She has been a real estate agent with Realty Executives of Jacksonville for two years.
HOW LONG AS A REAL ESTATE AGENT?
She first had her license many years ago in Charleston, S.C., but since her husband was in the military, they moved so much that she never got to use it. It wasn’t until he retired in Jacksonville that she really was able to get into it. In 1991, she started with Watson for four years, then moved over to Re/Max for five years.
RECOGNITION
Silas won the Chairman’s Award (top agent in the Realty Executive franchise) for the second year on a row. “I was very honored. It was a nice reward for hard work. I was very pleased.” Norma and her husband traveled to Las Vegas to receive the award.
WHAT’S HER NICHE?
“Transitional women. Many of the buyers that I have worked with recently have been women who are in transition. Some are getting married, some widowed and others are getting divorced. Our city is just exploding and we offer so much here in Jacksonville so I have a lot of single women and retirees who are moving here. There are also married women whose income has risen, perhaps even surpassing their husband’s, which allows them to be a financial contributor. It’s wonderful to see couples enjoying the lifestyle they dreamed of which this additional income allows them to achieve.”
WHERE DOES SHE SELL?
Mandarin, St. Johns County, Southside and Orange Park.
TEAM?
She works as a team with her son Chris.
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO GET INTO REAL ESTATE?
“We were moving around with the military so we had to buy and sell a lot homes. We had a lot of experience with real estate agents. Some were excellent and some were so mediocre; we never knew what to expect. At that time, it was before the Internet and I don’t believe the general public knew what to expect from a professional real estate agent. We just took whatever. It cost us dearly financially. I realized that I could do better than that. People kept telling me that I should go into real estate. I felt like the public deserved a little more than what they were getting, so I went into real estate.”
WHO INSPIRED YOU TO GO INTO REAL ESTATE?
“My mother, Wanetta Holsapple, inspired me to go into real estate. She said I was so good with people and that it would be something I was good at. With all the moving I had done, she said I should have really good insight into what people want and need in a home.”
FAVORITE THING ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“That everyday is different. When I wake up in the morning, I have no idea what wonderful people I am going to meet that day.”
MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“Keeping all the balls in the air. It’s a multi-task business. You have to be on top of the technology. When you are dealing with buyers and sellers, there is so much involved. You have to have a system to keep it all in order.”
LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT REAL ESTATE
“The thing I like the least is also the thing I like the most and that is strange. There is no ceiling on my income, but there is also no floor. You are working without a net, so if you don’t produce or have four or five deals fall apart all at the same time, there is no safety net.”
ADVICE TO NEW AGENTS
“Don’t do it part-time if you possibly can avoid it. If you devote the time to real estate, it will reward you very well, but don’t think you can dabble in it and make a six figure income.”
HOME STATE
Illinois.
MOVED TO JACKSONVILLE
1991.
RESIDES
Switzerland. “We purchased a log home built by Fred Davis.”
FAMILY
She has been married to John for 30 years. She has five grown children.
WEBSITE
www.Jacksonvilledreamhome.com
FAVORITES
Her favorite movie is “To Kill a Mockingbird” and her favorite book is “The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood,” by Rebecca Wells. When dining out, she enjoys traveling to the beach for Max’s International. When relaxing at home she enjoys watching “Friends.” Her favorite place to visit is Dublin, Ireland.
— by Michele Newbern Gillis