PRESTON WALSTON
PRESTON WALSTON
Preston Walston of Moab, Utah, combines systematic and ethical business practices with a penchant for networking and a passion for the great outdoors to fuel his thriving real estate business. “People are looking for friends and confidantes – that’s who I surround myself with, and that’s who I want to be for others. I keep the interests of my clients at the forefront, and I make sure I always show up no matter what. I strive to not be the type who only comes around when there’s money to be made.”
For Preston, real estate is as much a formal vocation as it is an inheritance. “My father was a UPS man for over twenty-eight years, constantly investing in real estate on the side before he became a real estate broker,” he recalls. “He started investing and flipping houses when I was a kid, so I’ve been around it as a side hustle my whole life.” As a native of Moab, Preston spelunked inside the foundations of brand-new construction
projects in between his adventures as a mountain biker, backpacker, and wakeboarder; and his path eventually led him to Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business where he graduated with a highly touted degree specializing in Entrepreneurship.
Five years ago, in 2018, Preston decided to formally follow in his father’s footsteps and became
a fully licensed real estate agent with Moab Premier. Alongside his brother Kendall, the team specializes in serving Southeastern Utah, and they are on pace to close between $10 - $15 million in collective volume for 2023. “We’re fortunate that we’ve diversified our real estate portfolio ahead of time,” Preston exudes. “We maintain a steady stream of income because we invest, flip, and manage vacation rentals, so we’re not completely dependent on commission checks. That also gives us a leg up when it comes time for sales – we don’t need to have our own agenda to push a client into making a deal. We can operate from the ethical high ground, and we only close when we know it’s the right thing for the client.”
In addition to cultivating an unwavering moral compass, Preston maintains that his industry success is a product of outstanding mentorship, ongoing education, and unrelenting work ethic. “Sometimes you gotta just go the extra mile to get a deal across the finish line. Whether it’s digging into your own database or leveraging seller financing – the buyers are much slimmer in 2023 but they are still out there.” This creative approach helps Preston both sympathize with buyers and consistently garner competitive offers for his sellers.
With his position cemented in the Moab real estate industry, Preston is looking forward to perfecting his practices as a broker, further diversifying his private enterprises, and continuing to invest in himself and his family. “A lot of people say the real estate game is changing, but I think it’s important to keep certain things old school. Handshakes, empathy, and understanding go a long way – I pride myself on mastering the technological, vacation rental side of the business, but it’s important to show people your human side and share that value with the next generation!”
