5 minute read
Legendary Leader: APRIL MAGNUSON
Written By Ruth Gnirk Photography by Brianna Cortez Photography
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BE ACCEPTING OF CHANGE.
April Magnuson has always loved to learn. As far back as she can remember, she has wanted to know more, and she has kept a teachable attitude. To this day, April still enjoys trying to figure out how to make things better and more efficient. April enjoys the challenge of learning new things. She knows how to ask the right questions, and is driven to master information and processes.
April grew up on a cotton farm and ranch in south Texas. Her ability to comprehend and quickly master new things opened up an opportunity for April in high school and college. Although she hadn’t taken formal accounting or bookkeeping courses, April learned how to keep the books for a local cotton gin, and she was invited to do so for seven summers. Her love of learning prompted Magnuson to enroll at the University of Texas in Austin, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in education, specializing in secondary English and speech. Upon graduation, April Magnuson taught middle school for a while. She took some time off of teaching to have a family, and then April returned to teach at a high school level. “I always liked to challenge my students,” she recalled. Magnuson taught the students how to find answers for themselves, and encouraged them to keep learning. Even when students took longer than necessary, Magnuson was careful not to shortcut the process. She reminisced, “If they couldn’t get the right answer, I’d ask them to show me their work. Then we would work together to resolve the issues.”
While on summer break in 1984, April stumbled into real estate. Always wanting to learn and grow, she enrolled in a course so she could become a REALTOR®. “When the summer was over, I didn’t go back into teaching,” Magnuson said with a smile. “I started the adventure of real estate!”
The economy was very depressed in the mid-’80s. Large companies were moving out of the Coastal Bend at a very rapid rate. April learned the technical aspects of real estate quickly, and she was very calming as she interacted with people, despite increasing levels of stress. Her desire to learn and to create positive change, and her willingness to challenge herself, inspired her broker at Pacesetter REALTORS® to create a position for her as a relocation director.
In a one-month period, the closing of one major corporation caused 250 houses to suddenly be on the market. Very shortly after the closing of that corporation, several other companies closed up or moved out of town. Construction companies went out of business. “The economy was very dependent on oil and gas back then. Now it is more diversified,” recalled Magnuson.
Magnuson soon developed expertise in selling corporate listings and foreclosures, and in coordinating the completion of construction projects after they were abandoned. She also participated in several commercial auctions in Texas and Washington, DC. With each new experience, April continued learning how to navigate the challenges with growing professionalism and ease.
April became so proficient at complex deals that she held a prestigious position with an auction company for almost five years. She was learning new things all the time, and putting them into practice. April was having a greater impact on others than she had ever imagined.
Then in 1998, her broker invited Magnuson to buy Pacesetter REALTORS®. April was ready for the challenge. She started with one office in Corpus Christi and 29 agents.
April still remembers when she assigned everyone an email address. “Some agents were skeptical and didn’t think the new idea would ever catch on,” she chuckled. “Now, years later, clients can e-sign contracts on their phones!”
Times have changed, but some things have stayed the same. April Magnuson is still learning and teaching. She keeps tabs on changes to contracts and addendums from the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC). She still trains agents and sees that they stay up to date with real estate trends, and she actively mentors. April also loves to educate buyers and sellers.
Tommy Steel, Vice President and Relocation Director said, “I have been business partners with April for over 21 years, since the inception of Coldwell Banker Pacesetter Steel REALTORS® . She has always shown willingness to help and work with our agents so they can succeed with their real estate career. Because of her, our company continues to grow and our agents are well respected in the Coastal Bend real estate community.” Travis Murray, managing broker said, “April believes education never stops in real estate. There is always a new market condition or law to adapt to and decipher.” “This is an ever-evolving field,” reflected April. “Things were not the same 20 years ago, 15 years ago, or even last year!” Magnuson said she is very proud of the growth within each and every one of her Coldwell Banker Pacesetter Steel agents, beaming with pride at how they have welcomed and
accepted education and technology. “It is an understatement to say it’s been challenging, but I’m really proud of how they have embraced and grown their business.”
Over time, close business associates urged her to merge with and/or acquire other successful companies with similar work cultures and goals. Currently April
Magnuson has 135 agents in her Coldwell
Banker Pacesetter Steel offices which are located in Corpus, Portland, Calallen, and Beeville. Eight of her agents have been with her for 30 years or more.
As a teacher, April had to grade papers. As a broker, April performs digital/paperless management. She and two of her broker-managers look at all agents’ files and contracts. If she or the team notice any potential issues, problems, or missing items, she emails the agent and then has them follow up to ensure that things flow smoothly for clients and transactions. Magnuson has received numerous awards over the years, but said while it’s nice to be recognized, that is not her main motivation. “That’s not what it’s all about. It’s about a job well done.” Coldwell Banker Pacesetter Steel REALTORS® has been in the top 100 US Coldwell Bankers for the last 19 of 20 years. She added, “There is so much satisfaction in watching agents grow and become successful!”
Reflecting back on the lessons she’s learned, April said, “Don’t be afraid to try new things, or venture out.” She also added, “Be accepting of change.” April Magnuson continues to teach and to touch lives, and strives to continue learning and applying new things all the time. “I’m always learning,” Magnuson said. “When there’s a challenge, I just say, ‘bring it on!’ because I know that challenges help me learn. For me, it’s about the journey, not an accomplishment.”
