Billie Motz has been a Realtor with Century 21 A1A Realty in Palatka for four years.
BEFORE THERE?
Realty World of North Florida for five years.
BEFORE REAL ESTATE?
For 30 years on and off, she worked for hospitals, doctors and pharmacies in the medical field doing insurance and office work.
WHAT MADE HER GO INTO REAL ESTATE?
“I got my real estate license in 1997 and was able to learn the business while working three days a week at the hospital. I had two dreams when I was growing up. One was real estate and the other was being a bridal consultant. I met the broker of Realty World, started there part-time and learned the business. I’ve never looked back.”
HOW DOES YOUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HELP HER NOW?
“There is a lot of paperwork and I am used to that. I like pressure and work well under pressure. I’ve recently hired an assistant to help me with all that paperwork.”
SPECIALITY?
Residential and first-time buyers.
AREA SHE COVERS?
All of Putnam County.
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE PUTNAM COUNTY?
“Putnam County has finally been discovered. The value of our property is good and we the St. Johns River runs right through the county. The city is in the process right now of redeveloping the downtown area and negotiating with developers on some condominiums and so forth. In the southern part of the county there are several fish camps that have been bought up by developers who are going to put condominiums and Key West-style cottages. The Wal-Mart distribution center is under consideration in the south part of the county that would employ 600 people. We don’t have subdivisions, but builders are coming in, buying lots and building speculation homes. Those can run anywhere from $149,000 to $400,000 depending on where they are. Our need is lower than that. We are a blue collar county and have a lot of first-time home buyers. There just aren’t enough $90,000 to $120,000 homes here.
BEEN DISCOVERED?
“We were kind of the laughing stock for many years. We are extremely rural and still are. Palatka’s population is only about 15,000. The county is about 80,000. The street in front of my office on U.S. 17 has about 100,000 cars or trucks within a 24-hour period. People are coming in. Land values are good. Waterfront values are going up, but they are still a better value than other counties. No one really knew about Palatka. We are the little rural community in the middle of five counties. We have a lot of people living in Putnam County and working in the surrounding counties.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT REAL ESTATE?
“The people. Every deal is different and every day I love something different. I deal with all age groups and it’s a challenge to meet the needs of everyone, but I like that.”
BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE RECEIVED?
“Go into every real estate deal as if you are the only person working the deal. Another thing is that perception is reality.”
ADVICE FOR A NEW AGENT?
“Get all the training you can have and don’t start this business unless you have at least six months of income saved up.”
PET PEEVES?
Motz said not leaving business cards or getting feedback from other agents who have shown her listings.
LESSONS LEARNED?
“Perseverance not patience. I don’t pray for patience I am working on perseverance in situations. I am a very outgoing and in-your-face person. I like to communicate with humor to my customers. I tell my new customers that there will be bumps in the road in this process. I say sometimes there may be a ditch and sometimes there may even be a crater. But we will get through it as long as they listen to me and we work together. They always laugh when I say that. I just want them to be prepared for things and not to freak out when problems arise.”
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS?
Northeast Florida Association of Realtors and its Putnam Council.
INVOLVEMENT WITH THE BOARD
She was on the NEFAR board but is now on the Realtor Political Action Committee committee, Legislative Committee and Candidate Screening committee. “I’d love to be president of NEFAR one day.”
WHY BE INVOLVED IN THE BOARD?
“We joined NEFAR in 1999. We had our small Board of Realtors here in Putnam County but we knew we couldn’t continue on. We wanted Putnam County to be represented. We need to be a part of it and work with our organization. In my professional opinion, it was the best thing we’ve ever done because of the support we have from NEFAR. We have about 105 people attending our Putnam Council meetings now.”
- by Michele Newbern Gillis