Patricia White has been a commercial real estate agent with Signature Commercial Realty since June 2006. Before that, she was at Watson Commercial Realty.
BEFORE REAL ESTATE?
She earned her real estate license in March. Before real estate, she was a college professor teaching Internet courses on information technology and still teaches a few courses today. Online she has taught computer applications for Kaplan University and information systems security and information systems management for University of Maryland University College. In person, she taught courses in business and information technology at Central Piedmont Community College for six years, computer science for two years at University of North Carolina at Charlotte and then was a department chair for one year in the Information Technology department of Livingstone College.
COLLEGE
She has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Florida Southern College, a master’s degree in business administration from Metropolitan University and an educational specialist degree in computer science and Ph.D. degree in information systems from Nova Southeastern University.
WHY GO INTO COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE?
White also has a cleaning business, Cleantastic Cleaning Service, that does new construction cleaning. “I just liked seeing houses. We were meeting developers and going into all the different developments doing the new construction cleaning. I told my business partner that I think I will start investing in real estate.” She decided to get her real estate license and then realized she really wasn’t interested in residential real estate. “I started reading about commercial real estate and realized that is where I should be.”
SPECIALITY?
Shopping centers and leasing.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE?
“It’s both rewarding and challenging.”
HOW HAVE HER DEGREES HELPED HER?
“I think the best part of being in information technology and knowing computers is that in commercial real estate you have to be technologically savvy.” Her education helps her when working with different databases and when marketing properties on the Internet. “I’m a step ahead of those who don’t have that computer background, so it helps me out a lot.”
CLIENTS?
She works with investors and business owners.
MOST CHALLENGING THING ABOUT COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE?
“Finding leads.”
BEST PROFESSIONAL ADVICE RECEIVED?
“Stay committed to the industry and don’t give up.”
AREAS SHE CONCENTRATES ON?
Southside and Orange Park.
LESSONS LEARNED?
“To stay on top of your game and continue to cultivate knowledge and learn about the field of commercial real estate.”
ADVICE FOR A NEW COMMERCIAL REALTOR?
White said to start in residential real estate first and get that experience before going into commercial. “I think if I had started in residential I think that most of my customers would have come from my residential clients. Then I wouldn’t have to look as hard to find commercial customers.”
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS?
She is a member of Northeast Florida Association of Realtors and National Association of Industrial and Office Properties. She attends the Commercial Real Estate Women of Jacksonville.
- by Michele Newbern Gillis