A CALL TO ACTION FROM CCAR PRESIDENT SHANA ACQUISTO

ccar: in the know

Written by: Bri Westbury, Collin County Association of REALTORS® Director of Communications

Personally, Shana Acquisto is a wife, boy-mom x3, yoga enthusiast, and proud Texan with splash of Montana on the side. Professionally, Acquisto is a high-producing real estate broker who sees challenges as opportunities for growth, a leader in the industry, and the Collin County Association of Realtor’s 2023 President.

Acquisto began her year as CCAR President urging real estate professionals across the industry to build for their future.

“I choose ‘Building for Our Future’ as the theme of my year as CCAR President because if we don’t build for our future, no one else is going to do it for us. If we want to be able to continue to serve our clients, we must build for our future today.”

-CCAR President Shana Acquisto

Ensure You Have a Solid Foundation

Step one of building for our future is to return to the basics. The success and longevity of any structure depend on the foundation which it is built upon, and an individual’s success in this profession is no different. Acquisto identifies three non-negotiable basics: ethics, professionalism, and knowledge.

Acquisto explains, “Ethics, Professionalism, and Knowledge. Those are the basics that will get you far in this industry. The most exciting thing about this profession is that YOU control a lot of your success. No one wakes up with all the knowledge already in their brain. We all have equal access to it. Everything in real estate can be learned: contracts, communication, prospecting, and systems.”

Acquisto refuses to stop learning, “You must keep learning. No two transactions are the same. No two people, property, or finances are the same. Not to mention changing regulations.”

Frame Your House Day Correctly

From a young age, the Three Little Pigs taught us all the importance of quality building material. As adults, we know that if your home is not framed right, it won’t stand long. Likewise, you need to frame your day correctly and include aspects that will keep you standing for a long time.

That is why you will find Acquisto up at 4:50 a.m. and starting her day with exercise. By 8 a.m. Acquisto is in the office and dressed for the day. “No matter what portion of my day is in person or virtual, I dress for the day all the same.”

Acquisto acknowledges that building for your future may involve setting boundaries, adding “you can’t serve your clients if you are not around.” Building for your future will also require agents plan and prepare for the unexpected, Acquisto has planned to cover the topic on multiple aspects of the podcast “Welcome to the Top.” Acquisto reminds that “rainy days are not an ‘if’ but ‘when’- agents need to be financially prepared.”

Proper Appraised Value

Real estate professionals need to know their worth and make sure they position themselves as value providers to their clients and community. “Real estate touches everyone and everything. Your favorite local coffee shop, how much is their lease? Your rent or mortgage. Your employer’s office building. Real estate professionals are required to facilitate these transactions and make sure the correct terms are included,” said Acquisto.

Additionally, real estate is a major driver of the U.S. economy, accounting for $3,894.3 billion or nearly 17% of the GDP in 2021. In Texas alone, the real estate industry accounted for $338.0 billion or 17.0% of the gross state product in 2021. A NAR State-by-State Economic Impact report found that every home sale generates roughly $113,200 in economic activity in local markets and every two home sales support one American job[1]

You can often find real estate agents investing their time and money defending their clients’ private property rights at the Capitol.

Acquisto knows the value her colleagues provide but warns the community often does not. “Our expertise and advocacy for our clients is unmatched. I don’t think the public is aware of what the average real estate agent does for them, and we need make sure our value is known,” said Acquisto.

Acquisto believes that “whatever you put in, you get out,” which is why Collin County Realtors can look forward to an amazing year- because Acquisto is giving her all.

[1] https://www.nar.realtor/ reports/state-by-stateeconomic-impact-of-realestate-activity