After flipping a few homes in the late 90’s and early 00’s, I decided to obtain a real estate license. At the time I was a licensed Financial Advisor at USAA. The goal was to get my license as a way to increase the profit while flipping homes. It appeared that my love of chasing the flip deal was evident to my co-workers. As a result I had instant business from my USAA co-workers.
For a full year between 2003/2004 I worked as a full time Financial Advisor and a full time Realtor. I poured all this excess money plus money from flipping into paying off my home. I was able to reduce my 30 mortgage into a 3 year mortgage. As soon as I paid off the home, I left USAA to focus on a real estate career. As an Integrated Realtor, my new career was immediately successful.
I purchased my first rental then my second. By the time of the 2007 crash, I had five mortgaged rentals, a primary home and a piece of land. Down payment requirements to purchase rentals were not as stringent as they are now.
Those Realtors who put their clients first survived the crash. My other-oriented philosophy helped me not only survive, but also THRIVE during the crash. Many of my clients before the crash purchased nicely priced foreclosure. Those that had to sell during the crash had enough equity to get out of the home with profit or a break even.
The years spent learning the foreclosure market prior to the crash also helped my buyers during the crash. I helped my buyers purchase very nicely priced HUD foreclosures, VA foreclosures, FNMA and Freddie foreclosures, etc. etc. The foreclosure listing agents knew that I was a solid buyer’s agent who could get the home closed. This reputation allowed me to help my client’s beat out the competition.
In 2008, I moved from Century 21 North Town and Country to Allison James Estates & Homes. At Century 21 I was a top producer year after year. This included top 21 San Antonio Realtor in 2004 -2005 and top 10 San Antonio Realtor in 2006-2007. This past year, I finally displayed in my home the 12 plagues and trophies received during the five years while at Century 21.
At Allison James Estates & Homes, I’ve been the first or second place producer for TEXAS since I moved to the brokerage in 2008. I’m glad Allison James doesn’t give plaques or trophies. I wouldn’t have the room for them!!
For several years I was awarded Angie’s List “Super Service Award”. You can see that most of my testimonials are from Angie’s List. Angie’s List was bought out by HomeAdvisor. The business model changed. The “Super Service Award” was no longer awarded.
In 2013/2014 I became extremely ill. Many doctor’s appointments later, most of them in which I went by myself, I was no closer to finding answers. I knew food was making sick. I just didn’t know which food. I was religiously gluten free for 3.5 years. I got sicker. I went grain free, dairy free, soy free, sugar free, caffeine free. I went Paleo Autoimmune Protocol (AIP). I got sicker and sicker and sicker. I could barely work two hours a day. I worried constantly about passing out while driving to meet clients. I couldn’t climb stairs because I feared I would pass out. I had 60 plus different symptoms. I stayed the primary bread winner during this time.
In the middle of 2014, I finally realized that it was foods high in vitamin B6 that was making me sick. During this time there was very little information about B6 toxicity. Mayo Clinic had some information. MedScape had a forum that had some discussion.
I removed all high B6 foods from my diet. As I healed, I realized that I was probably not alone. I opened a Healing B6 Toxicity Facebook group. I started marketing in July of 2015. Soon we had other members healing. We started a protocol for healing. We are five years into this with no marketing and are over 2,300 members strong. We use a bottom up research approach. Group experiences lead us to the WESTERN research to find answers for our toxicity as well as the healing process.
We realized that B6 toxicity is Small Fiber Polyneuropathy. Seventy percent of our nervous system was under attack. This included sensory neuropathy (pins and needles in hand and feet), autonomic neuropathy (all that is automatic is no longer automatic: pulse, blood pressure, blood volume, thirst, tears, saliva, urination, sweat, etc. etc.) and motor neuropathy (weak muscles, muscle cramps, muscle twitching). A year after I figure out that B6 toxicity was Small Fiber Polyneuropathy, a neurologist at the UTHSC who specializes in SFPN confirmed it. In 2020, I operate at 95% each day. I am still regaining muscle strength, but that is better each month.
I am still the main admin for this group. I spend about 2 to 3 hours a day helping members heal. Although very important to me, I know this is my non-profit work. Real estate is my love.
I am grateful for my past clients and referrals from them. COVID-19 has slowed down real estate for many in San Antonio. I’m still busy. Many, many thanks to my loyal clients that keep referring other buyers and sellers to me.
If you a possible future client, please take a moment to read my testimonials. My testimonials help you understand my job is not sales. I firmly believe in finding buyers the right solutions for their needs. Helping people is my passion.