Stephanie Burke has been with Watson Realty’s Intracoastal office for a year and a half.
SALES IN THE CITY?
Burke and her partner, Melanie Grey, came up with a slogan for their team. They took a spin off of the “Sex and the City” name and came up with “Sales in the City.” “We do everything around Jacksonville and send out referrals all over Florida. It just lets everyone know that we take care of the whole city. We had to think of a slogan for ourselves, something that would stick and it was just something I liked.”
SPECIALTY?
New homebuyers.
BEFORE REAL ESTATE?
She and her husband were real estate investors for four years. They’d buy, renovate and then sell. Then they decided to buy, renovate and keep as rentals. “My husband and I bought quite a few properties around Jacksonville.” She also has been a bailiff for Judge Harold Arnold at the Duval County Courthouse for two years, owned a hot dog cart for a year and was a manager for Pizza Hut for six years.
WHY GET YOUR LICENSE?
Burke wanted to learn more about real estate laws and the dos and don’ts involved with it. “I love dealing with people and when I was doing the investing, I got to meet a lot of investors and people looking to buy homes.
“I decided to actually do real estate because I really enjoyed it. I like to see the happiness on people’s faces when they get their first home.”
LIKE ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“Satisfying people’s dreams to own a house.”
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HELP NOW?
“When I was a manager for Pizza Hut, I liked talking to people and dealing with problems and solving them. The problem with most people is that they think they can’t buy a home. When they find out they can, it’s like a load off of their shoulders. So, the solution is me coming in and helping them find a house that fits them and the problem is solved. I also went to a couple of training classes that taught me how to deal with people better. I learned how to watch their mannerisms and take what you see and decipher how to deal with the person.”
ADVICE FOR NEW AGENTS?
New agents should set up a budget to advertise themselves. “Work your field of influence until they get tired of you talking about real estate. Ask them for referrals. They are your friends. Ask your family and friends for referrals. Ask them and they will give you the information or they will know someone who is looking to buy or sell a home.”
LESSONS LEARNED
“To ask my friends and family for referrals. I learned to be a little bit bolder about what I need, advertise more and set a plan and stick to it.”
PET PEEVES?
“When buyers won’t call me back. It’s like a love affair. We are all in love with each other at first, but then they don’t want to go on a second date. That’s how it feels. They don’t want to call you back. I get them pre-qualified, show them a bunch of houses and then it tapers off.”
HOMETOWN
Jacksonville. “My father was in the military so we moved around a lot. He retired here, so we moved back here so they could watch my children.”
RESIDES
Arlington, but they are building a home on the Northside.
FAMILY
She has been married to Tony, who owns his own trucking business, Night Movers, for 12 years. Together they have five children.
PERSONAL SIDE
When she is not working, she and her husband love to travel and take cruises. They recently took a road trip to California for a month. She also likes to spend time with family and attend football games. Her favorite movie of all time is “Altered States.” A book she has read and recommends is “Beloved” by Toni Morrison. Her favorite getaway spot is Key West and her favorite restaurant is Mt. Fuji.
- by Michele Newbern Gillis