TA R R A N T
C O N N E C T I N G .
Dennis Tuttle A Gazillion Infinity, with the Dennises
E L E VAT I N G .
I N S P I R I N G .
RISING STAR: Betty Arguello FEATURED AGENT: Justin Mason PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: Boston National Title of Texas
Photo by: Samantha Farris
JULY 2021
2 • July 2021
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Tarrant Real Producers • 3
TAB LE OF
CONTENTS 05
06 Index of Trusted Partners
Publisher’s Note
10
18
26
Meet the Tarrant RP Team
08
Event Recap
Rising Star: Betty Arguello
Partner Spotlight: Boston National Title of Texas
32
36
44
Coach’s Corner
Featured Agent: Justin Mason
Cover Story: Dennis Tuttle
If you are interested in contributing or nominating REALTORS® for certain stories, please email us at lance.dunahoe@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 paid advertisements contained within the Tarrant Real Producers magazine are not endorsed or recommended by The N2 Company or the publisher. Therefore, neither The N2 Company nor the publisher may be held liable or responsible for business practices of these companies.
4 • July 2021
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MEET THE
TA R R A N T REAL PRODUCERS TEAM
Jordan Espeseth
Lance Dunahoe
Rachelle Marie Assistant Publisher
Administrative Assistant
Katherine Fondren
Les McGehee
Samantha Farris
Traci Schwomeyer
Amanda Thornburg
Missy Kremer
Co-Owner
Content Coordinator
Ad Strategist
Co-Owner
Writer
Editor
Photographer
Rick Davis
Videographer
Jenica Hein
Photographer
Jason Van Sickel
Photographer/Videographer
If you are interested in contributing or nominating REALTORS® for certain stories, please email us at lance.dunahoe@realproducersmag.com.
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Tarrant 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! BUSINESS COACHING Rialto Academy (512) 743-4330 RialtoAcademy.com
INSURANCE Duren Jenkins Agency (817) 445-0120 insurinwithduren.com
CLIENT ENGAGEMENT LEADS by Mandi Jackson (801) 598-5767 LEADSbyMandi.com
Insurance Solutions Group, LLC (817) 354-6800 isgdfw.com
CLIENT GIFTS The Rustic Board, LLC (713) 376-2592 TheRusticBoard.com HEALTH Restore Hyperwellness & Cryotherapy (817) 912-1550 Restore.com HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING AGES Services Company (817) 307-9204 ACExecutives.com HOME INSPECTION HomeTeam Inspection Service (972) 400-7034 HomeTeam-DFW.com Inspect360 (817) 754-0360 inspect360.com Semper Fi Home Inspections, Inc. (682) 351-3875 SemperFiHomeInspections.com HOME WARRANTY Achosa Home Warranty (817) 933-8707 www.achosahw.com HomeServe Home Warranty (817) 538-8977 Home-Warranty.com
6 • July 2021
Liberty Mutual Insurance (817) 898-6187 LibertyMutual.com/Agent/Tracy-McNeil MEDIA PRODUCTIONS #TheDifference Radio,Livestream and Podcast (214) 883-1294 www.hashtag-thedifference.com MORTGAGE LENDING Cherry Creek Mortgage (817) 709-4683 NunisLending.com
She’s My Sky Photography (817) 313-4091 ROOFING PROCO Roofing and Construction (817) 975-5948 procoroof.com Tarrant Roofing (817) 987-1210 TarrantRoofing.com TITLE Alamo Title Company - Southlake (817) 896-8686 AlamoDFW.com Allegiance Title (817) 510-6490 AllegianceTitle.com Boston National Title of Texas (972) 584-9660 bnttexas.com
Cross Country Mortgage Justin Padron (817) 754-1498 PadronLoans.com
Fair Texas Title (602) 421-6417 fairtexastitle.com
Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp (817) 812-2276 AnginetteHomeLoans.com
Texas Excel Title LLC (817) 980-1018 TexasExcelTitle.com
Gracie Morrow Mortgage Group (972) 757-2132 GMMG-MTG.com
VIDEO PRODUCTION/ MARKETING/PHOTOGRAPHY Flux Media Productions (469) 955-5833 fluxmediaproductions.com
MOVING SERVICES Stonebriar Moving Services (469) 734-9000 stonebriarmoving.com PHOTOGRAPHY Metroplex Headshots (817) 455-7384 MetroplexHeadshots.com
WINDOWS & SIDING Tarrant Windows & Siding (817) 987-1210 TarrantWindows.com
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Tarrant Real Producers • 7
THREE YEARS in Print in DFW! publisher’s note Wow. I am not going to lie…it is pretty crazy for me to think that we have been in print for three years already!
gatherings, all for the highest producing real estate agents and our Vetted Business Partners.
In August of 2018, North DFW Real Producers hit the mailboxes of the highest producing agents in Collin and Denton county for the first time ever. I remember the first time I went to my mailbox and held that inaugural issue in my hand. My first thought was, “Man, this thing is thin! I need to beef it up.” And my second thought was, “How cool is this? I dreamt of this day and now it is here in my hands.” I was very proud.
The first ever Real Producers event in DFW was held on November 13th at Concrete Cowboy at The Star in Frisco. Five minutes before the event, I went to the bathroom and almost puked because I was so nervous. But, luckily for me, the event was a huge hit! I heard so many people say things like, “I have never seen so many top producing agents and high-level businesses at an event like this before!” and “How did this happen? Real Producers came out of nowhere!” If you were at that first event, you know it was a special one. I will certainly never forget it.
Now look at us! Three years later we have three different publications in print in DFW and an amazing Real Producers team behind us. When I moved here from northern Minnesota, I never would have guessed this is where we would be with Real Producers. When I look back at my life just three short years ago, I feel like I need a telescope because so much has changed. In May of 2019, Dallas Real Producers officially launched, and in March of 2021, Tarrant Real Producers first hit mailboxes. With the July 2021 issues, we have had 67 issues go to print between the three publications. We have hosted 12 large events, and countless smaller
8 • July 2021
across the Metroplex and is synonymous with excellence. Our team at Real Producers is so thrilled and grateful to have the privilege to share the stories and to celebrate the most elite real estate agents and vetted businesses in our real estate market. None of this could have happened without you. Thank you all for three years! We can’t wait to see what the next three brings us. See you all soon, Jordan Espeseth Co-Owner jordan.espeseth @realproducersmag.com
On June 3rd of this year, we had the official Launch Party for Tarrant Real Producers at T&P Tavern in Fort Worth. It was a fantastic event – a perfect way to celebrate the launch of our third and final publication across DFW. What excites me the most is that this is only the beginning. The name “Real Producers” is spreading rapidly
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Tarrant Real Producers • 9
Tarrant Real Producers
Kick-Off Party! Photos by: Samantha Farris and Traci Schwomeyer
event recap
T&P Tavern
Wow – What an evening to remember! Our first-ever Tarrant Real Producers event was a huge success. With nearly 150 of the best real estate agents and best businesses in attendance, this event was the perfect way to launch this incredible community.
I would also like to thank our event sponsors: Cherry Creek Mortgage, Boston National Title of Texas, HomeServe USA, and PROCO Roofing and Construction. And of course, Balloon Therapy for that incredible balloon garland! Without you, this event wouldn’t have been possible!
One of our partners said it best: “The energy and excitement in the room last night was magical! The Tarrant Real Producers Kick-Off party was a huge success! To see so many successful and hard-working people in one room was extremely moving! Working hand-in-hand to make us all successful is what it’s all about!” As we all know, there haven’t been a lot of face-toface networking events in the last year and many of us have been dying for a chance to meet up with our friends and colleagues. This event gave us that opportunity, and the beautiful art-deco train station did not disappoint. Big shout out to T&P Tavern in downtown Fort Worth!
To all of you amazing real estate agents and businesses who continue to show up and support Tarrant Real Producers: I thank you and have so much gratitude in my heart for all of you! See you at the next event! Lance Dunahoe Co-Owner Tarrant Real Producers
10 • July 2021
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12 • July 2021
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Tarrant Real Producers • 13
14 • July 2021
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Business Marketing - Headshots - Events Family Por��aits - Lifest�le Weddings - Engagements - Newbor�
(817) 455-5931 @shesmysky�hoto realproducersmag.com
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If you’re at the top of your game, congratulations! But … are you done now?
(We have proven success helping Real Producers get even realer)
COAC HING Save the date: August 11, 2021 at Noon CST Rialto Presents Live Webinar Hosted by Les McGehee: "Strategies for the Oncoming Market Shift: An Expert Panel from Markets Coast to Coast (and TX)" Guest Speaker Julie Nelson Email coaching@rialtoacademy.com for your free pass
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COACHING CERTIFICATIONS
Ask us about the Real Producer special! coaching@rialtoacademy.com 16 • July 2021
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Tarrant Real Producers • 17
rising star Written by: Les McGehee and Anne Marie Hampshire, Rialto Coaching Photos by: Samantha Farris
18 • July 2021
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Betty Arguello
Speaking the Language of Service
realproducersmag.com
Tarrant Real Producers • 19
If one had to guess Betty Arguello’s superpower, everyone who knows her would likely say it’s her powerful empathy. It’s not only reflected in her impressive résumé; it’s the essence of who she is and how she spends her time—and one of the myriad of reasons she’s so successful as an agent. Now a real estate professional at Fathom Realty serving the DFW area, Betty started out in the RE biz as a loan officer, helping her clients through the loan modification proA very special day in Betty’s cess in 2008 when the market crashed. Hispanic life, as she attends the Oath Ceremony and becomes a and a native Spanish US citizen. speaker herself, Betty’s main motivation to eventually get her real estate license was to help the Hispanic community realize their dreams of homeownership. Historically underserved in many Betty and her family industries, this community has particular and persistent challenges when it comes to real estate. “Having to buy a house and signing documents in a different language has been a challenge for many Hispanic families,” she says. “I saw this struggle with my father, and I saw how he was taken advantage of because of the lack of representation and language barrier.” Even aside from the language barrier, she’s heard about Spanish-speaking clients not getting the same level of service as native English speakers. She’s met with people who lost their life savings because they thought they were buying a house, only to later learn they were renters, not owners. And it’s not uncommon for parents who don’t speak English to get their kids to translate for them during a transaction. These challenges are unfortunate, inequitable (and sometimes downright tragic), but not surprising. Even for an English-speaking, born-and-bred American, the process of buying
20 • July 2021
a house is complex. “I always tell my clients, ‘You don’t buy a house like buying a car. You don’t buy a house like buying a Coke. You have this experience once in a lifetime, maybe twice, three times. So, the process is not something you just know.’” Originally from Torreón in the Mexican state of Coahuila, Betty immigrated to Phoenix around 2004. At first, she didn’t want to. She was successful and happy in Mexico, but her dad had immigrated many years before, and then her mom, and suddenly she found herself alone in Mexico with all her family in the U.S. “So I was like, what am I doing here? We’re family-oriented people. There’s no point for me to be here by myself. And that’s why I decided to come here.” She already knew English, because as a teenager, her parents sent her to private school, where she studied to be a bilingual assistant. “It was like opening my brain, putting English inside, and closing my brain,” she says. (Her English is impeccable, by the way.) Still, her brand-new life in the U.S. wasn’t easy. She worked three jobs: in the morning as an assistant manager for an apartment complex, in the afternoons in the mortgage business, and at night, she cleaned office buildings with her family. But there’s not a smidgeon of self-pity in her voice as she recalls this time. “Like any other immigrant, whatever was available for me to do, I did it,” she says, “And it didn’t matter what I needed to do. If I need to work, I work. If I need to go and take the bus, I’ll take the bus. If I need to know how to knock doors, I’ll go ahead and knock doors. And I think that’s what has brought me where I am right now.” Where she is right now is in a pretty great place. She has too many certifications and acronyms to list in terms of her education and accomplishments, but what’s noteworthy among them is her certification as an interpreter at the State Court in Arizona and Immigration Court in Dallas, and as a mediator, which she uses to her clients’ great advantage when negotiating. She also serves on the board and is a volunteer for Light of Hope Immigration Law Services, a nonprofit that offers advocacy and legal
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Tarrant Real Producers • 21
support for low-income families who face immigration challenges. In the end, though, Betty’s skills and good work come from a place of strong faith in God and pure empathy for others. “I wouldn’t be able to know how it feels to be an immigrant if I wasn’t an immigrant myself, “ she says. “I wouldn’t be able to understand how much work you have to put in to learn a new language and to adapt to a new culture if I didn’t go through the process myself.” If you want to help underserved communities like Betty, you could consider getting a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation through NAR (Betty has one, too.) But above all, she says, “You have to do your research. And you probably have to try to get involved in that community, with activities and multicultural events, so you get to know more about their perspectives, their backgrounds, and their expectations.” In other words, you can’t get involved in a community through lip service alone. You have to live it. Whether in the real estate biz or not, that’s solid advice for all of us. To get in touch with Betty, visit bettysellshouses.com or call 602.434.8053. To learn more about Light of Hope Immigration Law Center, visit lohimmigration.org. For more about Rialto Coaching, contact Les McGehee at les@rialtoacademy.com.
22 • July 2021
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Tarrant Real Producers • 23
24 • July 2021
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YOUR TARRANT REAL PRODUCERS
BADGES CONGRATS on being one of the TOP 500 PRODUCING real estate agents in Tarrant County! You now have your own badge to use however you’d like to show that you’ve made it a part of this exclusive community of the top 1-2% in real estate!
Our RP vetted businesses have been carefully selected to be a part of this community and have their own badge as well! They have been recommended by your peers in the top 500 and are some of Dallas’ most elite businesses. Look for this badge to know that you are working with one of the best recommended by the best!
Missing your badge? Email jordan.espeseth@realproducersmag.com Using your badge? We’d love to see how! Social media, email signatures, website, listings, marketing material... nothing’s off limits! Show us and you may just find a picture of what you shared in the magazine!
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khoss@procoroof.com Tarrant Real Producers • 25
DANNY HELMS and Boston National Title of Texas
26 • July 2021
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partner spotlight Written by: Kaitlin Merchant Davison, Rialto Coaching Photos by: Samantha Farris
A ROSTER OF CHAMPIONS
For sports teams, there are countless strategies for building a roster of championshiplevel talent. You can go for a few all-star offensive players. You can build a deep bench of high-quality, all-around players. You can stack your team with specialists. You can take a hybrid approach, with a little bit of all of the above. Ever since Danny Helms worked for the Carolina Panthers while in college, the art of building a roster has fascinated him. It’s also played a big role in how he’s grown the team at Boston National Title of Texas and the way he serves the Realtors of Tarrant County. “I loved scouting and seeing how teams build their roster. Intangible things for different players — what attributes they have, the pros, the cons, etc.” “There’s plenty of talented competition out there, but I promise no one will out work me. I love that my team carries similar characteristics in that we always want to work until the job is done and clients are smiling!” Over the last 3+ years, Danny has had a vision to grow BNT of Texas and develop the top title company in the state. “Part of playing and coaching sports were the messages and morals instilled. For example, we had an old poster hanging in our high school weight room that said, ‘Hard work beats talent when talent refuses to work hard.’ That was certainly something I took to heart and apply today. There’s plenty of talented competition out there, but I promise no one will out work me. I love that my team carries similar characteristics in that we always want to work until the job is done and clients are smiling!”
realproducersmag.com
With so many people in the title industry in Texas, Danny’s high standards for growing his team have definitely paid off. One of his top priorities is finding people who align with their core values and are a good cultural fit. Part of the reason for their focus on building a roster with great team players is that the team approaches the plug-and-play business of title differently, with simple yet powerful ways to add value to their relationships. “We’re available and we’re adaptable. I think those are two things you don’t normally find in title companies,” Danny says. Danny, and the folks at Boston National Title, adapt an otherwise highly systematized process to fit the agent’s and loan officer’s way of doing business. They tailor the communication method and process to flow with the needs of their partners in the transaction. This had led them to expand into new markets, with Southlake and Austin seeing BNT of Texas offices opening this summer! “We always want to make sure that we’re making a good impression. We also leave a lot of room for customization. Certain Realtors like certain things a certain way that another Realtor might not want. They might have their own requirements or requests,” Danny explains. “For example, one agent may want title to reach out directly to their
Tarrant Real Producers • 27
clients. Another may want to be the first point of contact for all requests. The flexibility BNT of Texas builds in allows for both approaches.” Another way they’re adaptable and available is through their weekend closing options and complimentary mobile notaries throughout the country. Weekend closings are not common, but they’re a great way to accommodate their clients’ busy work schedules. Of course, the team loves it when clients can come into the office, but especially since the start of the pandemic, clients have really appreciated the convenience of mobile closings and notaries. “We send a notary anywhere — at home, on vacation, at a Starbucks,” he says with a laugh. Listening to Danny talk about his BNT of Texas superstars, their relationships with their Tarrant real estate partners, it’s clear how passionate they are about the quality of service they provide. It’s also clear that everyone on BNT of Texas’ roster of talent are truly team players who, as they say in the NFL, “leave everything on the field.” Danny sums it up this way: “Being customizable and available — that plays a big part in building the relationship. You don’t want to just say ‘This is how we do things; you either like it or you don’t.’ You want to work with them because you’re both trying to achieve the same goal.” For more information about Boston National Title of Texas, visit bnttexas.com or call their office at 972-584-9660
28 • July 2021
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Dylan Leydan, Emily Street, and Danny Helms
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Tarrant Real Producers • 29
“
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that plays a big part in building the relationship. You don’t want to just
say ‘This is how we do things; you either like it or you don’t.’ You want to work with them because you’re both trying to achieve the same goal.
30 • July 2021
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Tarrant Real Producers • 31
coach’s corner Written by: Les McGehee, Head Coach, Rialto Coaching
Going from
Pt 3
Great to Greater Don’t Average Your Business
Congratulations on being a Real Producer! It’s quite an accomplishment. To get here, you definitely helped a lot of people and did some extraordinary things. But — are you done? Finito? Glad it’s over? Time to drink milk in the winner’s circle and leave the track? Of course, you’re not done! We talked about this last month. Even though you’re already successful, you aren’t satiated by your previous successes. Your appetite for growth is ongoing. You get that your business is great for what it is, but you still want to go great-to-greater.
32 • July 2021
In this issue’s Coach’s Corner, we’re focusing on unique opportunities Real Producers have for growing their businesses even more... specifically. Are you only riding your business model, or are you making the most of the unique gifts you were given to express your Unique Value Proposition (UVP)? How can you measure your opportunities in this development of your unique potential while still relying on the standard models? As described by firebrand Gary Keller, we master the model, then apply creativity with our specific uniqueness. Here are three top opportunities for you to consider with regards to the added value of your uniqueness.
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1. Stay in your model AND allow your business to differentiate. Rialto Coaches have had the pleasure of interviewing 100+ top players in Tarrant, and, while there are differences, there are interesting similarities to consider when investigating your UVP in your market. · Many of our local top agents are appropriately proud that they: · Love to grow agent careers. · Devote themselves to a great charity that is likely related to ministry. · Proudly align with one of the 2-3 massive coaching companies, often using their complete marketing systems, scripts, and even tech. While these are really wonderful descriptors, they are also very normal for Tarrant Real Producers. Have you asked yourself: · What UNIQUELY do I offer to my clients and agents that others do not? · Would I benefit from a different coaching or consultative opinion and/ or system, since my peers often use the same large coaching company? · How can I measure the amount of UNIQUE opportunity I have, now that I have mastered the model of strong real estate business? Do the math: if 2000 top producers in your area all use the same resources, how well are you seeing your unique opportunities to grow the model with your UNIQUE characteristics?
2. Use the Multiplier, and be specific. This is a Rialto Coaching favorite for determining if we are at the bottom, middle, or near the ceiling of our specific models and systems – and the unique opportunities you have. Do this: · Take your gross revenue from last year. Write the number down. _______________ · Multiply it by two. Write the number down. _______________ · Ask yourself, “Using the systems, people, relationships, and activities I am currently using, can I hit this number within 3 years? ____Y/N________ · If yes, multiply your revenue by three instead of two. _______________ · If no, ask yourself these two questions, “What system, people, relationships, and activities would have to go up a level to achieve this number? And how would I do that with my unique strengths and opportunities?” · Your unique answer: ___________________________ _________________________ Use the Multiplier again. This time instead of your gross revenue, try using the same process to ask about listing appointments, or increased agent count, or something else you are curious about in your business. Explore your answers for how you would uniquely achieve that number. The point is this – don’t settle for mastering the model. Yes, it is hugely important that you master real estate models, but once mastered, don’t leave your uniqueness out. And apply this thinking not only to overall growth but also the growth of specific systems. Don’t be afraid to continue honoring the model while differentiating yourself with your UVP. It’ll accelerate your ability to be seen for who you are and to successfully find clients who match you faster. Your business is a titan and a model, and it is also a snowflake and a unique set of gifts from your creator and your life. Do you. Yes, drive the model, AND do you.
To have your exercise debriefed for free, contact Coaching@RialtoAcademy.com To learn more about Rialto Coaching email Les@RialtoAcademy.com
realproducersmag.com
Tarrant Real Producers • 33
UNTIL ALL ARE FREE Right now, around the globe, there are approximately 40 million trapped in forced labor or sexual exploitation. The N2 Company – the company behind this publication and 900+ others like it – is proud to help fund the life-saving efforts of nonprofits fighting this injustice. Through N2’s giving program, N2GIVES, we’ve donated more than $13 million to the cause. This was made possible by the hard work of our Area Directors, the partnership of our local advertisers, and engaged readers like you.
Through the years of giving to many nonprofits with big hearts and dreams to end human trafficking, it became clear we needed to focus our giving on organizations that provide a web of support in the anti-human trafficking realm: nonprofits who work together, creating an effective force and network where their impact is greatest. Love Justice International, Rescue:Freedom International, and International Justice Mission, are our 2021 N2GIVES nonprofit partners. All three organizations pour their heart and soul into their work, each serving as a separate but vital player in the anti-trafficking movement by employing their own unique strengths and working with those who have specific expertise in combatting slavery. Here are their stories.
Love Justice International
There are many tactics used by traffickers to trick vulnerable people into slavery. In an all-too-common scenario, victims are lured away from their homes and escorted into bordering countries by the promise of a much-needed work opportunity. It’s only when the victim arrives as a complete outsider, with no one to turn to for help, that he or she realizes the true nature of the “work.” This is just one of the tactics Love Justice International (www.lovejustice.ngo) is on a mission to disrupt. The nonprofit currently operates 56 transit monitoring stations at prime border crossings in Nepal, India, Bangladesh, and South Africa that are known for their unassuming role in a victim’s journey into slavery. By crowd-watching for any suspicious behavior and questioning potential traffickers and victims, Love Justice has successfully intercepted more than 22,000 people from exploitation. Rescue:Freedom International
We’ve supported Rescue:Freedom’s (rescuefreedom.org) mission in the past, yet one of our biggest changes in giving
this year is supporting their Local Partner Network (made up of smaller nonprofits fighting sexual slavery). This model shares best practices, consults in helpful areas, and financially supports a part of each local partner’s budget for the year. We are excited to give to RFI’s network and to connect smaller local groups we’ve supported in the past so they can receive more than just financial help along their way to making a greater impact. International Justice Mission
IJM (ijm.org) believes every person deserves to be free, and they partner with local justice systems to end violence against those living in poverty. Restoring victims from slavery and then bringing the criminals who committed this crime to justice – ensuring traffickers cannot exploit anyone else – is how they work toward ending slavery in our lifetime. IJM works with local authorities in 13 countries to restore victims of violence, forced labor, and sex trafficking, fight in courtrooms until slave owners are put behind bars, and provide training and support for local law enforcement to end the cycle of violence and injustice.
To learn more about nonprofits we support through N2GIVES, check out n2gives.com. Or, to meet the company behind the giving program, visit n2co.com.
34 • July 2021
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Justin with his wife, Teresa
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J U STIN
MASO N Nevertheless, He Persisted featured agent Written by: Kaitlin Merchant Davison and Anne Marie Hampshire, Rialto Coaching Photos by: Samantha Farris
At the beginning of our conversation, Justin Mason casually mentions he’ll be in a film—and the shoot is today. Later on, he shares that he plays 60 to 70 gigs a year with his True Country band. And that he and his wife, Theresa, sold 67 homes last year and recently merged their real estate business with Magnolia Realty (owned by Chip and Joanna Gaines of HGTV’s Fixer Upper fame, just to get that out of the way). Oh, he also has three kids, all under six years old. This jaw-dropping series of revelations would make most of our heads spin. But Justin’s busy schedule and general zest for life are not that noteworthy to him. “We’re just stringing it together,” he humbly says. “The days, weeks, years go by really fast. You look up and it’s May. How the heck
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is it May already? We have a lot of really awesome people around us. You have to have support.” One of the ways Justin and Theresa have found that support is by merging their real estate brokerage, MIG Real Estate, with Magnolia Realty in 2020. Justin and Theresa were at a point where it was either invest in “building our own brand, systems, and processes — or consider merging with someone who already has that in place.” They’re getting in on the ground floor as the seventh franchise owner in the Magnolia system by opening up the Grapevine office. What’s remarkable about the merge with Magnolia has been the popularity of the brokerage’s owners, and by extension, the group itself. “The
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biggest surprise has been —I say this in a nice way!—the cult following. We knew who Chip and Joanna were and where they stood values-wise. We had no idea how many people love them and follow them. We never watched Fixer Upper, so when we joined, we were like, oh my gosh! We have people who will call us from around the country because they’re moving here or in-state, and because they’ve worked with another Magnolia agent in the past. And they will only work with Magnolia agents, or they heard about Magnolia through something else.” The road to Magnolia celebrity status (and Justin’s celebrity status as a country singer) is a diverse mix of experiences that have shaped Justin into the entrepreneur/artist/dad/husband/rock star broker he is today. A serious athlete in high school, he ended up blowing out his knee and lost his sports scholarships. But that didn’t stop him. He decided that the military would provide him with the structure and support he needed to start adult life on the right track. He enlisted in the Navy and went to boot camp two weeks after graduation. That military work ethic led to him getting his degree in just a year and a half, doubling (in some cases tripling) down on classes before he started with the local K-9 police unit. Justin cites two pivotal moments in his life: his experience in the military— and meeting his wife. At the time, she owned a residential paint company, and her crew was painting Justin’s cousin’s house. After meeting Theresa, his cousin tried to get Justin and Theresa to meet each other. Theresa didn’t want to. Nevertheless, Justin persisted. “Well, my wife didn’t want to meet me. And then eventually I was stubborn because I was like, ‘She doesn’t wanna meet me?? What? Who’s this girl? And I was persistent
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at Billy Bob’s later that year. It really went fast. My family was like, ‘What are you talking about? Justin doesn’t know how to sing!’ And I said, ‘Y’all need to sit down. I’ve got something I need to tell you; I’m coming out of the musical closet.’ So here we go; it’s going to be fun.” Singing to hundreds of people with no musical background to speak of? Justin takes this, too, in stride. “Once you do it, you realize it wasn’t as bad as you thought,” Justin recalls. “And then the crowds keep getting bigger. A lot has changed. This is the seventh year we’ve been playing. It’s a whole different ballgame. You still get a little nervous, but I’m a lot more comfortable when I get on stage.”
about that. And then look who won in the end? I think we both won.”
IT ’S A WH OLE D IFFE RENT B ALLGAM E. YOU STILL G ET A LITTLE NERVOU S , BUT I’ M A LOT MO RE COMF ORTA B LE WHEN I G ET ON STAGE.
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Are you seeing a pattern here? Then there’s the music. Justin had a long love of music and sang all the time —but no one knew it. Shortly after he got married, Justin picked up a guitar and started to learn how to play by watching YouTube videos. Six months later, he started a band. They began playing at clubs and it took off from there— at lightning speed. “We were
Justin Mason’s limitless perseverance, pure devotion to his family, and dedication to his multiple vocations speak for themselves. He has a thing or two to teach us about getting outside our comfort zones as well. “With whatever it is I decide I want to do, I’m stubborn and stupid at the same time. I’m stupid to think it’s going to be easy. Then once I’m in it, I’m too stubborn to quit. One way or another, I get into it, and then once I’m in it, I have to do a good job—whether it’s real estate or music. The longer you just keep grinding, you show the universe you’re serious about it, and then it’s like, “OK, you really want to do it; you’re not just saying it?’ and then good things start happening. You get the reward at the end of the day.” For more information about Justin’s Magnolia brokerage, visit Magnoliarealtyargyle.com. For more about Justin’s music (including his upcoming tour), visit Justinmason.com. For more about Rialto Coaching, contact Les McGehee at les@rialtoacademy.com.
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Dennis Tuttle cover story
Written by: Kaitlin Merchant Davison and Les McGehee, Rialto Coaching Photos by: Samantha Farris
A Gazillion Infinity, with the Dennises Dennis Tuttle began his sales career in real estate as a 23-year-old in the middle of the worst real estate recession we’ve ever seen. Two weeks into business, he attended a convention with a panel of agents who had all achieved Rookie of the Year status, and he set a goal—which he achieved handily. Not only was he named regional Rookie of the Year his first year in business, but he also ended up just two closings shy of being International Rookie of the Year! Flash forward to today and Dennis is our cover story of Tarrant Real Producers, with a thriving real estate business and a nonprofit that makes an indelible impact on the lives of thousands of kids. How did he rise to the top so quickly? Dennis sums it up poetically by sharing an adage he first heard from his pastor: “The land doesn’t care who the farmer is.” For Dennis, that simple saying was life-changing—right out of the gate as a
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newbie real estate agent in 2009. “My mentality was that there are patterns of success in real estate and there are patterns of failure in real estate. Success in real estate, or life, is a lot like farming in the sense that the land doesn’t care who the farmer is. So, as long as the farmer follows the pattern of success, the land will produce for anyone who is willing to work the land.” And that was enough for Dennis to decide that there was no reason for him not to dive right in. “If I could learn from the right people in real estate,” he recalls, “I could do what they did—success is not reserved for the special few. And I think this applies even if you’re a kid. The land doesn’t care how old or young you are, where you’re from, or what you look like. It’s the same in farming, real estate, or Legos. You simply find the pattern of success and you follow it.” Dennis started learning the ropes of real estate when he was just 18. “I started out on the investment side
of the business and would get paid finders fees for finding deals for investors. I didn’t have any money to really invest, so I just started where I could. I did that all through college and then eventually began flipping homes and even bought rental properties with my dad. Then, five years later, I became a real estate agent, and after my first year, I was grateful to be second-place Rookie of the Year for Keller Williams International.”
The land doesn’t care how old or young you are, where you’re from, or what you look like. It’s the same in farming, real estate, or Legos. You find the pattern of success and you follow it.
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As Dennis grew his business and grew his role within KW, he continued to believe in following patterns of success. He knows that—regardless of age or background—for any endeavor you believe in, you can follow the pattern of success. And you can start now.
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Case in point: From the incredibly young age of five, Dennis’ son (Dennis IV or “Little Dennis”) had a very clear vision for his own life: He wanted to be a missionary. While many parents might have chalked that up to a young boy’s idealistic dreams that would change countless times over the next 15 years, Dennis and his wife, Brittany,
chose to lean into it. They encouraged him to follow a pattern of success and not to wait. There were actually aspects of that dream he could start right away and make a real impact! And he did. When Dennis IV was just seven, he had the idea to be a Lego missionary (his other passion aside
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from Jesus) and so the family formed Building Blocks 4 Kids. Today, it’s a full-fledged 501(c)(3) nonprofit that’s brought Legos, meals, and a message of empowerment and purpose to 2,800 kids in four countries. The organization’s central message is that just like when you follow Lego instructions (or when following a farming pattern of
success), when you follow the instructions in the Bible, you can build a life according to God’s perfect plan. “And this is what my son wants to do with the rest of his life, which I think is so cool,” “Big Dennis” says proudly. “We’re just supportive. It’s like, if your kid wants to do ballet, you get them into
ballet classes, I guess. Our kid wants to be a missionary. We’re supporting that and spending time on the weekends helping build this ministry. I think it’s what any parent would want to do.” Building Blocks 4 Kids holds free Lego workshops that help children, many of whom have never opened a
The Dennis Tuttle Real Estate Team: (l to r) DeAndre Sloan, LaSheda McLane, Dennis Tuttle, Jacob Martin, Kimberly Glaze, and Kyrin Fells
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Dennis, his wife, Brittany, and their 5 children, Dennis IV, Adelynn, Lilly Pearl, Jack, and Olivia Joy with Emmet the Lego Guy
I always want to lift people up to a better place than they were before knowing me or interacting with me— whether that be for five minutes or a lifelong relationship.
new Lego set. “We give them pizza, we give them a brand-new Lego set, they open it up, and they follow the instructions. Then we have ‘Emmet the Lego guy’ come out,” Dennis explains. For those not obsessed with Legos like the two Dennises, Emmet is the star of The Lego Movie 1 and 2. The life-sized Lego minifigure takes photos with the thrilled kids. “Half the time Emmet is me!” Dennis says 48 • July 2021
with a laugh. Then at the end of the visit, Little Dennis and Big Dennis deliver a message together, that when you follow the Lego instructions carefully, your Legos turn out the way they were designed to be, and that the same applies to God’s plan. Then for added fun, they do drawings for prizes, give praise, and send the kids home with new Lego sets and a bag of snacks. (All of this goodness is run by Big Dennis’ kids, wife, and friends of the family, by the way.) Big Dennis acknowledges that this desire to help people is a pattern of success in most real estate businesses. “It’s what we as real estate industry professionals do.” Of course, he takes this to a deeper level, applying his personal mission statement to any relationship, business-related or not. “I always want to lift people up to a better place than they were before knowing me or interacting with me— whether that be for five minutes or a lifelong relationship.”
And then there’s the remarkable Dennis IV, who has influenced his dad in myriad ways. “I had a mission statement already. But I didn’t have a vision statement,” Dennis III says. “I asked my son for that because I knew he would think bigger than me. I asked, ‘How many kids do you want to bless in your lifetime through BB4K?’ And he said, ‘An infinity?’ And I said, ‘Let’s make it a number goal, so Little Dennis said a Gazillion.’” And just like that, both Dennises agreed to help a “gazillion infinity” people. To learn more about the Dennis Tuttle Real Estate Team, visit dennistuttleteam.com. For more about Building Blocks 4 Kids, ask your favorite Dennis or visit buildingblocks4kids.org For more about Rialto Coaching, email Les McGehee at les@rialtoacademy.com
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“It’s not about the loans we do; it is about the hearts we change and the people we help.” Anginette Cells Jorrey, Loan Officer | NMLS # 216856 / 2289 Office 817-812-2276 | Direct 214-908-2828 anginettej@fairwaymc.com | AnginetteHomeLoans.com
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