Julie Morgan Brigman is a commercial real estate agent and business broker with Enrichment Opportunities.
HOW LONG HAS SHE BEEN A COMMERCIAL REALTOR?
Three years. She worked for Ben Ossi of Ossi Brokers for two years and then went out on her own in December 2002 when she opened Enrichment Opportunities.
WHAT DOES SHE DO?
Brigman brokers small businesses and lists and sells commercial real estate. “If you wanted to own a pet store, I’d find you a pet store. If you owned a pet store and wanted to sell it, I’d find you a buyer.” She also lists and sells investment properties, apartment complexes, group living facilities and vacant land to developers.
HOW’S IT GOING SINCE SHE OPENED?
“It’s going well. Like any start-up business it has its challenges. But I know real estate so well and I know the area so well, so I am getting a lot of listings.”
BEFORE REAL ESTATE?
She owned Pet Emporium in Ponte Vedra Beach for 25 years.
WHY DID SHE SELL HER STORE?
“I had done it seven days a week, 24 hours a day for 25 years. I was burned out. Also, the competitiveness with the big box pet retailers. They really take the market on the dog food and pet supplies.”
HOW DID SHE GET INTO COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE?
Ossi helped her sell Pet Emporium and she was so fascinated with the process of selling a business that she went to work for him. “He is still my mentor. He said come on over and I’ll teach you everything you need to know.”
ENTREPRENEUR?
“I am an entrepreneur, that’s what I do. I can’t work for somebody else for too long.” She and her mother, Lee Ashe, have owned several pet and supply stores, including Puppy Palace, Atlantic Village Pet Store and Pablo Plaza Pet Store.
FAVORITE THING ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“I have a passion for the investment potential. The potential of turning an existing business opportunity or existing commercial real estate into true wealth. That’s what Ben taught me. If you can buy a business that is connected to real estate, you are going to be wealthy. It’s going to take time and you have to be good at your business. But, you will create true wealth in the long term.”
AREA SHE WORKS?
She is concentrating on the beaches, but has listings all over Northeast Florida.
ADVICE SHE WOULD GIVE TO NEW AGENTS?
“Find a mentor to learn from. Have a lot of money to help until you start making money. Also lower your personal overhead, like your house payment or car payment, whatever you can to do prepare to lower your own break even point. After that you need to have staying power. There is going to be a time when you won’t get paid for four to six months.”
WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING WITH COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AT THE BEACH?
“I’m getting a lot of calls from buyers from New York and New Jersey who are moving here. I am thinking about being a condominium sales specialist because they want to come here and buy commercial real estate, buy a business and have a condominium to stay in. They want to come to Florida because they know the economy is doing well and that the appreciation of the real estate at the beaches is running about 13-20 percent. They want to come here and live, work and play. They ask about businesses, real estate and condominiums to live in. They don’t want to be here permanently because they have other homes. The condominium market at the beach is one of the most exciting things that has ever happened in Jacksonville.” Brigman is thinking of blending the condominium sales with what she does because she says they just fit.
BIRTHPLACE
Pocatello, Idaho, but she was raised in Atlanta.
MOVED TO JACKSONVILLE?
In 1964 with her family.
FAMILY
She has been married to Rick, who owns Hedgemasters, a landscaping and design company, for 14 years. They have two Chihuahuas, Abby and Nino.
ASSOCIATIONS
Commercial Real Estate Women of Jacksonville, Brokerworks.com and Florida Business Brokers Association.
WHY BE
INVOLVED IN CREW?
“I love women and I love working with women. I’m used to working with women in the pet store because my employees were women and my customers were women. I communicate and understand them very well. Women seem to be extremely loyal and helpful especially the women in CREW.”
HOW HAS BEING A WOMAN AFFECTED HER AS A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AGENT?
“It’s different doing business with men. It’s not better or worse, it’s just different. There is a learning curve that I am having to go through.”
HOBBIES
Riding horses, running, boating and fishing and visiting her families “hobby farm,” where she rides her horse, Jet.
FAVORITES
Her favorite restaurant is Carrabba’s Italian Grill. Her favorite place to visit is Garvin, Minn. because it offers her peace and tranquility. A movie she would recommend is “Hours” and a book she recommends is “Atlas Shrugged,” by Ayn Rand. When relaxing at home, she enjoys “60 Minutes.”
— by Michele Newbern Gillis