Hopkins opened her own firm, Memory Hopkins Real Estate, in St. Augustine last year and she recently opened a second office in Daytona Beach.
Before her own firm?
Hopkins has been in real estate for 30 years. She owned a Weichert Realtors franchise in Syracuse, N.Y. She came down to Florida in 2005 to manage Weichert, Realtors Hallmark Realty's Palm Coast office. She then went to Keller Williams Atlantic Partners in St. Augustine and became a team leader, but her job was eliminated last year due to budget cuts.
Why open your own company?
"The market has picked up and things are looking brighter, so I opened an office in St. Augustine. I can't keep letting other people dictate my destiny, so I decided to go back on my own. I'm much happier and I'm enjoying it."
Do you have agents?
She has two agents but is recruiting more for both offices.
Why two offices?
She lives in Palm Coast and likes the variety and differences of the Florida markets.
"Many times, when people come to Florida, they don't know where they want to land. Someone might want to move to St. Augustine, but based on their desires, wants, needs and price range maybe St. Augustine doesn't work, but Ormond Beach or Palm Coast would. I really help them to learn about the areas to help them make a better decision."
Your interesting name?
Her grandmother named her Memory. Her tagline is "It's a name you can't forget."
"It's been very helpful in real estate. I was able to brand my name in New York and when people heard my name, they knew I sold real estate. I'm trying to do the same thing here."
What made you go into real estate?
Her brother-in-law was taking the real estate course and she thought it would be interesting. "I just started and never stopped."
What do you see going on in the St. Augustine and Palm Coast markets?
Hopkins said the markets are very different, but St. Johns County is doing very well.
"It is a seller's market and we only have about four months of inventory. The builders cannot build fast enough in the north part of the county."
She said people who live in Jacksonville are clamoring to get into the area.
According to Hopkins, property values in St. Johns County have gone up and the average selling price was up 26 percent for 2012 over 2011 and closings were up 30 percent. Palm Coast is lagging behind some.
"Palm Coast is up about 11 percent for 2012 over 2011 in average sale price. Palm Coast doesn't have the job market and the prices aren't as high. But it is a nice place to live."
What do you like about real estate?
"I like problem-solving and negotiating parts of it."
Best advice?
"My advice is to be honest. If you don't know something, it's OK to say, 'I don't know, but I'll find out.'"
If you could do anything else, what would it be?
Hopkins said she used to be an artist, so she would pursue her artistic endeavors.
How do you use social media to sell real estate?
She has a personal and a business Facebook page. "I really feel it is the best places people are seeing me."
She also is on LinkedIn.
What makes you different from other real estate agents?
Hopkins said she approaches the business as if she were buying or selling the house herself. She puts herself in the customer's shoes and gives them good information for them to make the decision themselves.
"It's not about closing the sale and making commission off of one sale, it's about building a life-long relationship with my customers and taking care of their needs."
Advice for loan officers?
Hopkins said to have customers fully approved before they bring them to a Realtor. "So now all we have to do is go find a house. As long as the house appraises at the right amount, then we can go straight to closing."
Professional associations?
She is a member of national and state Realtor associations as well as the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors, St. Augustine & St. Johns County Board of Realtors, Flagler County Association of Realtors and the Daytona Beach Area Association of Realtors. She is also a member of the St. Augustine Women's Council of Realtors.
Family?
She has been married for 36 years to Paul and they have two grown children.
Advice for a new agent?
"Take advantage of all the educational opportunities that are offered within the industry."
-by Michele Gillis