Michael Oswalt Finds Balance in Work and Life

Written by: Susan Marquez

Photography by: Abe Draper Photography

Michael Oswalt came to real estate organically. “I didn’t dream of selling real estate all my life,” he laughs. As a high school student at Bayou Academy in Cleveland, Michael had a talk with his guidance counselor. “I was good at numbers, but I didn’t want a job where I sat at a desk all day. My counselor suggested I look into being an appraiser.” After taking basic courses at Mississippi Delta Community College at More - head for two years, Michael went to Delta State University where he ma - jored in real estate and insurance. He went to work for the Mississip - pi Department of Transportation doing appraisals. “I did eminent domain around the state, working to acquire right-of-ways for roads. I decided I wanted to be a certified general appraiser, which was a long process with requirements for experience in both eminent domain and commercial. I did some work for Melvin Chaney to help meet my commercial requirements.”

Michael went to work part-time as an agent with Tom Smith Land and Homes. “At the time it was called Royal Realty Group. I found them in the yellow pages!” In July 2012, he received his certification as a general appraiser. “I also got my broker’s license in 2007 and sold a couple of homes. Tom kept asking me when I was going to start selling real estate full time. In August 2014 I told him that I’d start doing some marketing, and if it gets to where I have to give up MDOT to keep up with the demands of my real estate business, I’d do it. Tom predicted it wouldn’t take more than two years for that to happen.” As fate would have it, in October 2014, Michael and 44 of his colleagues at MDOT gathered for a meeting at the Mississippi Agriculture Museum in Jackson. “We were informed at that meeting that we were all going to be laid off, as they were going with private appraisers instead. We got three month’s severance pay.” On the way home, Michael called several appraisers he knew. “The last person I called was Tom. He said that was the best thing that could ever happen to me. He said he’d see me the next morning. I told him the next day was Saturday and he laughed and said take the weekend off and he’d see me on Monday!”

Michael went in on Monday and sold his first piece of land in January 2015. “I haven’t looked back!” While he kept his appraiser’s license, Michael says he went inactive in December 2019. “It was such a blessing. As a Christian, I believe all things happen for a reason, even though we often have to live through some heartache. I felt like I had been pushed off a cliff, but since that time, I’ve been head down and wide open!”

His biggest challenge is finding the right balance between work and family. “When I first started working full time in real estate, I drove all over the state chasing down listings. I didn’t want to turn anything down. The first full year I worked, I put 70,000 miles on my vehicle! I exceeded my own expectations, financially, making much more than I ever would have made while working at MDOT.” But as much as Michael loves working in real estate, the time away from his family became an issue.

“This business can be all-consuming if you let it. It’s not unusual for me to work 80 hours a week. I’ve had to pull the reigns back a bit to focus on my family.” Michael is married to his high school sweetheart, Leisa. “We met in the seventh grade at Bayou Academy,” he says. The couple has two boys, Ben (8) and Fischer (3). “Spending time with them is very important for me.”

Michael’s glad his career led him to real estate. “I absolutely love what I do,” he says. “No two days are the same, which I love. It never gets boring!”

When I first started working full time in real estate, I drove all over the state chasing down listings. I didn’t want to turn anything down. The first full year I worked, I put 70,000 miles on my vehicle!”