He said he knew right away he wanted to get his real estate license and continue the career full time after graduation.”

Both Zack and Michelle have a similar desire of working hard and continually evolving, thus making for an effective duo that also provides support to each other. “Although there is a signiicant age difference between us, we have found this allows for a sharing of ideas and knowledge from different perspectives,” she further points out.

It was her constant discussion with Zack about pushing the boundaries

and going the “extra mile” for their clients that established the name of their team – The Extra Mile Realtors.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

For Michelle, communication is of utmost importance to ensure optimal client satisfaction. “My goal when working with my clients is to be available to them 24/7. To provide them with excellent communication, honest discussions, and going the “extra mile” to ensure their needs are met.”

Michelle realizes that dealing with transactions related to real estate can be extremely stressful. She guides her clients through these processes in the most stress-free manner possible.

“If I need to take items off their plate to assist in making their life easier, I do it. I feel that listening to their concerns and talking them through the process helps to alleviate some stress from their lives.”

Furthermore, Michelle believes in providing irst-class service to all of her clients, in every step of the way. Through all these efforts, transparency, and communication, Michelle establishes a trusting relationship with her clients, one that goes a long way in ensuring client satisfaction.

However, amidst this hustle and bustle, Michelle admits that she has some improvements to make with her work-life balance.

She asserts, “I am working on more self-care and making more time for family and friends. Since starting this new career later in life, after many years of the most important job as a

stay-at-home mom, I found I was ready to devote myself to creating a successful business.”

Owing to this, Michelle is proud of the journey she has had thus far and insists that she would not change anything. She claims both the good as well as the bad parts of her journey has positioned her to be where she is today.

“I believe that in order to love who you are, you cannot hate the experiences that shaped you.”

GIVING BACK

Working in her native hometown of Morgantown, West Virginia has given Michelle so many opportunities and beneits, hence it is beitting and essential in her eyes to give back to her community.

“I try to participate in as many fundraisers, events, and community activities that my schedule allows. I have a soft spot for our local West Virginia University Children's Hospital as both my sons were born there and dealt with some health issues,” she mentions.

Moreover, Michelle enjoys providing community tours of her hometown to those looking to move in and sharing the best the town has got to offer.

For Michelle, any cause where she recognizes a need or beneit, she would go the “extra mile” to support that.

CREATE YOUR OWN PATH

Similar to how she has carved her own unique journey, Michelle advises aspiring women leaders in the industry to create their own path, in their own unique manner. “Don't follow in someone else's footsteps or emulate their ideas but ind your own way.”

She continues saying, “That was my goal when starting in a business ripe with seasoned agents. I found my own path.”

According to her, powerful women are courageous, independent, and know who they are to their core. However, it took years for Michelle to

“ind the core of me, personally and professionally, it's a journey.”

She is quick to point out that the real estate business can seem a bit easy, but it's not the case. One needs to be a self-starter and motivated individual in order to succeed at this level.

Who would have thought the day would come when

the average person could own land next to their favorite celebrity with just a few clicks of a button from the comfort of their own home? The metaverse has made that a reality.

UNDERSTANDING THE METAVERSE

The metaverse refers to a broad range of technologies that operate together in the digital realm. Technologies like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), social commerce, and artificial intelligence are all coming together to combine the physical and digital worlds.

While in the metaverse, you can be able to travel to a virtual

store, talk to virtual sales staff, check a product, and make a purchase. You can even buy virtual property in the metaverse, but in this article, we'll explore how the metaverse is changing the real-world real estate industry.

You can also create digital twins — virtual models designed to accurately reflect physical objects — to see how they might work in real life. For example, if you're a real estate agent, you can offer threedimensional walkthroughs to let prospective home buyers get a feel for a house without visiting the location.

HOW DOES THE METAVERSE REVOLUTIONIZE THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY?

Here's a look at how the metaverse is transforming real estate:

STOPS THE BIG HASSLE OF HOUSE HUNTING

Imagine taking the hassle out of house hunting. No more driving around, spending a lot of time looking at houses that aren't a good fit or reviewing confusing floor plans. This is possible in the metaverse, as you can explore properties from the comfort of your home and make buying decisions. Virtual tours can help create a deeper emotional connection compared to looking at photos or floor plans. They can also help you gain a deeper understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of a particular property.

SAVES REALTOR'S EFFORT AND TIME

Meeting potential buyers, staging and showing homes, and accompanying clients to closings are time-consuming and require a lot of effort. With a virtual tour, clients can see the property on their smartphones or laptops. Those who are interested in the property will call and ask for more information. If you're a realtor, this can free up your time, as you'll be able to focus on other essential aspects of your business.

ALLOWS REAL ESTATE AGENTS TO EFFICIENTLY COMMUNICATE WITH CLIENTS

AR-enabled mobile applications can help in bringing efficient communication with clients. With just a few taps, clients can view a 360-degree AR model of a particular apartment, house, or property of their interest virtually. They can browse, compare, and analyze different properties, Meanwhile, real estate agents can easily augment the virtual instruction of every property detail in much greater detail.

Although metaverse properties are all the rage, they're highly speculative assets. The metaverse market could plummet at any time, leaving you with worthless virtual real estate. Please invest responsibly.

Originally Published on Medium.