By Michele Newbern Gillis
Staff Writer
Patricia Owings has taken a giant step. A year ago, she was the assistant to one of the area’s major commercial Realtors.
Today, she characterizes her job as “the cook, maid and bottle washer.”
And she loves it.
Owings has been the managing broker of CommTrust Realty, a commercial real estate company in Jacksonville Beach, for one year after working for 10 years under Kate Clifford.
CommTrust handles investment, retail, leasing and office leasing and sales and she has one assistant, her son Austin.
“Right now I’m the cook, maid and bottle washer,” she says. “I manage the company and facilitate the deals. Austin does a lot of research for me and helps market the properties.”
After a sales and marketing career, Owings started in commercial real estate as Clifford’s assistant over 10 years ago when Clifford was at Coldwell Banker Commercial.
“I had sold my own marketing company, obtained my real estate license and dabbled in residential for about 30 days. I realized I didn’t have the patience for residential and I didn’t want to travel downtown any more if I didn’t have to.
“I kept seeing this lady’s (Clifford’s) sign all over the beach and decided to call her. I finally got in touch with her, sent her my resume and she called me for an interview.
“I knew I wanted to get into commercial, but there were not many women in commercial and it was going to be extremely hard.”
As the adage goes, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Clifford’s assistant had just given notice the same day Owings got in touch with her.
“I was hired on the spot as her assistant.”
When Clifford left to open Strategic Sites, she took Owings with her.
“I’ve had experience with the big firms and the boutique firms,” said Owings. “It was really nice working in the boutique firm and I love Kate. She was great to work for.
“She is intelligent, sharp and a great negotiator. She has taught me a lot about negotiations. She taught me a lot about patience.”
Opportunity presented itself with an offer Owings couldn’t refuse. She had obtained her broker’s license and knew that one day she wanted to either own her own firm or manage a firm.
She met the owner of CommTrust Realty and was offered the managing broker position and part ownership in the company.
Owings is good friends with Realtor Phyllis Staines of Re/Max Coastal Real Estate. Owings said the best advice Staines gave her in regards to going into commercial was to go be someone’s assistant and get her foot in the door. Ten years later, she’s still going strong.
Owings said there are a lot of things on the market that have been on the market for a while.
“There is a lot of price reduction going on,” she said. “There is a lot of fear about capital gains getting increased. Then of course in the banking industry with loans not getting approved has been detrimental to a lot of deals.”
She says that taking the women’s side of commercial real estate hasn’t been a problem.
“Not as challenging as I thought it would be,” she said. “Being with Kate and the reputation she had made it easier for me. I absolutely recommend for every woman to get involved. I’m a true believer in getting a job done.
“I think one of the biggest challenges we face is the men who wonder if we are as smart as we should be. That’s just some of the vibes you feel here and there. With Kate, it was just an easy transition.”
Lately, Owings has been involved in a deal that would bring a four-star boutique hotel to Jacksonville Beach. The developer is trying to purchase some adjacent land so they can create a beaches convention center. “It’s a great project.”
She also is working with retail investors ranging from a single individual to a group.
“Right now I’m working with an assisted living facility/apartment developer that we buy land for and various retail tenants from restaurants to department stores. National Premium and Sign-A-Rama are a few of my clients.”
Life is good, she says.
“I love my job. Where else can you work where you can combine your family, your home life and still get your work done?
“I’m a workaholic. So, for me to be able to go home in the evenings and knock things out is great. I get me meet a myriad of people. Every deal is different, which makes it even better. I just overall love what I do.”