North DFW Real Producers - December 2020

NORTH DFW

I N F O R M I N G

A N D

I N S P I R I N G

THE

JUDI WRIGHT TEAM

People as the Priority

Photography by: Ilona Jade Photography

R E A L

E S TAT E

A G E N T S

RISING STAR CARRIE HIMEL CELEBRATING LEADERS ALEX VIDAL PARTNER SPOTLIGHTS 100% CONSTRUCTION HUFFINES COMMUNITIES

DECEMBER 2020

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North DFW Real Producers • 3

TERRITORY ARE YOU APART

TA BLE OF CERS IN THE DFW METROP PRODU REAL

CONTENTS

A Quick Look at the Different DFW Real Producer Market August 28, 2 5051 New Centre Drive Wilmington, NCnationwide 28403and there are three in DFW alone. In each of these Real Producers has 100 franchises top 500 agents based off the MLS production and depending on where your broker address is lo First Last Na T. 910.202.0917 which publication you will be apart of. This map shows the territories for each of the 3 franchis 500 agent either of these markets, you will be receiving a publication every month and have th Street Addre E. ininfo@n2pub.com featured at no cost to you!

Index of Publisher’s Meet The Publisher’s City, Trusted www.realproducersmag.com Team Note NoteState 0

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Coaches Corner

32 24

4 • December 2020

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Partner FAQ Spotlight: About 100% This Construction Magazine

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Cover Story: Judi Wright

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North DFW Real Producers • 5

PREFERRED PARTNERS

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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PHOTOGRAPHY Blackall Photography (972) 978-9958 blackallphotography.com Ilona Jade Photography (253) 632-5155 ilonajade.com PROPERTY MANAGEMENT American Real PM (469) 620-0114 americanrealpm.com Real Property Management Focus (469) 820-0088 realpmfocus.com ROOFING Blue Ribbon Roofing (972) 464-1858 blueribbondfw.com Helsley Roofing Company (972) 578-8982 helsleyroofing.com

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TECHNOLOGY Clear-Inspect (817) 360-7255 Clear-Inspect.com

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Red Dirt Roofing & Construction (817) 454-0608 reddirtroofing.net

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www.wbm.com Drew Brenner

Caleb Buczek

Dianne Glenn

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Willow Bend Mortgage Company, LLC. NMLS# 117371. 5800 W. Plano Parkway, Suite 105, Plano, TX 75093. This is not an offer for extension of credit or a commitment to lend. All loans must satisfy company underwriting guidelines. Information and pricing are subject to change at any time and without notice. Not all applicants will qualify for all loan products offered. This is not an offer to enter into a rate lock agreement under any applicable law. Willow Bend Mortgage, LLC is licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act. License #4130600. Further, Willow Bend Mortgage, LLC represents itself and conducts business only as a residential mortgage lender. Willow Bend Mortgage, LLC is not a mortgage broker.

8 • December 2020

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Sara Parker Jones Daniel Carson

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North DFW Real Producers • 9

WE THINK SO. A thorough inspection can have a great impact on any deal, affecting the sale price, the closing date and even the reputation of the realtor. But at Inspect360, we go above and beyond a great inspection. We provide RealtorsÂŽ with thorough report information, exceptional communication, important industry insights, valuable resources and, through our affiliate company, convenient CE classes.

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Check out the Real Producers calendar for upcoming TREC approved, Inspect360 hosted, CE classes.

10 • December 2020

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MEET THE

NORTH DFW REAL PRODUCERS TEAM

Jordan Espeseth Owner/Publisher

Rachelle Marie Assistant Publisher

Missy Kremer Editor

Amanda Thornburg Ad Strategist

Dave Danielson Writer

Rick Davis Videographer

Jason Van Sickel Photographer/Videographer

Scott Peek Photographer

Kelly Blackall Photographer

Ilona Gorokhovskiy Photographer

If you are interested in contributing or nominating realtors for certain stories, please email us at northdfw@realproducersmag.com 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 publication contains paid advertisements by local companies. These companies are not endorsed or specifically 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. NOTE: When community events take place, photographers may be present to take photos for that event and they may be used in this publication.

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North DFW Real Producers • 11

publisher’s note

see ya...

NEVER! Peace out, 2020.

I have a feeling most of us are very excited to say goodbye to 2020 and hello to 2021. In case you haven’t heard, there has been this whole pandemic thing going on for most of 2020, and it has been a real drag.

Although 2020 has been plagued with a pandemic, and an enormous amount of political and civil unrest, this year has been filled with a lot of blessings. Albeit most of them hidden pretty well.

With the country coming to a halt, it forced us to also slow down and take a, likely long overdue, honest look at our lives with a fresh new perspective. For many of us, it gave that extra time we needed to take care of our mental health and well-being, allowing us to ask better questions like, “What am I doing right, what am I doing wrong, and what needs to change?” And the quality of our life is determined by the quality of the questions we ask.

12 • December 2020

Another blessing is that families became closer during 2020. They spent more time together and more time getting to know each other. Most people have reported that they had more open and honest conversations with their family members that resulted in a deepening of their relationships. There likely were some moments of increased tension and feuding going on – but hey...nothing that is worthwhile is ever easy. And what is more worthwhile than the relationships with your loved ones?

As we wrap up the year, and usher in 2021, let’s not be quick to forget the blessings and the things we learned in 2020. Don’t let this pandemic go to waste. As my Coach, Wayne Salmans, would say, “Let’s make this the best pandemic yet!”

Use the knowledge, wisdom, and lessons you learned this past year, and let’s make 2021 the best year of our lives.

Congrats on making it through 2020, y’all.

See you next year!

Jordan Espeseth Owner jordan.espeseth@realproducersmag.com

@realproducers

Andy and The Tuttle Group are top notch at what they do for me and my clients. He is the best in the business and his ability to follow up and keep everyone informed is priceless.

The way Andy pumps up me and my team to our clients reinforces they made the right decision in choosing me. He sets the client up for a great experience, sets up the team for success and helps the client feel like a VIP.

• TOMMY PISTANA • Realtor | Team Lead The Pistana Group @ Compass

Let us help with your mortgage There's no bigger financial decision in life than how you will finance your home. The Tuttle Group understands that it can be overwhelming and intimidating. That's why we've created our convenient and hassle-free process... to provide you with an excellent financing experience. You'll also have peace of mind knowing you're being guided through the process by experts.

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MEET OUR LOAN EXPERT

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Apply in as little as 15 minutes!

Visit www.TheTuttleGroup.com/Get-Started Mid America Mortgage, INC.| NMLS 150009 North DFW Real Producers • 13

FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS, WARMEST WISHES FOR THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

JACKIE ANDRAS

TAMERA GAEDE

GLENDA WEBB

SANDRA HICKEY

LEAH SUTTON

JOE THERIOT

CHRISTINE McLEAN

AUSTIN KNIGHT

AMANDA POMROY KELLY BERRY

CHRISTY BLAGG

TREY McCANN

HEATHER GERSHON

RACHEL SHELTON TRACEY McCANN

STEPHANIE ALLEN

ROBIN TAYLOR

STEPHANIE TORREZ

KELSEY BERRY PAM BROWN

GEORGE VAN WAGENINGEN

CATHERINE DAVES

ERIN MYERS

REN KNIGHT

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14 • December 2020

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North DFW Real Producers • 15

coaches corner Written by: Wayne Salmans, Hero Nation

Five Indispensable Virtues of an

ID EA L H IRE The greatest business hack of all time is hiring the right people.

Most business owners drag their feet when it comes to hiring… and for good reason: The cost of a bad hire is huge!

Some key statistics include: • The U.S. Department of Labor says the cost of a bad hire can reach up to 30 percent of the employee’s first-year earnings.

• The Undercover Recruiter reports bad hires can cost $240,000 in expenses. Those are broken down into costs related to hiring, pay, and retention.

• CareerBuilder says 74 percent of companies who made a poor hire lost an average of $14,900 per poor hire (Ref. www.hrexchangenetwork.com).

No wonder why business owners are hesitant to put the time in and pull the trigger when it comes to hiring.

While the hiring process can be complicated, it doesn’t have to be. In the book The Ideal Team Player, Patrick Lencioni lists three virtues of an ideal hire. I believe there are actually five indispensable virtues of an ideal hire:

We are fully licensed and insured, with FULL workers compensation on all movers.

Hungry: They have desire to grow and become more. Nothing is more exhausting than trying to work with an unmotivated buyer or seller. The same applies to our team members. I believe we can motive-aid people, but trying to motivate someone who doesn’t actually want it is brutal. On the other hand, hiring people who have internal drive and motivation is one of the greatest ways to say in momentum.

Humble: My father used to say you could have “High confidence and low ego.” That is a beautiful mix. Humble indicates they are coachable; they want to learn, and they have strong self-awareness.

Smart: Not just book smart. This smart is emotional intelligence.

Oxford defines Emotional Intelligence as, “the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.” It doesn’t matter how good someone is at their task. If they lack emotional intelligence, it will have a negative effect on the entire team.

Cultural fit: They line up with the values, beliefs, and vision of the team.

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Role alignment: Their behaviors and natural talents are in alignment with the job duties. Hiring someone great at sales to do paperwork is going to eventually not work out.

Three Keys to Note: • No matter how good your hiring process, you don’t really know how someone will show up until they have been on the team for 30 days.

Hire slow...and fire fast if they show you that they are not who you thought they were.

• A great strategy will never overcome a bad culture. On the other side, a great culture overcomes a not-so-great strategy. “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”

-Keith Cunningham • To be a world-class leader, courage is required. Every failure of leadership has at its roots a lack of courage.

When a team member exemplifies these Five Indispensable Virtues (Hungry, Humble, Smart, Culture Fit, and Role Alignment)…you become unstoppable.

WAYNE SALMANS is an author, speaker, and business coach. In the past decade he has coached and trained over 5,000 entrepreneurs, awarded 30 under 30

by REALTOR® Magazine, and ranked one of the top coaches in the world. His passion is to help real estate business owners build, grow, and scale their business faster and with less bruises.

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North DFW Real Producers • 17

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Coverage For VACANT or RENTAL Investment Properties

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Putting the power of choice back into the customer’s hands.

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North DFW Real Producers • 19

rising star Written by: Dave Danielson Photography by: Ilona Jade Photography

20 • December 2020

@realproducers

Himel Carrie

CLEARING THE WAY AHEAD

Those who set themselves apart through time tend to be the ones who also make the road easier for others around them.

That quality perfectly describes Carrie Himel.

As a REALTOR® with Compass, Carrie’s efforts are instrumental in clearing the way ahead for those she serves.

“In the course of what I do, I always want people to feel like they’ve been taken care of at the highest level and that I help to take the burden of buying and selling off their shoulders,” Carrie smiles.

“Along the way, I try to make the process fun.”

First Steps

Carrie joined the real estate industry four-and-ahalf years ago.

“I always wanted to get into real estate, but I knew it would be a demanding, time-consuming career, so I also knew that I wanted to take it on when the time was right,” Carrie remembers. “My husband, Daniel, and I got married in 2005. We have a blended family with five children. At that time, the ones still at home were all under eight years old, so I knew that wasn’t the right time.”

Moving Forward

Two thousand and five was also the year when Carrie started working with a top local real estate agent.

“After the agent sold us our home personal home, I was hired right away to help with another business they had, Frisco Online. I started selling advertising to local small businesses,” Carrie says. “Being around the business, I started investing in and flipping properties.” realproducersmag.com

North DFW Real Producers • 21

22 • December 2020

@realproducers

“

You get to choose who you are and what you want to be. That’s where my drive comes from.

”

The Time Was Right

A few years ago, as her children got older, Carrie knew the time was right, so she got her real estate license and joined the agent’s team.

“It was a blessing to get my career going, and having the opportunity to work with and learn from being on a big team,” Carrie says.

Looking back, Carrie’s entry into the real estate industry couldn’t have gone much better.

“I feel lucky to be able to say that I hit the ground running. I was very fortunate to have a good first year. A lot of that was being on a team, being ready and knowing it was something I really wanted. I did really well that first year,” she explains. “I was able to help more people and make more money than I thought. It was like I found my calling.” realproducersmag.com

After a couple of years, Carrie became an individual agent and moved to a small boutique brokerage for a time, before joining the Compass team where she is currently.

A Spark for Learning

With her competitive nature and drive to learn and grow, Carrie has continued to blossom in the business through time. This year, she’s on track to record $15 million in sales volume. Plus, she also started the Carrie Himel Group team with her assistant, Vanessa Valentine, and her new agent, Bobby Morris. Carrie’s son, Baker, is also working on getting his real estate license.

“I’ve always been very motivated and driven, and I think the competitiveness I have is a side part of that,” Carrie explains.

North DFW Real Producers • 23

Stronger through Time

Her life experiences have strengthened both her and her resolve.

“I’ve had some challenges in life. I was in foster care as a teenager, I became pregnant at a young age, I married young, and also divorced young … making my way as a single parent. When you meet crossroads, you can either let it make you or break you,” she says. “I’ve used those times as stepping stones to prove myself to myself. You have a choice to say what will define you and what doesn’t. You get to choose who you are and what you want to be. That’s where my drive comes from.”

Family Foundation

Carrie and Daniel love time spent with their family, including Hallie, Baker, Jaxon, Gavin, and Katherine.

They also have a drive to give back, with support of cancer research efforts at the National Breast Cancer Foundation, as well as the Boys and Girls Club.

Plus, they even started a youth baseball tournament that has become a massively successful annual event affecting thousands of sports families a year. Each year, Carrie and Daniel lead the efforts of the Middle School Match-Up. When it began in 2012, 175 children signed up and enjoyed a fun playing experience without the pressures of highlevel competition. This year, eight summers later, more than 2,500 local players took part.

It’s one of their biggest community contributions and something they are proud of.

24 • December 2020

As Carrie looks to the future, she also plans for the ways she can help to clear the way ahead for others.

“I love the people and the relationship aspect of real estate,” Carrie says with a smile. “It’s rewarding to meet people and build those bonds with them … and to make an impact on their lives by doing the little things.”

@realproducers

1701 LEGACY DRIVE SUITE 135 FRISCO, TX 75034

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North DFW Real Producers • 25

26 • December 2020

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M E E T T H E CO M M UN I T Y Check Out Some of North DFW's Top 500 Producing REALTORS®!

Nominate a top REALTOR® you’d like to see featured by emailing jordan.espeseth@realproducersmag.com. realproducersmag.com

North DFW Real Producers • 27

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North DFW Real Producers • 29

30 • December 2020

@realproducers

WHICH REAL REAL PRODUCERS WHICH PRODUCERS TERRITORY YOUAPART A PART OF? TERRITORYARE ARE YOU OF? REAL PRODUCERS IN THE DFW METROPLEX REAL PRODUCERS IN THE DFW METROPLEX A Quick Look at the Different DFW Real Producer Markets A Quick Look at the Different DFW Real Producer Markets

5051 New Centre Drive Wilmington, NC 28403 T. 910.202.0917 E. info@n2pub.com featured at no cost to you! www.realproducersmag.com

August 28, 2011

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Tarrant County Real Producers

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North DFW Real Producers • 31

partner spotlight Written by: Dave Danielson Photography by: Flux Media Productions

100% Construction Comfortably Uncomfortable

When it comes to building a quality business Therefore, Chris looked for the next steps in his and creating lasting, positive results for people, the most important element is the drive to, “Do the right things, for the right reasons, all the time, every time.”

That’s where 100% Construction comes in … building on trust.

Christopher Carr is Founder and President of 100% Construction, a North Texas-based organization that offers a wide range of valuable services, including roofing and storm restoration from catastrophic weather events.

“We specialize in helping you put your home and life back together after unexpected weather events,” Chris explains.

Taking a New Path

Before starting 100% Construction, Chris built a successful career in the oil and gas industry, where he was heavily involved with deep-sea oil drilling for over a decade. His role required him to be away from home and his now-wife, Danielle, for weeks or months at a time.

32 • December 2020

career that would allow him to, “have a normal schedule and only travel when he wanted to,” Chris explains. Chris was planning on only being in the roofing industry until he figured out what he wanted to do next. But, after seeing a massive need for honest, trustworthy people in the industry, he decided to continue in roofing and see how many people he could help in the process.

While he was successful working for other roofing organizations, he noticed they all had one thing in common – people never came first. Chris decided to start his own company...one where ethics, quality, and trust were at the center of the approach. A company based on excellent customer service that also pushed everyone in the organization to always be a little bit better.

“One of the things that make us different is the fact that we didn’t get into this for the money. We have a saying at this company. We, ‘Do the right things, for the right reasons, all the time, every time.’ It’s a way of working that continues to draw people to 100% Construction.”

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Chris enjoying his daily ice bath.

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North DFW Real Producers • 33

Dedication and Follow-Through

The team at 100% Construction approaches its work with dedication, care, and follow-through to get the job done right. But that’s just the start. Chris and his team always look for ways to go above and beyond that are separate from the work itself.

“We want to do the little extra things that help our customers see that we’re there, not just for the roofing job, but really to just help in any way possible,” he says.

Away from work, Chris and Danielle are welcoming their first child this fall. In

Chris & his wife, Danielle, filming for their YouTube channel “The Fit Girl & the Fat Boy.”

“It’s not just for our customers, and it is not just for our referral partners, but it’s also for our team. A major component that makes us different is the fact that our whole objective as a company is not to be the biggest roofing company, it’s not to have the highest revenue numbers, it’s not to have the biggest sales team,” Chris says. “It can be simplified in these four questions: How can we help everybody at the company set goals greater than where they are right now? How can we help them execute those goals?

How can we help our referral partners build their businesses and concentrate on actually being a strategic partner, not just a referral partner to help them grow? And how can we help our customers in a way that we develop that raving fan culture?”

“We make it a point to meet with our team to set goals at, and away from, work. Then we all hold each other accountable to accomplish the goals we set out to achieve.”

34 • December 2020

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addition, Chris has an ongoing drive to find ways, “to stay comfortably uncomfortable.” Daily routines comprised of ideas from “The Miracle Morning,” Tony Robbins, David Goggins, and Wim Hoff (the ice bath guy) ensure he is always pushing himself to stay uncomfortable and to always be improving.

As he says, “I’m the crazy guy that gets into the ice bath every day.

Every day after I’ve finished my workout, I go and I jump in my ice bath somewhere between 36 and 41 degrees, and I sit for 20 minutes and meditate. If you can make yourself get in that ice bath every day voluntarily, there isn’t much you can’t make yourself do,” Chris jokes.

Community-First Spirit

100% Construction focuses on being a true community-first company.

“We love to give back and support the community that allows us to

make our living,” he says. In fact, when Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, Chris borrowed a boat from a friend, towed it to Houston, and worked for three days navigating the high waters to rescue people from atop their houses and taking them to safety for food, shelter, and clothing.

Chris and his team have worked with many charities since starting the business. From helping the Boys and Girls Club, Birds Eye View Project, wounded veterans, Direction 613, Collin County kids aging out of foster care, Mission Reagan, Thanksgiving’s Heroes, working with The Taylor Team to feed families at Thanksgiving, they have a passion for helping people during the holidays.

Chris and Pippa the Certified Roof Dog.

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North DFW Real Producers • 35

“We are hosting a ‘Strip the Tree’ event this year that we will be announcing soon. It’s a chance to get good people together and make a positive impact on our community and underprivileged youth right here in North Dallas.”

“I’ve probably been saying this for over ten years, but my whole goal in life is to make a ton of money

“

WE WANT TO DO THE LITTLE EXTRA THINGS THAT HELP OUR CUSTOMERS SEE THAT WE’RE THERE, NOT JUST FOR THE ROOFING JOB, BUT REALLY TO JUST HELP IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE.”

36 • December 2020

and give most of it all away. I want to see how many people we can have a positive impact on. I’m just excited to see where our efforts can go,” Chris smiles.

As area residents and REALTOR® partners have discovered, this is a company that looks for new ways to add value. “The main thing is that at 100% Construction, we don’t want to be your roofer. We don’t even necessarily want to be your referral partner. We want to be a business partner. We want to know what we can do to either make your life easier or contribute to your team in a way that it helps you to reach that next rung of success and be more successful through strategic partnerships.”

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Chris Carr 100% Construction

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North DFW Real Producers • 39

celebrating leaders Written by: Missy Kremer Photography by: Flux Media Productions

ALEX

VIDAL Creating Raving Fans

Creating raving fans. “That’s the sauce right there,” chuckles Alex Vidal, the Regional Vice President for Coldwell Banker in the DFW Metroplex. Attributing the phrase to author and influencer Tony Robbins, Vidal knows that creating raving fans is the ultimate goal to bring you, and your business, to the top.

Overseeing ten offices, which are corporately owned, Alex curates drive in over 850 agents who turn out thousands of sales a year, resulting in billions in production.

While he’s only been in his current role for about three months, he is celebrated for his continued leadership in the real estate market.

His real estate path was set fairly early on in his life. At the age of 19, Alex became a parent. And that role lit a fire within him to provide and do well for his son.

He was attending college at the time, but being able to provide for his son took higher precedence 40 • December 2020

than riding out his degree. With a lot on this 19-year-old’s plate, something had to give. “I was never really a school guy to begin with,” states Vidal. So, it was time for him to explore more fitting endeavors.

Creating

His mom attempted to line up a job for him working at the Miami Herald, but Vidal knew he needed to steer his ship, or he wouldn’t be fully invested. So, he accepted a job working for a real estate brokerage in Florida as an administrative assistant.

Working closely with the owner of the brokerage, he learned they were hiring 70-80 agents a month, but also losing 70-80 agents a month.

Then while opening the mail one day, he learned the brokerage would receive a list of all the new REALTORS® getting into the business. That revelation made him fall into recruiting. He asked his boss if he could call extra people, which created his first major real estate role, earning him about $26,000 a year. @realproducers

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North DFW Real Producers • 41

But that role grew into Vidal leading a recruiting division in California, and shortly thereafter, in 2004, into a sales coach for new licensees… without ever having experience as an agent. “I was teaching them, but teaching myself, quite frankly.”

This sparked a flame within Alex to become an agent himself. From 2005-2008, and again from 2012-2014, Vidal grinded as an agent, truly understanding what it meant to be successful in the real estate world.

“

My inner motivation is I can’t fail. I made my entire family uncomfortable by picking them up and moving them during a pandemic! We love Texas…it’s just missing the ocean.

”

Alex with his wife Priscila and boys Ayden, Kyle, & Luke. (Alejandro not pictured)

42 • December 2020

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Raving

From Colorado for recruiting and back to Florida as president of a company, Vidal has done it all.

“I turned that company from 45 agents to 560. Even though I was happy, it didn’t fulfill what I wanted for my life in one/three/five years,” states Alex.

With his supportive wife, Priscila, and four boys, Alejandro, Ayden, Kyle, and Luke, he knew picking up their life and moving to Texas would be challenging… but worth it.

“If I can crush it here, then I start the path to what I really want,” Vidal continues. “I would never have thought I would have left Florida. But when Coldwell Banker, one of the most powerful real estate companies in the world, calls…you have to listen.”

“The highway, the road map in front of me is so open… it’s amazing where this opportunity could take me.

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None of it will matter, though, if I can’t perform with my team here in Dallas,” Alex frankly states.

Day-to-day, in his current role as Regional Vice President for Coldwell Banker in the DFW Metroplex, “Eighty percent of my time is on creating and building raving fans…coaching with our CBDFW Realtors, meeting with them. I’m still in the phase of getting to know the players in our market, educating them, strengthening our raving fans, coaching leadership to be best for their locations, etc.”

“If you’re a recruit, I’m going to ask you a ton of questions.

That’s how I’m going to base if I can make you a raving fan of Coldwell banker. If it’s just not the right fit, I’ll be first to tell you stay where you’re at; you’ll be better off.”

“If I spend 80% of my time on Raving Fans, why would I ever hire an agent that goes against what I do?” he says.

“Those I recruit, in turn, will become raving fans and help me grow our brokerage.”

North DFW Real Producers • 43

Fans

And, will also help Vidal to grow in his life. “There’s a balance between being fulfilled in what you do and making money.”

“It’s those victories that, quite frankly, for me, are fulfilling.

Going into a region and turning it around, saving businesses, increasing sales, boosting agents…it’s those victories that, for me, are fulfilling.”

And it’s that mindset and drive that has made this leader find success, no matter where he’s been in the country, and in the real estate game. “My inner motivation is I can’t fail. I made my entire family uncomfortable by picking them up and moving them during a pandemic! We love Texas…it’s just missing the ocean,” he laughs.

And family is what keeps this goal crusher going. Watching his boys compete in soccer has been one of his life’s biggest joys.

Additionally, “Working out is my therapy. It’s just like drinking my coffee—I need it. I used to locally compete at CrossFit, just for fun, but it kept that competitive edge going,” shares Alex.

“I love triathlons, too. They’re a blast. They test your mental and physical state. If you continue pushing, you can always get to the bottom line.”

Whether it’s working out, watching the kids play travel soccer, hanging out with friends, relaxing by the pool, watching football while grilling, or leading his real estate teams, Vidal knows how to create raving fans.

44 • December 2020

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The Time is Now to Be

IN THE KNOW™ Does the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) violate federal antitrust laws by conspiring to inflate commissions? No. Does the MLS play any part in dictating commissions? No. Yet, that is the claim made in the newest lawsuit to move into the discovery phase of litigation, Moehrl v. National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

John Holley, NTREIS CEO, cleared up any misconception with a straight to the point statement on a recent episode of “Welcome to the Top:” the MLS does “not fix, control, monitor or anything what that [the commission is].”

As the case joins copycat lawsuit Sitzer v. NAR in the discovery phase, NAR General Counsel is confident that NAR will prevail.

“These lawsuits are wrong on the facts, wrong on the economics, and wrong on the law. Commissions are negotiable and, in fact, can be negotiated at any point during the transaction. The MLS and associated brokerage system create highly competitive markets with increased transaction volume and superior customer service. Consumers have many choices of different service and fee models among many brokers. Over 100 years, the courts have repeatedly validated this pro-competitive, pro-consumer MLS system, recognizing it increases the efficiency of the market and thus serves the best interests of sellers and buyers alike.” – Katie Johnson, NAR General Counsel However, the litigation has highlighted a larger issue: The public doesn’t know what the MLS is, let alone how it benefits them. In fact, according to a recent survey [1] only 24% of those surveyed had a vague idea what the acronym “MLS” stood for, and 25% thought it meant “Major League Soccer.”

Real estate professionals now play a critical role in educating clients on the pro-competitive effects of the MLS System. To aid in the education process, the Counsel of Multiple Listing Services (CMLS) has created a campaign, aptly named IN THE KNOW™. Real estate professionals are encouraged to own, claim credit, and use the campaign to benefit them. All campaign materials can be found at www. cmlsintheknow.org.

It is important to note that the value of a real estate agent is not in doubt, as 78% of homebuyers say their broker was an important information source, and almost 90% would recommend their broker to a family member or friend [2]. Additionally, there is also no doubt among real estate professionals that the MLS contributes to a competitive marketplace by maintaining a consolidation of listings. It is now our job to connect the dots and educate consumers about how the MLS benefits them.

“We are the boots on the ground, we gather the data and it goes into the MLS as a repository for all that data,” said CCAR President David Long. “We come face to face with clients every day and we probably need to do a better job of talking about the pro-competitive effects of the MLS.”

48 • December 2020

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CCAR: in the know Written by: Bri Westbury, Collin County Association of Realtors (CCAR) Content Specialist

REALTORS® have always been champions of homeownership, private property rights, and the communities they serve. While the newest challenge makes for hot headlines, the facts are on our side. This unexpected educational opportunity will highlight the value of real estate

professionals, and ultimately result in stronger relationships with our clients and community.

[1] Study released as part of the IN THE KNOW™ campaign.

[2] Data released as part of the IN THE KNOW™ campaign.

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North DFW Real Producers โ ข 51

partner spotlight Written by: Missy Kremer

HU FFINES UFFINES communities

A COMMUNITY – NOT A SUBDIVISION Elaborate, welcoming entrances, design techniques an echelon above, and activities for the whole family—that’s what sets Huffines Communities apart from its competitors. As their slogan says, “Thinking beyond the obvious, developing extraordinary communities.”

52 • December 2020

“We’re a master-planned community—not a subdivision,” shares Huffines Communities President, Elvio Bruni.

While most developers are looking to cram as many homes onto as many lots as possible, Huffines Communities is

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Founders/Co-Owners Phillip Huffines & Donald Huffines

picnic tables in wooded areas for families to congregate, waterslides, lakes, fountains, exercise facilities, and more—Huffines Communities has paid attention.

“We look for little things that make the community special,” Bruni continues. From little things like manholes that display the community logo and year the community was established to elevated front porches that create a neighborly feel, Huffines Communities wants buyers to be connected, integrated, and proud.

Each community dons a grand, iconic entrance, “So you know you’ve arrived…a portal of sorts. You’ve now left the everyday world and entered a new realm,” Elvio continues. “Anything to make their owners’ homes a retreat from day-to-day life.”

looking to please their buyers, creating an environment where there is truly something for everyone.

Taking Community to Another Level

It used to take a golf course to make a family flock to a community. But, Huffines Communities have kept up with the demands of their buyers in this 21st-century world.

Lazy rivers, walking trails, on-site elementary schools,

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And their plans and attention to detail aren’t just for the now… but also for the future.

Elvio Bruni shares a story of when a development had only ten lots left and Founder/Co-Owner Donald Huffines wanted to make adjustments to the community. Bruni’s initial thought was, “But with only ten lots left, why make the changes now?” and Donald continued, “Because, 20 years from now, I want it to look good.”

North DFW Real Producers • 53

With most developments requiring a tree to be planted five feet from the home, Huffines Communities mandates trees be planted between the sidewalk and the curb. Then, as the years progress, it will create a canopy of shade over sidewalks and streets, an ambiance that will stand the test of time.

“We’re a step above,” says Chellie Meziere, Director of Marketing & REALTOR® Relations.

Chellie is the liaison between the builder and the REALTORS®. She gets the information into the hands of the REALTORS® to let them know what’s going on in their communities, whether it’s incentives, bonuses, events, reward programs, etc.

54 • December 2020

Huffines Communities rewards both their buyers and their REALTORS®.

For the past five years, Chellie and her marketing team offer a REALTOR® Rewards Trip to top-producing agents selling a combined dollar amount of new homes from any of their developing communities. Past trips include Costa Rica, Bermuda, Maui, and a seven-night Caribbean cruise onboard a luxury liner. This year’s trip, a seven-night river cruise down the Rhine River in Europe, was unfortunately postponed to April 2021 due to Covid-19.

Still, the REALTORS® are excited for the adventure of a genuinely first-class all-expenses-paid reward for their hard work and commitment.

Next year’s trip, a seven-night luxury liner Alaskan Cruise, is still in the qualification process through January 1, 2021, so there is still time to make the cut! That trip will take place in July 2021.

The team at Huffines Communities subscribes to the notion that they will communicate to the REALTORS®, and the REALTORS® will communicate to their customers. “But, we’re always here to answer questions and provide assistance,” states Meziere.

With Chellie in charge of relations with REALTORS®, she, in a typical year, puts on several fun-filled events within each of their master-planned communities for the REALTORS®. Her marketing team also sponsors luncheons and events for REALTOR® groups, either at their office or at one of Huffines’ beautiful community clubhouses.

@realproducers

The Communities

Currently, Huffines Communities boasts four active master-planned communities. Aspen Meadows, located off of Hwy 380 and Main Street in Aubrey, has approximately 312 homes in the $220-$330,000 price range.

Waterscape, located in Royse City off of I-30 and 548, offers around approximately 1,500 homes in the $240-$380,000 price range.

Inspiration, located in the town of St. Paul, off Parker Road, will contain approximately 1,800 homes in the $300-$800,000 price range, and Heartland, located in the town of Heartland, off of I-20 and Highway 741, will offer approximately 7,000 homes in the $220-$400,000 price range at build-out.

Huffines has also recently received city approval to begin developing Solterra, a brand new community located in Mesquite, just two miles off of I-635 and Cartwright.

Located only 11 miles from downtown Dallas on land that was formerly the Lucas Family Farm, Solterra will boast around 3,900

homes, with construction beginning late next year. Positioned to be the largest master-planned community in Mesquite, Solterra will offer unique amenities such as a treehouse park and play area, pools with lagoon and beach areas, a farmers market and coffee shop, fishing hut and pier, fitness center, and more.

In keeping with Huffines’ unique “Signature Community™” look, Solterra will offer a grand entrance, miles of hike and bike trails, multiple parks, on-site schools (already in existence), and more.

It is Huffines’ creativity that keeps buyers buying…and happy. “There is no boring cookie-cutter, ‘How many lots can we build?’ mentality here. It’s creative from start to finish,” says Bruni.

While each of Huffines’ master-planned communities is unique unto themselves, they all offer a full range of HOA-sponsored lifestyle programs, including weekly and monthly events, and parties for residents of all ages. Each community holds around 40-50 separate events a year, and most are at no additional cost to residents. As testimony to their satisfaction with our communities, residents frequently move within the community and often build second and third homes with the same builder. You will find a full spectrum of people in all of our communities, from the first-time homebuyer, singles, families, empty nesters, retirees.

Chellie Meziere (Marketing Director) and Elvio Bruni (President)

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North DFW Real Producers • 55

This multiple award-winning organization is making headway again-and-again. “We’re not a large organization. We have 18-20 employees. We do a lot of big things with a small group of people. We’re multi-talented. We do everything from engineering to execution,” shares Elvio.

“Each of our communities has won multiple awards from various organizations such as the Dallas Builders Association, the Texas Builders Association, and others. For example, Inspiration has received the prestigious McSam Awards Community of the Year Award three times and recently won their Best Community Amenity for their new multi-million dollar ‘Club Inspiration’ amenity center which contains multiple pools, a lazy river, twostory fitness center, and incredible clubhouse with breathtaking views of Lake Lavon. The REALTOR® Rewards program has won the Best Special Promotion Award from both the McSam and Star Awards, and Heartland won this year’s Community of the Year from the DFW Community Associations Institute.”

56 • December 2020

“We love REALTORS®. We have 80% REALTOR®driven sales and are thrilled to death to work with our REALTORS® and have them bring their buyers out to our communities,” states Chellie.

Co-owner Donald Huffines chimes in with, “We produce four of the top 10 communities in the DFW metroplex. We’re unique. We’re not found right around the corner like everyone else. Buyers will be happiest in our communities.”

And as their unofficial slogan says, “Huffines Communities loves REALTORS®…and their buyers love our communities.”

Developing Extraordinary Communities Since 1985

@realproducers

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North DFW Real Producers • 57

58 • December 2020

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North DFW Real Producers • 59

cover story Written by: Dave Danielson Photography by: Ilona Jade Photography

JUDI W R IGH T THE JUDI WRIGHT TEAM

60 • December 2020

@realproducers

Pe o p l e as t he P r i o r i ty There are plenty of places where you can spend your time and energy. But the ones you choose to focus on help to define your life.

Real estate is the same way. The areas you focus on benefit from your expertise.

As Team Leader and REALTOR® with Ebby Halliday, Judi Wright keeps her eyes on the people she serves and their priorities.

“It makes me feel so good working with our clients, knowing our team emphasizes quality over quantity day-in-and-day-out,” Judi emphasizes. “Rather than tracking our numbers (sales revenue), we track our successful transactions and how we left our clients feeling. Did we do a great job? When we get testimonials back from them, it means a lot.

When you focus on the clients and what they need, the numbers will come.”

“I know this is different than many coaching programs teach with a team leader always having their eye on the numbers (i.e. how many listing presentations have been made, how many buyers are we working with, etc.).

We quite intentionally focus on the client’s experience instead. We find it refreshing, and I think our customers benefit. I know this doesn’t, and wouldn’t, work for every team, but it works exceptionally well for us.”

A Life of Moving Forward

Growing up, Judi was a self-described Army brat. After being born at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and moving around to various places such as Germany, Judi spent most of her childhood years in Indianapolis, Indiana, before moving to Texas for high school. Judi is a proud Fighting Farmer, having graduated from Lewisville High School.

“I spent from kindergarten through 8th grade in Indiana, the longest we had lived anywhere

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at that point,” Judi remembers. “We lived in the cutest little neighborhood where my sister and I went to school, and we grew up roller skating and waterskiing at the lake. My dad moved us to Indianapolis to be near family right before he went to Vietnam when I was in kindergarten.”

In time, Judi’s father accepted a promotion, and the family made the move to Texas where they became one of the original families in The Colony. Judi’s first job was working for McDonald’s in Lewisville, where she pretended to be 16 so she could go to work. Judi earned the nickname of “French Fry” as she sorted, racked, and fried French fries. Judi still says she’s going to write a book someday entitled Everything I Need to Know in Life I Learned at McDonald’s.

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Cristy Russum, Monica Otis, Judi Wright, & Erin Carlson.

62 • December 2020

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Later, during high school, Judi worked for Fox and Jacobs in model homes. There, she helped the sales reps sell homes, the clients pick decorating items, and kept paperwork properly filed. After high school, she worked in the company’s Regional Land Development department, learning about important phases of new construction. So, Judi’s real estate career actually started a long time ago.

Later, Judi began a very successful career, working her way up in the corporate world to become a Vice President of Sales and Marketing in the security industry. However, as is the case with many things, there were definite tradeoffs to her career.

“There was an extreme amount of travel that I had been doing for a long time,” Judi remembers. “It was hard. I had two kids, two step-kids, a husband, a dog, and a cat.”

Eventually the company she worked for faced tough times, and she was laid off.

“When that happened, I had time to go out and look for a new job. I had intended to be in the corporate world again, since my corporate job paid for the insurance for our family, and it was what I knew.”

A New Path Emerges

While she had a little spare time, Judi had another thought, too.

“For a while, I had planned on getting my real estate license, so that I could have it in case I needed it someday down the road,” Judi remembers. “The thing was, as I started taking classes, I absolutely loved it.”

Passion for the Profession Her love of people is easy to see when you talk with Judi.

“I love helping home buyers. It’s so exciting when people buy their first home, and I enjoy helping people at all stages of life to ensure they’re making a good investment, so they can have good equity for their next steps in life … helping them make smart decisions about their future.”

Judi feels a lot of gratitude for the team of professionals on her team, including Erin Carlson, Monica Otis, and Cristy Russum.

“I had been an owner at a Keller Williams franchise for a number of years,” she remembers. “During that time, Cristy and Monica worked with me. Also, I had known Erin for quite a while before she became my assistant and later moved into selling real estate. I’ve really enjoyed the fact that the four of us have been together through time.

We don’t have new people continually joining us and then falling out. We’re the size we are because this is the size we want to be. We genuinely like working together and supporting each other.”

Excited, Judi talked with her husband, Rick.

“I had been doing very well in my corporate position. At first, he said that he thought it would be difficult for me to replace my income and the level of benefits that I had enjoyed. That was the best possible thing he could have said to me,” Judi smiles. “Because those words were like a challenge to me. His company ended up picking up our insurance, I moved forward, and I made a fast start.”

That was an understatement. In fact, Judi sold her first house during her first week in the business. “I didn’t even know how to map out property showings, and time them, or how to open the lockbox on the door. It was crazy but I managed, and they said they never knew I was brand new.”

The results have continued to mount through Judi’s 19 years in the industry. In fact, her team has already amassed strong sales this year, and they are on track to beat their best year ever. realproducersmag.com

The mutual level of teamwork and support is essential.

As Judi explains. “We’re structured differently so that each of us on the team works with both buyers and sellers. In that way, we have the ability to be able to back each other up at any stage of the process, and our sellers get to work with the agent they chose to work with while the rest of us seamlessly play back-up. We feel this allows us to control the client’s experience better and provide the highest level of service. No one is passed off to a buyer or listing specialist. We are the specialists.”

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I love helping home buyers. It’s so exciting when people buy their first home, and I enjoy helping people at all stages of life to ensure they’re making a good investment.”

Judi and her team also annually meet and put together Boxes for the Homeless for Christmas each year for those in need (instead of having a big team Christmas party). This giving back is what makes the team happy. Each member on the team has many organizations they are involved in and dedicated to, in addition to these charities.

“Our team is special, we’ve all suffered a loss of some type. Cristy lost her dad a few years ago, Monica’s mom has Alzheimer’s (a cause she is dedicated to) and is hospitalized with it, Erin lost her dad a few years ago, and Judi lost both parents two years ago, six weeks apart. Each of us has been through a large loss or traumatic event, and we kept going. We supported each other through it, and we’ve experienced things that have allowed us to be in a great position to better help our clients who are in like situations.

Our empathy and experience grew, and we’ve already helped other clients in these same situations because we’ve walked in their shoes.”

Life’s Highlights

Judi and Rick have been married 20 years and enjoy a rich family life with their four children—Jimmy, Shane, Jenna (and her husband, Adam, and one-year-old son, Noah), and Chase.

Judi also has a rescue dog named Charley. “All of our children are off of the payroll and out on their own, so we’re enjoying an empty nest, but are lucky enough that they all live locally and we see them regularly.”

In her free time, Judi has a passion for tennis and golf and also enjoys the chances she has to travel and see new places. Rick recently retired from the corporate world, and in 64 • December 2020

addition to playing a lot of golf, is helping Judi by running errands and putting out signs. “He calls himself ‘Sign Boy,’” says Judi.

Judi is very dedicated to strengthening her community by supporting organizations such as Frisco Family Services, Frisco Giving Tree, Shoeboxes for the Homeless, veteran’s groups, and Operation Kindness.

“My mom was a huge animal lover; she never met an animal she couldn’t love or talk to, so animals and animal rescue are important to me as are anything related to veterans since my dad was an army vet and he instilled that in me,” she states.

“Our community gives so much to us that we feel good about finding ways so we can give back,” Judi explains.

Those who work with Judi also find a new friend.

“I work hard to treat my clients like I do a family member, and we hope that once you work with us, you will feel like you have a personal REALTOR® in the family,” she says.

Truly, people are the priority for Judi Wright.

“I want to know the people we work with individually, and I want to know about their families and the things that are important to them,” she says with a smile. “That’s how we do what I think we’re meant to do.” @realproducers

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For upcoming events, and more information, check us out at:

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WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND: Mastermind DFW is an exclusive event for the Top 1% of Producers in the DFW area. When you attend a Mastermind DFW event, you are in the company of a prestigious group of local, high-performing DFW real estate professionals. This is the place to cultivate your network with the most notable names in DFW real estate.

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North DFW Real Producers • 67

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FAQ ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE

Real Producers magazine started in Indianapolis in 2015 and is now in over 100 markets across the nation and spreading rapidly.

North DFW Real Producers launched in August 2018. Name a large city and we are there or will be soon!

In every market, we take the Top 500 agents, based off of the MLS production, and we build an exclusive magazine around those agents. We share their stories, successes, market trends, upcoming events — really, anything that will connect, inform and inspire, we put in the monthly publication.

We strive to inform and inspire the top producing real estate agents in the local market and connect them socially. The secondary focus is to provide an avenue for our affiliate partners to create relationships with these top performers on a level that they might not be able to achieve on their own.

Q: WHO RECEIVES NORTH DFW REAL PRODUCERS MAGAZINE? A: The top 500 agents in North Dallas/Fort Worth. We pull the MLS numbers (by volume) from in the North DFW area: Collin County, Denton County and a few other locations in Dallas County that are North of I-635. Approximately 20,000 agents are licensed in this territory. We cut the list off at #500, and the distribution was born. The 2018 Top 500 cutoff is $8.5 million.

The list will reset at the end of every year and will continue to update annually.

Q: WHAT ABOUT THE DALLAS AND FORT WORTH TERRITORIES? A: Dallas Real Producers (Dallas County South of 635 — including Rockwall County) launched May 2019 and Tarrant County Real Producers will be launching in 2021! Yes, Real Producers is covering the entire Metroplex!

Q: WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR BEING FEATURED IN THIS MAGAZINE? A: It’s really simple — every feature you see has first been nominated. You can nominate other REALTORS®, affiliates, brokers, owners, or even yourself! Office leaders can also nominate realproducersmag.com

REALTORS®. 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.

A nomination currently looks like this: You email us at northdfw@realproducersmag.com with the subject line, “Nomination: (Name of Nominee).” Please explain why you are nominating them to be featured. It could be they have an amazing story that needs to be told — perhaps they overcame extreme obstacles, they are an exceptional leader, have the best customer service, or they give back to the community in a big way, etc. The next step is an interview with us to ensure it’s a good fit. If it all works out, then we put the wheels in motion for our writer to conduct an interview to write the article and for our photographers to schedule a photoshoot.

Q: WHAT DOES IT COST A REALTOR® /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 PREFERRED PARTNERS? A: Anyone listed as a “preferred partner” in the front of the magazine is a part of this community. They will have an ad in every issue of the magazine, attend our quarterly events, and be a part of our online community. We don’t just find these businesses off the street, nor do we work with all businesses that approach us. One of many of the top agents has recommended every single preferred partner 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 goal is to create a powerhouse network, not only for the best REALTORS® in the area but the best affiliates, as well, so we can grow stronger together.

Q: HOW CAN I RECOMMEND A PREFERRED PARTNER? A: If you know and want to recommend a local business that works with top REALTORS®, please email us to let us know at jordan.espeseth@realproducersmag.com.

North DFW Real Producers • 69

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North DFW Real Producers • 71