When I first met Brooke in 2017, I was struck by her genuine presence. She could be in a room with 100 people and still exude compassion, confidence, and kindness. Her ability to constantly challenge herself and pursue constant learning habits is inspiring and honorable. However, it’s her daily commitment to knowing Jesus, that motivates me to share her story. Despite overcoming many obstacles, she has reached where she is today. I hope her story inspires you.
-Harrison-
Brooke, what is your occupation, and can you share a little back story to how it all started?
-I have been in real estate for six years now! Before I decided to go into real estate, I was an elementary teacher for three years. My mom is a college professor, which I admire; I started babysitting around the age of 12 and my heart grew for the little ones. So I decided to become a school teacher. After switching elementary schools, eight short weeks into teaching 2nd grade at a new school I was bumped to 4th grade and it ended up being very challenging that year! (I ended up meeting some of my very good friends today that year, so I’m thankful!)
Their dedication to their career is admirable. I think it is one of the most rewarding and yet most challenging professions out there. Yes, I believe they are overworked and sometimes underappreciated – yet they make such a difference in our world.
Chase my boyfriend at the time (now husband) had transitioned into real estate, he told me he thought we would make a perfect team in the world of real estate. That is when I started my journey into real estate. Of course, I wasn’t 100% sure yet but felt the Lord shutting the door on my teaching career and opening this new door, so I decided that summer to get licensed. With my dad in real estate, I learned a lot from him during the summer. My father was also another inspiration for me. Growing up I saw him in the business of building homes. Yes, real estate has been part of the family since I was little. One of the model homes my dad made, he named after me! With both of my parent’s hard work ethics and foundational skills, I have taken what I have learned from them. I am grateful for their example.
“Our life is beautiful and I am so thankful for it- I’m grateful God has allowed us to run our businesses as a husband and wife team, and has constantly blessed us with amazing clients, friends, family, and an amazing community.” Brooke
Changing careers can be super scary, how did that affect you?
I am someone who thrives off of routine, so making such a big career change was nerve-wracking, but I remember feeling like God gave me the peace to shut that particular door. After prayer, and lots of godly counsel I decided it was time to take the leap.
As each year you have been growing in your business, what are some learning curves you can share?
In real estate there are all kinds of transactions, from new construction, land, to investment properties – Cash deals to financing deals, to owner finance- contingent deals where a seller must sell their home before buying another- so no two days look the same most days! You are always learning new ways to be better and always learning to tailor business best to each different client’s needs.
What are some highs and lows?
At times in the real estate industry, you can feel like you are always on call, and sometimes it can be easy to not be intentional with setting downtime; that can be exhausting! A lot of times we have multiple families we are helping at once, so it can be hard to stop and celebrate, and you can feel the need to keep moving right into helping the next family- but we have learned it is very important to enjoy those highs and pause, to celebrate them! Winning The Best of The Basin was a high this year, along with hitting the Icon agent achievement at our brokerage again!
What can you share with someone who is just starting in the life of a realtor?
I can’t stress the importance of practice and consistency! If you don’t practice or know what to say and how to say it, you won’t be confident in your work. Finding a good mentor to help you learn the lingo and ropes of real estate is crucial. Also, know that success doesn’t happen overnight! It’s the following up with clients month after month (maybe even year after year), hosting open houses weekend after weekend, putting yourself out there on social media, and getting plugged into the community, that all make the biggest difference in my opinion.
Brooke, you’re not just a realtor, but also a wife and a mom. How long have you been married, and what are your favorite aspects of marriage after all these years of working with your best friend?
We have been married for 4 years as of this past March! I feel fortunate to get to work with my best friend. My husband and I quickly found the areas of real estate where we each excelled, and getting to watch him lean into those strengths has been wonderful! I think it’s the same thing in marriage – you are a team, and it takes serving one another and loving one another each day, day in and day out, to make a marriage work! Or at least, that’s what I’ve learned in the last 4 years.
Motherhood is the most exciting adventure you have been on; let’s talk balance. Have you found a rhythm yet, and if so, in this season, what does it look like, and what advice can you give others in your shoes to keep going and not have mom guilt?
I don’t know that I even believe in balance! Some weeks we are running at full speed but we are all running together. I think at each phase of life, “balance” looks a little different. I do think it’s important to set boundaries! I try to set my phone to the side by a certain time each evening to get to wrestle with my little toddler, we make serving at church together a non-negotiable, and we try our best to schedule trips to see my family a few times a year to unplug and have extra family time. It’s hard! Mom’s guilt is very real. Being a mom alone in my opinion is a full-time job, so when you add in running multiple other businesses it can get busy. But being disciplined and intentional with your time is crucial in my opinion to make everything work.
What are your favorite parts of being a momma?
One of the things I love the most about being a mom is observing my little guy as he learns new things. Currently, he enjoys holding my hand and leading me to the back door, saying “open,” then taking me to Dad’s truck to “drive,” where he turns on the radio and presses every button. It’s an incredible feeling to see the joy on his face when he discovers new things, and when he leans his forehead against mine with a little smile. Knowing that God created him and chose me to be his mom is the greatest blessing I could ever ask for.
Let’s talk about Faith. Tell us a little about your faith journey and why has it been the most important aspect of your life in all you do.
I am grateful to have been born and raised in the church. My parents took me to church almost every Wednesday and Sunday. I accepted God into my heart at the age of 6 and was baptized shortly after. Life presents many challenges. Middle school and high school were tough, and being a college athlete can come with temptations. Moving to a different state without family was difficult. Transitioning from teaching to real estate was scary and challenging at times. However, I have many stories of experiencing and seeing God’s guidance in my life. I have also encountered people who I believe God placed in my life to support me through the highs and lows. Now, being able to take my son to church and teach him about God’s word is both a blessing and a significant responsibility.
How important is it to make time for God’s Word daily or weekly, and do you have an accountability group to help you when life gets busy?
It is so important to make time for God’s word daily. When I am close to the Lord in prayer and through reading His word, I feel more equipped to handle what the world throws at me, whether that’s through motherhood, marriage, or my workplace. Getting plugged into a local church was huge for me when I moved to Odessa. I met some great Christian friends through women’s bible studies and with serving! Those are the people I call in times of uncertainty and those are the people I know I can lean on during the highs and lows of life. I also do an online bible study each fall and I love how impactful it has been for me. Women from all over the US come on and discuss God’s word; we ask questions in how we have learned and how we applied it that week and wow do those ladies inspire me to do more for the Kingdom!
What other aspirations and goals would you like to share with us?
Being a former teacher, I will always have a soft spot for the little ones in my heart! I would love to coach my son’s sports teams as he grows, and I would love to get back to doing more mom meetups! Having a community is so important.
Last, what Bible verses do you lean on and why?
“I first learned about 2 Corinthians 10:5 (“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”) in a Bible study when I moved here. This verse has stuck with me and has been a source of strength for me on many days. In our fast-paced culture, negative thoughts like ‘mom guilt thoughts’ and ‘I’m not enough thoughts’ can easily creep in. When they do, being able to capture those thoughts and rely on the words of the Lord is essential.”
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it”.(Proverbs 22:6) Wow! What a big responsibility we have as moms to model what it’s like to pray, to be a Godly wife, to be in the word, and to be a light to the world in our careers, and in our own homes. Last, being a mom has also impacted me on a completely different level now that I am a mom.
Copyrights ©The Daily Faith Magazine LLC
Contact Info admin@thedailyfaithmag.com