Tanisha Owens, a dedicated REALTOR® affiliated with eXp Realty, is making significant strides in the real estate industry by serving clients in the Upstate, SC, area. With a genuine passion for real estate, Tanisha channels her commitment into providing dedicated service to her clients, aiming to turn their dreams of homeownership into a reality. Tanisha embarked on her real estate journey in 2019, transitioning from a licensed insurance agent role where she worked at Allstate.
Reflecting on her career shift, Tanisha recognized the desire for a more purposeful and impactful profession. Her pivotal moment came during her pregnancy with her now 4-year-old child, Noah. Motivated to create a better life for her family, Tanisha, with the support of her then-fiancé and now-husband, decided to pursue a career in real estate. Despite the challenges of balancing online classes with a full-time job and dealing with ‘pregnancy brain,’ Tanisha’s determination prevailed. After the birth of her child, she refocused and obtained her real estate license, considering it the best decision she ever made.
Tanisha’s journey reflects resilience, determination, and the pursuit of a meaningful career, embodying the spirit of making a positive impact on the lives of her clients in the real estate market.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
What do you consider to be the biggest challenges facing the real estate industry today, and how do you think they can be addressed?
In my opinion, one of the biggest challenges facing our industry today is the housing market and rising home prices coupled with higher interest rates. Right now, inflation is high. There is a lot going on in the world right now, and many don’t realise that all of this has a direct effect on the housing market. Not to mention, wages have not kept up with the rising costs of homeownership. Many of my buyers need a full-time job coupled with a side job in order to afford a decent home in my area. As far as this being addressed, there are a few things that can help alleviate the stress on homebuyers. Once inflation gets under control, we can likely expect interest rates to trickle down. However, it’s important to make sure we, as professionals, are keeping our clients well informed so that they can make the best decision for them. Despite what’s going on in the housing market, now may be the best time for someone to purchase a home, depending on their specific situation. There are still benefits for both parties in any market. The key is figuring out if any of those benefits are important or relevant to your client.
Another challenge facing the real estate industry is the recent court ruling against NAR and other brokerages, stating that they violated antitrust laws and conspired to keep commissions high for home sellers. This has been getting a great deal of coverage recently, and I believe the real estate industry could possibly see some changes behind this. Of course, this is all still in motion, and I don’t want to dwell on it too much. The only thing I would say is that no matter how it turns out, it is (and always has been) important to be transparent with customers and clients and ensure that there is always full disclosure.
How do you see technology changing the real estate industry in the next 5–10 years, and what opportunities and challenges do you think this will create?
There have definitely been a lot of technological advances in the most recent years. A.I. is a definite game changer for the real estate industry. I’m a huge fan of technology and working smarter, not harder. This is often extremely beneficial for clients as well. Technology allows us to get in front of thousands in a matter of minutes. which means we can also advertise our clients’ properties in a more effective manner. The opportunities are endless. Whether it’s self-promotion for your real estate business or promotion for your clients, Of course, there will always be challenges. With technological advances come privacy issues as well as authenticity issues. However, there are ways to protect yourself and your clients. Overall, I believe that those who are not willing to accept the reality of our world and that technology is the future may find themselves unecessarily overworked and burned out.
How important do you think sustainability and environmental responsibility are in the real estate industry, and what steps are you taking to address these issues in your work?
Sustainability and environmental responsibility are important in any industry. Most of my business revolves around ‘going paperless.” In my business, I would print hundreds of papers weekly if most of my work was not paperless. In addition, this saves me a great deal of money on paper and ink. Not to mention, it’s better for the environment.
Could you share a success story from your career in real estate, and what lessons did you learn from this experience?
Before switching from a part-time real estate agent to a full-time real estate agent, I knew that I needed to be intentional about growing my real estate business. I had only worked with buyers previously, as I had always been told that listings were harder to obtain and buyers should be the sole focus when starting out. Boy, was that bad advice! However, I didn’t know this at the time. But I knew I wanted to get my first listing. So, I decided to do something a bit unconventional. I created a sign that said “Starving 4 Listings” and stood on the side of the road at a busy intersection for an hour and a half. I was scared out of my mind and a bit embarrassed at the thought of it. However, after being out there for a good 10 minutes, I realized it wasn’t that bad and was actually kind of exhilarating. I received my first listing from that and went to sell seven other homes with the same client within a year. Now, I mainly work with listings. And it all started with me stepping out of my comfort zone.
“You never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone; change begins at the end of your comfort zone.” ― Roy T. Bennett
How do you approach team building and talent management in your organization, and what qualities do you look for in potential hires?
Right now, most of my business is run by me. This includes my direct work, marketing, and more. However, I am currently in the process of scouting help for my business. Specifically, for a transaction coordinator, a virtual assistant, and a social media manager. As for qualifications, I am looking for someone who is knowledgeable in their field, dedicated, and reliable. There is a lot of talent out there, but it can be hard to cypher through candidates to determine the best fit for you and your business. When doing so, I believe it’s important to make sure that personalities, goals, and communication methods align.
What advice would you give to young professionals just starting out in the real estate industry and looking to build a successful career?
The first thing I would say is to go for it. Real estate can be a rewarding career. However, I would caution anyone getting into the industry for the wrong reasons. This is a very tough industry. Behind the closings and the celebration videos, there is a lot that goes on to get a client to the closing table. There are a great deal of emotions involved, and it’s important to make sure you have your client’s best interests at all times. My recommendation is to get a mentor and/or a coach. Also, I would recommend having an accountability partner in the business.
What is your vision for the future of the real estate industry, and how do you see your leadership contributing to this vision?
Real estate will always be one of the greatest and most rewarding industries, in my opinion. It doesn’t matter whether you’re an agent, investor, or homeowner. Buying and selling real estate is a great way to build generational wealth. “The best investment on earth is earth.” – Louis Glickman. Being in a position to educate and assist others with their real estate transactions and knowing what it can mean for their families is highly rewarding. I’m grateful to be a part of it all and look forward to assisting more families on their homeownership and wealth journeys.
Website: tanishaowens.exprealty.com
