On this episode of Realtor Conversations our guest is Michelle Markuson of Lakes Sotheby's International Realty. Michelle loves negotiating, and this is one of the top skills she brings to her clients in real estate. We hear all about her interests outside of real estate in this episode, and how they also play into her career in a positive way. She also gives extremely useful advice that buyers need to navigate the real estate market right now.

In this episode:

• Michelle’s favorite musician and where her love of music comes from.
• The unique place where you can find musicians playing locally.
• What she loves about Lakes Sotheby’s and the office that she works out of.
• The misconception about working at Lakes Sotheby’s (and what’s actually true).
• The other hats that Michelle wears and how she brings those skills to real estate.
• Why she’s not afraid to walk away from a deal for her clients during negotiations.
• What her post-secondary education was in and how it shows up in her career now.
• Similarities that she sees between her coaching clients and real estate clients.
• Why, as a coach, she doesn’t give advice to her clients and what she does instead.
• The book she’s working on right now and what it’s about.
• What she’s seeing in the real estate market right now and how it’s shifting.
• Michelle’s advice for those looking to buy in the market
• What she named her car and what’s so special about it.
• Where her deep passion for real estate comes from.
• Why Michelle feels she’s lucky to be at Lakes Sotheby’s.

Contact Michelle:

Cell: 612-483-1494

Email: michelle.markuson@lakesmn.com

Jackie Garofalo with Keller Williams Premier is with us in this episode to talk about how having a positive mindset in your work is crucial, especially in the real estate industry. There will be things that happen that are out of your control, like market changes and internal shifts with clients. As a Realtor, Jackie emphasizes that it’s important to take care of yourself, trust your instincts, and be confident in yourself.

In this episode:

• How taking leave during Jackie’s pregnancy (with twins) led to a career pivot.
• What makes Jackie’s personality unique and a perfect fit for the real estate industry.
• The most surprising things she’s learned as a Realtor.
• The key to finding success as a Realtor and why client connection is so important.
• Why it took time for Jackie to get used to rejection and how she sees it now.
• Key signs someone will have a successful career as a Realtor.
• Why connecting with the right clients is a little bit like dating (plus, how to be confident).
• Why the real estate industry is great for forever learners.
• The importance of trusting your instincts as a Realtor, especially for safety.
• How Jackie handles listings at locations she has concerns about.
• The big event she attended recently and what the biggest highlight was.
• What kind of relationships Jackie forms with her clients.
• What you need to be doing as a Realtor right now to keep up-to-date with trends.
• How every HOA is a business and why Jackie got involved in hers.

Contact Jackie:

Cell: 651-303-2548 (texts preferred)

In this episode our guest is Ellissa Friedman from Keller Williams Premier Realty of Woodbury. It’s no secret that people love working with Ellissa—she has a great energy that people are drawn to. Teaching is at the forefront of her approach, and she’s passionate about helping her clients make great decisions. This conversation has her sharing how she got into the real estate industry, as well as the other parts of life she’s passionately involved in.

In this episode:

• How Ellissa likes to be creative, especially when it comes to parties.
• The unique strengths she brings to the client experience.
• What she learned before she became a realtor and how that impacted her career.
• The real estate experience that left her feeling taken advantage of.
• Expectations versus reality of communication in a real estate transaction.
• Costs to consider when purchasing a home that not all buyers know about.
• The reluctant move that Ellissa made for her husband and how it all worked out.
• The one thing they don’t tell you about becoming a realtor.
• Where you can sometimes find Ellissa giving out hugs for free.
• The scholarship she won and where she’s going for it soon.
• Why Ellissa says she loves her broker and feels proud to work with him.
• The biggest issue in the market right now, particularly for first-time home buyers.
• Where it would be great to see the rates go to support affordability.
• The industry uptick she’s seeing right now and why.

Contact Ellissa:

Cell: 612-509-5130

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Ellissa-Friedman-Realtor-KW-Premier-Realty-100089545624551/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellissa_friedman