March 2024 ~ Jacksonville Real Producers

Zachary Cohen Writer

Brandon Jerrell

Renee Parenteau Photographer

Carol Nethen West Writer Scott Golmic Photographer

Ruth Gnirk Writer Michelle Williamson

Brian

Michele Jerrell

Fix-it

fixitflamingo.com

HOME BUYER

Mac Home Development Inc (904) 887-4015

machomedevelopment.com

INSPECTIONS

AmeriSpec

Inspection Services (904) 448-5016

amerispec.com/locations/fl/ jacksonville

LunsPro Inspections (904) 249-6523

LunsProFlorida.com

River City Home Inspections (904) 654-4732

rivercityhomeinspect.com

INSURANCE

Kilpatrick Agency Inc: Goosehead Insurance (904) 420-7711

goosehead.com/agents/ carol-kilpatrick/

JANITORIAL / COMMERCIAL

ServiceMaster Janitorial by Ancient City (904) 806-5863

MORTGAGE / LENDER

Atlantic Trust Mortgage (904) 338-9356

AtlanticTrustMortgage.com

First Coast Mortgage (703) 627-1775

FirstCoastMortgage Funding.com

Future Home Loans (904) 494-6000 future.loans

Heroes First Home Loans (904) 539-3790

heroesfirst.com

Mortgages By Linda (904) 591-3662 mortgagesbylinda.com/

NEXA Mortgage (904) 614-1146 scottneeley.com

North Florida Mortgage Brokers Timothy Newman (904) 755-0307

northflorida mortgagebrokers.com

MOVING COMPANY

Jaguar Moving (904) 323-6978

JaguarMoving.com

OUTDOOR LIGHTING

JoyLights (904) 474-1768

WeBringTheJoy.com

PEST CONTROL SERVICES

Kingfish Pest Control (904) 595-5300

KingfishPest.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

Renee Parenteau Photography (904) 236-5337

ReneeParenteauPhoto.com

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Collage Day School (904) 900-1439

CollageDaySchool.org

REAL ESTATE

PHOTOGRAPHY

The Real Estateographers (904) 770-5262

therealestateographers.com

RENOVATIONS

Renovation Sells (904) 655-2411

renovationsells.com/jax

ROOFING

Mighty Dog RoofingJacksonville FLA (904) 867-7859

mightydogroofing.com

ROOFING & CONSTRUCTION

South Edge Construction (904) 799-8000 southedgeconstruction.com

SPORTS TEAMS

Jacksonville Jaguars (904) 633-3348

Jaguars.com

TITLE COMPANY

Atlantic Coast Title & Escrow (904) 853-5591

atlanticcoasttitle andescrow.com

Cherry Tile LLC

Angelique “Chrissy” Kirsch (904) 300-3414

cherrytitle.us

Landmark Title (904) 367-2525

LandmarkTitle.com

Milestone Title Services (904) 716-7285

milestonetitlesvcs.com

Omega National Title Agency, LLC (904) 456-0858

Omeganationaltitle.com

Woods, Weidenmiller, Michetti & Rudnick, LLP Josh Rudnick (239) 325-4070

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Whitacre Wealth Management (410) 961-6548

WhitacreWealth Management.com

What REALLY makes you HAPPY?

By Kristin Lunsford pub note

Have you ever stopped and thought about what truly makes you happy?

I recently went on a mission trip to Mexico to build a house for a family in need. I knew the family had three children, and I kept thinking how sad and depressed they must be about their situation. When we arrived at their land to build their house, we were greeted by smiling kids (teenagers).

I was taken aback. How could they be smiling and happy when they literally have nothing I thought.

That thought continued with me all day anytime I saw the kids. They were smiling and laughing together. How could this be, I kept thinking.

I then realized that they were happy about what they did have and

not focused on what they didn’t have. They were happy because they were alive and had each other. We tend to focus on the things missing from our lives and forget about the things we have right in front of us and the joy it should bring us at that moment. We often equate happiness in this world with the amount of stuff we have. Does all that stuff really bring joy?

It’s funny how you think a situation is going to be one way and then it is completely opposite. I went into this mission trip really feeling so sorry for this family, especially the kids, and left with a sense that they gave us so much more than we gave them.

Helping Homeowners & Changing Communities

Sometimes homeowners need to sell a house quickly, and Cindy Browning, owner of Mac Home Development, understands that well. Mac Home Development’s mission is to “Provide solutions to every real estate problem while also changing communities and helping homeowners.” They accomplish their mission by offering multiple solutions to help homeowners “make the best decision for themselves and their families,” Cindy shares.

The company assists their clients and the clients of REALTORS® by selling a house quickly by either offering cash or other options to sellers. Whether it’s an unwanted inherited property, a job or other life change, a distressed property that will not pass an insurance inspection, or other reasons folks need a quick turnaround, Mac Home Development is there to help.

“We don’t just give homeowners one solution to their problems; we provide multiple solutions,” shares Cindy.

One multiple-solution example is when a property needs extensive repairs and will not pass a home inspection; in this type of situation, Mac Home Development will offer an as-is cash offer. If the owner chooses to improve the property, after repairs are complete, Mac Home Development will help the seller through their own marketing to sell at a higher amount.

All along, their multiple-solution approach changes communities by increasing home values.

“We are a community-based company first, and we will always do what’s right for the homeowner and agents alike. We love to partner with other REALTORS® and provide them with the best service for their clients. Mac Home Development also pays the

REALTOR® fee, so the seller doesn’t have that expense,” explains Cindy.

In addition to building communities, what Cindy most enjoys about her company’s real estate role is “helping people out of problem situations they weren’t sure they could get out of. It’s almost like they get a fresh start once a problem property is off their hands.”

Jacksonville Native and Real Estate Beginnings

Cindy is a Jacksonville native who grew up on the north side of town. She graduated from First Coast High School and received her associate in arts degree from Florida State College at Jacksonville. Before becoming a REALTOR®, Cindy was a server and bartender. Then, at 19, she became a mom. At that point, her sister, who was in real estate, stepped in and suggested that Cindy get into real estate

By Michelle Williamson

Photos By Scott Golmic

BROWNING MAC HOME DEVELOPMENT

We don’t just give homeowners one solution to their problems; we provide multiple solutions.

for more flexibility and income potential. Cindy followed her advice, and after receiving her license, Cindy worked in “residential sales for a year and started flipping houses after that,” she remembers.

“I dove right into calling every ‘For Sale by Owner’ I could find while my baby napped. I think the tenacity of knowing that every ‘No’ was getting me closer to that one ‘Yes’ kept me going, and I am so glad that I did because it changed my whole life. Once I got my first closing under my belt, I was hungry for more.”

After a year of working in residential sales, Cindy partnered with another agent who was doing flips for an outof-town investor. “He let me start by helping with paperwork, and soon we were full partners, closing deals left and right,” she says. “I learned so much from those years, but I knew I wanted to flip houses for myself someday. So, in 2013, I opened my own company.” Today, Mac Home Development has served sellers in Jacksonville and the surrounding areas

After Hours with the Brownings

Cindy and her husband, Justin, have two girls, Mackenzie (12) and Payton (5). The family enjoys “traveling, playing games together, and having dance parties,” says Cindy. “Except Justin doesn’t dance; instead, he’s the DJ.”

When Cindy isn’t working, she loves spending time with family and friends, reading, attending concerts,

Mac Home Development is a dream come true through the tenacity and hard work of a once 19-year-old mom who had the drive to build a life for herself and her family; one that continues to help build the lives and communities

We are a community-based company first, and we will always do what’s right for the homeowner and agents alike.

Cindy and her husband, Justin.

Cindy and her husband, Justin, have two daughters, Mackenzie and Payton.

top producer

By Zachary Cohen

Photos By Renee Parenteau

ROGERS

F3: FAITH, FAMILY, FREEDOM

2015. After seven years in new construction real estate sales, Josh Rogers set out to become an independent real estate agent with high hopes of building a thriving business. But a few months into his new venture, he had hit rock bottom.

“I was up to my eyeballs in debt — student loans and eight credit cards. It was a mountain I was paralyzed by, stricken with fear,” Josh reflects humbly.

Josh vividly remembers the day it all unraveled. It was 8:00 p.m. on a Monday night, and there was a loud knock at his front door. His wife, Sarah, opened the door to see a police officer who had come to serve lawsuit papers from creditors.

The beauty of finding the bottom is that the only way is up. Rather than letting this moment sink him, Josh rediscovered his strength. He found a way to use

this trying time to refocus on what was truly important to him. From this moment, he set out to redefine himself and his purpose as a man, a husband, a father, and a businessperson.

“It takes work, and it’s hard, but it’s worth it. Every step has been worth it,” he says.

RISING UP

Over the next year, Josh put his life back together. He used his newfound strength to create success in business and, perhaps even more importantly, rebuild his relationship with God, himself, and his family. Nearly a decade after that humbling day, Josh has created a richer life than he could have dreamed. And now, he’s an advocate for a new breed of real estate agent — one that doesn’t just put up gaudy sales numbers but is connected to purpose, makes time for his faith and his family, and lives in joy.

“The real estate industry is very much a grind culture, everyone putting their highlight reels on social media, but the large majority are feeling isolated, left behind, and inadequate as a result. They feel like they have to sacrifice much to be successful. I did sacrifice everything to be successful, and realized it’s not sustainable, nor is it how I want to build my career,” Josh offers. “So nine years later, the name of my team is the F3 Home Team with REAL. Faith, family, and freedom — those are our core values. Faith and spirituality through Jesus is everything; it’s eternity. And we’re loud and proud. This life we have right now is but a drop of water compared to the oceans, rivers, and lakes of eternity. When we get that right, our joy, our peace, and our freedom are built upon it. Family: when you ask any agent why they do this, they say, ‘I want to give my family the best life.’ So we work long hours and deal with stress, and

the actual people we are doing this work for, we’re sacrificing. There’s a hypocrisy that we give so much of our family time to this business. We have to set professional boundaries. We appreciate hard workers, but if you’re running a race and try to sprint the whole time, you’ll get injured and burn out. And we see cycles of agents. It falls apart, and we do it all over again. Then there’s freedom. So many of us put ourselves last. So it’s important to create a life of freedom in all areas.”

THE F3 HOME TEAM

Today, the F3 Home Team is a group of fourteen agents, two full-time

administrative assistants, and three virtual partners. As a team leader, Josh aspires to guide his group to healthy, whole lives. That includes success in business as well as a thriving family life, a strong faith, and good health.

“Our last conversation is about how to do more deals. Our first conversation is all the other stuff,” Josh explains. “We’re going to sell homes, but that’s not why we’re here. If someone joins my team, it’s to grow as a more well-balanced human being and focus on what really matters. The reason I built a team is so I can pour into people and grow them

beyond selling another house. That’s my hope through leading this team.”

Josh’s approach is inspiring — and so are the results. His goal has never been to be the #1 team, but alas, the F3 Home Team was the #1 large team in the Northeast Florida MLS for sales volume in 2023.

“As a result of what we stand for and the people we attract, #1 just happened,” Josh says proudly. “I’m thrilled that we are #1 because more people can hear our message, but my goal is really to continue to pour into our agents.”

Josh and his wife, Sarah, are high school sweethearts.

Josh enjoys traveling with his family.

Josh enjoyed hiking part of the Appalachian Trail with his sons.

Josh and Sarah have 6 kids.

The F3 Team.

LIVING IN THE MOMENT

Outside work, Josh lives a life filled with family time and adventure. He and his wife, Sarah, who are high school sweethearts, have six kids ages 2 to 15.

“We homeschool in a private Christian education, and it’s a big, beautiful mess. It’s wonderful,” Josh beams. “We’re living the best days. It’s a constant slowing down, being present.”

Josh and his family love adventuring. For example, he has taken his three oldest boys

on a four-day hike along the Appalachian Trail with other fathers and sons for the last four years. He and his family have taken extended vacations in recent years, too: a 30-day road trip to Colorado, a 66-day road trip to Washington State and British Columbia, and they are planning a 60-day trip to Ireland, Paris, and London in 2024.

“This is success for me,” Josh continues. “I started on this marathon, and I crossed the finish line. This is it. Now, it’s about how I can continue to pour into

my team members. In the hustle culture, a lot of people sabotage their joy because of this idea of being bigger, faster, stronger, forever. I set out on a journey to create a wonderful life for my family, be healthy, and enjoy it, and I’m here.

“I’m working on being content, finding contentment in where I am. I work on taking that pressure off, realizing that insatiable hunger is just that — insatiable. I am satisfied through God, satisfied through my family, and I’m absolutely enjoying it.”

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Ponte Vedra Beach

Adaptable Relationship-Builder

I believed in myself and never stopped fighting to succeed.

Blair Owen, the lead buyers’ agent at Jacksonville’s Anchored Real Estate Group leverages her adaptability and flexibility, and her relationshipbuilding skills to her advantage in her real estate career.

Early Life and Cultural Shift

Blair was born and raised on Hilton Head, SC, and in her formative teenage years, she experienced a significant cultural shift when she moved from the idyllic Hilton Head Island to Indonesia. Reflecting on this move, she recalls, “It was an eye-opening experience to move from a resort island to a thirdworld country.”

Education and Career Beginnings

Blair attended an international high school in Indonesia, immersing herself in a diverse cultural environment. Upon returning to the United States, she pursued a bachelor’s degree at Coastal Carolina University. Blair comments on her first career experiences, saying, “After graduating college, I went to work for Pepsi in business development. I enjoyed being out in the field with my clients, listening to their business goals, developing a marketing plan, and springing into action to meet those goals. After five years, I traded in the beaches for the ‘home of the blues’ in Memphis, TN where I jumped into corporate sales and marketing in the hotel/hospitality industry.”

Early Interest in Real Estate

Blair admits that, even as a child, she’d always been interested in real estate. She says, “Growing up in Hilton Head,

I had a friend whose dad was a top producing REALTOR®. I always found it fascinating and regularly asked him if he’d sold any houses that day. I was in middle school when he told me I would be a great REALTOR® and it resonated.”

Transition to Real Estate

In the spring of 2020, amid the Covidrelated upheaval in the corporate world, Blair revisited her long-standing interest in real estate. The pandemic had a significant impact on her job of contracting corporate meetings for medical and pharmaceutical companies, prompting her to reassess her career path. Blair realized her opportunity when her sister introduced her to Allison Chance, a REALTOR® looking to expand her business in Jacksonville. Blair also understood that, deep down, she longed for a career that aligned more closely with her values, seeking fulfillment in building relationships rather than merely executing transactions.

Career Growth in Real Estate

Joining Allison’s team proved to be a right decision for Blair. She quickly realized the value of her past experiences and skills in her new role. Blair’s ability to adapt and pivot has proved invaluable as she focused on educating herself and expanding her knowledge of the market and industry. Her passion for building relationships has helped Blair focus on deepening her connections with fellow agents, vendors, and lenders in the real estate industry.

Understanding the significance of trust in the real estate industry, Blair takes a personalized approach with her clients, educating them about the process and working collaboratively to achieve their

realproducersmag.com

real estate goals. Her flexibility and problem-solving skills enable her to navigate challenges effectively, ensuring that each client receives the highest level of service.

Blair’s experience growing up in both the comfort of a resort community and the difficulty of a third-world country, as well as Blair’s success in a corporate job where she cultivated both technical and personal skills, have been invaluable in her real estate career. She has a deep understanding of diverse cultures and communities which fosters gratitude and satisfaction in her interactions. Her open-mindedness and willingness to reinvent herself have been instrumental in her career transition, leading to new and fulfilling opportunities that she had never previously considered.

She says, “I believed in myself and never stopped fighting to succeed. It propelled me to move back to the East Coast and start again- new town, new

career, new friends. I had done this four times before, so as intimidating as it was, I knew I would eventually get acclimated and thrive if I focused on the positive, leaned on friends and family support, and put my newfound career in the forefront.

Personal Life and Interests

Away from work, Blair loves connecting with her family. She’s the second of five siblings and is thrilled to be close to her niece and nephew in Jacksonville. “I feel like I’m home,” she says. For fun, Blair spends time with friends and family, enjoys the beach, anchoring out on the sandbar, fishing, and music. She’s a newly minted Jags fan, has recently joined The Church of Eleven22 and is participating in many charity efforts. Her goal for next year is to serve on a mission trip.

Blair’s resilience, openness, and commitment to personal and professional growth continue to drive her success in the real estate industry.

benefits children with autism.

Blair enjoys working with Allison Chance, leader of Anchored Real Estate Group.

If you could have someone follow you around all the time, like a personal assistant, what would you have them do?

KATIE HUGHES JOHNSON

RE/MAX Specialists PV

I would love an assistant to drive me around so that I could be working on the computer while in-between appointments.

NANCY BASS

Bass Professional Realty

Return my calls that I don’t have time for, order my inspections, mail my marketing material, just listen to my ideas and I have a ton, and give me their opinions. Also run some just sold or just listed Canva ads on all my social media accounts!

PAIGE COVINGTON

Engel & Völkers Jacksonville Beach

sphere reach out time, drink your water, schedule next month’s/week’s trainings/posts, etc., time for 15-minute walk/move time, time to pick up the kids, etc.” I would be so much more productive (and healthier!)

DEBBIE TUFTS

Engel & Völkers Jacksonville

If I could have a personal assistant to follow me around all the time, I would have that amazing person help me stay on task and time!!!!

JULIE BENTLEY

Watson Realty

I would love to have someone drive me to all of my work commitments so I could use that time to safely respond to emails, texts and phone calls throughout the day. That would be a huge time-saver!

identify problems but find and implement solutions with no direction. The assistant will have to make sure that my expectations daily are met without stress for both ends.

BECKY MCRAE

Amelia Island Real Estate Services

Managing diaries and organizing meetings and events.

DEMI JUDD

Momentum Realty

If I had someone, or a personal assistant, who followed me around all times of the day. One thing I would definitely have them do is drive for me to all my appointments so that I can continue working as I’m on the go!

PAUL BASIL

CrossCountry Mortgage

NATALIE BRYANT

Compass Florida

I would have them answer emails! So many emails. Then it would be going and turning lights on, making sure what is being shown is show ready. Those are the things I don’t like to do.

I would have them remind me to hydrate, stop me from ordering ridiculous things on Amazon, tell me funny stories, and ask me questions about anything until I run out of answers.

KIRA SIKES

Sandbar Realty

I honestly would LOVE for a videographer/photographer to follow me around all day, everyday to help me create ALL the content I need to create My YouTube channel that showcases how brokers and REALTORS® DO have challenging job and we aren’t “over paid”. And hopefully it gets picked up by a network!

ANNE MCCABE

McCabe Realty

Scheduling appointments, collecting feedback from showings on my listings when agents don’t use the electronic feedback, and my social media.

MIRTHA BARZAGA

Davidson Realty

JONATHAN DAUGHERTY

Future Home Realty

Answer all the calls from mortgage companies and brokers that want to “take me out for coffee” or do a

TAMMY TINGLE

Century 21 Miller Elite

Honestly, I would have them do everything I do and do it alongside me so they could see how much fun being a REALTOR® is. There is nothing better than what I do.

LINDA WHITE

United Real Estate

I would give them a detailed daily task list and ask them to keep me on it! I’m an easily distracted individual and it would be oh so helpful to have someone keep me on task — “morning prospecting phone calls done, drink your water, social media break over, take your 15 minutes walk/move time,

SHELLEY MORGAN

Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners

All of the backroom items so I could always provide Joy to the people I meet and work with.

CYNDY TOMASSETTI

Engel & Völkers First Coast

I would love to have someone update and manage my database. When I get busy with listings, it’s the one thing in my business that suffers.

KELLY DELUCIA

Keller Williams Luxury International

Collect all my ideas and then put them into practice!

TINA DANSKY

SVR Realty

An assistant is a duplicate of yourself. A competent assistant will be able to not only

I do have a personal assistant, it has been over the years the most important investment for my business model. The first thing I ask from an assistant is that they are licensed in Real Estate and having them follow me all the time would be a waste of their time and my money, we instead divide and conquer. My assistant attends inspections, photo shoots, walk throughs, and the only time we go somewhere together is on listing appointments where she walks the property and takes notes while I do the presentation. Back at the office she writes listings and contracts, coordinates all communications between seller and buyers with inspectors, lenders, and title companies. She keeps track of my appointment and correspondence, this frees my time to take buyers out and stay in touch with my database which is where most of my referrals come from.

ERIKA ELLIOTT

Florida’s Choice Realty

If I had a personal assistant follow me around all day, I would have them answering emails, calls, texts, but also filming everything! Many have no idea the day in and day out things we face and some in which is just comical. It would make a great show.

from the desk of the president

2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS

by Gia Arvin, 2024 President of Florida REALTORS®

As you may have read, the 2024 Florida Legislative Session is wrapping up and REALTOR® priorities are being received very well by your elected officials. REALTORS® are advocates – for their families, for their communities and for their businesses. Your efforts in Tallahassee underscore your incredible impact on the quality of life in Florida.

If lawmakers approve SB 328 and HB 1239, an additional $100 million will be available to first-time homebuyers for downpayment assistance through the Hometown Heroes Housing Program (HHHP). This is the third year in a row that lawmakers are funding this successful homeownership program championed by Florida REALTORS®.

Since 2022, more than 14,000 families have benefited from the HHHP program, and this additional funding will help thousands more. Condominium buyers and their real estate agents may also benefit from this session. SB 1178 and HB 1021 requires all community associations with 25 or more units to put official records such as association bylaws, contracts, budgets, and other financial records online for unit owners. Current law imposes such requirements on associations with 150 units, which means most of Florida’s condo associations do not have to provide this level of transparency.

Raise your hand if you’d like a more straightforward job helping condo buyers obtain important association documents. And let’s not forget about the difficulty of working with Homeowners Associations (HOAs) and the fees they charge for some of their documents. Florida REALTORS® supports SB 278, which caps estoppel certificate fees at $250, speeds up the delivery of the certificates from 10 days to 5 days and requires the HOA board, not the HOA manager, to receive the fee. This legislation will help speed up access to these essential documents and prevent the outlandish fees that some associations are charging for them.

As budget talks wrap up, and the legislature Sine Dies Florida REALTORS® will celebrate the historic funding for our waterways and environment, further reductions in the Business Rent Tax, and other tax cuts. Florida takes pride in advocating for all of our members and celebrating your success. We are homegrown advocates and proudly protect private property rights and the American Dream.

Stay current on our advocacy efforts the whole way through the session by visiting https://www. floridarealtors.org/advocacy.

Gia Arvin 2024 President of Florida REALTORS®