Rising Star: Lori Lee Garcia

By Dr. Kasia Suarez Photography By TresPiña Photography Hair Styled By Christopher Jarred, Superior Haus Of Beauty Make-Up Artist By Olivia Franco, Haus Of Liv

I am thankful for all the ‘cheerleaders’ in the real estate world.

Lori Lee Garcia is the true definition of someone who makes a difference. She wants to be known as someone that creates change, speaks out, and is a voice for those who aren’t being heard. Lori Lee got into real estate so she could help people. She saw a need in the community for Spanish-speaking REALTORS®. It was important for Lori Lee to help those individuals that wanted to purchase a home but could not find support in their native language.

Lori Lee has been a REALTOR® since July of 2020. In her first year as an agent, Lori Lee sold one home. One. She was willing to take advantage of the support and education provided by RE/MAX and was determined not to give up. Lori Lee closed on $2.5 million in 2021! She was honored to receive her first award in November 2021 for earning $50K in commission. Nevertheless, real estate means more than numbers to Lori Lee.

Lori Lee started her career path as a probation officer. She enjoyed getting to know the community and being able to be there for others. Serving as a probation officer helped her fall in love with helping people, despite the tough cases.

She has had many difficult experiences, such as the assignment to supervise an individual responsible for the death of someone known to the community. It was heartbreaking for her to hear what the convicted person shared with family members about the experience of going to trial. Rather than harden her heart, tough cases motivated Lori Lee to continue making a difference. She wanted to give people a second chance, and help them own their own home where they can live in peace and privacy.

For Lori Lee, it’s not about the numbers, but about truly helping people.

Lori Lee grew up in a broken home and always wanted to be successful. When she graduated from high school, Lori Lee knew she needed to pursue higher education. She also wanted to help others who, like herself, grew up without a stable father figure. The experiences of her grandparents also motivated Lori to work harder and do better for herself and her daughters.

As a second-generation Mexican- American, Lori Lee was very aware of the struggles her grandparents had gone through. Lori Lee’s grandmother did not want them to speak Spanish, because she has been discriminated against. Lori Lee did not learn Spanish until she went to college. Seeing what her grandmother went through fueled Lori Lee’s desire to be a voice for Spanish-speaking individuals.

Lori Lee shared that one of the hardest parts of being an agent is the emotional attachment she develops as she works with clients and their families. She doesn’t intentionally end friendly relationships with her clients, but she said that after a sale it feels like a break up because there are no more daily updates and texts. Lori is thankful that most of her clients end up becoming her good friends.

Today, Lori Lee continues to serve as a probation supervisor. Her hours allow her the time to be a REALTOR®. Lori Lee plans to focus solely on real estate after she retires from probation in a few years. She is grateful for her family’s support as she works two full-time jobs. Lori is also very intentional about attending every volleyball game, dance recital, and soccer game.

“I truly try to help everyone from bottom to top and start to finish,” said Lori Lee. “For me, it’s not about closing another deal. It’s about answering every question and addressing any concerns they have. I also want to make sure my clients know there are different lenders, so they can get the best interest rate. I go above and beyond for my clients.”

Lori Lee’s attitude of being there for others also translates into being a team player. She enjoys supporting other agents, and new agents. Lori Lee wants new agents to know there is always help available. If Lori Lee

doesn’t know the answer, she will find it, or refer the person so they can get an answer.

“I am thankful for all the ‘cheerleaders’ in the real estate world,” said Lori Lee. “I have received a lot of support from other REALTORS®, even ones that are not in the same brokerage as I am. I love that there are other agents here in Corpus willing to help. I appreciate events like collections for Toys for Tots or the local food bank. I love that people work together here, instead of against each other.”

Lori Lee is a big fan of J Lo and of women supporting each other. She is also an active supporter of giving back to the community. Lori Lee has served with various organizations such as The Purple Door, CASA, Corpus Christi Food Bank, children’s camps. Lori Lee has also helped with various school drives, such as collecting funds for the high school graduation caps and gowns. Whether it’s donating money or donating her time, Lori Lee Garcia is there.

The people and experiences in Lori Lee’s early life opened her eyes to be able to see a different, positive path in life. She continues to be grateful for everything that she went through because it helped shape her into the person she is today. Lori Lee is an outgoing and hard-working woman who loves supporting others, especially those like her grandmother who need someone to stand up for them.