5 minute read
March 2024 ~ Jacksonville Real Producers Rising Star - Blair Owen of Anchored Real Estate Group
Congratulations to our March 2024 Rising Star - Blair Owen of Anchored Real Estate Group!!
By Carol Nethen West
Photos by Scott Golmic
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 relationship building 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 third world 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 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.
Blair’s resilience, openness, and commitment to personal and professional growth continue to drive her success in the real estate industry.
