Land Agent Magazine Summer 2023

Land Agent

MOSSY OAK PROPERTIES OF LOUISIANA

Agent Spotlight: JAROD PATTERSON

We sat down with Jarod Patterson, an agent with us for more than 8 years, to find out more about what a career in land sales means to him. Growing up loving the outdoors and bringing a background in forestry, Jarod was a natural fit for the MOPLA family. But even this avid hunter and outdoorsman has had his share of obstacles to stand down. He shares his advice for overcoming the difficulties as well as his favorite aspects of being a MOPLA agent.

If you are meeting someone for the first time, what do you answer when they ask what you do?

I help people find their own piece of paradise. Depending on what they want to do, I work with individuals to find their dream home site or dream hunting site.

How does having a background in forestry help you serve your clients?

So much of north Louisiana is timberland, so that allows me to help buyers and sellers get the most from the resources on the land. If a property is selling for $3500 an acre, but there is $1500 an acre in timber,

my clients are better served when I can point those things out. It’s a big plus to have that in my back pocket. I enjoy helping clients best serve the purpose of the property while also enjoying it.

Why did you choose to work with Mossy Oak Properties of Louisiana over another brokerage?

I have always liked what Mossy Oak has stood for all these years. People know the brand and the name. Having this brand beside my name makes me someone more people trust and want to work with. People trust I know more than the real estate business, more about hunting and recreational activities, so they know I can help them find what they are looking for. “

I enjoy helping my clients find their own slice of paradise.

“ ”

Integrity and family are what I see as important to Mossy Oak Properties of Louisiana, and they are important to me as well.

What inspires you as an agent?

Helping people find their dream piece of property. I grew up enjoying the outdoors, and helping people find the right property for them to create memories with their families like I once had is very rewarding. Seeing others get to experience the property with their kids, seeing them have that dream come true, has been my favorite part of what I do.

Most clients know they are buying something special, and I stay in touch with them to see how they are enjoying the land they bought. I ask them how their hunting success has been or ask them if they would like to expand their property when I see something that might be a good fit. Building that relationship is important to me.

How do you see MOPLA company values as something you are able to incorporate into what you do as an agent?

Treating everyone like family is what MOPLA is about. Being honest and upright with everything I do has been important. I may have lost a sale by being honest with a client, but I have had those clients come back to me with new business because they appreciated my honesty. I end up making a sale with them later.

Integrity and family are what I see as important to Mossy Oak Properties of Louisiana, and they are important to me as well.

What does a typicalday look like for you?

I start by making sure I have followed up with everyone who has inquired about a property. Then I contact potential buyers about any properties that are coming on the market. I’ll go out and take pictures and handle all the details of a new listing. Sometimes it involves doing a little forestry work as well. I follow up on any leads I have on current listings and new listings.

How did you transition over from working part time as an agent to more full-time?

It’s been a transition. Sometimes it has been 100% real estate, other times its 75%-25% real estate and forestry. I may still do an appraisal or a forestry service, but I mainly use that now to support me as an agent.

What was the biggest obstacle you have faced as an agent, and how did you get past it?

Personally, the biggest obstacle is that I am not naturally outgoing. But just talking what I know—whether it’s forestry or land—makes it easier. If I had to go talk to a bunch of people about something I didn’t know, that would be tough, but speaking to people about what I know and to people who are who are like-minded has been very helpful for me. The more you do it, the more comfortable you become with it.

How have you grown as an agent since you started?

Being more comfortable talking with complete strangers, developing a network of buyers and sellers, meeting more people in the industry have all been a big part of my gtowth. Working to learn more and more is also important. There are so many facets of the industry, so the more I learn, the easier it is for me to talk to others about what I’m learning. I am also more comfortable asking questions about what I don’t know.

What’s the best advice you can give someone who is just starting out as a MOPLA agent?

Don’t be scared to ask questions. Ask for help. The people at Mossy Oak want to help you reach your goals, so they are happy to help. Also, don’t be scared to work. If you put in the hours, make the phone calls, and build as you go along, before too long it will be second nature to you.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

We kicked off this year’s Land Summit with all the heavy hitters. Broker JJ Keeth started us off with great news about our office performance. As we looked at our numbers compared to those provided by David Hawley from Mossy Oak National, we saw that although our office comprises only 1% of the total number of Mossy Oak Properties franchises, we make up more that 5% of the overall business nation wide and have sold more than 6% of the national total acreage!

Justin Morris, vice president of SouthernAg Credit, and Adam Young, senior loan officer, offered a business forecast that looked promising as well. Although inventory is projected to be low, we are seeing prices rise. Agents who are diligent to keep building the 5-5-5 plan discussed by JJ Keeth, should continue to be successful in the coming months.

Finally, we were honored to welcome Chris Hawley, President of Mossy Oak Properties, and David Hawley, Vice President of New Business & Development, to join us! David ran the numbers for us on our digital impressions and growth.

THE FAMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER

After a day of working together, our team enjoyed a fun evening of pool and axe throwing at Bayou Axe Co! After some rigorous throwing, we enjoyed an unforgettable meal together.

left: JJ Keeth shows off his pool shark skills; Above: Mike and Pam Pelafigue; below: JJ Keeth, Gus May, and Mario Vice take a break between rounds.

Clockwise from top left: Drake Butler; Chris Alexander and Britt Moore; Dana and Jordy Vellon; Drake Butler. Paul Ferrell, Jawan Keeth, JJ Keeth, Max Light, and Justin Morris; Beth Waldrop

above: Sam Crawford and Chris Hawley

above and left: our MOPLA family eating together; Official Team

Photo from the Summit

CROSSING THE FINISH LINE

SouthernAg Credit’s Adam Young talks tips for taking the deal from the listing agreement all the way through closing

Adam Young, Senior Loan Officer at SouthernAg Credit, loves his job. He works primarily with farmers or people who want to own land for recreational purposes. “Those type of customers,” says Young, “are good, fun people to deal with on a regular basis. They are honest, trustworthy people—that makes the job great every day.”

Understanding our aim to help our buyers get the land of their dreams as easily as possible, Young has a few tips on helping clients navigate the financing waters.

At the beginning, when there is a customer looking for financing—it is a good idea for them to get preapproved. But one important factor often goes unchecked by agents: Make sure buyers have a downpayment of at least 15% of the loan amount in the bank. “We sometimes come across buyers who tell agents not to worry about their downpayment. While buyers may easily have the cash in hand to make the downpayment, it’s important that the money be in the bank in order to move the closing process along smoothly.

Once that step has been cleared, SouthernAg will take care of the title work and appraisal. The next potential obstacle on the finance side is determining whether or not the property has legal access. Sometimes property owners

think they have access but they in fact do not. That can not only considerably slow down a deal, it can keep a loan from being written altogether.

Teaming with SouthernAg can also help move the closing process along more smoothly. “We have the ability to move quickly on our end, so we can work through a deal as quickly as a deal needs to be done,” says Young. “We can work as a team with an agent to speed the process up, encouraging the buyer along and making sure the buyer has everything they need.” This can free up the agent to continue to work with other clients as well, knowing we will work to keep the closing on pace.

ADAM YOUNG Senior Loan Officer

318.797.0140

Balancing Act

Agent and Director of Development

Britt Moore shares his take on the art of putting family first without sacrificing success.

You are clearly committed to excellence and serious about your job. How do you give your best to everyone?

“Keep your priorities straight” is the mantra of everyone who struggles to give time to the family they love and to the job they love. Self-help articles and books talk much of balance, but striking that balance is much more difficult in life than in theory.

Britt Moore understands this struggle first hand. After a successful career in commercial real estate, he joined the MOPLA family in 2016. Working as an agent as well as Director of Development, Britt also assists other agents with the details of their contracts when called upon for help. This alone is a full-time job. Add church activities on top of being a devoted husband and father, and a full life can easily turn stressful.

Britt sat down for a Q&A with us to discuss strategies for bringing life back into balance—along with some of the hard lessons he learned along the way.

You have to prioritize. There is nothing wrong with telling someone “No” or letting them know you will get to their request when you can. You can let them know they’re at the top of your list. It’s important not to break any commitments. If my son has a game and I get a call from an agent, I will let an agent know I have a family commitment and will get to their request later in the evening or first thing the next morning. It’s about following through on your commitments.

What is the biggest obstacle to making that work?

I think it’s prioritizing. It’s hard for me to tell my family ‘No” about something and it’s also hard to tell a coworker I have to get to them later. It’s hard not to prioritize everyone and every request the same at the same time. I never want someone to feel that they are not important or that what they are working on or asking for isn’t important.

Is this a skill that you had to cultivate over time?

On my first job, when it got to be 5:00, there were a lot of people out the door, but in my position, no one left at 5:00. I was younger and not married then. I didn’t have a family then, but everyone still needs time for themselves. I learned that working beyond traditional hours creates a give and take relationship. Sometimes I will have to take time to be with my family or children in the morning,

“ ”

One thing that gets me is when my kids say, “You’re always working.” When I hear that, I put down what I am working on and do something with them that they want me to do.

knowing that I will be working later that evening. I may send an email out at 7:00 in the evening but will go to my child’s Honor Assembly in the morning. So it can sometimes be a balancing act.

Do you feel that you have had to combat any kind of supposition that if you’re not in the office you’re not working?

Personally, although I know we can’t work 24/7, I do want to be available whenever a client or someone on my team needs me. I have a lot of flexibility in that area. We don’t want to have to give up our evenings every evening, but there are times when we make exceptions and take care of clients or team members after work hours. And the nature of our business is that people want to see a property on the weekends, after 5:00, or when the weather is good. You have to understand that there may be Saturday mornings when you are not going with your family to do something because you are showing a property. Respecting my clients’ schedules is also part of making things work. I’ve missed a number of my son’s football games because I was showing properties. But that is part of it, and I have had the flexibility to make time with my family a priority on other occasions.

How do you get your family to understand when you can’t always be there?

I have a really good support system with my wife. We try to always be at our kids’ events, but when we can’t, at least one of us will be there. That is generally good enough for the kids. One thing that gets me is when my kids say, “You’re always working.” When I hear that, I put down what I am working on and do something with them that they want me to do. Your kids are watching you all the time, and they will tell you the truth about what your priorities are.

How do you know when you are doing it right?

Something within you tells you. You’re in a good mood. You may feel fatigued, but it will be for a good reason. You may think, “Gosh, I got up and exercised, took my kids to school, went into work, went to one of their functions, got off work, showed a property, but what a great day it was! Even though the calendar was full, I got a lot in.” Conversely, your spirit will tell you that when you aren’t selling, you’re in a grumpy mood, you don’t feel productive, you are probably out of balance.

What would you tell an agent who is struggling to strike that balance? Where do they start?

Start with your spouse and kids and ask them: Am I working too hard? Are y’all not seeing me enough? Am I too distracted? Do I need to put my computer or my phone down for a little bit? If they say yes, you need to respond to that. If they say no, that’s not permission to work more. Maybe you are at that right balance. Not only will you be rewarded with quality time with them, but when you are putting commissions in the bank, that’s a reward, too.

It seems that now the spirit of the age is that we always need to be chasing and preparing. How do you feel like God has honored you for not living with that mindset?

I think contentment is a big way that God will reward you. Early in my career I was all about chasing the dollar. I worked stupid hours and probably was guilty of neglecting my friends and my family. As I got older in my career, I realized that the dollar is not nearly as important as family time and time away from work. God will tell you when you are burning the candle at both ends. You will fall hard when you work at that pace for too long, but when you pick yourself up again, God will help you put your priorities back in order and give you peace as you do.

WELCOME ABOARD!

We tried to warn her from her first day with our team—she would experience the spark that sets us apart, and she would never want to leave! We were right.

After working with us as a consultant in training and marketing, we brought Lisa on as full time Director of Education and Marketing to work more closely with our agents, making sure they get the training and marketing exposure they deserve. “I am honored to join the Mossy Oak Properties of Louisiana family,” she says. “I was looking at offers from some organizations out of Dallas, but they all felt like being proposed to by someone you don’t want to marry. My heart has been with the MOPLA family from the start, so I am thrilled to get to work with this exceptional group!”

Lisa came on board working full-time in mid-July. Her first priorities lie with getting to know the agents more personally and providing more individualized training, strategies, and marketing assistance where they request it. She would also like to tap into their gifts and assist them in showcasing those for themselves, their clients, their communities, and for our brokerage.

Begin looking for direct contact from her as she begins planning individual meetings starting in the fall.

Lisa has also requested that agents keep her in the

loop on any activities they have planned in their communities, so she can assist with organization, press releases, acquiring sponsorships, and any additional promotional needs.

She is also available for one-on-one help with social media setup and maintenance like scheduling posts and populating feeds with viewer-friendly content.

Lisa Cooper Marshall moves from consultant to full-time MOPLA family member

The MOPLA Table

shrimp and corn chowder

Agent Jordy Veillon shares a family favorite that’s sure to please

Ingredients:

1 stick butter

1 bunch green onions

2 cups milk

1 large carton (1qt) heavy whipping cream

1 can creamed corn

Directions:

Saute green onions in butter.

Add seasoning and all liquid ingredients

1 can whole kernel corn

1 can Cream of Mushroom soup

1 teaspoon liquid crab-boil

1-2 pounds shrimp salt, pepper, additional seasoning to taste

Bring to a boil and simmer hard for about 15 minutes

Add shrimp and turn off heat Let them cook for about 3 minutes

ENJOY with warm garlic bread!

CALLING ALL AGENTS!

We want YOU to be our next Land Agent magazine feature. Have tips or strategies for tackling tough obstacles? Interested in sharing a review on the lastest (or tried and true) gear? Have a great wildlife, hunting or fishing photo? A great recipe?

We want it! We also want to celebrate all your family news (engagements/weddings, births, graduations,anniversaries, etc.)

Send your ideas and information to

Lisa Marshall

LCMarshall@MossyOakProperties.com

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You help your clients find peace in the midst of a crazy world . . . one property at a time.