WOMEN IN REAL ESTATE
Soederlund
New Children’s Book Inspires the Next Generation of Real Estate Agents
C
by Joey Macari
ompass real estate agent Emma Soederlund is inspiring the next generation of real estate professionals with her new children’s book “Elle the Real Estate Agent,” which tells the story of a little girl who helps her neighbor sell her home. Beautifully illustrated by Estela Raileanu, “Elle the Real Estate Agent” zeroes in on something all real estate professionals have experienced at one point or another: that one moment that sparked their career in real estate. 14 July 2022 RISMedia’s REAL ESTATE
Having moved from Stockholm to Los Angeles, where she joined Dane Soderberg & Associates at Compass, Soederlund’s international, architectural perspective has given her an advantage in this creative endeavor. While her youngest clients may not know the ins and outs of obtaining a mortgage, they do know what it means to be kind. Soederlund believes that kindness goes a long way, which is why with every book review, $1 will be donated to HomeAid San Diego, a nonprofit dedicated to responding to homelessness through housing, community outreach and education. Here, Soederlund shares how her passion inspired the pages of this book, the importance of giving back and how Compass prepared her for success. What inspired you to write a children’s book? The idea has always been in the back of my mind, but it came to fruition this past fall when I saw a video on TikTok about how to self-publish through Amazon. After realizing that there were almost no children’s books talking about real estate in a fun way, it encouraged me to get the ball rolling. As for the content of the book, I drew inspiration from work and clients we had at the time. What are your key takeaways? I wanted to introduce kids to the real estate profession like you see on kids’ TV shows and in books like “Bob the Builder” or “Doc McStuffins” so that they can become familiar with the industry if they’re thinking about becoming a residential or commercial agent, appraiser, developer, etc. Additionally, I wanted to teach them about the process involved with purchasing a home, because a lot of first-time homebuyers aren’t familiar with the steps involved. Parents have told me that they too enjoyed reading the book because it teaches them
about the industry right along with their children.
“After realizing that there were almost no children’s books talking about real estate in a fun way, it encouraged me to get the ball rolling.” - Emma Soederlund REALTOR®, Compass
Why was it important for you to team up with HomeAid San Diego for this project? Since California has the highest homeless population in the country, I felt the need to give some of the proceeds from the book to low-income housing and homeless shelters. HomeAid is an amazing organization that does a tremendous job when it comes to providing housing for those currently experiencing homelessness (or those at risk), whether it’s women and children fleeing domestic violence, veterans or seniors facing unstable housing situations. How has your unique journey with Compass prepared you for success? My time at Compass and being part of the amazing team at Dane Soderberg & Associates has provided me with endless opportunities to be exposed to high-price transactions, allowing me to work alongside top-producing agents in San Diego. I don’t believe I would have had this opportunity if I were anywhere else. RE For more information, please visit www.compass.com/agents/emma-soederlund.
