North Fort Worth Real Producers - December 2022

ROSLYN & TIM

GAUNTT All in the Family

Photo by: Landon Day, Daydream Photography

Tracy Dye: Positive Mindset

Mandie Dealey: From the Ground Up Leanna Sellars: In Step with Success

The Lovell Team: Going Beyond to Close the Deal

MEET THE NORTH FT. WORTH REAL PRODUCERS TEAM

If you are interested in contributing or nominating REALTORS® for certain stories, please email us at

If you are interested in contributing or nominating REALTORS® for certain stories, please email us at lance.dunahoe@realproducersmag.com.

Jessica Nelson Social Media Director

Rick Davis Videographer

Lanie Schaber Ad Strategist

Missy Kremer Editor

Samantha Farris Photographer

Brent Tinsley Photographer

Desiree Roberts Photographer

Landon Day Photographer

Landon Robinson Director of Client Relations

Katherine Fondren Content Coordinator

Kareen Delos Reyes Administrative Assistant

Mark Fadden Writer

Renee Hart Event Planner

Dave Danielson Writer

lance.dunahoe@realproducersmag.com.

Jordan Espeseth Co-Owner

Julie Altemus Executive Director

Lance Dunahoe Co-Owner

DISCLAIMER: Any articles included in this publication and/or opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of The N2 Company d/b/a Real Producers but remain solely those of the author(s). The paid advertisements contained within the North Fort Worth Real Producers magazine are not endorsed or recommended by The N2 Company or the publisher. Therefore, neither The N2 Company nor the publisher may be held liable or responsible for business practices of these companies.

PREFERRED PARTNERS

BUILDER

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!

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MORTGAGE LENDING

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MOVING COMPANY

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MOVING SERVICES

Firehouse Movers Inc (972) 412-6033 firehousemovers.com

Stonebriar Moving Services (469) 734-9000 stonebriarmoving.com

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SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING/ MANAGEMENT

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STAGE & DESIGN

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Sherwood Wilson (817) 513-3141 x1 evergreenstaging.com

TITLE COMPANY

Alamo Title CompanySouthlake (817) 896-8686 AlamoDFW.com

Boston National Title of Texas (972) 584-9660 bnttexas.com

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VIDEOGRAPHER

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WINDOWS Glass Guru Southlake (817) 424-3500 theglassguru.com/southlake

WINDOWS & SIDING

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Southlake Team

Amy Mayes

VP, Branch Manager

Jessica Bays

Escrow Officer

Ashley Gingras Sales Executive

publisher’s note

How did the ESPE Awards Go?

Print media takes a long time, so as I write this month’s publisher’s note, it is Nov. 8 … nine days before the ESPE Awards Gala. As you are reading this, it is likely mid-December — a whole month since the event took place. How did it go? I am dying to know.

Before I wrote this, I pulled up my December 2021 pub lisher’s note to read what I had written last year about this same time. It was eight days out from the ESPEs, and I talked about how I was letting my mind get the best of me leading up to the event. All sorts of questions and doubts were starting to rise in relation to the event. It was the first time I had thrown an event of that size and caliber. But I reeled myself back and leaned in on my faith, and trusted that the event was going to be a massive success. And guess what? IT WAS!

I am glad I decided to read last year’s publisher’s note because, like last year, I have moments where my mind starts to go down the same old rabbit hole of doubt. Some of the doubts are similar, but most of them are new, with the predominant one being: “Last year was such a great success. ... What if this year isn’t as good?” What if people leave saying, “It was OK … but nothing like last year’s event?”

Isn’t success a funny thing? You think when you “make it” that you will be all good, but then these doubts and insecurities about maintaining the success, and the standard, start to seep in and overwhelm you. No matter where we are at in life, our minds and flesh find a way to pull us into fear. That is where having continual remind ers of our past successes and a strong faith become so very important. Namely, the latter.

Many of you know that I have been open about my faith and how Jesus has been working wonders in my life, especially this past year and a half. I have come to realize that all the great things that have happened in my life are because of Him, and I proudly give God all the glory. With Him on my team, I know that He will have his hand on this event, and it will be an incredible evening of deep connection and cele bration. This I know for certain. We will find out soon!

peace in my heart,

Jordan Espeseth

jordan.espeseth@n2co.com

With

Jordan on stage at the 2021 ESPE Awards

rising star

Written by: Dave Danielson Photos by: Desiree Roberts

DYE TRACY

POSITIVE MINDSET

With each situation we encounter, we have a choice of how we approach it … with either negativity or positivity.

Tracy Dye is someone who contributes to the lives of those she serves with a glasshalf-full view.

As a REALTOR® with RE/ MAX, Tracy puts a truly posi tive mindset to work for those around her on a daily basis.

Getting Her Start Tracy grew up in the Mississippi Delta and went to Mississippi State, where she earned her undergraduate degree in psychology and her master’s degree in counseling.

“I did counseling for five years. I got married in 1995 and had my first child in 1998. I was a stay-at-home mom for 20 years. In 2018, I was diag nosed with breast cancer. But I was one of the lucky ones,” Tracy says.

“I had surgery in November that year. My dad passed away on Jan. 24, 2019. We came back to Dallas, and I did my treat ments then.”

Moving Forward

In time, Tracy was ready to look to her next options professionally.

“I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do. My husband reminded me that people had always said you should go into real estate,” Tracy says.

“One of my best friends, Tiffany Yost, had been an administrative assistant in the business, and she decided to get her license. I talked with her and said I never wanted to compete with her. She said get your license, and we’ll be a 50-50 team. Tiffany and I make the perfect team, and I recognize our success is due to our work together.”

Gaining Ground

The trajectory of her career has been remarkable. Last year, Tracy recorded $30 million in real estate in just her second year in real estate.

Tracy is grateful for their growing team, including the addition of friend and col league Therese Turgon Peck.

She’s also proud of the fact that her team won the Top Team Award for the year 2021.

As Tracy thinks about the parts of her work that she has a passion for, one of the things that comes to the forefront is the fact that she still serves as a counselor, of sorts, through her role in real estate.

“That’s my favorite part … interacting with peo ple. I’ve always been very outgoing. I’ve always been that way in my life,” Tracy says.

“When I was growing up, I would go to the swimming pool, and my parents would say that within 20 minutes, I would know everyone in the pool by name. Today, we treat our clients like friends … we want to take care of them.”

Family Fulfillment

The heart of life for Tracy revolves around her family, including her husband of 27 years, Randy Dye, who works as a Manufacturer’s Representative in the furniture industry.

Tracy and Randy treasure time with their children — 24-year-old son, Daniel, who works in real estate with a specialty in farm and ranch land; 22-year-old daughter, Madeline, who is a senior at Mississippi State; and 20-yearold son, Jacob, who is a sophomore at the University of Mississippi.

In her free time, Tracy has a love of travel and attending college football games, while Randy and her sons have a passion for hunting.

She enjoys time at home, relaxing with family and friends.

When it comes to giving back, Tracy supports Bob’s House of Hope … the first organization that works to combat the trafficking of young males.

“Bob Williams started this. It’s a great organiza tion,” Tracy says. “When these kids get rescued, they give them a place to stay, counseling, medi cal care, and teaching homeschooling.”

Another organization Tracy supports is Logan’s Light, where Tracy serves on the board.

“Logan’s Light is a charity for children born with facial abnormalities,” Tracy says. “Logan had a large hemangioma on her nose. She underwent seven surgeries growing up. She started a foundation that will provide money for children that need surgery and cannot afford it.”

Congratulations to Tracy Dye for going the distance and helping her clients reach the clos ing table. In the process, those who know and work with her trust her as an uplifting, genuine friend and resource they can count on.

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, I WOULD GO TO THE SWIMMING POOL, AND MY PARENTS WOULD SAY THAT WITHIN 20 MINUTES, I WOULD KNOW EVERYONE IN THE POOL BY NAME. TODAY, WE TREAT OUR CLIENTS LIKE FRIENDS … WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

Magazine Release Party

event recap

Starting in 2021, Real Producers started doing mini-magazine release parties! In attendance for these events, we will have those real estate agents and businesses featured in that issue, along with a few non-featured advertising partners.

Last month’s party, like all of our parties, was an absolute blast! At this event, we showcased the September and October 2022 issues. These events are a fun way

to debut the magazine and connect with a smaller group of incredible people.

Congratulations again to Rachel Moussa, Joe and Carla Atwal, Michelle Playdon, Chris Hall, Inspect 360, Chandler Crouch, Eric Hacker, Lori Mira, Julie Gray, and Duren Jenkins Agency.

Our team feels very grateful to have had the chance to share your stories and cele brate with you.

We look forward to continu ing these smaller celebra tions in the months and years ahead!

Photos by: Cruz Acevedo, Flux Media

vetted business spotlight

Written by: Dave Danielson Photos by: Desiree Roberts

DARREN and HADIE LOVELL with the LOVELL TEAM

Going Beyond to Close the Deal

There is no replacement for dedicated expertise, experience, and the drive to reach the closing table with care.

That’s exactly what you and your clients get when you partner with Darren and Hadie Lovell with the Lovell Team and Cardinal Financial.

As soon as you start talking with this husband-and-wife team, you quickly see the passion for what they do and for the fact that they are blessed to do it together.

“We both have our strengths. I love talking,” Darren says with a laugh. “Hadie loves people, too. She runs marketing and social media. We identify things that we are good at and that we like and split them up. As a result, we’re proud to deliver a great level of service.”

Passion for the Profession

One point of pride that Darren and Hadie have in their work is the white glove service they deliver — no matter where we are.

“We are the traveling lenders. We can do our job from anywhere in the world,” Darren explains. “For example, we were in Hawaii. At 3:30 a.m., I was conducting business here in Dallas. We do business on vacation.”

Darren and Hadie have been in the mortgage business for a decade.

“About ten years ago, I retired from Fidelity Investments. I was too young to truly retire, and Hadie had been a Loan Officer in the mortgage business for a short time,” Darren says.

“So, we decided to move ahead together. Hadie said, ‘Why don’t you come and do this with me?’ It turned out to be an incredible fit for me.”

In This Together

The two smile as they recall how they met on Match.com 12 years ago.

“We are both from Keokuk, Iowa. We discovered on our first date that we were both from the same home town. That led to us getting married nine years ago. Hadie’s background had been as a REALTOR® for several years before moving to DFW,” he says.

“Those relationships she has built have been what we have incorporated into our business. Hadie and I are both loan officers, and we have a team of loan officers who support us … we have eight people on our team.”

Making a Difference

Those who work with Darren and Hadie appreciate the elements in their approach that make them stand out.

First, they are fully relational.

“It’s never about looking at one individual deal. We look at people we work with as multiple opportunities over a lifetime,” he points out. “We do whatever we can to ensure they will be able to purchase a home. We will forego commission on an individual to make a loan work knowing that there are multiple opportunities over the lifetime to help them.”

Another standout quality for those who work with the Lovell Team is their communi cations approach.

“From a communications standpoint, we have a con sistent, clear approach. We communicate with all parties on the loan throughout the process so that everyone is on the same page, so there are no surprises,” Darren says.

“We always take time to be clear and consistent. Plus, we take our commitment to being available very seriously. We are on call from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.”

Rewarding Life Away from work, Darren and Hadie treasure time with their children — Heather (and her three children Azaelea, Trent, and Daisy), Dallas, Casen, Payton, and Logan.

In their free time, they have a passion for travel, with a self-admit ted addiction to scuba diving. They also like to exercise — working out religiously seven days a week. Plus, they are also involved in their church — Milestone Church.

At the end of the day, those who part ner with Darren and Hadie know they have dependable, genuine friends who are committed to sharing their exper tise and going beyond to close the deal.

As Hadie says, “We believe that everyone should have a part of the American dream and owning real estate.”

Contact

The Lovell Team Today!

Phone: 817-487-7110

Website: www.TheLovellTeam.com

Email: LovellTeam@ CardinalFinancial.com

cover story

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Written by: Mark Fadden

Photos by: Landon Day, Daydream Photography

HELPING THEIR CLIENTS BUY AND SELL HOMES OVER THE YEARS HAS HELPED ROSLYN AND TIM GAUNTT BUILD A SUCCESSFUL FAMILY BUSINESS. IT ONLY TOOK A LITTLE OVER A DECADE (AND SOME PRODDING FROM ROSLYN) FOR TIM TO FIGURE OUT THAT REAL ESTATE WAS IN HIS BLOOD.

Tim Gauntt hated real estate as a kid. His grand parents were agents, and his parents were both brokers that owned the first franchised real estate company in North Texas, Red Carpet Realty in Euless. “That’s all I heard about growing up,” Tim recalled. “I called myself an SO2B … Son of Two Brokers.” Being in the real estate business was the last thing that Tim wanted to do, so after grad uating from Baylor University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, he joined the corporate world. “Roslyn and I had been married for three months when a friend told me that Otis Elevator was hiring,” said Tim. “They were a part of United Technologies, which was a huge corporation. I thought it would be the perfect place for me to get the kind of experience I was looking for.”

While Tim was trying to escape his past, Roslyn was trying to figure out how to navigate her future. She had earned a full ROTC scholar ship to TCU but discovered her eyesight would not allow her to become a pilot, so she opted out after two years and began a career in fundraising, working for both national nonprofits and local schools and charities.

needed something with unlimited earning potential.” Realizing his son’s quandary, Tim’s dad began hinting that he should reconsider the real estate business as a pathway to a bigger paycheck. “Although Tim had his real estate license long before he graduated Baylor University, he swore he’d never go into real estate,” Roslyn said. “I laughed and told him, ‘You probably shouldn’t swear you’ll never do something, unless it’s scriptural. God has got a sense of humor.’ And, does he ever.”

At a time when 40% of the brokerages merged or went out of business, we dug in deep and came out thriving. - Roslyn

Tim eventually told his father he would join the brokerage as an agent. His father was delighted. “My dad told me that he would make me a partner and give me half of the company on day one. He even gave me a letter to send to the corporate office informing them that I now owned 49% of the franchise,” Tim said. But instead of mailing the letter, Tim stuck it in a drawer. When it came time for Tim to buy the business years later, his dad told him to inform the corporate office by writing another letter telling them that Tim now owned 100%. “That’s when I showed him the original letter that I never mailed,” said Tim. “He asked me why I never mailed it, and I told him that I didn’t want to come in as the owner’s son with some title that I didn’t earn. That would only alienate his other agents. Plus, I wanted to prove to myself that the only money I make is what I worked for through my commissions.”

But as soon as Roslyn became pregnant with their first child, Tim realized that the corporate world wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be. “I figured that each child we had would cost us about a million dollars each to raise and put through college,” he said. “While I had a good job at Otis, I

That propensity for fairness and to take care of those around him helped their business blossom. Tim opened a second office in Colleyville near their home in 2002. A year later, Roslyn left the fundraising world, got her real estate license, and joined the Gauntt team. “We built a building for our Colleyville office and grew it,” said Roslyn. “In 2016, we

merged with Judge Fite to allow us to provide even more resources and services to our agents and clients.”

Over the years, Roslyn and Tim have endured the ups and downs of the real estate market. A testament to their staying power can be seen in how they handled the severe downturn in 2008. “Everything we did, we did to protect the company,” Roslyn said. “At a time when 40% of the broker ages merged or went out of business,

we dug in deep and came out thriving. We owe it all to our friends and family and our clients who provided us with a steady stream of referrals during those turbulent times.” The other secret of how they weathered the Great Recession storm could be seen in their decision to stick to their roots. “Prior to the recession, many agents were moving up and out of the middle-class market. They made business decisions to go solely into the Fine Homes/ Luxury market. I was a girl who grew up locally and grad uated from Trinity High School. Although I am honored and thrilled to list, sell, and help friends purchase luxury homes within our market, I have remained true to my Hurst-Euless-Bedford roots,” Roslyn said.

While the Gauntts have carried on Tim’s parents’ and grandparents’ real estate legacy, it seems it won’t stop with them. Their daughter, son, and daughter-in-law are all in real estate and are part of the Gauntt team. Another activity that it seems will stay as a long-standing family tradition is their love for RVing. “We now own our fourth RV, an Airstream. Our kids have bought their own, and our favorite times have been RVing together,” said Roslyn. “We have taken mul tiple 3000- and 4000-mile trips, traveled to 40 out of the 50 states, and visited several national parks. In two years, Tim and I plan to take our RV to Alaska and spend a month exploring that beautiful state and all the national parks along the way.”

While the Gauntts plan to spend more time enjoying some well-deserved leisure time in the future, Roslyn said that they’ll never truly retire. “One of my favorite quotes is, ‘REALTORS® never retire; they just die,’” she said. “We feel like we’re learning how to focus on what’s important so we can be in the real estate industry for a long time. I hope we eventually finish visiting our last ten states, traveling in our Airstream, and spending time loving on our children, grandchildren, parents, siblings, friends, clients, and those God brings into our lives. The best is yet to come!”

I wanted to prove to myself that the only money I make is what I worked for through my commissions. - Tim

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE

Real Producers magazine started in Indianapolis in 2015 and is now in over 100 markets across the nation and continues to spread rapidly. Real Producers first launched in DFW in August 2018 with North DFW Real Producers (now called “North Dallas”). In May 2019, Dallas Real Producers launched, and then Tarrant Real Producers in March 2021.

In 2022, Tarrant Real Producers split into two publica tions, North Fort Worth and Fort Worth Real Producers. Fort Worth Real Producers launched in August 2022!

Q: WHO RECEIVES Real Producers MAGAZINES?

A: The top 500 real estate agents in each of the four mar kets in DFW based on their MLS production for the previ ous year. Refer to the map in this publication for the exact territories. If your broker address is within that given territory and you are in the top 500, you will receive that publication for the year. There are approximately 60,000 licensed real estate agents in DFW. The list will reset at the end of every year and continue to update annually.

Q: WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THIS MAGAZINE?

A: We believe that we are better together. When we surround ourselves with other successful, like-minded people, we grow to new heights. Real Producers is a platform that brings together the most elite individuals in DFW real estate.

We take the top 500 real estate agents and RP-vetted businesses in every market, and we build an exclusive community around that group. We share their stories, successes, market trends, and upcoming events — really, anything that will connect, inform and inspire, we put in our monthly publication.

Q: DOES REAL PRODUCERS HAVE EVENTS?

A: Yes! Each community will have two main events a year, and then we do a combined event at the end of the year, which is an awards gala called The ESPEs. For these events, we invite the top 500 real estate agents and our RP-vetted businesses. Top 500 agents are allowed to invite members of their team as well. These

events are an incredible opportunity to connect with the best of the best in DFW real estate. It is amazing to see the power in the connections made at these events. Be on the lookout for your exclusive invites!

Q:

WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR BEING FEATURED IN THIS MAGAZINE?

A: It’s really simple. You have to be on the top 500 list, and we take nominations seriously. You can nominate other real estate agents, businesses, brokers, owners or even yourself! Office leaders can also nominate real estate agents. We will consider anyone brought to our attention who is in the top 500 because we don’t know everyone’s story, so we need your help to learn about them. We cannot guarantee a feature, but we encourage you to meet with one of our team members, support Real Producers and attend our private events to increase your chances.

You can email your nominations to jordan.espeseth@realproducersmag.com.

Q: WHAT DOES IT COST A REAL ESTATE AGENT/TEAM TO BE FEATURED?

A: Zero, zilch, zippo, nada, nil. It 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 RP-VETTED BUSINESSES?

A: They are one of the best businesses in DFW in their category, and you can find them listed in our index! We don’t just find these businesses off the street, nor do we work with all businesses that approach us. One of many of the top real estate agents has rec ommended every single business you see in this publication. We won’t even meet with a business that has not been vetted by one of you and “stamped for approval,” in a sense. Our team will fur ther vet every business to make sure they are a good fit and bring value to our community. Our goal is to create a powerhouse net work, not only for the best real estate agents in the area but for the best businesses, as well, so we can grow stronger together.

Q: HOW CAN I RECOMMEND A BUSINESS?

A: If you know and want to recommend a business that works with top real estate agents, please email us to let us know at jordan.espeseth@realproducersmag.com.

Dealey Dealey Mandie Mandie

From the Ground Up agent feature

Written by: Mark Fadden Photos by: Desiree Roberts

one of the following statements is true? Mandie Dealey is Canadian, met her husband on a beach in Puerto Vallarta, adores Texas, and absolutely loves selling real estate. You’ll need to read on to find out.

At some point in your life, you’ve probably been stuck in traffic behind a car with a bumper sticker that reads, “I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.” While Mandie Dealey doesn’t have one on her car’s bumper, that statement pretty much describes her take on the Lone Star State. “I was born and raised in Georgetown, a small town outside of Toronto in Ontario, Canada, where I worked as a recruiter for an American-based company,” Dealey said. “When I turned 24, I had the opportunity to accept a company transfer to work in Texas. With nothing to lose, I jumped on the opportunity. I packed up my car with everything I owned, along with about $1,200 in cash and my three-year work visa, and headed south. Once I got to Texas, I realized this was home. I’ve lived here ever since.”

Dealey got help to make the long relocation from Canada to Texas from a young man whom she had met on a beach in Puerto Vallarta. “It was a last-minute girls’ get away before I made the big move to Texas,” she said. “My friend and I were at the resort pool and saw two guys walking up the beach. They came up to us, and we started talking. We agreed to meet for dinner that night and decided to go back to our rooms to freshen up. We thought it was a little strange when they kept following us back toward our room. Little did we know that they had the room right next to ours! Discovering they were both from Texas, I had met my first official Texan, and we built our friendship from there.”

Call it fate or luck, or whatever you want to call it, Mandie and Ryan, that young man who she met on that beach 25 years ago, have been married for 23 years, building their family with three incredible chil dren and residing in Keller for the last 18 years. Ryan’s career in new home construction was something that Dealey found interesting. “I was an art major in college study ing interior design, so design had always interested me,” she said.

So, in 2004, she went to work for Mercedes Homes in their sales division and has been hooked on real estate ever since. “Learning the construction side was undeniably the best education I could have ever received. Knowing how and why homes are built the way they are from the ground up is knowledge I still use every day. It’s not just about the visual of a home, but it’s also what’s behind the walls that counts,” said Dealey.

When the 2008 economic down turn hit, it took a huge toll on the real estate market. Dealey remembers that real estate agents were leaving the industry in droves, which she interpreted as a huge oppor tunity. “I read an article that 660,000 agents across the U.S. were hanging up their licenses because of the housing market crisis,” Dealey said. “I figured if they are on their way out, I was on my way in.”

Dealey earned her real estate license in 2008 and hit the ground running. “The 2008 housing market crisis taught me that compas sion and understanding of people’s circumstances are what it takes to be successful in real estate,” she said. “I was there for my clients through short sales, foreclosures, and some of the darkest days they would ever experience.”

Being a lighthouse in the financial storm would prove to be a boon for Dealey’s career. The same families that she helped with their real estate transactions during the Great Recession would continue to refer and

Which

recommend her for years to their friends and families. “To this day, I can link so many of my referrals back to those families that not only needed my help but were the foundation of my real estate career. It’s truly incredible how it all happened,” said Dealey.

While the foundation of Dealey’s real estate career is rooted in new home construction, she loves to help her clients find the home that will fit them the best, no matter their age. Along with an exten sive knowledge of construction, she has a huge advantage when she’s representing her client’s best interests. “Clients think it’s pretty impressive to show up in a dress and heels and be able to talk about slab tensions and rebar,” Dealey said. “I love the buffet of homes that I get to experience daily;

there is something out there for everyone. To be able to walk into a new home, or a home needing updating with some renovations, with a client and experience their reaction is priceless. As an art major, I can grab a pen and paper and draw the new space so that a client can see it in real time. It’s so rewarding to be able to help them visualize their dream.”

When Dealey isn’t working, you may find her enjoy ing the pine trees at their cabin in Oklahoma or taking pictures of her three children — Nathan, Bryce, and Madison, as they’re wakeboarding and surfing out on the lake — or catch her still expressing her love of art through painting and drawing. A new hobby in her life is golf. She tries to hit the links a few times a week and enjoys an occasional “Wine and Nine” with friends.

No matter what’s going on in Dealey’s life, she embraces everything with a positive attitude. “I have an allergic reaction to negativity,” she said, tongue firmly in cheek. “Seriously, I run from negativity. I just don’t have a pessimistic bone in my body.” Dealey credits her amazing profession for much of that positivity. “How lucky are we to get to know people from all over the U.S. and other corners of the world, to hear their story, to meet their children, to know and watch the kids grow up in the home you helped them find?” she said. “From upsiz ing to downsizing, first-time home buying and everything in between, it’s incredible to be a part of that process. When we become their ‘REALTOR® for Life,’ we have achieved what we set out to do … one home at a time. I am truly blessed to be a part of their story, the story that never really ends.”

WHICH REAL PRODUCERS TERRITORY ARE YOU A PART OF?

REAL PRODUCERS IN THE DFW METROPLEX

WHICH REAL PRODUCERS TERRITORY ARE YOU A PART OF?

A Quick Look at the Different DFW Real Producers Markets

Real Producers in the DFW Metroplex

Real Producers has 100+ franchises nationwide and there are four in DFW alone. In each of these markets, we pull the top 500 agents based off annual residential MLS sales volume. Where your broker address is located will determine which publication is for you. This map shows the territories for each of the four DFW franchises. If you are a top-500 agent in any of these markets, you will be receiving a publication every month and have the possibility of being featured at no cost to you!

A Quick Look at the Different DFW Real Producers Markets

Real Producers has 100+ franchises nationwide and there are four in DFW alone. In each of these markets, we pull the top 500 agents based off annual residential MLS sales volume. Where your broker address is located will determine which publication is for you. This map shows the territories for each of the four DFW franchises. If you are a top-500 agent in any of these markets, you will be receiving a publication every month and have the possibility of being featured at no cost to you!

North Dallas Real Producers

inspirational agent

Written by: Dave Danielson

Photos by: Desiree Roberts

Leanna

Sell Sellars ars IN

STEP WITH SUCCESS

If life is like a dance, then Leanna Sellars is clearly in step with success.

As a REALTOR® with Keller Williams Southlake, she continues to grow in her appreciation for the business she loves. At the same time, she learns, grows, and contributes to her clients’ causes daily.

Leanna was born and raised in Alaska. Her parents modeled hard work; her mom was a dance studio owner and her father a pilot.

“I spent a long time engrained in the dance world … that was my passion,” she remembers.

“After high school, I moved to Los Angeles and felt like a fish out of water. I went to college there and danced in a Disneyland parade.”

A Life of Love

In time, Leanna married Keith, the man she had grown up with, and they soon embarked on a new move and adventure in their lives together.

“My dad lived here in Texas and encouraged us to come check it out. We got married and moved to North Texas in 1997,” Leanna remembers.

“I shifted my studies to communication studies and business and finished my degree at the University of North Texas. I had the opportunity to stay involved in dancing, and I taught for a while.”

Prior to moving from California, Leanna had worked as a teller with Bank of America. When she and Keith moved to Texas, she stayed with the bank. In time, she was ele vated to become assistant branch manager.

As Leanna and Keith started their family, she took a step back when her daughter was a year old to be a stay-at-home mom for a bit.

Finding Her Path Time passed, and Leanna consid ered future paths that she might be interested in taking profes sionally. One of their friends con sidered getting their real estate license and asked if Keith was interested.

“Keith wasn’t, but I was,” Leanna smiles.

“So, I embarked on that journey in 2003. I got my license and jumped into the career, joining KW Southlake just a few months in! I was fortunate that I had some family and friends as early clients and worked through the growing pains of meet ing and managing clients while juggling household demands and little ones at home. I grew the business slowly and steadily, ulti mately building a strong base of clients in the com munity we lived. When the kids got to middle school, I shifted into really wanting to grow the business.”

Leanna’s love for her work is centered on the human element.

As she says, “I have a passion for educat ing buyers and sellers and navigating them through the process to see the end goal achieved, guiding them to decisions that will help build out a legacy for their family.”

I have a passion for educating buyers and sellers and navigating them through the process to see the end goal achieved, guiding them to decisions that will help build out a legacy for their family.

“I attribute my growth to her. I got involved in our Agent Leadership Council. I was petrified when she approached me and asked me to serve in that capacity. I was with agents who were always on the big boards … they were the elite. I didn’t feel like I deserved a seat at their table,” Leanna remembers.

“It was a great experience, and I will be forever grateful to her. That group became my friends, and I started teaching and coaching other agents. That confidence I gained in those experiences really translated to my business and being able to better serve my clients.”

Family Foundation

Family time is the best time of the day for Leanna. She treasures time with her husband, Keith.

“We have been married for 25 years, and I attribute our success to him,” she says with a smile. “I got to enjoy this business without the pressure of building fast.”

They look forward to time spent with their adult children — Shelby and Kole.

In her free time, Leanna looks forward to chances to travel and be outdoors. Watching Hallmark movies and reading are also a favorite for her. She and her family also love time at the home they purchased two years ago.

“It’s in North Decatur and sits on 19 acres,” she says. “We’ve trans formed it to a style that fits us, and I totally embrace the serenity of our outdoor space there.”

With a sense of authenticity, passion, and positivity, Leanna serves the needs of all around her. In turn, she keeps moving forward and ensures that her clients are also in step with success as they reach for their dreams.

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