JACKSONVILLE
C O N N E C T I N G .
E L E VAT I N G .
I N S P I R I N G .
Partner Spotlight CrossCountry Mortgage
Rising Star Tyree Tobler
FEATURED AGENTS
Cici Anderson & Jenna Fisher
Broker Spotlight Dunia Taylor
Summer Soirée
AUGUST 2022
MLO SPOTLIGHT Nick Fendig, Mortgage Loan Originator NMLS #1544656 Direct: 904-415-1125 Email: nickfendig@fibermortgage.com
ABOUT ME
The best advice I heard when getting into real estate was “Speed Kills”! Being faster can make an offer more attractive than another. Being faster can make a more peaceful, enjoyable transaction for everyone. The fiber way holds that speed is paramount in the mortgage relationship. Having a team daily checking on clients and their file gives them the confidence that all items are being addressed early and effectively. Knowing there is someone reaching out not just to share bad news or problems. I have bought and sold homes personally and it is a nervous experience, even when you know what’s going on! Working with a group of people who are passionate and not scared about the shift happening in the real estate industry is a huge benefit. Realtors have experienced a lot of changes recently and must disrupt or die in these new times. Being a partner isn’t just closing loans faster but doing more for their business to grow. Providing education not just on mortgage products but winning strategies by top agents across the country to better help my real estate partners is a joy that both fiber and I love. I grew up in the real estate industry, my wife is in the mortgage industry, and couldn’t find myself doing anything else. There is too much mystery in mortgages that mispresents or causes unnecessary fear in the real estate industry. Pulling back the curtains and educating to better help clients and realtor partners is a huge joy every day. When not working I’m enjoying the golf course or carrying tools to the next project for my wife Lauren. If you have any questions on anything in the mortgage realm, send me a text or email and we can figure it out together!
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Come experience the difference for yourself. N M L S # 1 7 2 8 9 3 8 • 7 7 7 5 B a y m e a d o w s Wa y, S u i t e 3 1 0 , J a c k s o n v i l l e , F L 3 2 2 5 6 • 9 0 4 - 4 7 8 - 8 9 5 7 2 • August 2022
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 3
MEET THE JACKSONVILLE REAL PRODUCERS TEAM
Kristin and Brian Lunsford
TAB LE OF
10
24
Top Producer: Cici Anderson and Jenna Fisher
14
Partner Spotlight: Paul Basil Cross Country Mortgage
30
Broker Spotlight: Dunia Taylor
Katie Cremean
Photographer
Michele Jerrell
Ad Strategist
Operations Manager
Owners/Publishers
CONTENTS Pub Note: Life’s Twists and Turns
Renee Parenteau
18 Summer Soirée
Jennifer Watson Writer
Michelle Williamson
Zach Cohen Writer
Brandon Jerrell Writer
Maggie Peterson Writer
Writer
If you are interested in contributing or nominating REALTORS® for certain stories, please email us at Kristin.Lunsford@n2co.com.
34
Rising Star: Tyree Tobler
If you are interested in nominating people for certain stories, please email us at Kristin.Lunsford@n2co.com and/or Brian.Lunsford@n2co.com. DISCLAIMER:Any articles included in this publication and/or opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of The N2 Company d/b/a Real Producers but remain solely those of the author(s). The paid advertisements contained within the Jacksonville Real Producers magazine are not endorsed or recommended by The N2 Company or the publisher. Therefore, neither The N2 Company nor the publisher may be held liable or responsible for business practices of these companies.
4 • August 2022
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 5
PREFERRED PARTNERS
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Corporate Photography • Team and individual shots on location or in the studio Corporate Branding • Magazine & Commercial Shoots Cover Photos • Advertising • Local, Regional & National Publications 8 • August 2022
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Tim Newman President/ MLO • 904-755-0307 tim@nflmortgagebrokers.com www.northfloridamortgagebrokers.com NMLS: 1115753 • Company NMLS: 2091907 @nflmortgagebrokers @nflmortgagebrokers
Jacksonville Real Producers • 9
life’s
LET THE PROFESSIONAL HANDLE THIS MOVE!
pub note By Kristin Lunsford
TWISTS & TURNS “The road of life twists and turns, and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.” - Don Williams Jr.
Have you ever had the feeling that life was going well and you had things figured out, then suddenly something happened that you just did not see coming? A few months ago, I was on a work trip in Texas with business leaders from across the country. We were playing a game of Ultimate Frisbee. Not being too familiar with this sport, I agreed to play, thinking it would be fun and figured I was pretty athletic, so why not? I quickly realized that Ultimate Frisbee has the word “ultimate” in it for a reason! It is a fast-paced, intense game, especially when playing with very driven entrepreneurs. At one point, I even stopped and thought, “Hmm, I wonder if anyone knows where the closest hospital is?” A few of the people playing were a bit older than me, and I was afraid one of them was going to get hurt. Little did I know it would soon be me lying on the ground in pain. The game had lots of twists and turns with sudden stops and changing directions. In my case, I stopped and went to change directions quickly, but my knee did not appreciate that, and I could feel it pop. I knew instantly that my Ultimate Frisbee playing time was done, and I
So important to surround yourself with people who will be there for you when you need help and also challenge you to continue to be better.
would probably be limping for a while. Fortunately, we were heading back home the next day, so I just planned to go to the doctor once we were back in Florida. Also, I was very fortunate to have been surrounded by so many caring people that day that immediately went into action, assisting me with what I needed: a knee brace, a ride back to the main lodge, ice packs, and kind words to make me feel better. After a trip to the doctor and an MRI on my knee, it was confirmed that I had completely torn my ACL. The only real fix for this is to have surgery. The doctor did comment that surgery was not necessary if I could live a life of forward motion only. At first, I thought that it would be a great life to only focus on moving forward. No backing up, no twisting and turning, no sudden stopping. Life does not work that way, though, so we must always be prepared to suddenly stop and then pivot when things don’t go as we planned. When there is a hazard up ahead in life (and there always is), we need to be able to quickly twist and turn to try to avoid it. Repairing my damaged knee will allow me to once again do that physically, but pivoting mentally and emotionally in life is also just as important. I was not planning on tearing my ACL or having to have surgery (not to mention not being able to drive for weeks afterward), but this journey has given me time to slow down and think about the most important things to me. Activities and vacations that my family and I had planned to do this summer had to be canceled because of my injury, but we adjusted our plans and still did lots of other fun things (with less walking).
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I hope we all embrace life’s inevitable twists and turns and can pivot when the time comes into something even better than we planned. Finally, I hope we remember the importance of surrounding ourselves with kind people so when these unexpected detours happen physically or with family or work, we are comforted by their grace.
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 11
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 13
PAUL BASIL
CrossCountry Mortgage
The Drive to Create partner spotlight By Zachary Cohen
“I’m a builder. I like to build things, to create things, and business is one of them,” Paul Basil begins. At each step along his professional journey, Paul has assembled teams and structures that make the organizations he’s worked for and the clients he’s served better off. This was true in his first career as a commodity trader, and it’s true in his current role as executive VP and regional branch manager of CrossCountry Mortgage. The Path to Mortgage Lending
Paul was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After graduating from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, he landed a job with The Pillsbury Company. “The Doughboy was my boss,” Paul says with a laugh. “I was recruited to be a commodity trader for the company, and I thrived in that industry for about 13 years. When I was a trader, I ended up as a division manager and ran a shop. I built something.”
Moving to Florida
Paul has now been thriving in the mortgage lending industry for 24 years. For the first 19 years of his career, he built his business out of Minneapolis. But Paul and his family always desired a move to Florida, and in 2017, that dream became a reality. “In 2017, my family decided to accelerate the long-term goal of getting to Florida. My youngest was going into eighth grade, and it was time for a change of venue for him. We had some friends who had recently moved here and were encouraging us to come, and eventually, it turned into something.” For the past five years, Paul has continued to run his business in Minneapolis while growing the business in Jacksonville. He travels back and forth between the two cities regularly and has boots on the ground in both locations.
After 13 years as a commodity trader, however, Paul was ready for a change. The business was stressful, he traveled often, and he was just starting a family. So, he decided to build a new business that would fit the needs and desires of his growing family.
I’M A BUILDER. At the recommendation of a friend, Paul began looking into mortgage lending. While the industry was new to him, he was up for the challenge. “The thought of walking into an industry I knew nothing about, having a computer and a telephone and nothing else, was scary and appealing to me. I got in on the first day, picked up the phone, and started my career.”
14 • August 2022
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I LIKE TO BUILD THINGS, TO CREATE THINGS, AND BUSINESS IS ONE OF THEM.
Jacksonville Real Producers • 15
Leading With Relationships
Paul runs a relationship-first business. That’s one of the reasons he continues to travel back and forth between Jacksonville and Minneapolis.
Sue Basil, Paul, and Ryan Deuter
“In our industry, at least the way I do business, I need to be with my people. I have to maintain a rhythm of relationship because we’re working together. My REALTOR® partners, my insurance partners, my title partners — we have to maintain a relationship, which for me, is being together. So I’m back and forth. When I’m here in Jacksonville, I am hanging out and helping with their businesses.” When partnering with agents, Paul’s primary objective is to understand their needs and help them grow their business. If the relationship feels like a good fit, he wants to build a friendship first.
Back row: Paul Basil, Kelly Nelson Front row: Ryan Stafford, Josh Ubel
“My group has a ‘pay it forward’ mentality; Pay It Forward is a required movie if you join my group. All I want to do is help people, and the thing is, I’m really good at it. When I talk to most REALTORS®, I ask, ‘What is your biggest problem?’ I can offer solutions. Some people take me up on it, and they become partners. I like to step in to partner and help make their business more efficient and productive. The Long View
A L L I WA N T T O D O I S HELP PEOPLE, & THE THING IS, I ’ M R E A L LY G O O D AT I T.
16 • August 2022
Paul has been successful for so long in the industry because he’s been willing to change and evolve with the times. That’s also one of the reasons he’s had so much success growing his business in Jacksonville. “The reason I’ve maintained my intensity is that I’ve learned how to completely reinvent myself over and over because the industry requires it. We’re not the same real estate professionals we were in 2006 or 2015.”
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Paul does a Kannonball Rally a couple of times a year. His car is currently detailed from the Kannonball Rally that went from the Wisconsin Dells to the Indy 500 in the spring. The rally raises money for Northern Voices Oral School, a center for young children with hearing loss and their families that, through early individualized intervention, enables students to communicate through the use of listening and spoken language.
Paul recognizes some major differences between the lending markets in Jacksonville and Minneapolis. One of the most significant differences he sees is the pace. He says that while all real estate markets are moving fast, “Jacksonville moves fast in a different way.” “Agents sometimes don’t have enough time to do everything they want to do; they are so busy. But I can help with this. The things that work are patience and identifying people with a team mindset. As soon as I identify people with a team mindset, it becomes a lot easier to develop a partnership.” As the market transitions out of a low rate environment, many lenders
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are bracing for slower times, but not Paul. He’s doubling down on what has always worked for him — creating lasting, meaningful relationships. “Where this market is headed — I’m excited. Everyone is scared about this market, but I’m super excited because we focus on relationships. Paul and his wife, Sue. This is an opportunity for us to take our relationships deeper — every one of them. There’s nothing like being in the trenches to bond people together.” “So we are making sure our REALTORS® know we are there for them by proving it with our actions. This is going to be a lot of fun.” For more information, please visit www.basilteam.com.
Jacksonville Real Producers • 17
SUMMER SOIRÉE DEERWOOD COUNTRY CLUB JUNE 21, 2022
18 • August 2022
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 19
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 21
THANK YOU TO O UR S P O N S O R S ! PLATINUM
GOLD
SUPPORTING
22 • August 2022
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 23
top producers
&
Cici Anderson Jenna Fisher By Zachary Cohen
IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU
S i nce j o i n i ng fo rce s i n 2 0 1 9 , C i c i A nd e r s o n a nd Je n na Fi she r have b e co me o ne o f t he t o p t ea ms i n No r t heas t Fl o r i d a . T he i r mo t t o, I t ’ s Al l Ab o u t Yo u , i s a no d t o t he i r a t t i t u d e t o wa rd s e l l i ng real e s t a t e ; eve r yt h i ng ce n t e r s a ro u nd t he c l i e n t . Cici and Jenna’s approach has proven to be a winner. In 2021, they closed 88 transactions for $99.6 million and were named the number two top small residential real estate team by the Jacksonville Business Journal. To understand the roots of Cici and Jenna’s success, we must first rewind 25 years to when Cici first got her start in real estate. BEGINNINGS: CICI ANDERSON
Cici was born and raised in Nebraska. Her great-grandfather and her grandfather were in the real estate and insurance business, and some of her earlier memories are from her grandfather’s office. “I grew up around real estate, helping in my grandfather’s office at a very early age, answering phones, filing, etc.” Early in life, Cici learned the value of hard work. Her grandfather was a community leader, teaching Cici the power of giving back through his work and community involvement.
24 • August 2022
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Cici would eventually find her way to real estate, but first, she took her own journey. She headed to Virginia to attend Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, where she received a B.A. in political science. She moved to Washington, DC, after college and also lived in Minneapolis, Dallas, Miami, and eventually, Jacksonville. Professionally, Cici began her career working for Ernst & Young before working for a lobbyist in DC. She then got into property management, and upon moving to Florida, she returned to her roots and got her real estate license. In 2010, Cici was named the #3 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices agent in the Jacksonville area. In 2011, she founded Marsh Landing Country Club Realty with broker Jesse Killebrew and co-owner Chester Stokes. Cici has also been recognized as a five-star real estate agent by Five Star Professional for 11 years running. “It’s just in my blood. I live and breathe real estate,” Cici smiles. “I truly enjoy helping people find their dream home, and I also love the art of negotiation; it is one of my greatest strengths.”
Jacksonville Real Producers • 25
Cici, Tish Frockt (REALTOR®, Sales and Marketing Assistant), and Jenna
A BUDDING PARTNERSHIP
Cici had long been an avid tennis player, but a knee injury put her on the sidelines. To heal her knee and continue exercising, Cici turned to Pilates. That’s where she first met Jenna Fisher, who was working as a Pilates instructor. “I did private instruction with Jenna for three years, and we developed a close friendship.” Jenna had a background in sales but had taken several years off from sales work to be an elementary school teacher and have more time at home with her children. During that time, she was teaching Pilates classes. Cici would often talk about her career in real estate, and it piqued Jenna’s interest. When a position opened on Cici’s team, Jenna inquired.
We make the experience of buying and selling a house as STRESS-FREE as possible. 26 • August 2022
“I thought it was a natural fit, and it’s been very successful,” Cici says.
Jenna was raised by a single mom, and she became independent early in her life. She started working in a chiropractor’s office at just 12 years old and began working in sales at 16. “I have been a hard worker and worked for everything I have ever since,” she says. “I’ve been in sales since the age of 16 — telemarketing sales, advertising sales, wine and spirits sales, insurance sales, and pharmaceutical sales.” Jenna had her first child in 2013 and her second in 2015. During this time, she became a Pilates instructor to allow herself more time with her kids. By 2019, however, she desired a return to sales. “I was ready to get back into sales, and I’ve always been intrigued by real estate. My husband and I own several properties, so we’ve always done our own thing as far as purchasing, renovating, selling, and renting them out. Once the kids were in school full-time, I was ready to get back into sales and pursue my passion in real estate.”
estate. I recall my husband and me being together at our kids’ baseball game, and I looked up at him and told him that I would do it. We both knew it was the right choice, but things would be different.” RISING TO THE TOP
Jenna has proven to be a perfect fit with the Marsh Landing Country Club Realty team. Her values and work ethic match Cici’s, and she is a marketing expert with a savvy social media approach. Jenna has fully committed to her new role by moving into Marsh Landing with her family to become a part of the community. “I’ve always wanted to live in a community. We were in Jacksonville Beach before, and my kids were in private school. We decided to come over here and take advantage of the great public schools to be a part of this community,” Jenna explains.
GETTING TO KNOW JENNA FISHER
Jenna was born and raised in Miami, Florida. She graduated from Florida State University with a major in communications and a minor in psychology in 2004.
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In 2019, Jenna officially joined Cici at Marsh Landing Country Club Realty. “One pivotal moment that stands out in my life is the day I made the decision to say ‘yes’ to pursue a career in real
Cici and Jenna’s partnership has been an enormous success. They work alike, think alike, and have similar core philosophies. This translates into more efficient systems and more happy clients.
Jacksonville Real Producers • 27
REAL ESTATE & BUSINESS LAW
Our Law Firm And Its Success Is Built On Relationships
Cici and Jenna’s motto is It’s All About You. Their goal is to help their clients achieve their goals and dreams. They always keep their clients’ best interests in mind. “My grandfather taught me when I was very young, work hard, be honest, and worry about your clients, not yourself,” Cici says.
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A BRIGHT FUTURE
After being named the #2 small team in the area, Cici and Jenna aren’t slowing down. They are optimistic about their future, as well as the future success of their clients.
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Always a smooth closing when HMFG is involved! Great communication, quick response time, and always answer calls or emails. Highly recommend! - Kendra P
“
“We make the experience of buying and selling a house as stress-free as possible,” Jenna adds. “We physically show our listings. So one of us, whether it be my partner, Cici, or our full-time licensed assistant, Tish Frockt, is always present for the showings. We are always available for our customers and at all times.”
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“I have a ‘whatever it takes’ approach to getting the best results for our customers and will stop at nothing until they’re satisfied. We are problem solvers and don’t see obstacles, only solutions,” Jenna says. “Cici and I have a great partnership, and I wouldn’t change anything about it. We plan to continue focusing on the things that have led us to success and improve on the things we could be doing better.”
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Cici has been with her partner, Robert, for 11 years. The pair enjoys family time (they recently welcomed their first grandchild, Peyton, to the world) and are pet lovers. They have a dog (Chloe) and a cat (Cash), both rescues. Cici continues to be influenced by her grandfather’s community involvement; today, she is a board member of the Jacksonville Humane Society.
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Jenna and her husband, Tom, have two kids, Ryder (7) and Gavin (8). Jenna enjoys time on the boat, at the beach, or exercising. She is an active member of the Marsh Landing Strategic Committee and plays tennis on the Marsh Landing D team.
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28 • August 2022
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 29
broker spotlight
Compassion and Professionalism
DUNIA
By Brandon Jerrell
30 • August 2022
No matter what it may be that you are going through, Dunia Taylor will be there to help and guide you. Dunia is the broker and owner of REMI Realty and understands that buying and selling homes can be a positive experience, but for many people, it can begin as a source of pain and heartache. “Everyone thinks real estate is always sunshine and rainbows, but it truly is a lot of tears and heartaches,” she explains. “Sometimes people are selling due to a divorce, or a spouse has passed away, and those customers really need the support and guidance from a compassionate professional.”
and still never slows down,” Dunia says. “She has shown me that no matter the situation you are in, you can always rise above and push through and make the best of it. It’s definitely made me a hard worker and a compassionate person. I am always trying to reach higher and hit the next level because there is always room to grow and learn more,” she says. That hard work and determination cannot be missed when working with Dunia and REMI Realty as a whole. It is clear that Dunia’s mindset of grit and compassion is the backbone on which REMI Realty was founded and continues to function by today.
Growing with Inspiration
Dunia was born in Birmingham, Alabama, but her family moved to Jacksonville when she was just two years old. Therefore, she knows the city like the back of her hand. “The only time I moved away was for a short time when I went to the University of Florida,” she elaborates. She graduated from UF with a major in business management and a minor in mass communications. “My father passed away from cancer when I was two years old, and I watched my mother support four kids on her own. I am the baby of the family with two older sisters and one older brother. My mom is a rockstar
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“I’ve always had a caring and helping heart towards others, and this industry is really just that. I love the excitement my customers have, and I also love helping them through tough times as well,” Dunia says.
Dunia found a problem with this. The agent was only showing Dunia properties that the agent herself wanted Dunia to see, not the homes that Dunia actually wanted to see. “At that moment, I decided that I needed to get my license and become my own buyer’s agent for my first home. So, I went to the week-long class, got my license, and bought my first home at 23 years old,” she recalls. Dunia also notes how this purchase was at the perfect time, as the property has now become a great investment home for her and her husband.
Taking Initiative
Dunia graduated from UF slightly earlier than anticipated, thus giving her time to get a part-time job before starting her “real” job. “The part-time job was writing press releases and doing marketing flyers for a local real estate company,” she notes. In 2007, while working part-time with the real estate company, she decided to look for a home with one of their brokerage’s agents. However,
After her part-time job ended, she began her “real” job with a local ad agency in downtown Jacksonville, where she stayed for seven years. After that, she worked in corporate marketing for a local hospital and a local community college–all while selling real estate parttime since becoming licensed in 2007. “In 2016, I decided to get my broker license and focus full-time on real estate. It was then that I decided to open REMI Realty,” Dunia says.
Jacksonville Real Producers • 31
EXPERIENCES That Create Lasting Relationships
Out of the Office
Although she has lived much of her life with the “hard work” mindset, she has recently come to learn the value of a work-life balance. “I’ve always pushed myself to work harder, work on weekends, work throughout the evenings, etc. That is truly the most unhealthy thing I could have done for myself,” she reflects.
NOW SERVICING ALL OF FLORIDA Residential • Commercial • Developer • Lender
“I have an amazing team that helps support my customers during times that I need them most,” she explains. “I’ve learned that the business will survive no matter if I work 40 or 80 hours a week.” “Having a work-life balance is the most important thing in any industry. When I am not working, I am 100% focused on my family and close friends. Making memories is the most important thing for me. I love making those memories on vacation and spending time with my two dogs and husband,” she says. Dunia’s husband, Michael, is retired from the local sheriff’s office and is now a residential contractor under REMI Construction, an extension of the ever-expanding REMI name. Together, they love to go mudding, fishing, vacationing, have weekly lunches at her mom’s, and just generally do things together.
“
Faith-Founded
Some of the REMI Realty team.
”
PEOPLE DON’T CARE HOW MUCH YOU KNOW UNTIL THEY KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE
12724 Gran Bay Parkway W Suite 410 Jacksonville, FL 32258 (904) 716-7285 www.milestonetitlesvcs.com
Let's work together
Dunia is happy to share that REMI Realty is a faith-based organization. They recognize that they are far from perfect but strive to continue to grow through learning and experience. The REMI name is working to become a one-stop shop for any and all real estate needs. Looking to the future, Dunia hopes to expand REMI Realty into other areas. “I opened a second office location in 2021, and I am looking forward to growing in Amelia Island and potentially opening in other areas as well. God’s plan,” she smiles.
With access to over 100 carriers, I'll shop the market to meet your clients needs and budget. Without the hassle.
With her plan of continued growth, there is no doubt that Dunia Taylor is much more than your average broker. REMI Realty showcases an outstanding combination of hard work, determination, and compassion. Dunia and her husband, Michael.
32 • August 2022
Call me today! Michele Mcilmurray Licensed Agent 904-930-4597 michele.mcilmurray@brightway.com
For more information about REMI Realty: remirealty.com @realproducers
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 33
Tyree Tobler
St. Augustine native, Tyree Tobler, is already on his way to real estate stardom. In the first quarter of 2022, this month’s Rising Star had already closed 80 percent of his total 2021 closings.
“It’s my hustle,” he says when pressed to share the seeds of his success. “And my ‘why,’” he says. This driven twenty-something REALTOR® keeps his goals before him. “I want to retire my grandmother,” he says, and he’s well on his way to achieving his goal. A JOB ON THE TRACKS
Right after high school, an acquaintance led Tyree to a job with Florida Railroad. “Someone I knew worked on the tracks and said they could get me a job,” he explains. And not interested in college, Tyree decided to jump on the opportunity. So, for three years, he traveled throughout Florida working on the “bolt crew,” replacing old bolts and parts in the blazing sun for fifteen or sixteen hours a day, six days a week. After three years of draining travel and physical work, Tyree grew increasingly unsatisfied with his job and
rising star
decided it was time to “elevate.” So he Googled what jobs pay the most without a college degree. “Real estate kept coming up,” he laughs. “I literally Googled which career makes the most millionaires.” Time and again, real estate topped the list. Eventually, as his interest grew, he bought a book on real estate and read it at night while he was on the road with his job. Finally, after considering the change for four years, he jumped in. Tyree left his job, took a real estate course, and got his license. He became a REALTOR® at age 23. That was three years ago. TIME TO LEARN REAL ESTATE
For the first year after getting his real estate license, Tyree focused on learning, as he worked both as a real estate agent and part-time at St. Augustine’s Viola’s Pizza, Pasta and Seafood on the beach. “Everyone in St. Augustine eats there,” says Tyree. “I had to take time to really learn before I could excel. It really took the first two years to just learn from agents who had been in real estate for ten, twenty, some even thirty years. I spent the first two years ‘picking brains.’”
“Why”
Let Your Create Your Hustle By Michelle Williamson
34 • August 2022
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 35
Even today, Tyree remains focused on continued learning and growth. I am “constantly learning and building myself up and growing at the same time,” he says. “Every year is different. It’s always a battle against yourself to grow and elevate. I think that’s the feeling that propels me to succeed. I will never become complacent; I will never stay the same.”
Tyree’s greatest influence—his hustle motivator and his “why”—is his grandmother. In her 60s, she worked two nursing home jobs. “She worked like 18 hours a day as a CNA, which is one of the hardest jobs there,” Tyree says. One day, when Tyree was 13 and standing in front of Winn-Dixie with his grandmother, she said to him, “You should never want to work for anybody else but yourself.”
Tyree’s best day as a REALTOR® so far is “when I received my first big check,” he shares. “I was like, ‘WOW. It’s real. It’s legit!’ That moment changed my life.”
“I remember her words to this day,” says Tyree. “I wanted to be an entrepreneur from that day.”
Tyree’s constant push toward growth is paying off. “I thought last year was my best year, but now I think 2022 is going to be my best year.” Those two years of learning have paid off for Tyree. “It was like going to college without the college,” he says.
Tyree’s hustle and “why” are rooted in helping those who helped him, and so is his determination to never stop growing, improving, elevating, and working to succeed. Tyree is well on his way to accomplishing his goals.
IT’S ALWAYS A BATTLE AGAINST YOURSELF TO GROW AND ELEVATE. I THINK THAT’S THE FEELING THAT PROPELS ME TO SUCCEED. I WILL NEVER BECOME COMPLACENT;
I WILL NEVER STAY THE SAME.
The Best Solutions for
GET A
QUOTE
FAMILY BLESSINGS—TYREE’S “WHY”
Tyree and his large family are St. Augustine natives. Tyree attended R.B. Hunt Elementary, Sebastian Middle School, and St. Augustine High. He graduated in 2013.
“CLOSING MADE EASY!”
@nfloridatitle 1000 Riverside Avenue, Suite 370 Jacksonville, Florida (904) 513-9813
“My mom and grandmother raised me,” Tyree says. “They took care of me. I am blessed, for sure. And my great-grandmother is still living.” He is part of a big, fun family. “Holidays are crazy,” Tyree says. “Everyone gets together. I go to like ten houses on Thanksgiving and Christmas.”
2950 Halcyon Lane, Suite 102 Jacksonville, Florida (904) 513-9813
NFTC.BIZ 151 College Drive, Unit 14 Orange Park, Florida (904) 513-9813
Tyree’s first real estate photo taken in 2018
36 • August 2022
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 37
38 • August 2022
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Jacksonville Real Producers • 39
question of the month
SHANTRECE THOMAS, FLORIDA HOMES REALTY AND MORTGAGE
My first job was Burger King! ALLISON CHANCE, ANCHORED REAL ESTATE GROUP
What was your
CINDY GAVIN, RE/MAX SPECIALISTS
JONATHAN DAUGHERTY, FUTURE HOME REALTY
My first job was at age 15. I worked at Ellison’s Bakery on Kingsley Avenue in Orange Park! It was a fun job, and I got to take home day-old pastries!
I started my own business called Kids are Needed and did odd jobs like pet-sitting, watering plants, and dog-walking. When my business grew to the point of me being too busy, I hired other neighborhood kids to help with the jobs.
Dunkin Donuts, 15 years old. JENA BAKER-DENNIS, GREAT EXPECTATIONS REALTY
Babysitting at a local church on Riverside Avenue.
ANYA PAINTER, ROUND TABLE REALTY
My very first job was cleaning the dance studio in exchange for taking classes there. That included scrubbing the toilets. The building was old, plumbing was not the best, so sometimes it would get pretty ugly. I did that for two years; those were some of the best years of my life. Cleaning was not fun, but it allowed me to dance, which was living the dream at the time. I knew even then that it’s worth getting your hands dirty in order to accomplish the bigger goal. Living the dream isn’t always pretty, but it’s always worth it.
NANCY BASS, BASS PROFESSIONAL REALTY
DUNIA TAYLOR, REMI REALTY
I worked for a painting company as a pressure washer/paint prep.
Nanny! I started babysitting at age 12.
Our family picked up walnuts in peoples’ yards and sold them to wholesalers. Also collected cans and picked them up on the side of the road for recycling to sell. I think I was 8 or 9.
first job ever?
CHRIS VINING, ERA DAVIS & LINN
KATHLEEN FLORYAN, EXP REALTY
SHAUNA CLARK, MOMENTUM REALTY
CJ BOBOLA, HEROES FIRST HOME LOANS
CHRISTINA WELCH, KELLER WILLIAMS
First job was as a cash register clerk in a Larchmont, NY, hardware store at 14 years old. Guess I looked trustworthy then. Didn’t have laws about child labor, either. (Technically not including babysitting jobs).
Well, I started a legit babysitting business when I was 12, BUT the first job I had to interview for was at an assisted living facility. I worked in the dining room and then quickly realized I wanted more one-on-one time with the residents and so I moved to the Alzheimer’s wing and became a nurse’s assistant. To this day, I have some really fond memories of some of the residents there. It was like having a bunch of grandparents.
I was always trying to make money. I started babysitting at like 11, living on base at Mayport. My first W2 job was as a golf cart attendant at Eagle Creek in Moyock, NC.
I worked at the country club as a waitress.
PAUL WAGNER, MILESTONE TITLE SERVICES LLC
My first job was as a paperboy in Huber Heights, Ohio, for the Dayton Daily News. HELEN KIZER, BETTER HOMES REAL ESTATE
At 13 years old, I took over my brother’s paper route of 27 homes, seven days a week. GAYE JONES, ANNIEMAC HOME MORTGAGE
My first real job was collecting payments for a finance company the summer before my senior year in high school. Back in the ’70s, when people brought cash in, I stamped their payment book…a long, long time ago!
TANSY MOON, ENGEL & VÖLKERS
I was an onion peeler at my dad’s “China City Restaurant” in St. Petersburg, FL...but I cut myself peeling onions and moved up to the hostess position, then to waitress, then to running the restaurant with my dad. ROSANNE HEARN, EXP REALTY
I worked at Ben Franklin as a cashier.
JUDY HICKS, RE/MAX SPECIALISTS
My first job ever was babysitting a neighbor’s kids; I got paid, of course, but that is probably every young girl’s first job. But…my first official real job (with a Social Security number and officially a working citizen) was as a teacher’s assistant during summer school in Cleveland, Ohio, where I was born and raised. I can still remember walking to that school every day and how excited I was to be a working-class citizen! CHRIS SNOW, EXP REALTY
First job was picking watermelons on a family farm. I worked all summer, and we got paid daily $3 an hour. 40 • August 2022
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KELLY BELLO, KELLER WILLIAMS
Well, surprisingly, I started my own business at the age of 13! Believe it or not and so true to what I do today. I door-knocked and started my own babysitting club! I stumbled across some amazing families, and it was a great way to make some money at the same time. I was booked pretty much every weekend and sometimes on weeknights. It was a really great experience. Other than this, my first real job was at Bank of America. I started as a part-time teller and climbed the ladder; I loved every single role for the eight years I was employed there. LAUREN MACGILLIS, EAGLES WORLD REALTY
My first job was working for a Fendi store, helping sales associates serve high-end clients champagne and cappuccinos while they shopped and beautifully wrapped the clients’ packages. My favorite job to this day. Jacksonville Real Producers • 41
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mortgagesbylinda.com 42 • August 2022
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#TeamMBL Jacksonville Real Producers • 43
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