Mobile Bay Real Producers | December 2022

"We are Diane Brookerd and Kimberly Blake. We have a combined experience level of 48 years in our local title insurance industry. It is our honor to serve you and your clients with a warm welcome and huge smile on our faces. We are blessed to represent Springdale Title, LLC and we are excited to introduce you to our wonderful company! Springdale Title is not like the rest, come and let us show you what you are missing!"

We have closed thousands of loans for a variety of lenders. Our staff is cross-trained both in multiple facets of the closing process and in the varying nuances of many title issues for the state in which we operate.

We also pride ourselves on staying up-to-date technologically and educationally so that we may offer the safest and most satisfying closing experience possible to our clients. It is our pleasure to tackle the hard problems and complicated closings that other title companies

Robert

This section has been created to give you easier access when searching for a trusted real estate affiliate. Take a minute to familiarize yourself with the businesses sponsoring your magazine. These local businesses are proud to partner with you and make this magazine possible. Please support these businesses and thank them for supporting the REALTOR® community!

ATTORNEY - REAL ESTATE

LD Holt & Associates, LLC

LD Holt

7581 Spanish Fort Blvd. Spanish Fort, AL 36527 (251) 937-4111 LDholt.com

BUILDER

DR Horton (251) 447-0329 drhorton.com

CABINETS/CUSTOM

Jimmy Stocks Woodworks

James Stocks 10251 Gayfer Road Fairhope, AL 36532 (251) 895-5524

FLOORING & DESIGN

Prestigious Flooring and Design LLC Garrett Scarberry (251) 802-0363 prestigiousflooring anddesignllc.com

FOUNDATION REPAIR

MDH Foundation Repair

Shannon Reichart 108 5th Street Daphne, AL 36526 (251) 375-0565 mdhfoundationrepair.com/

GLASS & SHOWER

HOME INSPECTION

Home Boss

Riaan DuPlessis

323 De La Mare Ave, Suite 9 Fairhope, AL 36532 (251) 230-9595 riaan@homebossal.com

ProComp Home Inspections

Billy Coley P. O. Box 603 Loxley, AL 36551 (251) 367-3196 procomphomeinspections.com

Southern Inspection Services, LLC

Mike Burchfield 1612 Chase Drive Saraland, AL 36571 (251) 404-0957

HOME WARRANTY

Old Republic Home Protection Todd Powell (850) 543-1512 x1 www.ORHP.com

HVAC SERVICES

Don Hembree Heating & Air (251) 259-4664 hembreeac.com

HVAC/PLUMBING

Hansen Heating & Air

(251) 999-6931 wigginsflock.com

Lynne Ernest Insurance, LC (251) 971-3622

LENDER Clear Mortgage Kenneth Harter (251) 282-6894 clearmortgage.com

Cornerstone Mortgage Solutions Bart Hare 12180 Ariel Way Spanish Fort, AL 36527 (251) 753-5105 choosecornerstone.com

Holland Mortgage Advisors Tiffany Bradley (251) 219-4043 HMAmortgage.com

Mission 1st Mortgage, Inc. Bryan Dewberry 805 Church Street Mobile, AL 36602 (251) 583-4218 mission1stmortgageinc.com

Griner Moving Services Mobile, AL

Alexandria Walter 2785 Macmae Drive Mobile, AL 36606 (251) 305-0178

PEST SOLUTIONS

E3 Termite & Pest Control Mike Adams 20040 Hwy 181 Fairhope, AL 36532 (251) 850-7378 E3pest.com

Mr. Buggs Pest Patrol Kenneth Kirby (205) 369-2205 mrbuggs.com

Proshield Termite & Pest Control Michael Hayes (251) 776-2362

Southeastern Exterminating Mike Hollis 25378 Profit Drive Daphne, AL 36561 (251) 402-0264

Prestige Power Washing John Lankford

14194 Sierra Court Summerdale, AL 36580 (251) 213-8313

ROOFING SERVICES

Professional Roofing & Construction (251) 680-7500 prorc.org

Stauter Contracting Lois Stauter 302 Riverbend Drive Mobile, AL 36605 (251) 230-7090 stauterbuilt.com

SIGNS & GRAPHICS

Fast Signs Pauline McKean 4668 Airport Blvd. Mobile, AL 36608 (251) 279-0747 fastsigns.com

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING Southern View Media (251) 517-9425 southernviewmedia.com

STAGE & DESIGN Show Homes, Mobile - Baldwin Kim Odom 82 Plantation Pointe Fairhope, AL 36532 (251) 622-5004

TITLE COMPANY

Clear Title

Lisa Walker 1680 West 2nd Street Unit A Gulf Shores, AL 36547 (251) 747-2550 x2517524181 www.getcleartitle.com

Fairhope Title Services, LLC

Brian Britt 455 Magnolia Street Suite C-1 Fairhope, AL 36532 (251) 928-9900 www.fairhopetitle.com

MLJ Escrow (251) 968-5586 www.mljtitle.com

Springdale Title, LLC

Diane Brookerd 1501B Highway 98 Daphne, AL 36526 (251) 270-4500 springdaletitle.com

VIDEO PRODUCTION/ DRONE SERVICES

EyeSky Video & Photo, LLC Stephen Hinds 297 Beall Lane Daphne, AL 36526 (317) 727-2919 eyeskyvp.com

VIDEOGRAPHER

Adobe House Media Production

Lew Thomas 27940 Bay Branch Drive Daphne, AL 36526 (251) 454-0004 adobehousemp.com

DOORS

The Glass Guru of Mobile

Wyatt Gerald

220 Portside Blvd. Suite A Mobile, AL 36695 (251) 287-1562 theglassguru.com

Chad Setchell (251) 471-3047 Hansenair.com

INSURANCE AGENCY

Coastal Insurance Group, LLC

Kurt Wielkens 3660 Dauphin Street, Suite A Mobile, AL 36608 (251) 344-9898 www.coastalinsgrp.com

Goosehead Insurance

Movement Mortgage Richard C Hampton 4851 Wharf Parkway Suite D-228 Orange Beach, AL 36561 (251) 270-4482 movement.com/chad.hampton

MOLD AND ODOR REMEDIATION

AdvantaClean Jimmie Newton 25421 Hwy. 181, Suite 103 Daphne, AL 36526 (251) 776-4669 advantaclean.com

MOVING SERVICES

PHOTOGRAPHY Avera Design James Avera (251) 479-2545 averadesign.com

Deep South Focus Photography Jon Jeffress 233 Suzanne Circle Mobile, AL 36608 (251) 421-0517 www.deepsouth focus.com/

POWER WASHING

publisher’s note

By Robert Orso, Owner

The Spirit of

GIVING

backstory is that they lost a child to cancer, and they believe in what St. Jude’s does for cancer victims. That is what you call extravagant giving. The book of Proverbs says that “extravagant giving never leads to poverty.”

Others prefer to give to their church or ministry to support the work of God. We are to honor God with the first fruits of our increase. If we are prosperous and we hoard everything for ourselves, we typically live an empty, meaningless life void of true happi ness and satisfaction.

What about those poor, homeless people who stand at the intersections with a sign in hand and a dog at their side? Are they worthy of our gift of help? We can look down on them and think they obviously have made some bad choices. Or could it be they just ran into misfortune? Remember how unworthy you are of what you have been blessed with. Let your heart lead you when it comes to the needs of the poor. The scriptures instruct us to give

to anyone who asks for our help when it is in our power to help them. “Every time we give to the poor, we are making a loan to the Lord. Don’t worry; you’ll be repaid in full for all the good you’ve done.” Proverbs 19:17 (TPC translation).

If you want to really find satisfaction in giving, don’t wait for the needy to come to you; seek them out. Notice them. They are all around you. I am not talking about $10 here or $20 there. Some of us have the ability to change someone’s life, and when we do, it will change our lives.

Although we celebrate and place special emphasis on giving during Christmas, let us continue that spirit throughout 2023 and beyond. Sure, we have high inflation and other economic and political problems, but the generous always prosper when others lack. Work hard, give generously, spread kindness, and have a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s holiday!

The Original Giver

Who was the first giver? God. He gave us breath, life, creation and eventually Christ, His son, to redeem not only us but all creation. Isn’t this what Christmas and the season of giving are all about? Isn’t this the foundation of our nation and what made us the greatest country in the world? God gave us a map to live by a standard of morality and a rule of law that will make any country that chooses to adopt His ways peaceful and prosperous. Since the beginning of the New Testament church more than 2,000 years ago, Christian missionaries have spread this good news to many nations that have chosen these standards and have become more peaceful and prosperous.

“The Season of Giving,” as we like to refer to Christmas, is a time when we focus more on giving, but the truth is, giving is a lifestyle. We are admon ished to live our lives to help others. If we are parents, our giving begins with our own families. As parents, we never stop giving to our children. We raise them and provide for them, buy the car, send them to college and, depending on the choices they make, we may be giving to them way beyond.

Many people have a favorite charity they like to give to. I had a REALTOR® recently tell me about a client who is selling a $2.5 million beach house and will be giving all their profit to St. Jude’s. The

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE

Welcome to Real Producers! Some of you may be wondering what this publication is all about, which is why we have created this FAQ page. Here, we will answer the most commonly asked questions from around the country regarding our program. My door is always open to discuss anything regarding this community — this publication is 100% designed to be your voice!

Q: WHO RECEIVES THIS MAGAZINE?

A: The top 300 agents in the Mobile Bay Area. We pulled the MLS numbers (by volume) from Jan. 1, 2021, through Dec. 31, 2021, in Mobile and Baldwin Counties. We cut the list off at number 300, and the distribution was born. For this year’s list, the mini mum production level for our group is $7 million in 2021. The list will reset at the end of 2022 for next year and will continue to update annually.

Q: WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR BEING FEATURED IN THIS MAGAZINE?

A: The process is simple. Every feature you see has first been nominated. You can nominate REALTORS®, agents, affiliates, brokers, owners, or even yourself. Office leaders can also nominate real estate agents. We will consider anyone you bring to our attention because we don’t know everyone’s story, and we need your help to learn more.

A nomination currently looks like this: Email us at robert.orso@realproducersmag.com with the subject line “Nomination: (Name of Nominee)” and explain why you are nominating the individ ual. Maybe the person has an amazing story that we need to tell, or perhaps someone overcame extreme obstacles, is an exceptional leader, has the best customer service, or gives back to the community in a big way. The next step is an inter view with us to ensure a good fit, and then we put the wheels in motion for our writer to conduct an

interview and for our photographer to schedule a photo shoot.

Q: WHAT IS THE COST TO FEATURE A REALTOR®, AGENT, OR TEAM?

A: Zero, zilch, zippo, nada, nil. The feature costs nothing, my friends, so nominate away! We are not a pay-to-play model. We share real stories of Real Producers.

Q: WHO ARE THE PREFERRED PARTNERS?

A: Anyone listed as a preferred partner in the front of the magazine is a part of this community and will have an ad in every issue of the magazine, attend our quarterly events, and be a part of our online community. We don’t just find these businesses off the street, nor do we work with all businesses that approach us. One or many of you have recommended every preferred partner you see in this publication. We won’t even meet with a business that you have not vetted and stamped for approval, in a sense. Our goal is to create a powerhouse network for the REALTORS® and agents in the area and for the best affiliates so we can grow stronger together.

Q: HOW CAN I RECOMMEND A PREFERRED PARTNER?

A: If you have a recommendation for a local business that works with top real estate agents, please let us know. Send an email to robert.orso@realproducersmag.com.

S H A N N O N H E S S E

broker in charge

By Brian Amend Photos by Kayley Robinson, Deep South Focus Photography

From Horseplay to Dogplay

RELATIONSHIPS FIRST

Before venturing into becoming a REALTOR®, Shannon Hesse worked in various sales roles, including as the director of marketing for the Mississippi Quarter Horse Association in Tupelo. “I had to recruit dozens of vendors for the Dixie National in Jackson,” she remembered, “and I did not know the first thing about horses. I was teased relentlessly about my lack of ‘horsiness, but it was a great ice breaker with the horse community.” Fortunately, Shannon has always fol lowed a path of “relationships first.” This served her well in pharmaceu tical sales, television advertising sales, and multiple roles in nonprofit organizations. This process of education and of building relation ships has been the foundation of her

career as a REALTOR®: “Real estate is about forming connections; if you are good at it, then the rest of it falls into place. I feel like that is one of my strong suits. There’s nothing that makes me happier than having a client call me again and again to help them with one of the biggest trans actions in their life. It’s even better when someone refers friends and family to me for help.”

Like many REALTORS® before, Shannon found it scary at first to jump into a commission-only career after working steady jobs that offered benefits. “But I did that in 2012,” she related, “and I have never looked back!” She has found success in the field with over 425 transactions with a volume of more

than $123M. Shannon has moved into the role of qualifying broker at Wise Living Realty, a job that she believes calls upon a “teaching gene” that has expressed itself over her lifetime: “My job is to make sure my agents adhere to the laws and rules of being a REALTOR® and a real estate agent, two different things consid ering one’s for the Alabama Real Estate Commission and one’s for the National Association of REALTORS® ... I love to instruct, so it’s a good fit for me.” Although Shannon related that “I’m a stickler for the rules,” she says that a Qualifying Broker should “educate and guide agents,” which makes the job “a really good fit because I enjoy making sure that everyone knows what they’re supposed to be doing and that they

have the tools to do it.” To this end, knowledge sharing is key: “I try to share data and information that I find.

I read a lot of industry-related mate rial, and I like to pass on what I learn. I share stuff about the market on national and local levels and any data that can be helpful for our clients. I want to make sure that if someone’s interested in learning, they have the resources to do that.”

Shannon is a Graduate Real Estate Institute (GRI) instructor, one of only nine in the State of Alabama. When asked about how this came about,

Shannon explained: “I was in the Alabama Association of REALTORS® leadership class in 2018, and Jim Lawrence and I got to be good friends.

He’s a titan of the real estate indus try who’s been an instructor for 40 years. I told him I loved teaching, and he became my mentor.” Last month, Shannon had the honor of co-teaching Jim Lawrence’s last GRI class. “He’s just a rock star of a man,” Shannon commented, “and he’s been wonderful and helpful to me, encouraging me.”

In addition, this past May, Shannon completed Leadership Baldwin County and, in 2020, was awarded

Baldwin REALTORS® Local Rock Star (now Distinguished REALTOR®) Award. Shannon has served on multiple committees and task forces on both state and local levels and is serving her third term on the board of directors of the Alabama Association of REALTORS®.

I SHARE STUFF ABOUT THE MARKET ON NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEVELS AND ANY DATA THAT CAN BE HELPFUL FOR OUR CLIENTS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF SOMEONE’S INTERESTED IN LEARNING, THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO THAT.

Shannon attended Fairhope High School and graduated from the University of Alabama, majoring in advertising and minoring in market ing. A loyal fan of the university’s football team, she said that this does not lead to contretemps with her 20-year-old daughters, frater nal twins, who both are juniors at Mississippi State University. Sara Evelyn Hesse is majoring in account ing and intends to become a CPA. Claire Hesse is studying international marketing and has started working as a leasing consultant, which was the first job Shannon worked right after college. Shannon hopes that Claire will want to join the “family business” as a REALTOR® one day.

In addition to being a proud mother and REALTOR®, Shannon is passion ate about providing for the rescue of animals. She is in her fifth year as the chairwoman of the Mystic Mutts of Revelry Parade, a dog parade during Mardi Gras in Fairhope that benefits the local Haven for Animals. Shannon was one of the original witches of the Fairhope Witches’ Ride to benefit similar causes. In addition, County Commissioner Billy Jo Underwood appointed Shannon in 2019 to the Baldwin County Animal Advisory Board that oversees the Baldwin County Animal Shelter. Her own rescue dogs, Weezie, a three-legged boxer, and Drake, a special-needs Frenchie with Addison’s disease, populate her home along with a “little holy terror,” a French bulldog/Boston terrier mix named Cici, who is not quite out of puppyhood.

Shannon was actively involved with Fairhope United Methodist Church, having chaired the stewardship committee more than once and going on five mission trips with the church’s youth group. Recently, Shannon has been appointed to the board of directors for The Lighthouse, a domestic vio lence and sexual assault shelter in Baldwin County. She described herself as “pretty low-key these days” with a strong preference for “hanging out with my dogs and the people who make me happy.” This includes visiting her daughters and tailgating with them, though she confessed to being “mildly obnoxious” when Alabama plays Mississippi State. One thing that has changed of late is a growing fondness for the water-borne recreation the Mobile area offers: “I’ve recently developed a fondness for fishing and boating. I’ve always loved the water, but in the last year or so, I’ve spent a lot of time doing both of those things, which makes me happy. I’m a very lucky woman — I have a fabulous family and fantastic friends, I live in a wonderful community, and I make a living doing something I am passionate about. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

For questions or comments about this article, contact Shannon at 205-305-7200 or mybaldwinagent@gmail.com.

I’M A VERY LUCKY WOMAN — I HAVE A FABULOUS FAMILY AND FANTASTIC FRIENDS, I LIVE IN A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY, AND I MAKE A LIVING DOING SOMETHING I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT. IT DOESN’T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THAT.

Mary Courtney

PERFECTLY MATCHED

real producer

By Dave Danielson Photos by Lisa Johnson, Deep South Focus Photography

There are some combinations that just make sense … like they were made for each other.

You see examples of it all around you every day … people who seem to have been born for their career, husbands and wives that are in lock-step through all parts of their lives … and families who seem to live in the home that’s perfect for them.

Of course, the truth is that while there are many great combina tions in life, sometimes those parings need a little help — a boost — to happen in the first place.

That’s where people like Mary Courtney Cane come into the picture.

As president of Courtney and Morris Real Estate, Mary has a knack for helping those around her find what is perfectly suited for them.

“I like matchmaking … finding the property and finding the person that matches. I have that type of brain that remembers who’s looking for what, and once I list something, it comes to me who would be a good match. That is the most fun for me,” Mary says. “We do a lot of that at Courtney and Morrison. We sell a lot of waterfront property and have been very successful in selling the Eastern Shore and Mobile.”

Coming of Age

Mary began her real estate career over 30 years ago. But her tale really got its start as a girl growing up in Mobile. As she grew and completed high school, she earned her degree in public rela tions at the University of Alabama.

After college, she moved back to Mobile for a time, before settling in Point Clear. After working as a marketing director for a surgi cal firm, she felt the call of real estate. She answered it.

“Since my family was in the business, I decided to get my license. My father started a firm called Courtney and Morris, but it was primarily an appraisal firm,” she says. “He and his partners were appraisers, which included my two brothers, Joe and Frank.”

Joining the Family Business

When she earned her license, Mary hung her license with Dauphin Realty for 10 years. In 2005, as her daughter entered kindergarten, she decided to join the family company.

“My brothers and I decided it was time to start listing and selling property in addition to their separate appraisal company. It was a humble beginning with just three of us, but we grew quickly and had a lot of fun adding agents and growing our company,” Mary says.

“Now we have multiple offices with around 25 agents. It has been wonderful growing this. We wouldn’t be anything without all of our other agents. We have a dynamite group that is close friends and great co-workers.”

Remarkable Results

Mary’s record of results has been special. In fact, in 2021, she recorded over $80 million in sales volume by herself.

Mary treasures her family and looks forward to time with them — including her husband, Grey; her son, Peter (who is also getting his real estate license); her daughter, Katherine. She considers herself so fortunate to work with her two brothers, Joe and Frank Courtney, her sister, Genie Jones, sister-in-law, Lillian Courtney and two nephews, Manning and Lyon Courtney.

In her free time, Mary has a passion for traveling and spending time with family and friends.

When it comes to giving back to her community, Mary supports local schools and their scholarship programs.

Shaping Success

Mary has applied her experience and expertise to shaping the lives of many people around her through time.

“I’m proud when people compliment us for being extremely knowledge able about what we do. And that is because we’ve been doing it for a long time. And we have a lot of knowledge

of the entire real estate business from the appraisal side to the bro kerage side, which most companies don’t have,” she says. “I think it’s an integral part of what you can provide to your clients and help them under stand real estate as a whole.”

Along the way, Mary is always on the lookout for opportunities and people and considering which ones might be perfectly suited for each other.

In the process, she demonstrates clearly that she is perfectly matched for her role and for supporting the success of those around her.

For questions or comments about this article, contact Mary at 251-605-5109 or mary.cane@courtneyandmorris.com.

I’m proud when people compliment us for being extremely knowledgeable about what we do. And that is because we’ve been doing it for a long time.

Springdale Title Springdale Title

Easing the Way Ahead

partner spotlight

By Dave Danielson Photos by James Avera, Avera Design

In today’s fast-paced, competitive market, speed and efficiency are more important factors than ever when it comes to getting your clients to the closing table and into the next chapters of their lives.

That’s why it means so much to have a partner on your side who approaches their work with the same level of commitment that you do.

That’s where Diane Bookered and Springdale Title come into the picture — working with you and your clients with a superior level of care and service to ease the way ahead.

Experience and Expertise

With 33 years of industry experience, Diane serves as manager and licensed title agent for Alabama. When you talk with her, it’s easy to see the passion she has for delivering world-class care.

“Marketing is something I really enjoy. I enjoy meeting people face to face and letting them know how we can help them and make their job easier,” Diane emphasizes.

“I enjoy making sure that the closing is as smooth as possible. If there are any glitches, you as a REALTOR® will know about them well in advance.”

Warm Welcomes

That welcoming feeling continues to the closing table, too.

“We really strive to make that the best, most pleas ant experience it can be,” she says.

“We welcome you with a smile. Clients can even bring in their pets with them, as well as kids. We want everyone to feel comfortable and at home

with the closing process here. We add personal touches at the closing table.”

Winning Teamwork

Diane is proud to be joined each day by Kimberly Blake.

“Kimberly and I work together as a team really well. We go out of our way to make sure that any title problems are taken care of well before closing,” she explains. “Kimberly is fantastic and brings over 15 years of experience to our partners and clients.”

Springdale Title also goes the extra mile for those who go above and beyond to serve the community.

“We offer closing fee discounts to support our veterans and first responders,” she points out. “In addition, we also offer the option for us to come to you and your clients to handle the closing. If a buyer or seller is out of town, we can even send a mobile notary to them. My office is in Daphne. But if I have a REALTOR® who wants to do a closing with me in another county, I can go to their office and close at that office, as well.”

Leading Edge

As Diane explains, Springdale Title also stays on the leading edge of technol ogy to make the process easier for REALTORS®, lenders, and clients alike.

“We use a platform for buyers making payments. We have a platform that we use for funds to be deposited via cell phone so that a client’s earnest money goes directly to our escrow account,” she says. “It’s sort of like Venmo for real estate … and it’s spe cific to real estate transactions with substantial security built in. Plus, we have a title quote app that can provide REALTORS® and lenders with net sheets for buyers or sellers.”

Building Rewarding Relationships

In addition to technology, a strong, steady emphasis remains on the bonds that are built in the process of the transaction.

“We are very personable and very communicative with the peo ple we have the honor of serving,” she says. “Whether by email or phone, we stay in touch to keep people updated on the process. Our goal is to make the overall experience unique and a joy.”

Family Highlights

Away from work, Diane cherishes time with her family, including her husband of 17 years, Scott, and their son, Ryan.

In her free time, Diane likes to go to Jeep events with Scott.

“We also have a camper, so we enjoy taking that out and spending long weekends,” she says.

Faith is also central to Diane’s life. She and Scott have a love for God, staying active in their church and going on mission trips.

In addition, they have two rescue dogs and are currently doing an extensive remodel of their home.

Kimberly’s life is also fulfilled by family, with five adult children and six grandchildren. She stays very involved in their lives and also moves forward through life with a strong emphasis on putting God first.

“We also love to kayak in our beautiful local waters,” Kimberly says.

When it comes to giving back, Diane and Kimberly do a lot of local volunteering, as well.

Leading the Way Springdale Title has a total of eight locations. In addition to its headquarters in Ohio and Diane’s office in Daphne, the company has four locations in Kentucky, one in Indiana, one in Tennessee, and one in Florida.

“We offer the best of both worlds,” Diane smiles. “We are big enough to serve our cli ents’ and partners’ needs, yet we remain a very close-knit, family-oriented company.”

Contact Springdale Title Today!

New Office Location — 25369 U.S. Highway 98, Suite D-1, Daphne, AL 36526 Phone: 251-270-4500

Email: Aledocs@springdaletitle.com

september event photos

Photos by Deep South Focus Photography

event sponsor recognition

By Robert Orso

Provisions

Sept. 13, 2022

We had another great event on Sept. 13 at Provisions in Fairhope. This time we held the event at lunchtime because many of you said that was a good time for you. The turnout was great! I want to recognize and give a shout-out to our event sponsors. Without them, the event would not have been possible, so I encourage you to reach out to them with your thanks and give them an opportunity to help you with your business and client needs.

Our lead sponsor was Southeastern Pest Solutions, and our gold sponsors were LD Holt & Associates and Deep South Photography.

Thanks to all supporting sponsors. These are great and proven service providers who can make your closings better and satisfy your clients’ needs, whether they are selling or buying a new home.

rising star

SHARING FREEDOM

While you can’t always define exactly what achieving success looks like on the way, you definitely know when you’ve reached it.

That’s a feeling that Jonathan Lazzarino knows well for himself, as well as for those he supports on their own paths.

As a REALTOR® with eXp Realty Southern Branch, Jonathan is driven by the feeling of sharing that sense of financial freedom with others.

“I love helping my clients achieve a level of financial freedom that you can’t really get through many other investments. As far as my career, that’s the most rewarding thing of all,” he says.

Reaching Higher

Jonathan has applied his experience and expertise to reaching results.

“I love helping investors find good investments so they can be financially free. But at the same time, I’m also motivated by being able to provide a good life for my family. My ultimate goal is to be financially independent through real estate investments,” he points out. “So that’s a passion. It’s it is a driving factor. It drives me to know that I’m learning something new each day and growing in my abil ities as a real estate investor, as well as a REALTOR®.”

International Living

Jonathan spent the first 10 years of his life growing up in Singapore since his father worked in international marketing with a commercial air conditioning company there. Through time, he traveled throughout Asia. In time, Jonathan and his family moved back to the U.S. to Minnesota and then to Mexico for a period of time before moving back to Mississippi when he was 13 years old.

By Dave Danielson

Photos by James Avera, Avera Design

As Jonathan grew and completed high school, he went on to complete his education at the University of Southern Mississippi, before working in the oil and gas industry in Houston. In time, the bottom fell out of the economy, and Jonathan worked with his family business, working in sales with them. Eventually, the business was in a position where they sold it. At that point, he made the move into real estate.

Connecting with Opportunity

Around that time, he listened to a podcast and heard REALTOR® Avery Carl. Jonathan was struck by her perspective and insights. So he reached out to her and asked if he could have a spot on her team.

“My wife thought I was crazy because my career had just taken off in Houston. I was getting to the point where I was really establishing myself over there. But then I just picked up and moved to Gulf Shores. Because the person I connected with, I just had a lot of faith in what she was doing,” Jonathan says.

“I moved here by myself for a few months, and that gave me a chance to dive into this market and get as much of an understanding as possible. Before long, I was getting a lot of properties under contract and learning a lot from mistakes.”

Signs of Success

Jonathan’s success has been special. In fact, during his first full year in the business here, he recorded $28 million in sales volume. He has kept building from there.

For all of the pro fessional success

Jonathan has had, the real measure of his rewards has come at home with his wife, Jessica.

I moved here by myself for a few months, and that gave me a chance to dive into this market and get as much of an understanding as possible. Before long, I was getting a lot of properties under contract and learning a lot from mistakes.

“She is amazing. I have found the best one for me. She is the perfect woman for me, for sure. She allows me to have the time to focus on my career by doing all the hard stuff with taking care of the household and a wonderful daughter, too … Lilly.”

In his free time, Jonathan relishes spending time with his family and spending time at the beach. He also enjoys watching movies, playing the guitar and hanging out with his friends.

Jonathan has a heart for helping, as well. He is part of a group called the Marshalls that conduct a number of charitable activities in the area.

Those who have the chance to know and work with Jonathan are quick to point out his straightforward way of working with integ rity. At the same time, he is clearly driven to support others in their own dreams.

Because that’s what you do when you can feel the rewards of your efforts … when you can see the possibilities that can exist for everyone … if you’re Jonathan Lazzarino, you share it … and you actively help to make it happen for those around you.

For questions or comments about this article, contact Jonathan at 832-914-5012 or jonathan@theshorttermshop.com.