<![CDATA[Travel down the path of Real Estate with Jean Gauvin]]> <![CDATA[Carving My Own Path]]> This year is slowly coming to an end but that doesn't mean business is closed. The holidays is my time where I start looking towards 2026. This year in real estate took me on an unexpected path. Lasy year I spent volunteering/mentoring every Monday after school at River Springs Middle in Orange City. I do not have my own children so at first it was uncomfortable for me but as time continued, the kids loved me and the funny converations we had, it was definitely a growing moment. Now as i step into my role as the Events Director of the Florida Realtors Women's Council of Realtors Volusia Area, once again I found myself in an uncomforable situation. I had shown up to many events in support and the wonderful ladies encouraged me not only to join up but low-key voluntold me that I would be in this position lol. I was inexperienced in this role but still possessed the necessary skills to manage. I love how the ladies accepted me and now I have encountered a new supportive cast to be around. And boy, lemme tell you. They are all there with open arms and help whenever needed. I've had to overcome some challenges this year due to a young gentleman rear-ending my SUV and putting my back in new found pain. Not only am i dealing with uncomfortable nights with little to no sleep but having to deal with suing the car insurance company has put an unexpected speedbump in my business since I now am carless still doing business. Somehow this bad situation has changed the way I do work but I am still getting it done. I am nervous for 2026 but still excited for it because persistence is key, Consistency and good communication is top of mind, and to have that solve all problem mindset is the goal. This world isn't perfect. But the end goal is to make it to the end regardless. My little rant for the evening. Anxious to see what new adventures life swings my way. Until next time.

]]> <![CDATA[Court cases, Misunderstanding, & Chaos]]> Well I guess by now, the news about the current judgements charged against NAR has started to shake up the real estate atmosphere. From what I have seen, it has started to have a negative impact on realtors, painting us to be shady used car salesmen or even worse yet, thieves and con artists!! I am completely outraged at the social media posts that I have come up on within the short amount of time. People really think we are bringing home 10k-20k per tranaction, which is completely absurd unless the transaction is well into the 400k mark and above. Since I am fairly new to the industry going on my third year, I have seen those type of numbers only a few times this last year. It's kind of crazy to think that the industry that has finally given me a purpose in life, is about to be shaken from the ground up. I have weathered many storms before and I am prepared now once again. Sorry, my ADHD has taken my focus off of the main topic. These court cases brought up by, in my eyes, greedy baby boomers who don't understand the real estate process. On average, when the public uses an agent to sell their home, the consumer using the agent reaps almost 20 percent more in net proceeds. In my time as a buyers agent, I have come across countless consumers who do not know the first step in the home buying process and they need to be handheld throughout the whole process. Many first time home buyers can barely buy an affordable home and the result of these court cases will be that the consumer will now have the chance to negotiate or not even pay an agent for their hard earned work?? Or maybe the public expects a listing agent to do double the work, even if the laws don't change concerning that?? Who knows where the dust will settle on this but I do think that if the consumers lose the capability to afford an agent, how many homes will be purchased? If you have to deal with a seller who's not obligated to disclose any defects in the home, do you think they will be so forthcoming to share that information with you as the buyer?? I don't really think so. I think this is a bigger conspiracy from the powers that be to undermine an industry that is lucrative. I don't think the higher ups want consumers to be homeowners essentially. They would rather have everyone packed up in sardine can apartments controlling every aspect of our lives. Home ownership has been the easiest way for people to establish and pass on generational wealth to their families and now that whole process is getting harder and harder to achieve due to the sharply rising interest rates and now the beginning of the derailment of the buyer agent. Greedy homeowners are unrealistically trying to pocket every cent from their sale thinking that the listing agent somehow duped them into giving them their hard earned money. These shows on Netflix portray real estate agents lives as a complete sham. Most of us do not live fancy lives or sail on yachts. I do feel that the profession brings a sort of prestige about it and it has made me hone in on skills that I think are very demanding in any industry honestly. I hope to do my best to advocate against these very confusing and poorly written news articles that paint us in a negative light. People actually think that home prices are inflated in excess of 30k due to paying out agents exorbant prices. This may be true in California, where the average home price is above 1 million dollars but on a normal 350k transaction at a 3.5 percent commission for a list agent, would put that number at $12,250, which then has to be split with the broker, anywhere between 20 percent off the top all the way down to 40 percent. So the publics misconceptions about how these commission splits work and how many fees come off of our end of doing business is really crazy. People like those drone shots and floor plans and staging techniques and the use of our member only MLS but they don't see any value in our services. It really appalls me because you don't go to a doctors office and tell him that his salary offends you and to drop the prices on his services or give back concessions. Greed is running rampant in this country. If i can do anything, My part would be to educate whomever comes across my path on all processes of the real estate transaction. I want to be transparent. I want to be honest. Everyone that I have worked with has appreciated what I have done for them and still gives me calls to invite me over to their new homes. Could you imagine how life would be for those people who had no hope when I met them of owning a home?? It scares me to my bones that homeownership will be less attainable to the general public, especially to people of color, who are already at a disadvantage in this country. It's going to be a tough battle but I intend to fight it out until the very end and hopefully I can find a way to reach even more people before things turn downward for the worse. I want to devise a plan on how to live financially smart and pass it on to as many people as I can touch. Please help me in this mission by spreading my blog or social media. Feel free to interact with me or ask me questions. I am here for you guys & gals. I am here to serve. It's getting late..about 130 am now. Until next time folks. Just had to get that off my chest.

]]> <![CDATA[The Realtor life isn't at all like]]> Good evening Folks,

     It's been a hectic few weeks but I just had another successful closing last week, Monday the 16th. What a doozy that one was. Honestly I'm not even sure how I got it to the finish line but I was very determined. When I started this career, I did not know what to expect. I thought I had mastered the art of customer service and understanding the dynamics to close a sale but real estate is definitely a different kind of beast. WE, as realtors, have to be knowledgeable of the local areas for schools, restaurants, and fun places to go. Then on top of all that, we have to know how to manage a customers expectations and and wildest fears, while being their therapists, trusted advisor, and overall problem solver go to kind of agent. We get many sleepless nights, hungry afternoons spent driving to different locations and countless hours of back and forth phone calls to various people. "What the heck!?!" This is not how Selling Sunset portrays our lives on Netflix!! Man, if I could stand to watch more than 5 minutes of that show before wanting to barf in the garbage can, I'd give them a piece of my mind with an email or some kind of mean tweet or something. Sheesh...The world thinks of us as pompous used car sales type of people who get plastered all day and night living this glamorous lifestyle when it's by far, the furthest thing from reality. The anxiety one gets by dealing with one of the biggest purchases one can actually do in their lifetime is a big task. We have to manage the emotions of our own customers but also deal with the sometimes incompetence of the agent on the other end. Sometimes it can feel like its too much but when its all said and done, I chalk it up to a learning experience and try to figure out what could have been done differently to make it an easier process for the next transaction. Now the general public thinks we are out making a killing each transaction but they do not know the various fees and splits that are associated with. In the beginning, I couldn't even start off full time due to not having a bunch of savings. And when you are not giving full attention, you cannot expect full time results. Now that I am in year 3 of my new career, things are really starting to pick up. I love my company and the learning opportunities. I am in a soak it up kind of stage and always looking to learn more so I tend to stay up late at night reading some kind of article or listening to an on demand webinar. The amount of time that I have put into this is defnitely more than working a full time 40 hour work week but honestly this is more rewarding as well. I have made new networking partners across many different industries, I've come across many agents who have faced many various issues that I have not seen. If i can learn how to solve an issue from a colleagues' experience instead of actually going through it myself, I consider that a win-win situation for everybody. Our industry is forever changing with what is happening nationally as well as locally. We have to be forever fluid if we would like to remain successful. We have to incorporate the newest technologies to stay relevant. Be seen on every social media platform. It honestly gets cumbersome. It gets draining. Sometimes I forget what i did the week prior. But when you get to the finish line of a new deal and a happy family has added you into their lives, somehow it makes it all worth it to me in the end. 

]]> <![CDATA[Introduction to myself]]> Well hello to whomever has stumbled across my blog,

    First of all, I would like to introduce myself to the public. Just going to give you an overview of who I am. Raised in New York & then I was moved to the South Florida Area as a teenager. Highschool life was full of shenanigans. Living in Florida has totally changed my perspective from the hustle and bustle of city life to the cool, calm, & serene pace that everyone seems to have from living near the beach. I have lived in various areas of the state upon moving out at the young age of 18. I was in the Gainesville area during the Tebow years as well as the back to back UF college basketball championship years. Talk about living the dream and experiencing lifelong memories that I will always take with me. Tailgating in front of the Swamp was always fun times!! Traveling to Jacksonville to see the Florida vs. Georgia game was always a hoot. Back when the Gators consistently owned the SEC.

    After all that was done, I had moved into the Winter Garden area due to my mother having health issues & taking care of her back in 2011. It was a hard struggle to go through but very eye opening experience when it comes to making sure your elderly loved ones have all their afterlife affairs all in order. My mother was a lovely person, a former NICU RN, that cared for everyone that she encountered. After her passing in 2013, my sister & I were in charge of her home that she had left behind for us but didn't realize that she was in arrears. Due to unfortunate circumstances, and scrupulous bank lenders, we had to give up the home and embark on our own journey once again. My sister & I went seperate ways and I developed a 2 year plan on buying my first home. I was working at a very well known furniture store at the time & was introduced into the wonderful life of commission sales. In that world, It's not what you did for me yesterday but what are you currently doing for me  now because each month you would start off at $0 and literally have to earn your paycheck as time went by. Talk about a stressful yet exhilarating experience!!! I used to get tingles everytime I was able to help someone find furniture that suited not only their style but also their budgetary needs.

    Fast forward a few years and I am now in the market for a home of my own.  I researched all the necessary steps needed to get myself home ready to purchase.  I cleaned up my credit with a company for 6 months. Already had money saved up and was always adding to it. I had sold my realtor furniture & she put me on an email list to show me what was going on in the market & she also provided me with her trusted mortgage brokers information. I had a date circled on my calendar. The date came and passed, & my former girlfriend at the time asked me why I hadn't applied yet. I was afraid to pull the trigger. She convinced me to try because the worst thing that they can say was no. I remember the nervousness very clearly on that Saturday evening as i filled out my online application. I submitted my mortgage application and went to sleep because I had to work early Sunday mornings. I woke up to find a pre-approval waiting for me in my email. Can you talk about a rush going through my body?!?! I skipped into work all elated and could't wait to go on the hunt. That same evening was also coming up close to the 90 day mark of my aparment lease renewal. I had gone to the leasing office to inquire about what my options were. I thought i was being a good guy & asked if it was possible to do month to month after my lease was done due to the fact that I was shopping for my first home. They said that would be fine. The very next day, there was a notice on my apartment door telling me that they would not in fact renew my lease & I would have to be out. 

    Talk about the pressure was on now!! I contacted my realtor immediately & since I was already looking at her emails, liking possiblities in her system, I had about 12 homes to view my first day off. Even back in 2017, the market was moving quite fast paced. I had seen 12 homes that day, all the way from Altamonte Springs to Davenport. The last home i viewed, I had immediately fallen in love with, and we raced back to my realtor's office to submit my first offer. By the time we had arrived though, the listing had already changed to pending. I was instantly mortified!! OMG I had less than 90 days to find a home and you are telling me that we have to be lightning fast when looking?? My realtor was really tired but she happened to show me my house online and told me that we would get to it next week on my next day off. I was so determined to win that day, I decided to drive myself to the propery. Upon arrival, there was a realtor & a couple already walking in the door. My hands were shaking, I was nervous as can be, but I was determined not to miss out again on my home. I texted my realtor to prepare a contract with the new address just in case I had liked it, & confidently walked up to the front door to knock. The realtor opened the door shocked to see me & after explaining to her that I was casually driving by to see the property, she decided to let me view the home while she was in there with her customers. I had called my realtor on my cell & left the phone in my pocket, making various comments about how I liked the wood laminate floors and the open big kitchen with its dark stained wood. The home was situated off a dirt road but the inside was very modern and accommodating for my needs. By the time I had reached the guest bedrooms, I had reaped enough praise on this brand new home that I raced out of the home to still find my realtor on the line waiting for me to give the OK to send it. No hesitation & an offer was submitted and accepted.

   I handled everything via email & text. "Smoothest & easiest close!", my mortgage broker had stated, sitting across the closing table from me. It was a very surreal feeling!! I went from apartment leassee to first time home buyer on October 13th, 2017. Best feeling of my life EVER!!! This is when I made the decision that I wanted everyone else who hadn't experienced the JOY & HAPPINESS of finally achieving "The American Dream", to become a realtor. With that first step, I have begun a journey that I have the pleasure of documenting for everyone else's entertainment & educational tidbits that you can take away from. 

For those of you who have read this in its entirety, I thank you dearly from the bottom of my heart. Sorry for the lengthy intro but I am 3 years overdue, so hopefully I can catch everyone up to speed very shortly & continue with my tidbits a few times a week if time permits. Until next time. 

Your friendly neighborhood Realtor,

Jean

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