Mobile Bay Real Producers | March 2024

MEET THE MOBILE BAY REAL PRODUCERS TEAM

Cheri Social Media Project Manager

Bella Snowden Publishing Assistant

Dave Danielson Contributing Writer

Lew Thomas, Videographer Adobe House Media Productions

Christina Kitchen Lead Ad Strategist

Robert Orso Owner/Publisher

Jon Jeffress Photographer

Ron Sivak Writter

This section has been created to give you easier access when searching for a trusted real estate affiliate. Take a minute to familiarize yourself with the businesses sponsoring your magazine. These local businesses are proud to partner with you and make this magazine possible. Please support these businesses and thank them for supporting the REALTOR® community!

ATTORNEY - REAL ESTATE

LD Holt & Associates, LLC

LD Holt (251) 937-4111

7581 Spanish Fort Blvd. Spanish Fort, AL 36527 LDholt.com

BUSINESS NETWORKING

Mobile Chamber of Commerce

Michael Galvin (251) 431-8628

mobilechamber.com

DRONE VIDEO/ PHOTOGRAPHER

Adobe House Media Production

Lew Thomas (251) 454-0004 27940 Bay Branch Drive Daphne, AL 36526 adobehousemp.com

FLOORING & DESIGN

Prestigious Flooring and Design LLC

Garrett Scarberry (251) 802-0363

prestigiousflooringand designllc.com

FOUNDATION REPAIR

MDH Foundation Repair

Shannon Reichart (251) 375-0565

108 5th Street, Daphne, AL 36526 mdhfoundationrepair.com/

Ox Foundation Repair (815) 703-7727 oxfoundations.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT/ MAINTENANCE

All Inclusive Maintenance (251) 509-4618 aimremodels.com

HOME INSPECTION

Complete Home Inspections, LLC (251) 510-1809 completehome inspectionsllc.com

Knockout Home Inspections (251) 747-1214 knockoutinspections.com

HOME WARRANTY

Home Warranty Inc. (260) 433-4027 homewarrantyinc.com

HVAC SERVICES

Don Hembree Heating & Air (251) 259-4664 hembreeac.com

HVAC/PLUMBING/ ELECTRICIANS

Hansen Super Techs Brianna Mcadory (251) 850-5322 HansenSuperTechs.com

INSURANCE AGENCY

Goosehead Insurance (251) 999-6931 wigginsflock.com

Lynne Ernest Insurance, LC (251) 971-3622

LENDER

Movement Mortgage

Richard C Hampton (251) 270-4482 4851 Wharf Parkway Suite D-228 Orange Beach, AL 36561 movement.com/chad. hampton

MOLD AND ODOR REMEDIATION

Lightspeed Restoration

Jimmie Newton (251) 776-4669

25421 Hwy. 181, Suite 103 Suite 103

Daphne, AL 36526

LightspeedRestoration.com

MOVING/DELIVERY/ STORAGE

All My Sons Moving & Storage

www.allmysons.com/mobile/ index.aspx

Motivated Movers (251) 621-0063

28225 N Main Street Daphne, AL 36526 getmotivatedmovers.com

PEST SOLUTIONS

E3 Termite & Pest Control

Mike Adams (251) 850-7378

20040 Hwy 181 Fairhope, AL 36527

E3pest.com

Prewett Pest Control (251) 277-1361

prewettpestcontrol.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

Deep South Focus Photography (251) 421-0517

deepsouthfocus.com

POWER WASHING

Prestige Power Washing

John Lankford (251) 213-8313

14194 Sierra Court Summerdale, AL 36580

REAL ESTATE ORGANIZATIONS

Baldwin Realtors Association (251) 947-3777

baldwinrealtors.com

ROOFING SERVICES

Pelican Roofing And Gutters (251) 725-3375

pelicanroofingal.com

SHORT TERM RENTAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Crye Leike

David Stidham (251) 405-2600

229 East 20th Avenue, Suite 1

Gulf Shores, AL 36526 www.alabamabeach vacations.com

SIGNS & GRAPHICS

Fast Signs

Pauline McKean (251) 279-0747

4668 Airport Blvd. Mobile, AL 36608 fastsigns.com

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

Southern View Media (251) 517-9425 southernviewmedia.com

STAGE & DESIGN

Showhomes, Mobile - Baldwin

Kim Odom (251) 622-5004

82 Plantation Pointe Fairhope, AL 36532 www.showhomesmobile baldwin.com

TITLE COMPANY

Celebration Title Group (251) 689-4948 celebrationtitlegroup.com

VIDEO PRODUCTION/ DRONE SERVICES

EyeSky Video & Photo, LLC

Stephen Hinds (317) 727-2919

297 Beall Lane Daphne, AL 36526 eyeskyvp.com

SPRINGTIME,

established by the early church in the 8th century. Technically, Easter is supposed to be celebrated on the 14th day of the first full moon spring. In our western culture, it always falls between March 22 and April 25. What really matters, though, is that we do celebrate the resurrection of Christ in the season the event actually occurred. You are all familiar with that old Christmas song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of The Year” but perhaps springtime is the most wonderful time of the year.

faded. I realize that some or maybe many of my readers are living a near-perfect life, and that is awesome! You do not need anything, you are perfectly happy with where you are, who you are and hopefully, who you spend your time with. But there are those who yearn for more. Perhaps you have a dream you have allowed to die or have given up on. Whether that dream pertains to a relationship, financial goal, physical goal, self-improvement, or anything else, I encourage you to pick it up again, dust it off, and let the power of resurrection bring it back to life.

No more New Year’s Resolutions for me. From now on, my new beginnings will be pursued in the springtime, The Season of Resurrection.

The trees, flowers and grasses that had gone dormant and dark for the winter slowly begin to green up and within just a few days are bright green and providing the shade and shadows we have missed for the past few months. The birds are chirping and singing and many of our local wildlife species are giving birth to their young. Along with the resurrection provided by nature, most of us experience an internal resurrection and motivation this time of year. We are ready for outside activities that allow us to enjoy moderate temperatures and bright sunshine. We want to plant something and watch it grow. Life just seems to be more invigorating and inviting this time of the year.

On New Year’s Day, many people make their resolutions to enact certain changes and self-improvements. We have all done it with some success but with mostly failure. The problem with this is that most years start out in a flurry, and we neglect what we want to do because we are busy doing what we must do. We get discouraged about those lofty changes we committed to and fall back into how things were and continue to be the same person as before, and often feel the guilt of our abandoned commitments.

Recently it occurred to me that springtime is a much better time to make new commitments, start new projects and resurrect the dreams and visions that may have

STIDHAM

CRYE LEIKE GULF COAST REAL ESTATE & VACATION RENTALS

partner spotlight

By Ron Sivak Photos By Stephen Hinds, Eye Sky Photo & Video

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH GOOD PEOPLE

David Stidham, President/Broker of Gulf Shores-based Crye Leike Gulf Coast Real Estate & Vacation Rentals is Mobile Bay Real Producers’ Spotlight Vendors for March.

Connected to the company for most of his professional life, Stidham hails from the Magic City.

“I was born in Birmingham, in the Irondale area, and lived there my entire childhood. My father still lives in the same neighborhood from all those years ago.” David said.

An excellent student at Hewitt-Trussville, David married his high school sweetheart.

“I met my wife in seventh grade at a Halloween party; she was dressed as a mouse. We did not start dating until 11th grade and ended up tying the knot later.” he said.

After graduation, David studied business at the University of Alabama and initially started his professional career at AmSouth Mortgage before moving over to work for his father-in-law at his insurance brokerage.

“That company’s name at the time was Cason Financial, in the Hoover area. I went to work there in the mid 1990s, moving up the ladder from an underwriter to eventually becoming Director of Operations in 1996.” Stidham said.

At the beginning of the new century, the company evolved for the first time, changing their name to IL Group.

“Our insurance brokerage specifically does business with banks and mortgage companies. In 2001, we changed our name to the IL Group that we’ve continued to this day, providing products and services to the financial institution community.” David said.

In 2003, another major corporate move was made when their headquarters was relocated down to the nearby powder white beaches of Gulf Shores.

“While we are all originally from the Birmingham area, my in-laws actually ended up moving to Gulf Shores and loved the area. My wife, three children and I also moved down here into Craft Farms and so we wound up moving the company into the area.” Stidham said.

IT IS REALLY A MORE BOUTIQUE STYLE BROKERAGE, PROVIDING HIGHLY PERSONALIZED CUSTOMER SERVICE.

The vacation rental business soon followed the next year. In 2018 David bought out his business partner and the company soon converted to its current real estate name today in 2019.

“In 2017 we were approached by a local company and ended up taking over an existing business with seven properties, which actually started expanding our reach into the real estate market.” Stidham said.

“In 2019 we were looking at franchising and at that point still operated under our IL Group Real Estate name. We were familiar with Crye Leike as a company from other business dealings with them in the past. Crye Leike has over 3,200 licensed agents and is the nation’s fourth largest privately held real estate firm in the country. They’re also number one in their core markets such as Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi.” he added.

The family company continued growing, and in 2016 they delved into another business segment.

“In 2016 we started our real estate division, opening up our first real estate brokerage. We were looking to diversify, and insurance and real estate kind of pair up well, being similar in a lot of ways. It is really a more boutique style brokerage, providing highly personalized customer service.” David said.

Believing that their core values aligned well with Crye Leike, David believed that the two businesses were a good match. In 2022, their company (now primarily focused on vacation rentals), acquired another business in Gulf Shores to continue their remarkable growth and just announced a second acquisition.

“In 2022 we acquired an existing vacation company in the area, adding to our vacation rental division. This first purchase added 30 units and the second added about 56 units. We plan to continue growing organically.” David said.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO MAKE MISTAKES BECAUSE THAT’S HOW WE ALL LEARN.

Stidham elaborated on the vacation rental business in general and specifically what makes their business model so unique.

“When we manage someone’s beach property, whether it’s a beach house or a condominium, we actually manage that entire process from a boutique concierge style approach. We take on the responsibility for overseeing the property from a vacation rental standpoint where we handle all aspects of the business for the owner.” David said.

“We oversee the entire cleaning process and routine maintenance on their behalf, keeping them abreast of what’s going on with their property. One of the things that we do specifically, and something some companies don’t do anymore, are inspections on the properties. We

check to make sure that there’s no damage to the properties and that they are clean and ready. Our goal is to make sure that the vacationer and owner are both happy with the services we provide.” he added.

Growing his staff, David believes in surrounding himself with good people.

“I always try to go out, no matter what I’m doing, and find people who know things I don’t know, and vice versa. Surround yourself with good people to build a legacy and reach collective goals. Always do what you say you’re going to do and make sure everyone believes in our core values.” Stidham said.

Moving into 2024 and beyond, David remains actively looking to expand, but on a selective basis.

“We’ve been actually looking for other rental companies in the area or other real estate brokerages that we might team up with and acquire. I’ve had conversations with a number of them last year, but at the same time we don’t want to just have growth for the sake of it. We want to have controlled growth to where we can still provide the quality service levels that we currently offer and make sure that all of our philosophies are aligned.” David said.

When asked for advice to offer those reading about evolution and success of his family business, Stidham offered good advice.

“Over the years, I’ve done a lot of different things, and have had successes and made mistakes. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes because that’s how we all learn. You can learn from it to change what you’re doing.” he concluded.

The Root Of It All

real producer

By Ron Sivak

Photos By Stephen Hinds, Eye Sky Photo & Video

Mobile Bay Real Producer’s March Top Agent Anna Luce was born and raised in Mobile and is deeply entrenched into the fabric of the city. She was born the youngest of four, and her father, Tom McCown, was known as a pioneer Real Estate developer locally.

“My father was the first to build a high rise in Gulf Shores in the 1970’s, called The Breakers. He was also the first to develop what is known as the ‘zero lot line’ concept in Wimbledon Park. Eaton Square off of Old Shell Road in Spring Hill is also named after him.” Luce said.

Her father was also a big influence on her while growing up. “I loved going out with him to the houses to check on them. He’d have a staircase delivered and it was exciting.” Luce said.

Excelling academically, Anna developed a competitive streak athletically at a young age and was a standout tennis player in high school at McGill-Toolen.

“I loved most playing with my partner, Peggy Johnson Stallings, and we were ranked number one her senior year” Luce said.

After graduation, Anna had a brief stint at Spring Hill College before transferring and graduating from the University of Alabama with a B.S. degree in Social Work.

Always ambitious, Luce had big career plans early.

My husband told me after a wedding reception, having put another home buyer and seller together in casual conversation, that I needed to be compensated for doing it.

“I had big dreams as an advocate, so I decided that social work would be my avenue to perhaps work for UNICEF or The United Nations, addressing world hunger. I came home and interned in the Department of Pensions for the City of Mobile. Eventually frustrated with the system, I changed gears and became a paralegal for the law firm Hand, Arendall in my early twenties. I loved it and here were no two days alike,” Luce said.

While working there, another significant event happened to Anna on a personal front; she met her current husband of 41 years, Robin Luce.

“Our families were friends and our grandparents, unbeknownst to us while dating up until our engagement party, were business friends and played bridge all the time together.” Luce said.

Soon after marriage, the young couple started building a family together. Their first child, daughter Gaynor Luce was born in 1985, son Robin Herndon Jr. was born in 1987, in 1990 youngest daughter Louise “Rancey” Ransom was born and youngest son Thomas was born in 1999.

Family care dominated Anna’s life, and when her daughter Rancey was diagnosed with a progressive neurologic disorder, Rett Syndrome, Luce garnered the help of three other parents across the country, with daughters also diagnosed with the affliction. Collectively, they founded the world’s first nonprofit research foundation singularly focused on biomedical research for the ailment. Today, the foundation is known as the Rett Syndrome Research Trust (RSRT).

“Rett Syndrome is a mutation of the X chromosome and it is considered the

realproducersmag.com

most debilitating form of autism. It is predominantly found in females and Rancey is a classic case, losing her skills previously acquired before the age of three. She’s now 33 and, typical to the syndrome, she is nonverbal, non-ambulatory and diapered. All said, she’s our family Angel and has taught us more without saying a word than any other life lesson could.” Anna said

Luce went on to mention that, with the assistance of family and friend connections developed in Washington D.C. in the 1990’s, while testifying on Capitol Hill and advocating in Congress, research into Rett Syndrome was not only extended to two more branches

of the NIH (National Institutes of Health), but also included in President Clinton’s budget in the 1990’s.

After 19 years of significant volunteer advocacy and fundraising, it was Anna’s husband Robin who was the catalyst for her to become licensed to sell Real Estate.

“My husband told me after a wedding reception, having put another home buyer and seller together in casual conversation, that I needed to be compensated for doing it.” Luce said.

With her love and knowledge about local properties instilled at a young age by her father, coupled with her natural gift of networking, Anna

obtained her license in 2009 and decided to place it with Roberts Brothers.

“They are a diverse company and I really like the fact that they are located on both sides of the Bay. They have the market share and I wanted to work to be a part of that action. “ Luce said.

Fast forward to today and one will find Anna’s name consistently listed among the top ten of the highest producers at Roberts Brothers, with her name listed as the leading Pacesetter for the last couple of months of 2023.

With big ambitions and eyes fixated on the horizon, Luce’s latest passion is her product called ROOT.

“A crisp, healthy concentrate of pure lemon, ginger and honey, ROOT has no preservatives, additives, gums, colorings or flavorings. My son came up with the name just before acclaimed neuroscientist, Dr. Huda Zoghby from Baylor University, identified the root biological marker for Rett and was featured on the Today show as well as in a Science Magazine article” Luce said.

“This was no coincidence, and it galvanized my effort to grow ROOT. My family’s intent is to take it to scale, eventually dedicate a large percentage of proceeds to neurodegenerative research, increasing each year.” she added.

With no investors at this time, Anna’s real estate business fuels her product. Once profitable, the hope is that the proceeds will impact research into other neurodegenerative diseases, and perhaps eventually facilitate finding a treatment and cure for Rett Syndrome.

Anna’s advice for those inspired by her story and wanting to follow their passions was succinct:

“I would tell them to prayerfully follow their hearts and use their God given talents to pursue their aspirations, making certain that all that’s accomplished is only by the Grace of God.”

I would tell them to prayerfully follow their hearts and use their God given talents to pursue their aspirations, making certain that all that’s accomplished is only by the Grace of God.

By

Kristie WHEELES WHEELES

Those who prepare to buy or sell a property know they need expertise on their side to make everything work out to its fullest potential. That’s why they turn to you to see them through.

Strong Pride

As a native, Kristie has a deep sense of pride in being part of the growth and development of the area.

That is a role that Kristie Wheeles takes very seriously, as well.

As Broker/Owner with Wheeles Realty, Kristie is an eager advocate, helping those around her reach their goals day by day.

“Achieving homeownership for people and helping them understand the process is something I enjoy very much,” Kristie says.

“It’s a stressful time. If you can help them understand and put them at ease, that’s the biggest thing. I like going above and beyond to make it a great experience.”

“Growing up in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores was so much fun. It was such a small town where everyone knew everyone. I do feel like we have that same small town feel, but it’s been wonderful seeing the growth here over time,” Kristie says. “I love watching how far we have come, and I strive to be a community liaison for not only real estate but for any needs in our community.

Kristie’s path into real estate began when she worked with Kaiser Realty Vacation Rentals in Orange Beach. Eventually she joined the owner

relations department and worked for them for seven years.

Gaining Ground

In time, Kristie got married and started her family. While she was on maternity leave, she found out about an opportunity with Summerchase Condominiums who was looking for some help.

“I stayed there as the HOA manager for seven years and left there in

2018, when I went into real estate full-time,” she recalls.

Kristie started at RE/ MAX before joining the team at EXIT Realty.

In May 2023, she made the decision to open her own brokerage.

Along the way, she has gained a wealth of experience in several areas of the industry.

As she says, “I’ve had a chance to get involved in all aspects, including rentals as well as working with the Board of Directors and learning what it takes to run a building at Summer Chase.”

Putting Her Expertise to Work

Today she gladly puts that experience to work supporting the needs of other agents in the business who come to her for advice.

Achieving homeownership for people and helping them understand the process is something I enjoy very much.

The success that she has built through time has been impressive. She is especially proud of the team of professionals around her. Today, her brokerage includes 12 agents, and is expanding her office to provide more space for the growing team.

Since opening the brokerage in May of last year, the firm ended the year with a little over $9 million in sales volume, allowing the team to finish 136th out of 438.

elementary school. In fact, she won the same competition when she was growing up.

Nevaeh; and 12-year-old daughter, Kai.

They definitely like to remain active. In fact, Kristie and Chris also own Wheeles Karate & Jiu Jitsu, a facility they opened in 2010. Kristie is a second-degree Black Belt in karate.

Giving back to the community is also a central part of life for them. Kristie is involved with the Draw Your Dream Home contest for children in

Kristie has also been an engaged member of the PTO for 13 years and serves as Director of the Zydeco Crawfish Pageant and is involved with the Coastal Alabama Leadership League and the Island Spirit Committee. Plus, she has established a scholarship at Gulf Shores High School, her alma mater, and at the University of Alabama to support single moms and to help them finish their education.

“I was a teen mom. I was 19 when I had my first child. Through time it has been very important to me to show my daughter that you can pursue and reach your dreams.”

In their free time, Kristie and her family like supporting their children in their activities. They also like to

be on the boat. Fishing and tubing are also favorite pastimes.

As she reflects on her success in the business through time, she offers helpful tips for others who are getting their own start in the business.

“One of the most important things that I think you can do when you first get into the business is to find a really good mentor who is willing to help,” Kristie says. “Also it’s good to start with systems and time blocking, because it can be very overwhelming.”

With her characteristic care, hard work and follow-through, Kristie makes a tangible, positive impact on her clients and community as an eager and talented advocate.

For questions or comments about this article, contact Kristie at (251) 233-9300 or wheelesrealtygroup@gmail.com

Eric Smith OX Foundation Repair

Go The Extra Mile

Mobile Bay Real Producer Spotlight Vendor for March, Regional Manager Eric Smith of Ox Foundation Solutions, was born in central Alabama near Birmingham.

“My family is from Chilton County in the Jemison area. I went to high school in Calera that’s about 30 minutes south of downtown Birmingham. My family comes from farming and construction backgrounds. On my father’s family farmed peaches and cattle and did commercial construction. My mother’s side of the family did residential construction.” Smith said.

Eric was a stellar student, with a 3.90 GPA, the highest ACT score (32) in his class and earning a full-ride academic scholarship to UAB his senior year. In athletics, he was a standout power lifter, placing fourth in state competition.

Smith completed college in four years with dual business degrees in industrial distribution and

marketing. While studying, he worked as a welder for a local steel fabrication company called Fab-Weld Steel.

After graduation, Eric continued with Fab Weld, getting promoted to project manager. After a few other job moves and a stint in New Orleans working for himself, Eric moved back to his grandparent’s family farm in Jemison to take care of them in 2015.

“My grandparents were getting older and my grandfather was having some issues with dementia. My parents, who lived nearby, just needed a little help taking care of them and so after speaking with my mother I moved back and we were able to take care of them through the end of their life.” Eric said.

While caring for his grandparents, Smith reconnected with a pair of friends who were in the process of establishing a new company and wanted Eric’s involvement.

“Dannon Appleyard and Kevin Weber are the original founders and owners, and we’ve been friends for years. They’re just amazing people with great families. Kevin has been very successful with everything he’s ever done and had a successful tile company. Dannon worked for years in foundation repair as an inspector and was very successful.” Smith said.

He went on to say that foundation repair was in very high demand in central Alabama at that time and so, in 2016, Ox Foundation Repair was established.

“We needed to do $1 million in revenue for the first year to keep

everything going. That included equipment, material and manpower. Through our sales and marketing efforts we were able to nearly double our goal, making $1.9 million in revenue and have been growing rapidly ever since.” Smith said.

In 2021 both of Eric’s grandparents had passed away, which precipitated a move down to the Gulf Coast to expand the company brand in August of 2022.

“We have always been doing work in lower Alabama, picking up jobs because we were marketing to the whole state. However we wanted to focus more on the area to better

serve it by opening an office here. It is located at 9180 Irvington Hwy and we are currently staffed with seven local employees.” Smith said.

He went on to say that Mobile is a centralized site along the Gulf Coast, with New Orleans only two hours away and Pensacola an hour drive in the other direction. Work is performed inland as well, but the Gulf Coast is their focus.

When asked about the services Ox Foundation Solutions are known for, Eric elaborated in detail.

“We do a lot of work structurally repairing sinking foundations and

Through our sales and marketing efforts we were able to nearly double our goal, making $1.9 million in revenue and have been growing rapidly ever since.

cracked brick and we also specialize in crawlspace remediation, dealing with moist and wet crawl spaces that are growing mold and mildew. We do the mold treatment and also go in to provide encapsulation that will stop it from returning. We also stabilize joists, level floors, crawl spaces and repair perimeter footings that are settling, showing cracks in the brick. We really like to work with our realtor partners to help them close their deals.” Smith said.

Eric went on to say that when an inspection report turns up the problems needing repair, Ox Foundation Solutions comes in, not wanting to overkill a project, but instead trying to provide just what’s necessary to repair the house for the buyer.

Smith also explained services that separate his company from the competition.

“We try to tailor the repair plans to the needs of the home rather than just throwing a bunch of work at a property, and we escrow the funds on realty repairs for closing, so nobody has to come out of pocket with any money up front.” Eric said.

“Another thing is that most of our warranties are transferable lifetime warranties to the structure. A human doesn’t even hold our warranty, its part of the address. There are no transfer fees and it doesn’t need to be

completed within 60 days of closing, nothing of that nature. Our warranty is simply our warranty, that’s how we approach it.” he added.

“When working with Realtors, we understand that time is of the essence. We’re very flexible and will meet after typical hours or the weekends to go the extra mile. We typically are able to come out to perform an inspection within 24 to 48 hours, and it is at no cost. We do like to have a representative from both the buying and selling side there, so that we can provide transparency and provide a fair inspection to both sides of the deal.” Smith concluded.

HOLDING NOTHING BACK

No matter what you do, there’s no replacement for giving it your best. After all, as you’ve discovered, you get out what you put in.

That’s a mindset that Coleman Grau brings to his work every day.

As an Associate Broker with RE/ MAX Paradise, Coleman holds nothing back when it comes to serving those around him.

PASSION FOR HIS WORK

The passion Coleman has for what he does is easy to see.

“I’m a big office guy and I love getting in the office early and blocking time out for calls … and then getting out and working on other aspects of the business in the afternoon,” Coleman says.

“I like not being in the office 8 to 5 every day. Being in real estate is a unique opportunity to be your own business owner and entrepreneur.”

TAKING FIRST STEPS

Coleman earned his real estate license in 2017. Before that, he had worked with his father, purchasing and reselling commercial-grade copy machines. In time, he had a pivotal conversation with one of his friends who was a REALTOR®.

“This was in the time before Zillow. This was the time when there were paper listings. I always had a big interest in real estate,” Coleman says.

“Everywhere I went I would pick up real estate listings out of curiosity to see what was available in the area. So I decided to get my license. I took a look and my eyes were awakened

as to how much work this business takes. You have to work for it, find it and stay consistent. I had a hard time wrapping my head around it.”

At first, Coleman thought he’d try it part-time. After three quarters, he decided to enter the business full-time.

“I have listened to guys like Tony Robbins and Jim Rome through time,” Coleman says. “They motivate me. I

knew it was time to burn the boats, to be able to say there was no going back, and to go into this full –time.”

It wasn’t long before Coleman approached one of his good friends, who was a Team Leader at RE/ MAX Paradise. The two men met and Coleman asked if he could become part of his friend’s team.

“He was smiling and said I’ve been waiting for this time. I asked him

FIND A GOOD TEAM WHO WILL TAKE YOU IN THAT WILL BE A GOOD FIT. DUKE AND HARVARD ARE NOT FREE. WHEN YOU PAY A PORTION OF YOUR COMMISSION, YOU ARE INVESTING IN AN EDUCATION.

why he hadn’t brought it up. He said he knew it had to be my decision. I worked with him for two years,” Coleman says.

“He had come to me and said that he would support my decision if I chose to leave the team to do my own thing. I told him I wanted to stay and continue to help build the team. Two months later he died suddenly of a heart attack. He left behind a fiancé and two teenage boys.”

While Coleman was approached with the opportunity to lead the team, he decided that he wanted to focus on being an Agent.

A WONDERFUL LIFE

Away from work, Coleman is inspired in what he does by his family, including his wife, Sara, and their chil

well as getting to know other families in their neighborhood. Another favorite is spending time with other families in the community.

As he continues to build forward, Coleman shares his advice for others who are looking to make their own splash in the business.

“The best advice I can give someone who is new is to get on a team. I know that sometimes people look for more favorable commission splits. But I think it’s very important to remember that every good education comes with a cost,” Coleman says.

“Find a good team who will take you in that will be a good fit. Duke and Harvard are not free. When you pay a portion of your commission, you are investing in an education.”

Congratulations to Coleman for applying his experience and expertise to the needs of those around him. In turn, he does so with his whole heart … holding nothing back.

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE

FAQ

FAQ

Welcome to Real Producers! Some of you may be wondering what this publication is all about, which is why we have created this FAQ page. Here, we will answer the most commonly asked questions from around the country regarding our program. My door is always open to discuss anything regarding this community — this publication is 100% designed to be your voice!

Q: WHO RECEIVES THIS MAGAZINE?

A: The top 300 agents in the Mobile Bay Area. We pulled the MLS numbers (by volume) from Jan. 1, 2021, through Dec. 31, 2021, in Mobile and Baldwin Counties. We cut the list off at number 300, and the distribution was born. For this year’s list, the minimum production level for our group is $7 million in 2021. The list will reset at the end of 2022 for next year and will continue to update annually.

Q: WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR BEING FEATURED IN THIS MAGAZINE?

A: The process is simple. Every feature you see has first been nominated. You can nominate REALTORS®, agents, affiliates, brokers, owners, or even yourself. Office leaders can also nominate real estate agents. We will consider anyone you bring to our attention because we don’t know everyone’s story, and we need your help to learn more.

A nomination currently looks like this: Email us at robert.orso@realproducersmag.com with the subject line “Nomination: (Name of Nominee)” and explain why you are nominating the individual. Maybe the person has an amazing story that we need to tell, or perhaps someone overcame extreme obstacles, is an exceptional leader, has the best customer service, or gives back to the community in a big way. The next step is an interview with us to ensure a good fit, and then we put the wheels in motion for our writer to conduct an interview and for our photographer to schedule a photo shoot.

Q: WHAT IS THE COST TO FEATURE A REALTOR®, AGENT, OR TEAM ?

A: Zero, zilch, zippo, nada, nil. The feature costs nothing, my friends, so nominate away! We are not a pay-to-play model. We share real stories of Real Producers.

Q: WHO ARE THE PREFERRED PARTNERS?

A: Anyone listed as a preferred partner in the front of the magazine is a part of this community and will have an ad in every issue of the magazine, attend our quarterly events, and be a part of our online community. We don’t just find these businesses off the street, nor do we work with all businesses that approach us. One or many of you have recommended every preferred partner you see in this publication. We won’t even meet with a business that you have not vetted and stamped for approval, in a sense. Our goal is to create a powerhouse network for the REALTORS® and agents in the area and for the best affiliates so we can grow stronger together.

Q: HOW CAN I RECOMMEND A PREFERRED PARTNER?

A: If you have a recommendation for a local business that works with top real estate agents, please let us know. Send an email to robert.orso@realproducersmag.com.