NORTH FORT WORTH
OCTOBER 2026
Tommy Pistana RELATIONSHIPS FIRST
JASON ALLEN
CHRIS CARLSON Answering A Different Call
MEREDITH SCHEER Turning Point
PHOTO BY STELLA IMAGES
Farmers Insurance – Allen Insurance Agency People First. Policies Second.
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2 • October 2026
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North Fort Worth Real Producers • 3
Contents
20
Farmers Insurance
30
Tommy Pistana
26
COVER STORY
IN THIS ISSUE
PROFILES
16 Chris Carlson
Guild Mortgage Colleyville
34 Meredith Scheer
6 Preferred Partner Index 8 Meet the North Fort Worth RP Team 10 Publisher’s Note 12 Your North Fort Worth Badges 16 Rising Star: Chris Carlson 20 Preferred Partner Spotlight: Farmers Insurance 26 Cover Story: Tommy Pistana 30 Preferred Partner Spotlight: Guild Mortgage Colleyville 34 Agent on the Rise: Meredith Scheer 40 FAQs
If you are interested in nominating people for certain stories, please email us at: lance.dunahoe@realproducersmag.com. 4 • October 2026
North Fort Worth 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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817-345-0155 | agents.farmers.com/tx/colleyville/jason-allen | 609 Cheek Sparger Rd. | Colleyville, TX 76034 Advertisement produced on behalf of the following specific insurers and seeking to obtain business for insurance underwritten by Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange, Truck Insurance Exchange, Mid-Century Insurance Company, Farmers Insurance Company of Washington (Bellevue, WA) or affiliates. In TX: insurance is underwritten by Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange, Truck Insurance Exchange, Mid-Century Insurance Company, Farmers Texas County Mutual Insurance Company, Mid-Century Insurance Company of Texas or Texas Farmers Insurance Company. In NY: insurance is underwritten by Farmers Insurance Exchange, Truck Insurance Exchange, Mid-Century Insurance Company or Farmers New Century Insurance Company. Home office, Los Angeles, CA. Each insurer has sole financial responsibility for its own insurance. List of all insurers and states where licensed at farmers.com/companies/state/. Not all insurers are authorized in all states. Not all products, coverages, and discounts are available in every state and may vary by state. Restrictions, exclusions, limits, and conditions apply. See agent for details.
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Meet The Team Jordan Espeseth Co-Owner
Lance Dunahoe Co-Owner
Ashley Gentry Agent Liaison
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DISCLAIMER: The articles and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The N2 Company d/b/a Real Producers (“N2”). Advertisements appearing in this publication are paid placements and are not endorsed or recommended by N2. N2 is not responsible for the statements, opinions, or business practices of any authors, contributors, or advertisers featured herein. Portions of this publication may include content created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools by authors or contributors and may not be independently verified by N2.
8 • October 2026
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE hope, will make the night feel special. And if I’m being truthful, there are moments when looking at all of those details at once can feel a little overwhelming. But I’ve learned something through building Real Producers, putting on events, and really through business in general: at some point, you have to trust the work. That doesn’t mean crossing your fingers and hoping everything works out. It means giving yourself enough time, doing the preparation, taking the next action in front of you, surrounding yourself with great people, and controlling what you can control. Then, eventually, you have to loosen your grip on the outcome. There will probably be something that doesn’t go according to plan on October 8th. There almost always is. But I’ve learned that perfection was never really the goal anyway. The goal is to prepare well enough that when the moment finally arrives, you can actually be present enough to enjoy it.
BEFORE YOU KNOW THE ENDING As I sit here writing this in the middle of September, we’re just a few weeks away from the ESPE Awards. Right now, the stage hasn’t been built. The tables aren’t set. No awards have been handed out. But by the time you’re reading this, more than 500 of us will have gathered together, the lights will have gone down, the winners will have been announced, and months of planning will have culminated in one night.
And I think there’s something in that for all of us. So much of life requires us to do the work before we know the ending. You make the call before you know if it will lead to the opportunity. You invest in the relationship before you know what it will become. You take the risk, build the business, hire the person, pursue the goal, and keep showing up without any guarantee of exactly how the story will unfold. We can’t control every outcome. But we can control how we prepare, how we show up, and whether we allow ourselves to enjoy the process along the way. As I write this, I don’t know who won. I don’t know which moments brought the room to its feet. I don’t know what went perfectly or what inevitably didn’t. You know something right now that I don’t. But I do know we gave it everything we had. So from the Jordan and Lance writing this before October 8th to all of you reading it on the other side, we hope it was one heck of a night. More importantly, we hope you walked away reminded of just how special this community really is. And whatever you’re building right now, keep doing the work. Then trust it.
So... how was it? I’m dying to know. It’s kind of funny asking that question knowing you have an answer and I don’t. Because right now, I’m still living in the details. The seating chart. Sponsors. Tickets. Lighting. Music. Vendors. Valet. Staffing. Timing. Who is standing where. Who hands the microphone to whom. There are hundreds of little decisions that most people will never notice, but collectively, I 10 • October 2026
Jordan Espeseth & Lance Dunahoe Proud Owners, DFW Real Producers
North Fort Worth Real Producers • 11
YOUR NORTH FORT WORTH REAL PRODUCERS BADGES Congrats on being one of the top real estate agents in North Fort Worth! Because of your 2026 MLS production, you earned your spot as a 2026 North Fort Worth Real Producers Top Agent and can represent your badge proudly! This year, we have added NEW badges to the top 500 and top 1000 – top 10, top 25, top 100, top 250, and top 750 —the badge you will receive is determined by your production. Regardless, that is the top 6% in North Fort Worth! Missing your badge? Email team@dfwrealproducers.com. Using your badge? We’d love to see how! Show us how
12 • October 2026
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 preferred partners 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 and are some of North Fort Worth’s most elite businesses. Look for this badge to know that you are working with one of the best, recommended by the best!
North Fort Worth Real Producers • 13
2025
BY THE NUMBERS
Here’s What North Fort Worth’s Top 500 Agents Sold...
AVERAGE TRANSACTIONS PER AGENT
31.56 SALES VOLUME
$10,568,938,487
14 • October 2026
AVERAGE SALES VOLUME PER AGENT
$21,180,237 TOTAL TRANSACTIONS
15,747
Your clients’ satisfaction is our top priority.
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North Fort Worth Real Producers • 15
Chris Carlson Answering A Different Call WRITTEN BY KATHERINE H. FONDREN PHOTOS BY BETH GRAEME PHOTOGRAPHY
16 • October 2026
For Chris Carlson, helping people has never simply been a profession. It has been a recurring theme throughout his life.
skateboards, swimming, hide and seek, baseball, kickball, and all the other fun free games kids could play in the ‘80s and ‘90s.”
selling it in 2021. After retirement, he explored becoming a mortgage broker, gaining another layer of industry knowledge.
Long before he was guiding buyers and sellers through one of the biggest financial decisions they’ll ever make, Chris spent more than two decades answering emergency calls as a firefighter and paramedic. Today, as a real estate agent with Smart Realty serving North Fort Worth and the surrounding communities, that same steady presence continues to define the way he serves his clients. The setting has changed, but the mission has not.
Growing up as an only child never meant feeling alone. Surrounded by lifelong friends and a close-knit neighborhood, Chris learned early that relationships matter. That lesson would eventually become the foundation of his career.
“I love having the information but didn’t enjoy the process,” he says with a laugh.
Chris’s story began on the south side of Chicago before his family relocated to Bedford, Texas, following new construction opportunities. It was there that he experienced the kind of childhood that still brings a smile to his face.
Before stepping into real estate, Chris built an impressive career in public service. Beginning in 1998, he served as a firefighter and paramedic with the cities of Lufkin and Grapevine, advancing through the ranks until retiring as a captain in 2022 following a minor health scare. Along the way, he earned numerous certifications, participated in statewide deployments, and became known as someone who remained calm when others needed it most.
“We were fortunate to have found a house in a subdivision with a ton of kids that I was able to go to school and grow up with,” he recalls. “The typical, ‘when the street lights come on, make your way home or be somewhere there is a phone.’ Bicycles,
His curiosity and drive also led him into another field. During his final decade with the fire department, Chris became a professional home inspector and founded NTX ProSpec, a successful inspection company he owned for ten years before
Those experiences now give him an uncommon perspective. Having worked as a home inspector, mortgage broker, homeowner, buyer, seller, landlord, and now agent, Chris understands the real estate process from nearly every angle. “Now that I have acted in these other roles, I know how to prepare and help navigate my clients better than most.” His transition into real estate happened naturally. In March 2024, a lunch with his brother-in-law and broker, Dewayne Smart, confirmed what had been quietly taking shape. “Dewayne has been a mentor for me outside of the fire department,” Chris says. “Of course being family, he’s been influential.” Not long after launching his career, a moment arrived
RISING STAR that reassured him he had made the right decision. “My first moment was when someone at church trusted me to help one of their best friends move back from Colorado,” he remembers. “That’s when I knew I had made the right choice.” For Chris, the transaction itself has never been the point. Trust is. “The biggest thing for me was them trusting me and the process I was leading them through.” That philosophy continues to shape every client relationship. While many people view real estate as an individual business, Chris sees it differently. “The connection you make with your client and the folks that help get the deal done,” he says is what he enjoys most. “By no means is this industry a one man band. It’s a team sport and you truly have to have vetted and trustworthy professionals that you are surrounded by.” His years in emergency services also gave him a perspective that keeps stressful situations in check. “As a career firefighter, my mindset was to fix things quickly and efficiently,” he says. “Real estate is mostly geared to hurrying up and waiting 99% of the time. There’s practically no real emergencies in real estate, unless self-induced.” That ability to stay composed serves his clients well, especially during moments that might otherwise feel overwhelming. North Fort Worth Real Producers • 17
“Never be something you’re not. Be honest and truthful with yourself first, so you know who and how to represent your clients.”
Although Chris earned recognition as one of the Top 750 real estate agents in northeast DFW during his first year, he is driven by something different. “For years, I measured success by financial goals,” he says. “When we reached those goals, I quickly realized that true success wasn’t what I owned, but by my faith, my family, and the life we were building together.” He continues, “Family absolutely is my number one, besides God,” Chris shares. “Everything I’ve ever done since becoming a father 20 years ago has been for my family.”
That commitment extends beyond his home. One of the most meaningful milestones in recent years was launching a nonprofit called Don’t Talk About It, a 501(c)(3) organization focused on mental health awareness for first responders, military members, and healthcare professionals. It reflects Chris’s passion for supporting those who spend their lives caring for others. Some moments, however, stay with him forever. In real estate, helping one of his closest friends and his wife find their dream home in the country remains especially meaningful. From his fire service career, one memory stands above many others. “One of the moments was being a part of a crew that ended up saving a woman’s life after going into cardiac arrest,” he recalls. “By the time we reached the ER, she was speaking to us. Truly a miracle with perfect timing, a very well trained dispatcher, and a highly skilled crew.” In a serendipitous way, DFW Real Producers co-owner Lance Dunahoe has had firsthand experience with
Chris’s service as a first responder. “I’ve known Chris for many years,” Lance says, “and he used to be assigned to the nursing facility where my mother was a resident. There were several times he responded to calls from there and cared for my mother. It was a great comfort to know that he was there when I could not be.” That level of care is just one of the reasons buyers and sellers trust Chris for their real estate needs.
The best advice he has ever received has become his own guiding principle.
Looking ahead, Chris’s goals are to continue to grow a business based on trust and authenticity and to close his first commercial transaction in 2026.
“I hope and pray that my kids, wife, and family will be proud of the loving man I strived to be.”
His advice to new agents? “Don’t take on just any client. Choose like-minded folks to work with.” 18 • October 2026
“Never be something you’re not. Be honest and truthful with yourself first, so you know who and how to represent your clients.” When all is said and done, Chris hopes the people who know him best remember something far more meaningful.
For someone who has spent a lifetime protecting, serving, and guiding others, that may be the greatest success story of all.
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ALLEN Farmers Insurance | Allen Insurance Agency
PEOPLE FIRST. POLICIES SECOND.
biology from Lehigh University and originally planned to become a physician. Life took him in a different direction, leading to a successful 15year career in chemical sales. In 2016, that career brought his family to Texas, where he served as director of sales before making a decision that would change everything.
For many people, buying a home is one of life’s biggest milestones. It is exciting, emotional, and full of decisions that can shape a family’s future for years to come. Jason Allen believes insurance should never add confusion to that experience. Instead, it should provide clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.
“Insurance wasn’t my first career,” Jason explains. “It was a career change that ultimately became a calling.”
That philosophy has guided Jason since opening Farmers Insurance - Allen Insurance Agency in Colleyville seven years ago. While many agencies focus on providing the quickest quote or the lowest premium, Jason has built his business around something far more personal.
“Looking back, changing careers was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” he says. “It allowed me to combine my passion for serving people, building relationships, and giving back to the community into a business that I’m proud to lead every day.”
“We are not a normal insurance agency that pumps out quotes,” he says. “We highly believe in providing the right coverage for our customers. Pricing is important, but we are not doing our jobs if we are cutting coverages to get to a price.”
That purpose is evident in every conversation his agency has with clients.
It is an approach that reflects both his professional values and the way he lives his life. Originally from New Jersey, Jason earned a bachelor’s degree in molecular 20 • October 2026
He wanted more than sales goals and quarterly reports. He wanted to build lasting relationships while making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
Rather than starting with a price, Jason and his team begin by listening. They take time to understand a family’s goals, explain coverage in straightforward language, identify potential gaps, and develop a protection plan that fits each client’s unique situation. “We don’t believe in selling policies,” Jason says. “We believe in solving problems.”
That consultative approach has earned the trust of homeowners, business owners, growing families, and countless referral partners throughout Grapevine, Colleyville, Southlake, Keller, North Fort Worth, and the surrounding communities. Jason knows that insurance often becomes most important during life’s biggest transitions. Whether someone is buying a first home, welcoming a new baby, launching a business,
I enjoy taking the time to explain their options, identify potential gaps, and help them make confident decisions BEFORE THEY EVER NEED TO USE THEIR POLICY.”
WRITTEN BY KATHERINE H. FONDREN PHOTOS BY BETH GRAEME PHOTOGRAPHY
or preparing for retirement, those milestones deserve thoughtful guidance rather than rushed decisions. “I enjoy taking the time to explain their options, identify potential gaps, and help them make confident decisions before they ever need to use their policy,” he says. His commitment extends beyond individual clients. Jason has become a trusted resource for real estate agents,
mortgage lenders, financial advisors, and other professionals who know their own reputations are tied to every referral they make. “When an agent refers someone to the Allen Insurance Agency, they’re not just sending them to get a quote,” Jason says. “They’re introducing them to a trusted partner.” He understands the pace of real estate transactions and works diligently to
keep communication moving, resolve insurance questions quickly, and help clients reach the closing table without unnecessary delays. Long after closing day, the relationship continues through annual policy reviews and ongoing guidance as clients’ lives evolve. At the center of everything Jason does is one simple principle: “Protect people first. Policies come second.”
North Fort Worth Real Producers • 21
Jason measures success differently than many business owners. Awards, revenue, and policy counts are not what motivate him. “Real success is measured by the impact we have on the people around us,” he says. “If we’ve helped a family feel more secure, supported a business owner through a difficult claim, earned the trust of a real estate partner, or made our community a little stronger through service, then we’ve been successful.” It is a philosophy built on consistency rather than shortcuts. Returning phone calls, keeping promises, asking thoughtful questions, and continuing to learn have become the habits that fuel his agency’s growth. His goal of reaching $3 million in premium this year is simply another milestone on the path toward building a $10 million agency with a team that shares the same commitment to serving others. Jason’s favorite quote is one most people learn as children: “Treat others how you would want to be treated.” For him, it is far more than a saying. It is the foundation of every relationship he builds.
That mindset also explains why community involvement plays such an important role in his life. As the president of the Grapevine-Colleyville Education Foundation, Jason helps support local teachers and students while partnering with organizations that strengthen the community he proudly serves. “I’ve found that the best business opportunities come from genuinely serving others first,” he says. Service is equally important at home. Jason and his wife, Angela, have been married for 18 years and are raising two 22 • October 2026
children, Emma and Asher, alongside two dogs and a rabbit. Between school activities, sporting events, family movie nights, and performances at Bass Performance Hall, life stays busy, but family remains the priority. “We will treat you like we treat our families,” Jason says. “Being married for 18 years and with two kids, we value how important our loved ones are, and it is our responsibility to value others in the same way.” That perspective shapes every client interaction.
Jason Allen has chosen to measure success in protecting people first. Build trust one conversation at a time. Care for every client as though they were family. That is not simply good business. It is the legacy he is building every day.
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COVER STORY
Tommy Pistana R E L AT I O N S H I P S F I R S T
WRITTEN BY KATHERINE H. FONDREN PHOTOS BY STELLA IMAGES
26 • October 2026
F
For Tommy Pistana, the most meaningful measure of a real estate career has never been found on a closing statement. After 14 years and more than $900 million in career sales, the founder of The Pistana Group at Compass has learned that the numbers tell only a small part of the story. “My favorite part of being a REALTOR® has nothing to do with selling houses, it’s the people,” Tommy says. “I have the privilege of walking alongside families during some of the biggest milestones in their lives.” That focus on service began long before real estate. Born in Daytona Beach, Florida, Tommy moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area at nine and grew up primarily with his mother. Watching her work hard to provide for them left an impression that became even more meaningful once he had children of his own. After studying business and hospitality at the University of North Texas, Tommy spent several years in the hotel industry, including four years at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. It was there that he learned how much the smallest details can shape someone’s experience. “It is a very similar business, working with people and making sure they are taken care of,” he says. After returning to North Texas and spending time in sales, Tommy eventually found his way into real estate. The principles he carried from hospitality translated naturally. Listen closely. Anticipate needs. Solve problems. Most importantly, take care of people. Those principles have helped The Pistana Group grow into a business that closed $113 million in sales last year. Yet Tommy is quick to point out that his priorities have changed significantly along the way. Early in his career, he measured progress through production and the desire to prove himself. Working more
than 80 hours a week seemed like part of the equation. Today, his definition looks different. “I don’t want a successful career at the expense of a successful life,” he says. Success now means being present with his family, maintaining his health, traveling, building friendships, helping his team grow, and enjoying what he has worked so hard to create. That shift also required learning one of the hardest lessons of his career: how to say no.
For years, Tommy felt obligated to accept every opportunity, meeting, event, client, and request. Eventually, he realized that constantly being available to everyone meant he could not give his best to the people and responsibilities that mattered most. “Saying no to the things that don’t align with my priorities has allowed me to say a much bigger yes to the things that truly matter in my life,” he says. Family is high on that list. Tommy’s oldest daughter, Elle, will play collegiate golf at Dallas Baptist University, while his younger daughter, Mia, is involved North Fort Worth Real Producers • 27
in gymnastics and competitive cheer. Supporting their pursuits has become more rewarding to him than reaching another professional milestone. That says something coming from a man accustomed to finish lines. For the first decade of his real estate career, Tommy competed in endurance sports, completing numerous Ironman events and marathons, including the 2011 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. While his competitive racing days are behind him, the discipline and consistency remain. He exercises daily and still enjoys golf, traveling, and creating memories with his wife and daughters. That same intentionality carries into the relationships Tommy has built with clients. “My goal has never been to win a deal; it has always been to win the relationship,” he says. Sometimes that means having conversations clients may not want to hear. Tommy may recommend a lower listing price, advise a buyer to walk away from a home they love, or suggest waiting six months before making a move. The immediate transaction is secondary to giving advice he believes will serve them well. Over time, many of those clients have become close friends. One piece of advice helped cement that philosophy years ago. At Tommy’s first Compass retreat, a successful Beverly Hills agent asked attendees how many people they had in their databases. After hearing answers ranging from hundreds to thousands, he challenged them to stop concentrating on sheer volume and focus deeply on their top 50 relationships instead. The message stayed with Tommy. “I’d rather have 50 people who truly know and trust me than 5,000 names in a database who don’t,” he says.
28 • October 2026
North Fort Worth Real Producers • 29
My goal has never been to win a deal, it has always been to win the relationship.” Today, he teaches that same relationship-first philosophy to his team. Rather than setting his sights solely on surpassing last year’s sales, Tommy wants to help the people around him reach new levels personally and professionally. “Seeing a team member build confidence, grow their business, or achieve a personal goal gives me more satisfaction than any individual award or sales milestone ever could.” 30 • October 2026
His advice to other agents follows a similar theme. Instead of trying to master every part of the business, identify where your strengths and interests lie, focus your energy there, and delegate or eliminate what does not serve you. For Tommy, doing so has created greater efficiency without sacrificing the life outside the business. It is a lesson that reflects how far his definition of achievement has come. There will always be another transaction, another target, and another opportunity to grow. But after 14 years, Tommy knows what he ultimately wants his career to represent. “I don’t necessarily want to be remembered as someone who sold a lot of real estate,” he says. “I want to be remembered as someone people could trust. Someone who genuinely cared about others, always tried to do the right thing, and made a positive impact on the lives of the people around him.” For Tommy Pistana, that is the business worth building.
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PREFERRED PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
THE NUNIS TEAM Guild Mortgage Colleyville
WRITTEN BY KATHERINE H. FONDREN PHOTOS BY KATHARINE GANN, DAYDREAM PHOTOGRAPHY
32 • October 2026
Everything Is FIGUREOUTABLE For the Nunis Team, Family, Trust and a Problem-Solving Mindset Are the Foundation of Business. For the Nunis family, time together has a way of blending business and life. A weekend at the lake might include family dinners, time on the water and a chance to unwind. But somewhere nearby, there are probably a few laptops. In the mortgage business, a question can arise at any moment, and a transaction does not necessarily wait until everyone is back at the office. “We joke that we are never completely off the clock,” Todd and Brooke Nunis
share. “But that is also part of what makes working together as a family unique.” For Todd and Brooke, Sales Manager and Branch Manager of Guild Mortgage Colleyville, that family dynamic is more than an interesting part of their story. It is central to the way the Nunis Team operates. Todd and Brooke have eight adult children, and two of them, Casey and Ocie, work alongside them. Todd and Casey serve as loan officers, Brooke leads the branch while focusing on business development and marketing, and Ocie works as a loan officer assistant while studying for his license.
Each has a different role, but their purpose is shared: take care of clients, support their real estate agent partners and help qualified borrowers find a path to homeownership. “Being a family team means there is a level of trust, accountability, and commitment behind everything we do,” they say. “We know each other’s strengths, we are comfortable challenging each other, and we can step in for one another when needed.”
A Family Business Takes Shape The Nunis Team did not enter the mortgage industry all at once. Todd’s journey began in 2003 after meeting Jefferson Aldredge at church. After 13 years in the corporate world with Nestlé, Todd was considering his next move when Jefferson asked if he wanted to start a mortgage company. He took the chance. The industry proved to be a natural fit for Todd’s analytical approach, attention to detail and instinct for solving problems. Brooke followed a different path. She entered real estate in 2008 while remaining actively involved with their children through PTA boards and booster clubs, then earned her loan officer license in 2011. Over time, her ability to build relationships led her toward business development and marketing. The next generation eventually found its place in the business, too. Casey, a 2019 graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University, joined the team
in 2020. Sharing many of Todd’s analytical tendencies, she found that mortgage lending suited the way she approached challenges. Ocie, who became part of Todd and Brooke’s family in 2018, joined after playing college basketball and graduating from Austin College. An internship with the team introduced him to the daily challenges of the mortgage industry and convinced him to build his career alongside his family. Together, they have created a team where professional trust is reinforced by something even deeper. “The success of the team feels personal,” Todd and Brooke explain. “We are building something together as a family.”
Doing the Work Upfront That sense of responsibility carries into every loan they handle. With 23 years of industry experience, the Nunis Team has learned that a successful closing often begins long before a buyer finds the right house. That is why they place particular emphasis on thorough preapprovals. “We would rather do the work upfront and make sure a buyer is truly qualified than issue a preapproval that could create problems later,” they explain. That means looking closely at the complete financial picture, identifying potential obstacles early and exploring available options before a client moves forward. The approach is designed not only to protect borrowers, but also to give real estate agent North Fort Worth Real Producers • 33
“We never want growth to come at the expense of the PERSONAL SERVICE & CARE that have helped us build our business.”
carries more than a name and phone number. It carries an agent’s reputation. “When an agent refers a client to us, their reputation is on the line, too,” they explain. “We take that responsibility seriously.” For the team, that means consistent communication, proactive problem-solving and follow-through. When an issue appears, their goal is to address it early and keep everyone informed rather than allowing uncertainty to build. And when a borrower is not ready to purchase today, the conversation does not have to end. The team is willing to help clients understand what needs to change so they can work toward becoming qualified in the future.
partners greater confidence when an offer is made. The team works with everyone from first-time buyers and experienced homeowners to investors and self-employed borrowers. They particularly enjoy situations that require a deeper examination of tax returns, business finances or lending guidelines. In fact, complicated loans are often where the Nunis Team feels most at home. Their favorite phrase captures that mindset perfectly: “Everything is figureoutable.” 34 • October 2026
It does not mean every borrower will qualify or every obstacle can be overcome. Instead, it represents a willingness to investigate rather than assume, communicate rather than disappear and keep searching for reasonable solutions before concluding that a loan cannot work. “If there is a way to make a loan work, we are going to put in the effort to find it rather than taking the easy route and giving up,” they say.
Protecting the Agent Relationship The Nunis Team also recognizes that a referral
“Our goal is to be a resource REALTORS® can call not only when they have an easy deal, but especially when they have a complicated one.” That philosophy extends to their involvement with Real Producers. Todd and Brooke appreciate the opportunity to build relationships with agents outside of individual transactions and connect with professionals who share their commitment to clients and community.
Success Beyond the Closing Table Despite their drive to close loans, Todd and Brooke do not define success simply by production numbers. “We define success as doing right by the people who trust
us,” they say. “It is about the relationships we build, the problems we solve, and the trust we earn along the way.” Outside the office, those relationships begin at home. The family enjoys traveling, weekends at the lake, home projects, puzzles and weekly dinners together. Work-life balance is not always perfect, but being surrounded by family means someone is usually ready to step in when another person needs support. Looking ahead, the Nunis Team plans to continue growing while protecting the qualities that built the business in the first place. They want to develop more long-term real estate agent relationships, help more families achieve homeownership and become an even stronger resource for challenging loan scenarios. What they do not want is growth that changes who they are. “We never want growth to come at the expense of the personal service and care that have helped us build our business.” For Todd, Brooke, Casey and Ocie, the Nunis Team is more than a collection of mortgage professionals sharing an office. It is a family putting its collective name, experience and trust behind every transaction. “At the end of the day, our name is on the business,” Todd and Brooke say, “so we take a lot of pride in how we treat people and how we represent one another.”
North Fort Worth Real Producers • 35
AGENT ON THE RISE
Meredith Scheer WRITTEN BY KATHERINE H. FONDREN PHOTOS BY BETH GRAEME PHOTOGRAPHY
36 • October 2026
turning point
Some careers begin with a carefully crafted plan. Others begin in the middle of life’s hardest moments, when the only option is to keep moving forward. For Meredith Scheer, becoming a real estate advisor was never simply about changing professions. It was about rebuilding a future for herself and the three boys who depended on her. Growing up in Bedford, Meredith always had an eye for creativity. She studied interior design at TCU and later
turned her artistic talents into a thriving custom cookie business, Scheer Sugar. From birthdays and weddings to baby showers and holidays, she spent years creating edible works of art that helped families celebrate life’s milestones. Then life changed.
In 2018, Meredith’s husband passed away unexpectedly, leaving her to raise three young boys, ages 10, 7, and 7, on her own. “Becoming a single mom and sole provider overnight after my husband passed away suddenly in 2018,” she recalls, “was the hardest season of my life, but it also revealed a strength I didn’t know I had. It taught me resilience, perseverance and the value of showing up every day even when life feels overwhelming.” Just as she was finding her footing, another challenge arrived. The COVID-19 pandemic brought celebrations to a standstill, and with them, the demand for custom cookies. Meredith realized she needed to make another life-changing decision. “I earned my real estate license at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic,” she says. “As the sole provider for my family, I knew I had to pivot and build a new career. At the time, I owned a custom cookie business, but when the pandemic brought parties, weddings, and baby showers to a halt, demand for my business declined dramatically. Real estate became an opportunity not only to provide for my family but to build a career rooted in serving others during one of the most uncertain times.” Starting over in a completely new industry was intimidating. Like many new agents, Meredith questioned whether she had what it took. One conversation, however, changed everything. During her interview with Carolyn Rossen, then manager of Ebby Halliday’s Southlake office, Meredith found herself opening up about her fears and responsibilities. North Fort Worth Real Producers • 37
38 • October 2026
“I remember sitting in a conference room and getting emotional as I talked about my boys and the responsibility I felt to provide for them,” Meredith says. “I was nervous about stepping into an entirely new career and honestly I wasn’t sure how I would manage the demanding schedule of being a REALTOR® while still being present for everything in my boys’ lives.” Carolyn’s response became a turning point. “Carolyn saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. She believed in me, gave me an opportunity and more importantly gave me the confidence I needed. From that day on I wanted to succeed not only for my boys but also because I didn’t want to let her down. Her belief in me changed the trajectory of my career and taught me how powerful it is to have someone believe in you.” That encouragement became the foundation for everything that followed.
It was the realization that I was going to be able to provide a good life for my boys. It was the first time I truly felt like we were going to be okay.”
Not long into her career, Meredith experienced another unforgettable milestone. After closing her first few transactions, she realized those sales had earned more than an entire year running her cookie business. “It wasn’t about the money itself,” she explains. “It was the realization that I was going to be able to provide a good life for my boys. It was the first time I truly felt like we were going to be okay.” North Fort Worth Real Producers • 39
I want to be remembered as someone who genuinely cared about people.” Those early victories affirmed that she had found more than a new profession. She had discovered a calling. “The relationships I build with my clients and other agents,” she says, are what she treasures most. “Many of them become friends long after the transaction is over.” There is one part of every transaction that never gets old. “My favorite part is making that call to my clients to let them know their offer was accepted, especially in a multiple offer situation.” That excitement comes from knowing the news on the other end of the phone represents much more than a signed contract. It represents dreams coming true, new beginnings, and families finding a place to call home. Her background in interior design also allows her to serve clients in a unique way. Meredith enjoys helping buyers look beyond what a home is today and imagine what it can become. 40 • October 2026
“I have a natural eye for color, layout and functionality,” she says, “which allows me to help clients see the potential in a home that they might otherwise overlook. I love helping my clients visualize how small changes can completely transform a space.”
together. Everything I do is to provide for them opportunities and a future they deserve.”
When she steps away from work, Meredith enjoys traveling with her three boys and expressing her creativity through decorating and floral design. She also spends plenty of time at the football field. Football is one of her favorite ways to spend time with family.
“I want to be remembered as someone who genuinely cared about people,” she says. “I hope my clients remember that I always put their best interests first and that I made them feel supported, heard and cared for throughout the process.”
“Whether I’m watching my boys play, cheering on TCU or rooting for the Cowboys, football season is one of my favorite times of the year.” Through every chapter, one constant has remained. “Without a doubt, my boys are my greatest motivation,” Meredith says. “As a single mom they’ve been my ‘why’ through every challenge and success. I want them to be proud of me, the example I set and the life we’ve built
Ask Meredith what legacy she hopes to leave, and her answer has nothing to do with sales numbers or recognition.
That perspective explains why her clients often become lifelong friends. To Meredith, buying or selling a home is a chance to guide people through one of life’s biggest milestones with honesty, compassion, and support they can count on. For Meredith Scheer, real estate is not simply about opening doors to houses. It is about opening doors to hope, stability, and brighter futures, just as someone once did for her.
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Real Producers FAQ Real Producers Magazine is a national franchise that started in Indianapolis in 2015 and is now in over 130 markets across the nation and continues to spread rapidly. DFW has four Real Producers Communities: North Dallas, Dallas, North Fort Worth, and Fort Worth Real Producers.
Q: What is the goal of Real Producers? 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 highest producing real estate agents, and RP-vetted businesses in every market, and build an exclusive community around that group. We share their stories, successes, upcoming events, and educate – really anything that will connect, inform and inspire, we put in our monthly publication. At Real Producers, we believe we are one person, one conversation, or one idea away from everything in our business and life changing. With this powerhouse community, it happens all the time.
Q: How do you become a Real Producers Top Agent? A: In all of DFW, there are roughly 60,000 licensed agents, meaning there are ~15,000 agents in each of our four communities. We rank all those agents based off their yearly MLS sales volume. In years past, we congratulated the Top 500 Agents, and we still are, but in 42 • October 2026
2026, we are adding a other groups to our community… all in the RP Top 1000! These agents are in the top 6%.
Q: Who receives Real Producers Magazine? A: The Top 1000 agents in each community will receive the digital magazine for the year. The Top 500 agents will also receive the magazine physically to their mailbox. Our RP Vetted Businesses also receive the magazine physically and digitally.
Q: Can I be featured? A: If you are in the Top 1000, you have the opportunity to be featured! We love nominations and take them seriously. If you’d like to be considered for a feature, or if you would like to nominate someone, you can email team@ dfwrealproducers.com.
Q: What does it cost to be featured as an RP Top Agent? A: Zero, zilch, zippo, nada, nil. How, you ask? Because of the businesses that your peers have recommended, who partner with Real Producers, and invest in this community to support you. These companies have all been recommended by top agents and have been vetted by us to ensure they are of the highest quality. So instead of you paying $5k - $10k for this feature…they cover all those costs for you! Pretty incredible, right?
more intimate events that are 30-50 people. We do Social Events, Magazine Celebration Events, an Awards Gala, and Masterclass Events. You can see quick recaps of some of our events under the “Events” tab on our website. For our events, we invite the top 1000 real estate agents and our RP-vetted businesses. The Top 1000 agents are allowed to invite agents on their team, as well. These events are an incredible opportunity to connect with the best in DFW real estate. It is amazing to see the power in the connection made at these events. Be on the lookout for your exclusive invites!
Q: Who are the RP Vetted Businesses? A: They are some of the best businesses in DFW in their category! You can find them listed in our index and their ad in the magazine. We don’t just find these businesses off the street, nor do we work with all businesses that approach us. Each business has come recommended by your peers, the top producing real estate agents in the market. 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 the best businesses, as well, so we can grow stronger together.
Q: Does Real Producers host events?
Q: Can I nominate an agent or recommend a business?
A: Yes, we host many different events throughout the year! Some large 400-800 people, some 75-250 people, and other
A: Absolutely! Email your nominations and recommendations to team@ dfwrealproducers.com.
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