Rising Star: STEPHANIE WHITE

Written by Dr. Kasia Suarez Photography By TresPiña Photography HMUA: Hair and Makeup by Lulu

Stephanie White came into real estate to help people make one of the biggest decisions of their lives. She wants to help others make their dreams come true, but she learned not to be too focused on the end result. Stephanie encourages other REALTORS® to shift their focus off of the goal of completing a transaction and instead seek to enjoy the process of helping clients. She reminds herself and others that the closing will come. When REALTORS® passionately help their clients, the end result will happen.

Stephanie was born in Corpus Christi,

Texas. When she was in the seventh grade, her parents told her that her father could no longer extend his tour in Corpus Christi, because the U.S. Coast Guard needed him in New Orleans. Stephanie missed all her friends so much that she cried the entire eight-hour drive to their new home.

Four years later, Stephanie’s parents broke the news again. Because of where her father was being stationed, they were going to move back to Corpus Christi.

Stephanie was heartbroken. She had finally gotten accustomed to New Orleans and had made new friends.

Stephanie didn’t want to be a “new” student her senior year, so she worked hard and graduated one year early. Her parents found irony in Stephanie’s reluctance to move away and then return. They still chuckle about how she cried all the way there and all the way back.

After Stephanie graduated from high school, a temp agency placed her in an off-campus bookstore for Del Mar College. Many of her coworkers had worked at the bookstore for 15 years or more, but Stephanie distinguished herself through her diligence and her cheerful attitude, and soon the owner offered her a permanent position.

Stephanie worked hard and saved her earnings. A year later she was able to purchase her first property. She was the proud owner of a townhouse, and she was only 19! When she was 23, Stephanie met her future husband on a blind date. His daughter was 6, and Stephanie’s daughter was 4.

Three years later, they were married in her parents’ backyard. They toured Europe for two weeks. She enjoyed Spain and France, but her favorite memories are from the Amalfi Coast in Italy.

Stephanie worked at the bookstore for a total of 12 years. She had started as a cashier, then worked her way up to accounts receivable, and finally earned a position as an assistant manager. Eventually, a managerial position became available at the on-campus bookstore, and Stephanie immediately accepted. She was able to triple sales from $800k to $2.4 million. However, the position was not what she had hoped for. Stephanie worked there for nine months but became overwhelmed and stressed out.

Before resigning from the bookstore, Stephanie was offered a job as an insurance processor. That’s how she met one of her lifelong friends. Stephanie also discovered that sitting at a desk in silence for eight hours was not a good fit for her high energy or her passion for communication. However, she and her best friend believe God placed Stephanie there because He knew they needed to be a part of each other’s lives. As Stephanie was weighing her options, her husband encouraged her to take time off from working, but Stephanie could not just sit back. Within a month, she began working part-time as an office manager for a local engineering firm. Within a year, Stephanie realized she needed a full-time job. She contacted a friend with a credit repair company. Soon business was booming and Stephanie decided to focus on credit repair full time. She was working with REALTORS® and loan officers daily, and they kept telling her she would make a great real estate agent.

“I read so many Facebook posts about how REALTORS® did all these amazing things for clients, and they were so happy,” Stephanie explained. “It seemed much more rewarding on that side of the transaction, so I decided to help clients on the home-purchasing side.”

The first broker Stephanie worked with holds a special place in her heart. She believed Stephanie would make a great agent, and found Stephanie a real estate training Groupon for $200. Stephanie soon decided to focus on real estate full time, setting aside her work in credit repair.

Two months into her career as a full-time REALTOR®, Stephanie heard about eXp Realty and joined the cloudbased brokerage. By the end of her first year, Stephanie had sold 38 houses and had $6.7 M in volume. She received eXp’s Icon Agent Award.

Stephanie worked hard. She never judged a book by its cover because she knew how much it hurt to be judged by others. A REALTOR® never knows who they may come across, or what their needs are, no matter how they look or what kind of house they are looking for.

“I was ready to buy my first property when I was 19, but lenders wouldn’t take me seriously. I was trying to get pre-approved for a mortgage, and I felt like the lender was judging me because of my age. They asked if my mom would co-sign, and I said ‘No!’ Finally a third lender actually pulled my credit, and I got approved for a condo,” Stephanie shared.

Today, Stephanie White is an agent with KM Premier Real Estate. She loves the culture, values, family atmosphere, expectations, mindset, and high standards. Stephanie is surrounded by people who know more than her, and that is how she grows. KM Premier won 2021 Best of the Best Real Estate Company, and her colleague won the Best of the Best Real

Estate Agent!

Stephanie feels blessed because of what she learned during her journey, and as a REALTOR®. She enjoys sharing her knowledge with others. Stephanie leads by example and supports other agents even if they make a mistake. She likes to take advantage of an opportunity to instruct newer agents, so they don’t repeat her mistakes.

Stephanie believes in integrity and honesty. Many of her clients have commended her for that. She never pushes a sale on a client. Stephanie does the right thing, even if it costs her something.

She is always available, answering her phone and being relatable.

Although before this journey began, Stephanie didn’t view herself as a truly religious person, now she knows that God has been the reason for her many blessings. Stephanie said God has taught her a lot about relating to people, especially through her past customer service

STEPHANIE SAID GOD HAS TAUGHT HER A LOT ABOUT RELATING TO PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THROUGH HER PAST CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCES.

experiences. She has always wanted to help people. In the past, Stephanie didn’t realize what she was preparing for or what her life was building up to, but now she can relate to anyone!

Stephanie guides her clients through the entire process. Because of a negative personal experience she had while purchasing her second home, before she was a REALTOR®, she is careful to explain everything. Her transparency sets her apart.

Stephanie’s family, including her mom, is her biggest reason for success. She is grateful for their love and support. She also appreciates the training she had over the years. Stephanie is grateful for her contacts and other agents she can call her friends.