North Dallas Real Producers - May 2023

JEN BRANT: FULL BLOOM

SUSIE GRANT: A LOCAL TOUCH

CASSY STAHL: GIFTS IN THE STRUGGLE

GROWING THE FAMILY

TYLER COLEMAN & BLACK TIE MOVING: ROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET

JUSTIN PATE OF RENOVATION SELLS: THE PRESALE HOME RENOVATION EXPERT

INSPIRING. MAY 2023

Photo by: Scott Peek Photography LLC

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!

Left

REAL PRODUCERS TEAM

Lance Dunahoe

Lanie Schaber Ad Strategist

Mandi Jackson Event Assistant

Julie Altemus Executive Director Landon Robinson Director of Client Relations

Scott Peek Photographer

Ilona Gorokhovskiy Photographer

Missy Kremer Editor

Katherine Fondren Content Coordinator

Jordan Espeseth Founder/Co-owner

Kareen Delos Reyes Administrative Assistant

Jessica Nelson Social Media Director

Cruz Acevedo Photographer

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!

BLINDS & DRAPERIES

Best Shutters (214) 538-2400

bestshuttersdirect.com

BRANDED MARKETING MATERIALS

Lovehandle (281) 778-2051

www.lovehandle promo.com

BUILDER

Shaddock Homes (972) 526-7700

ShaddockHomes.com

BUSINESS COACHING

Hero Nation Coaching (469) 500-3642

theheronation.com

CLIENT AND REFERRAL GIFTS

Gifts of Graze

Eileen Torres (214) 814-1216

www.giftsofgraze.com

CLIENT ENGAGEMENT

LEADS by Mandi Jackson

(801) 598-5767

LEADSbyMandi.com

COFFEE COMPANY

Poo Brew Coffee (469) 430-3443

PooBrewCoffee.com

CREDIT REPAIR

MSI Credit Solutions (866) 217-9841

www.msicredit.com

EASY OWNER

FINANCING

TL Global

(281) 818-5471

easyrealtormoney.com

FLOORING

The Design Group Flooring (682) 234-6930

tdgflooring.com

FOUNDATION REPAIR

DIGG Foundation Repair

(214) 307-4060

diggfoundationrepair.com

Elite Foundation Repairs

(214) 856-9634

EliteFoundation Repairs.com

FOUNDATION, CONCRETE & DRAINAGE SERVICES

FCS Foundation and Concrete Services

(877) 554-8284

FoundationAnd Concrete.com

HEALTH

Restore Hyperwellness & Cryotherapy

(817) 912-1550

Restore.com

HOME INSPECTION

Element Inspection

(214) 535-7971

element inspection.com

First Choice Home Inspection

(325) 260-8311

www.firstchoice homesinspection.com

Inspect360 (817) 754-0360

inspect360.com

Semper Fi Home Inspections, Inc. (682) 351-2267

SemperFiHome Inspections.com

HOME REPAIR & RENOVATIONS

Punchlist USA, Inc.

Lora Helt (404) 993-8622

Lora@punchlistusa.com

HOME WARRANTY

Fidelity National Home Warranty

Mike Csanad

(469) 590-5733

www.homewarranty.com

Super Home, Inc.

Deb McCandless

(817) 240-8021

HelloSuper.com

INSURANCE AGENCY

Paine Insurance Group (972) 387-9217

paineinsurancegroup.com

JUNK REMOVAL

Junkluggers of Collin County

Mark Schneider (469) 344-6659

junkluggersofcollin county.com

MORTGAGE LENDING

First Rate Financial (214) 872-4442

iamfirstrate.com

Guaranteed Rate

Caleb Buczek (214) 412-9118

CalebBuczek.com

Movement Mortgage (469) 202-4195

LoanOfficerMark.com

OriginPoint

Dan Carson (512) 878-3047

PBJ Mortgage, LLC (469) 766-4811

pbjteam.com

Reliant Team of Premier Mortgage (619) 378-3795

MichaelChiodo.com

The Tuttle Group

Cross Country Mortgage (469) 319-0660

thetuttlegroup.com

Wesley Mortgage Team

(817) 494-1726

wesleymortgage.homes

MOVING SERVICES

All My Sons

Moving & Storage (561) 578-3800 allmysons.com

Black Tie Moving North Dallas

JC Caldwell (615) 900-2641

Finesse Movers (469) 657-5975

finessemovers.com

Stonebriar Moving Services (469) 734-9000

stonebriarmoving.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

Ilona Jade Photography (253) 632-5155

ilonajade.com

Scott Peek Photography (469) 587-2300

ScottPeekPhotography.com

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

American Real PM (469) 620-0114 americanrealpm.com

Real Property Management Focus (469) 820-0088

realpmfocus.com

REAL ESTATE SCHOOL

Champions School of Real Estate®

Rita Santamaria (281) 893-4484

www.ChampionsSchool.com

REMODELER

Renovation Sells

(214) 888-4376

RenovationSells.com/ North-Dallas

ROOFING

Tarrant Roofing

(972) 470-9999

TarrantRoofing.com

Texas Direct Roofing

Nathan Lemons (972) 951-3748

nathan@txdroofing.com

Town & Country Roofing (972) 377-8188

townandcountry

roofingdfw.com

ROOFING & ROOF WARRANTY

Total Roof Protection

(817) 210-6338

totalroofprotection.com

ROOFING / STORM

RESTORATION

100% Construction (469) 999-6091

100percent constructiontx.com

Cook DFW Roofing and Restoration (214) 236-2832

cookdfw.com

Swordsmen Roofing and Construction LLC

(972) 979-6197

swordsmenroofing.com

SHORT TERM RENTAL

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

iTrip Vacations North Dallas (972) 649-0454

northdallas.itrip.co/

SOCIAL MEDIA

MANAGEMENT

WAY Social

Jessica Nelson

(919) 645-8960

TITLE COMPANY

Alamo Title Company

Ashley Polito (214) 727-7034

Chicago Title DFW

(972) 931-1522

ChicagoTitleDFW.com

Fair Texas Title

fairtexastitle.com

Lawyers Title

(469) 247-8281

dfw.ltic.com

Republic Title

Ken Callahan (214) 793-5979

RepublicTitle.com

Texas Excel Title LLC (817) 980-1018

TexasExcelTitle.com

VIDEOGRAPHY/ PHOTOGRAPHY

StudioUSA

(469) 955-5833

studiousa.live

WEALTH ADVISOR/ FINANCIAL PLANNING

Eighteen Financial Group

Alec Berrey

(541) 908-3683

Elijah Cross (NYL) (361) 236-8957

WINDOWS

FoggyWindowRepair.Com

(972) 693-6449

FoggyWindowRepair.com

Town & Country Roofing

(972) 377-8188

townandcountry roofingdfw.com

WHICH REAL PRODUCERS TERRITORY ARE YOU A PART OF?

WHICH

REAL

PRODUCERS

REAL PRODUCERS IN THE DFW METROPLEX

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

North Fort Worth Real Producers

Fort Worth Real Producers

Dallas Real Producers

YOUR NORTH DALLAS REAL PRODUCERS

BADGES

BADGES

Congrats for being one of the Top 500 real estate agents in North Dallas!

You now have your own badge to use however you’d like to show that you’ve made it a part of this exclusive community of the top 1-2% in real estate!

Missing your badge? Email jordan.espeseth@n2co.com.

Using your badge? We’d love to see how! Show us how you are using your badge, and you may just find a picture of what you shared in the magazine! Social media, email signatures, web listings, marketing material ... nothing’s off limits!

Our RP-vetted businesses have been carefully selected to be a part of this community and have their own badge as well! They have been recommended by your peers in the top 500 and are some of North Dallas’ most elite businesses. Look for this badge to know that you are working with one of the best, recommended by the best!

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE FAQ

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 publications, North Fort Worth and Fort Worth Real Producers Fort Worth Real Producers launched in August 2022!

Q: WHO RECEIVES REAL PRODUCERS MAGAZINE?

A: The top 500 real estate agents in each of the four markets in DFW, based on their annual residential sales production for the previous year, as recorded on the MLS. 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.

It is important to note that Real Producers is not a brag book. To be in the top 1-2% in your field takes a lot of grit, passion, hard work, trials, tribulations, and a strong “why” to keep pushing on. Real Producers is about sharing and honoring those stories and humanizing you and your peers to create a culture of honor and collaboration that propels us all to the next level.

Q: DOES REAL PRODUCERS HAVE EVENTS?

A: Yes! Each year we have several events. Some are specific to each territory, and some are shared events for all four DFW Real Producers markets. We have several different types of events, such as magazine celebration events, partners-only events, social events, mastermind/ educational style events, and of course, the annual black-tie awards gala called The ESPE Awards. 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@n2co.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 RPVETTED 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 recommended 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 further vet every business to make sure they are a good fit and bring value to our community. Our goal is to create a powerhouse network, not only for the best real estate agents in the area but for the best businesses, as well, so we can grow stronger together. When you meet one of them, be sure to thank them for their continued support and for investing in you and your growth.

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@n2co.com.

Were you, your broker, or the team featured in an issue of Real Producers?

Want a copy of your article or full magazines that you were featured in?

REPRINTS!

What the heck is a reprint? A reprint is a four-page, magazine-quality-grade paper with your full article and photos featuring you on the COVER of the publication.

WHY DO I NEED THOSE?

These reprints are a professional marketing tool that can help brand you, your team and/or your business.

• Use on listing appointments.

• Send out to friends and family.

• Send to clients with your holiday greetings.

• Brokers, use as recruiting tools for capturing new talent.

• Use when farming your favorite neighborhood.

WHAT IF I CHANGED COMPANIES OR NEED SOMETHING CORRECTED IN MY ARTICLE?

No worries! We can make any changes needed. We send you a proof, you approve, and they are sent to you via FedEx.

WHO CAN BUY THESE?

The REALTOR® who was featured, the broker or family. Anyone who wants to promote you.

HOW DO I ORDER?

Email Katherine Fondren at katherine.fondren@n2co.com or call 985-518-1991.

THE INFINITE GAME

Have you ever thought about your mindset in regard to your business and life? Are you relational or transactional? Do you believe in collaboration or competition? Do you believe in abundance or scarcity? Are you short-term or long-term focused?

Depending on how you truly answer these questions will determine not only your enjoyment in your life and business but also how long your business will continue to succeed. Creating success in the short-term, and sustaining success over time, are two very different things.

Simon Sinek’s book The Infinite Game is a transformational book around this topic. He brings about the point that in business, most of the time, the pie is plenty big enough for everyone, and that we are better off focusing on how, collectively, we can grow the pie together, versus trying to take a crumb off your competitor’s plate. He says that if you embrace your competitors as co-players, you will start to develop a mindset of abundance over scarcity, which will in turn get you to focus on the big “why” in your business… more than the person next to you who is trying to “beat you.” This shift creates more success for you and your organization.

This focus on abundance over scarcity, and how that drastically alters our experience, is something I have been putting a lot of awareness around lately. Did you know we have something in our brains called the Reticular Activating System (RAS) that is a bundle of nerves at our brainstem that only allows important information to come through our brains and filters out the “unnecessary” data?

What is interesting is that there are billions of bits of data coming through our five senses at any given moment, and our brains can only process a tiny fraction of that information. This is where the RAS comes in. And, the data that gets allowed in, is determined by our beliefs. If you believe people are friendly, that is what you will see and experience. If you believe people are wicked, that is also what you will see and experience. If you believe there is abundance… you guessed it…you will live in a world filled with abundance. “Ask and you shall receive,” has never rang truer.

As we enter into the midway point of the year, I want to challenge you to look at your beliefs and how you are approaching your life and business. Some of you may realize that you have been allowing your RAS to show you a world that is making it more difficult for you to create the life you want. It is important to ask…are you playing the infinite game?

I hope to see you in the land of abundance!

Jordan Espeseth Founder/Co-Owner

Kelly Berry

Jackie Andras Rachel Shelton

Christy Blagg Jasmine Johnson

Roxanne Frederick

Heather Gershon Kelsey Berry Pam Brown

Tracey McCann

Jason Ramsey

Glenda Webb

Robin Rogers

REALTOR® on the rise

Written by: Zachary Cohen

Photos by: Cruz Acevedo, StudioUSA

Jen Brant

Full Bloom

Before getting her real estate license in 2013, Jen Brant was a personal trainer and insurance agent. Jen has long held a love for homes, and she believed a career in insurance would allow her to serve her community by doing something she was passionate about. While she struggled to find satisfaction in her two years as an insurance agent, that role eventually led her into real estate sales, where she has found tremendous fulfillment.

Jen’s success came the hard way, with years of struggles and searching to find her groove, but she’s now one of the fastest-rising agents in Dallas. With Monument Realty, Jen is finally able to serve in the way she always dreamed.

Coming Into Her Own

Here in 2023, Jen is thriving. She’s a top 1% agent in Dallas-Fort Worth, closing over $18 million in 2022. She’s also running Monument Realty’s Preston Hollow office and recruiting.

It took Jen many years to find the company and team that would support her growth and allow her to truly flourish.

“I joined Monument in December 2020. That’s where I really started to come into my own and bloom,” Jen smiles. “This was the first time in my life I was in a place where I felt aligned. I am a fixer and have a servant’s heart. So, I finally got involved with this company where I could give, help people, and problem-solve in such a positive way. Monument Realty has played such a huge role in being where I am in my life. Now I get to hire agents and watch them succeed. That is amazingly rewarding.”

In addition to overseeing the Preston Hollow office, Jen leads a small real estate team, consisting of Kalei Jordan and Jeane Sukalac. She leads by putting others first, a strategy that has helped her become a respected leader and mentor.

“God has created me with a servant’s heart… When you put people first, everything falls in line.”

“I love my girls like family,” Jen says proudly.

Forged in the Struggle

While Jen is experiencing impressive success today, she’s had to work for every ounce of it. She comes from a complex background, one fraught with struggles that have ultimately made her more resilient, compassionate, and aware.

Jen’s mom had her at 16 years old, so she was raised by her grandmother for much of her childhood. She was 16 when she left her home, got a job, and began to build a life of her own. Jen became a mom soon after, bringing a whole new dimension to her life.

“At that time, it was survival mode. I did what I needed to do to care for myself and my daughter,” Jen reflects.

While Jen’s formative years were challenging, she now sees the purpose in her struggles. She uses her life experience to propel her forward and serve those around her.

“I discovered that if you genuinely want something and don’t quit, you will get it. In my life, I had to work really hard to get where I am at. Nothing was given to me. I just worked my butt off, and I still do to this day,” Jen explains. “God was guiding me to where I am today, and I’ve never felt more in my purpose than where I am now. I get why I needed the challenges. It’s made me who I am. And for that, I don’t regret any of it. I see the purpose in it.”

Making an Impact

Jen’s daughters, Isabella,

Olivia, and Piper, are now 23, 14, and 4. When she’s not working or with her family, she enjoys health and fitness. She’s also recently dived deeper into her faith.

“The closer I’ve come to my faith, the better things in my life have become for me,” she says.

Jen’s highest intention is to make a positive impact on the lives of others. She hopes to leave a legacy of changing others’ lives for the better.

“I don’t know what God has in store for me. I just know I want to keep walking forward and helping people,” Jen says. “I hope my story inspires people and gives them hope. I cannot tell you how much it means to my heart to just give to others. I want everybody to know that I led with my heart, regardless of how painful it was at times. I never let the world change the way my heart is designed.”

GET MORE QUALIFIED LEADS by work ing w it h cred it-cha l lenged buyers

✓

✓

✓ 30 -Yea r A mor t ization

✓ No Pay ment Pena lt y or Ba l loon Pay ment

✓ A ny Sing le-Fa mi ly Home in Texas

✓ Oppor tunit y to Bui ld Wea lt h

✓

✓ Fi xed Mont h ly Pay ment * Interest

✓ Deed in Homebuyer’s Na me Upon Closing

✓ More Leads & Faster List ing Sa les

✓ 10 0% Rea ltor Protect ion

✓ Rubber Sta mp Process

✓ Fu l l Commission for Each Referra l

Growing up, Tyler Coleman moved — a lot. Although he was born in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, Tyler spent much of his childhood moving around the state of Texas, following his dad to his next high school football coaching job.

“We moved every two to three years all the way through my schooling, but my dad would never hire a moving company,” Tyler reflects. “My twin brother, my dad, and I were the movers.”

As a child and teenager, Tyler didn’t enjoy the moving process. He was faced with the stress of changing schools, making new friends, and adjusting to a new environment. On top of it all, he discovered that the moving process could be grueling. Coordination was complex, and heavy lifting was necessary.

“So, if you’d tell me at 18 I’d be working for a moving company as a career, I’d tell you you were crazy,” Tyler

laughs. “It was tough. Moving is hard, but I know how to move.”

In 2013, Tyler’s aunt hired Black Tie Moving as they transitioned homes. When the team arrived, Tyler naturally began helping them out. After all, moving was in his blood, which was evident to the Black Tie Moving team. They asked Tyler if he’d like to join the team, and it just so happened he was looking for full-time employment.

rp vetted business spotlight

Written by: Zachary Cohen

Photos by: Scott Peek, Scott Peek Photography, LLC

“It became a natural transition. I found I liked moving other people and helping them with that stressful situation. Even when you’re not lifting furniture and packing and unpacking, moving is tough, and I found I liked helping others through that process.”

CHASING RAVING REVIEWS

Now the Branch Manager for the DFW and Austin locations, Tyler has been with Black Tie Moving for a decade. He started as the low man on the totem pole and worked his way up to driver/crew lead, operations management, inside sales, and eventually branch manager. He led the Nashville office from 2017-2019, helped get the Austin branch off the ground in 2019, and moved back home to Dallas to lead the DFW office in 2022.

Tyler describes Black Tie Moving’s culture as more like a family than a corporation. His goal is to create happy employees and, thus, happy customers.

“The moving industry is well known to have temp workers and contractors. What separates us is that every person we employ is drug tested, background checked, and full-time,” Tyler explains.

“The quality of service is something we pride ourselves on from training. We roll out the red carpet for all our clients… literally. We pay our guys higher wages to attract the top guys. We have a great culture.”

WORLD CLASS SERVICE

Black Tie Moving continues to expand; Tyler will oversee the future opening of the Houston location

moving services for every client.

“The first day I pulled up to work for Black Tie, I saw the truck, the logo, and on the side of the truck, it said, ‘World class professionalism and service.’ That struck a chord for me. I felt at home. Providing great service and getting raving reviews from customers makes me feel like what I’m doing every day is worth it.”

Black Tie Moving is a luxury moving and relocation service that specializes in serving the needs of celebrities, musicians, athletes, and homeowners nationwide. Their service-first style is designed to provide the ultimate customer experience, saving time and money while helping customers feel safe and confident. For more information, visit https://www.blacktiemoving.com.

Photo courtesy of Black Tie Moving

JUSTIN PATE

OF RENOVATION SELLS

Today’s buyers are, by and large, looking for updated, move-in ready homes. While some homeowners are exceptional at keeping their spaces up to date and feeling fresh, the majority of homes still need updating before heading to market. This is particularly true when sellers strive to obtain top dollar.

Renovation Sells is the presale renovation expert that sellers and real estate agents can leverage to sell a home quickly and at top value. Since launching in North Dallas in late 2022, the company has quickly become a trusted resource for local agents and sellers looking to complete quick, presale updates that generate a generous return on investment.

LOCALLY OWNED

Renovation Sells is owned by Dallas native Justin Pate. Before opening Renovation Sells North Dallas, he spent six years with luxury hotel operator Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and twelve years in the mobility and transportation industry. In 2021, Justin took the opportunity to pursue his dream of becoming a business owner.

When Justin found Renovation Sells, a lightbulb went off. He felt compelled to bring its unique business model to North Dallas, where he saw a mismatch between existing inventory and what buyers were demanding.

“The secret sauce is the design,” Justin says. “What sets us apart is our in-house design team. We work with the agent, homeowner, or property management group to understand their needs and turn around a highlevel design on any budget within a week. After executing fast updates, the home will sell quicker and for a much higher value.”

In addition to offering top-notch design services, Renovation Sells relies on local contractors and materials to complete projects.

“I’m a local owner who grew up in North Dallas. Our crews and our families are local business people who live here in the North Dallas area. We buy everything we can locally and use crews and teams we know personally. My wife and I are engaged in the business, day-to-day,” Justin explains.

GETTING THE JOB DONE RIGHT

Renovation Sells has impeccable turnaround times. The process begins with a property walkthrough and a quick meeting to discuss timelines. Once a contract is signed, the team sends the client a professional design board within a week. Upon design approval, materials are ordered and the teams are scheduled to execute the project, which is typically completed in three to four weeks.

rp vetted business spotlight

Written by: Zachary Cohen

Photos by: Scott Peek, Scott Peek Photography, LLC

Renovation Sells also offers a financing option with no inter est for six months, allowing homeowners to renovate now and pay later. The result is a 350%+ average return on investment.

Justin and the Renovation Sells team have a bright future ahead. They are optimistic about growth in Dallas long-term, as well as their ability to support homeowners and agents during the home selling process. Justin has two full-time crews and plans to add two more by the end of 2023. He intends to double down on his customer-focused approach to continue building a solid reputation in the market.

“I started my career at Four Seasons, a company that was deeply devoted to customer service. Here, we believe in personal relationships, too. We translate that five-star hotel customer experience to a five-star construction experience.

NICHE REALTY GROUP NICHE REALTY GROUP

cover story

Written by: Zachary Cohen

Photos by: Scott Peek Photography LLC

Growing the Family

Sisters Sarah and Nadia Fakih have been selling real estate since the early 2000s, with their journey bringing them from Las Vegas to California and, eventually, to North Dallas. Sarah and Nadia have been successful in real estate at each step along the way, but as serial entrepreneurs, they’ve also started several other businesses. One was Blush Bar, the beauty bar they opened in Frisco in 2018. This endeavor eventually led them to Amanda Rupley, who became their dear friend and business partner.

Family Spotlight

Sarah, a licensed Texas attorney, lives in Frisco with her husband, Ahmer Khan, and their three children, Zydan (10), Aaliyah (8), and Niam (4). Nadia lives in the same neighborhood as her sister; she has three kids, Rayan (7), Zayn (6), and Noor (3). Amanda and her husband, Derek, have two children, Devon (18) and Dylan (14).

“We have a lot of beauty bars in LA, and there was nowhere to get your hair blow-dried and makeup done in Frisco. It made sense here, so we opened a beauty bar in 2018,” Sarah recalls.

While their hopes were high for bringing a new service to North Dallas, Sarah and Nadia were set to face more challenges than they expected.

“The industry was a beast we didn’t know. It was really difficult to have a salon, run a staff, and only offer blowouts and makeup,” Sarah continues.

“Margins weren’t great. Staffing was complicated. We didn’t know whether we were going to sink or swim.” That’s when Sarah and Nadia met Amanda, a customer at Blush Bar. Amanda had a massive social media network, and she began posting about her positive experiences at Blush Bar.

“I hear about this gorgeous, blonde, blueeyed bombshell with this huge network, and she goes live outside after getting our services and has several of her followers on social media chime in. That live [video] got over 10,000 views,” Nadia explains. “She promoted the place, and soon, the place was packed. Amanda ended up getting involved in the business, asking questions like, ‘How can I help make this a success?’ And she was just doing it out of the good of her heart.”

Sarah and Nadia were frank with Amanda. The business was struggling, and she may be supporting a sinking ship. But, Amanda was unfazed. She continued to promote the business and support her new friends with no strings attached. Soon, she came on board in a more formal way.

“We went through a lot of ups and downs, and Amanda helped us the entire way with really no promise of a return. She stuck with it because she cared about us. She helped us all the way through with staff, marketing, everything,” Nadia continues.

When COVID shut down local businesses in 2020, Blush Bar was forced to close its doors, but that wasn’t the end of the three women’s partnership. In fact, it was just the beginning.

A NEW PARTNERSHIP

Amanda, coincidentally, had a long history in real estate. Her mother was a successful REALTOR®, as was her sister. She already held tremendous industry knowledge, and open house hopping was one of her favorite pastimes. Amanda led a successful career in acting and casting, but she was ready for a new professional endeavor. Joining Sarah and Nadia in real estate was a natural fit.

“I said, ‘Amanda, with your marketing skills and network, you can succeed at this. Get your real estate license.’ Her entire family had a background in real estate, and she already knew so much about it,” Sarah explains.

WE ALL GET ALONG AS FRIENDS, AND WE REALLY CONSIDER EACH OTHER FAMILY. IT GOES DEEP, AND THAT’S WHAT MAKES THE TEAM SO SPECIAL. WE CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER AND EACH OTHER’S LIVELIHOOD.

WE’RE GENEROUS WITH EACH OTHER AND WE HAVE EACH OTHER’S BACKS.

And so, Amanda did just that. She began as Sarah and Nadia’s transaction coordinator, quickly became a top agent, and soon entered a partnership with them.

NICHE REALTY GROUP

Three years later, Sarah, Nadia, and Amanda are thriving at the helm of their team, Niche Realty Group with Compass. In addition to the three leaders, the group has a Transaction Coordinator (Tiffany Pitts), a Marketing Director (Christin Robinson), and two other agents (Dani Tac and Eleni Agkafanidou). They closed 149 units for $127 million in 2022.

“We are all from different parts of the world and have such unique stories and experiences,” Nadia says. “We have the ability to connect with all these different cultures and speak multiple languages. We do it all — development, commercial, land luxury, first-time home buyers, renovations, and we each have our niche. Amanda describes Niche Realty Group as a family.

“We are loud, full of personality, funny. We’re not your traditional REALTORS®. We’re us. No filter,” Amanda says proudly.

Sarah agrees.

“We all get along as friends, and we really consider each other family. It goes deep, and that’s what makes the team so special. We care about

each other and each other’s livelihood. We’re generous with each other and we have each other’s backs.”

Sarah, Nadia, and Amanda are focused on growing their team’s volume while diversifying and honing their expertise.

“Every day is an adventure in real estate,” Sarah says. “It’s constantly evolving, and you have to be comfortable being uncomfortable. Our team thrives off of these challenges.” The core of Niche Realty Group is service, care, and integrity.

“We share a vision of serving and helping others instead of serving and helping ourselves. We don’t chase a paycheck. We chase a feeling in our hearts by serving others,” Amanda says. “We just want to do right by our clients and right by each other.

EVERY DAY IS AN ADVENTURE IN REAL ESTATE.

CASSY STAHL

Gifts in the Struggle

Written by: Zachary Cohen • Photos by: Cruz Acevedo, StudioUSA

No one expects a cancer diagnosis, and it can be one of the scariest pieces of information one can receive. When Cassy Stahl was delivered the news that she had stage III breast cancer in 2007, it upended her life. There were moments when she doubted whether she would survive and whether her three young kids would be left without her. But as the story unfolded, Cassy’s cancer battle turned into one of the most positive forces in her life. The ensuing reassessment of her values led to a more authentic life, a sense of freedom, and a new career. Cassy’s life-changing battle with cancer inspired her to take some long-overdue action, resulting in a level of fulfillment

“My experience with cancer and facing mortality gave me clarity on what’s important in life,” Cassy reflects. “What’s important? Living your true authentic self and finding the ways you can impact the world and make a difference in others’ lives.”

GIFTS IN THE STRUGGLE

After graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering from Marquette University, Cassy went on to enjoy a successful 25-year career in engineering. She was good at her work, and in some cases, it brought her joy. She had the

opportunity to work on projects like the restoration of the Texas State Capitol building, worked for the department of defense, and traveled overseas.

Despite her success, Cassy always sensed something was missing. She witnessed her husband Lennart’s genuine passion for his engineering work and recognized she lacked the same pull. For many years, she couldn’t fully admit that her work didn’t bring her joy.

That is, until her cancer diagnosis. At the time, her kids were 3, 7, and 9. Cancer was the wake-up call that Cassy needed.

“I just took it one day at a time. And during this time, I realized how much love there was around me. I saw what was important — friendships, family, — and eventually, I settled into a place of peace. This gave me the freedom to see what really brings me joy and how I could truly make a difference in this world.”

Cassy realized that life was too short to waste on things she wasn’t passionate about. She may have been good at engineering, but it wasn’t what she was meant to do. She was meant to be impacting others on a more personal level.

FINDING HER CALLING

Cassy was first introduced to the real estate industry through her father, a real estate appraiser.

Cassy fought the idea of becoming a REALTOR® due to a long-standing resistance to sales. As an engineer, her credibility was high, but she believed the same couldn’t be said for being a salesperson.

After her cancer diagnosis, Cassy was forced to look carefully at her limiting beliefs.

“Before cancer, I felt, ‘Once I achieve this, then I’ll take time for myself.’ I wasn’t taking care of myself and wasn’t doing what I wanted to do. I realized the life I was living wasn’t the life I wanted to live, and I hoped I would get a chance to do it differently. I realized I only get one go-around on this Earth. What does that look like for me on a daily basis? Where can I truly enjoy what I do and have peace along my journey?”

Cassy’s answer was real estate. She was licensed in 2013, beginning a new stage in her life.

LIVING IN JOY

Over a decade later, Cassy is thriving. She’s free of cancer, her three

I BELIEVE I’M IN REAL ESTATE TODAY BECAUSE OF MY JOURNEY, AND I BELIEVE THAT’S WHAT MAKES ME GOOD AT REAL ESTATE.

kids, Sophia, Linnea, and Stefan, are now 25, 23, and 20, and her second career has been even more fulfilling than she could have imagined. Perhaps most importantly, Cassy is making a real difference in the lives of others. She’s living in joy.

“I believe I’m in real estate today because of my journey, and I believe that’s what makes me good at real estate. What I love most about the business is the opportunity to get to know people on a personal level. My

journey has allowed me to have a bigger perspective and do this well without carrying a lot of stress,” Cassy offers.

“I’m most grateful for the mind shift that occurred in my life post-cancer, the opportunity to see the blessings I have in my life and be able to share my outlook with others. I want to live my life without any regrets, and I believe my experience with cancer has helped me do that while adding value to others’ lives. I love this business, and it’s truly my calling.”

THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE: Let’s Talk About It.

What is the Texas Legislature and what does that mean for the state? Those are great questions to discuss now that we have entered the 88th Texas Legislature.

The Texas Legislature is the state Senate and House of Representatives coming together to consider proposed laws and resolutions, consideration of proposed constitutional amendments for submission to the voters, and appropriation of all funds for the operation of state government. The regular session begins on the second Tuesday in January of each odd-numbered year, for 140 days. If needed, the Governor may call the legislature into a special session, which can only last 30 days per session.

Texas uses single member districts, which means each member of the Texas Legislature represents only one legislative district. After the U.S. Census goes out every 10 years, the legislative and congressional districts are redrawn to maintain equal and proportional representation.

ccar: in the know

Written by: Kendall Crawford, CCAR Content and Social Media Specialist

Once a bill has been approved and passed by the House and the Senate, it then goes on to the Governor who will either sign the bill into law, allow the bill to be approved without a signature, or they can veto the bill. That veto, however, can be overridden if the bill receives a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate.

The Current Session: As mentioned above, we are currently in our 88th legislative session which began on Tuesday, January 10 and will run until Monday, May 29. Currently, the Republicans control both chambers. This session, the State must consider how to spend the $32.7 billion budget surplus, an obvious hot topic. Some (but not all) of the other topics being discussed this session include inflation, immigration & border security, gun control, abortion rights, public education budget, and property taxes—a topic that Governor Greg Abbott himself is very passionate about. Since public schools in the state are largely funded by property taxes, many republican leaders want to use the surplus to take some of that pressure off homeowners.

House Bill 32, from State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, (R) would place limits on how much appraisal districts can raise a single-family home’s value.

State Rep. Diego Bernal, (D) filed a bill requiring appraisers to value a home based on the value of neighboring homes, this is aimed at preventing displacement in gentrifying neighborhoods.

House Bill 379 by State Rep. Cecil Bell Jr. (R) would direct the state comptroller to automatically put half of any budget surplus at the end of each session into the Texas Education Agency to again help take the burden off homeowners and their property taxes.

The Texas REALTORS® Advocacy team in Austin reviews every bill as they come forward to determine if it will affect property rights, homeownership, and the real estate profession. If a bill could affect one of these areas, then TR determines if they should lobby for or against a bill.

The Texas Legislature is always a great reminder of why it is so important to get involved and that starts at the local level. It is your local representatives who will fight and advocate for your best interest to those at the state and national levels. We invite all CCAR members to join us at our Government Affairs monthly committee meetings where we discuss real estate issues like the ones above with our local leaders. Please email Government Affairs Director Jason Petrie at jason@ ccar.net for more information.

*To get the most recent legislative updates, visit https://www.texastribune.org/2022/11/14/texas-bill-filing-legislation-session-2023/

SUSIE GRANT GRANT

A Local Touch

Written by: Zachary Cohen • Photos by: Cruz Acevedo, StudioUSA

Before launching her real estate business in 2015, Susie Grant had three successful careers, and what she’s learned in her prior roles has been crucial to her real estate success. Every step Susie has taken has prepared her to become the top REALTOR® she is today.

Susie’s first job out of college was as a customer service rep for Proctor and Gamble. That role instilled in her a commitment to exceeding customers’ expectations. She learned what it took to deliver service that went above and beyond.

Susie then moved into education. She obtained a master’s degree in gifted education and spent nine years teaching elementary school, where she coached, mentored, and guided countless students. In this role, Susie sharpened her ability to work with various personalities and problem-solve under challenging circumstances.

Susie then became a business owner. She owned and operated Swankie Blankie, a baby products manufacturer, for 17 years. Here, she learned how to run a business, negotiate, and give her clients the attention they needed.

Susie’s prior experience culminated with her entry into real estate in 2015. By then, she had been running Swankie Blankie for over a decade and a half, and she sensed her time leading the company had come to a close. There were challenges with deadlines, distributors, and a changing market beyond her control, and Susie wanted to spend more energy doing what she loved most — serving her clients.

Susie worked in real estate part-time until selling Swankie Blankie in 2017. She couldn’t be happier with her choice.

“This is it. This is my last career. I’m going to take it to the end,” she says emphatically.

A Local Touch

Susie prides herself on being a relationship-based REALTOR®. She desires a fair transaction for all parties involved, always seeking to put others first.

“Having a servant’s heart means putting my clients’ needs ahead of my own and serving with the right motivation,” Susie explains. “I’ve found that in doing that, I can find success.”

Susie is an Austin native and has been in Dallas since 1987. Her sphere of influence is extensive, allowing her business to flourish quickly. Eight years later, she continues to leverage her role as a local and her broad network in Texas. The result is a thriving business; she closed $18 million in

2022. Yet, for Susie, the numbers don’t mean too much. She’s much more interested in how many friends she gains along the way.

“I’m a friend. It is a business transaction, but I’m a friend, coach, and mentor first,” she says.

Beacon Property Group

Susie formed a team, Beacon Property Group, in 2022. She’s building a culture of hard work, collaboration, and fun.

“I freakin’ love my team,” Susie beams. “It’s four of us now — Will Hummel, Carole Moore, and Amy Borja. We get along fantastically. Each team member has a unique role and brings something a little different to the table to keep us on the top of the PenFed leaderboard in volume and units every month. As a result of our 2022 successes, we were recently awarded Chairman’s Circle Platinum, a prestigious award given to the top 1% of Berkshire Hathaway agents worldwide.”

“It is so fun to share my knowledge about the state and the Dallas area with clients coming from out of state or out of the country,” she says.

Family First

Susie is passionate about her work in real estate, but her heart remains at home. She has two daughters, Claire (24) and Madeline (23), both Texas A&M graduates. Susie’s greatest passion outside real estate and family is travel. She enjoys everything from the beaches to the mountains, local to international travel. Sometimes she travels for pure fun, while other times, she goes on mission trips with two of her favorite nonprofits, Orphan Outreach and Homes 4 Homes.

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

Orphan Outreach (orphanoutreach.org) is a Plano-based nonprofit that conducts mission trips to serve children in nine different counties. Homes 4 Homes (homes4homes.org) is a nonprofit that engages the real estate community to give a portion of their income to build homes for families in developing countries.

“The joy on the faces of the people getting these homes is indescribable,” Susie beams.

“I love to travel, and that’s an understatement,” Susie laughs. “I love finding new places to go and doing new things. I love immersing myself in the culture and learning about food, architecture, and history in each destination. I learn so much about my own life when I experience how other people live. It gives me a greater appreciation for what I have.”

A Bright Future Ahead

Susie is also part of Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices PenFed Realty Texas’ Relocation and Referral Team. As a Texas native and a long-time Dallas resident, she’s seen the tremendous growth in North Dallas first-hand, making her the perfect choice to welcome new residents to the area.

Despite a challenging 2022 for the broader real estate market, Susie is excited about the future of North Dallas real estate. She envisions continued growth and many more years of personal success. She remains passionate about serving others through real estate regardless of the market conditions.

IT IS SO FUN TO SHARE MY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE STATE AND THE DALLAS AREA WITH CLIENTS COMING FROM OUT OF STATE OR OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

“What we have recently seen in the past few months was not a crash but a market correction. There are 99 people per day moving to Collin County. With those numbers, we need over 9000 new dwellings in Collin County to cover the people moving in. It appears that the runaway market is over, and we are returning

to normal. Economic forecasters are predicting prices to rise as we move toward the summer months. There are still people flooding in, so home sales are not going away.”

And neither is Susie. As she says, she’s taking her real estate career “to the end.”

“I would not be where I am today without the coaching of Hero Nation.”

-Jordan Espeseth