Town & Style recently interviewed Julie Lane to talk Real Estate. Julie gave her perspective on real estate and shared how she stays a top agent despite the challenging market.
Julie Lane had been in pharmaceutical sales for eight years when she decided it was time for a job that required less travel and gave her a sense of community. So she got her real estate license and joined Janet McAfee in 2007—just as the market crashed. What seemed like bad timing hasn’t stopped her from becoming a top agent, exceeding $45 million in sales despite the challenging marketplace. Lane, who grew up in New Berlin, Ill., now lives in Ladue with husband Rich and their two daughters.
“I knew almost immediately that real estate was the right career for me. My first sale, I helped a young couple buy their very first house. I truly felt as if I’d made a positive difference in their lives.
My least favorite part of the job is when my buyers end up in a multiple-contract situation. It’s stressful and emotional for all involved.
Right now I know several buyers who are desperate to get into a new home, but the inventory in some markets is very low. So I think some segments of the market are improving. We’re simply out of homes to show!
If you trust your agent, listen to her advice. If you don’t, find someone you can trust.
In any market, price, condition and location sell homes. We can control only price and condition. If your home has been on the market awhile without selling, you have to do something different to make it stand out.
To be a successful agent, you must be willing to do what the competition is not. That, and learning absolutely everything you can about the current market, are paramount.
I work all the time. I’m constantly examining the market, the trends, etc., so I know what’s going on. It would be impossible for me to do what I do if I spent only a few hours a day focusing on it.
This industry is competitive and very demanding. If you want to excel, you must put in the time—and a lot of it. I can’t recall a week since I began that I’ve put in less than 40 hours.
It can be a stressful business. I’m still working on how to unwind at the end of a crazy day. It helps to spend as much time as possible with my girls and husband.”
To learn more about Julie Lane check out her webpage at http://www.janetmcafee.com/agent/Julie-Lane/julane/