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From Housewife to Real Estate Powerhouse: The Gina Kirschenheiter Story

• Courtney Twiss • Episode 61

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What does it take to build a thriving real estate business while juggling reality TV, parenting six children, and expanding into new markets? Gina Kirschenheiter and Travis Mullen know firsthand—and they're transforming how real estate teams operate in the process.

When Travis first suggested Gina get her real estate license, she hesitated. "The last test I took was a pregnancy test," she jokes, capturing the anxiety many feel when considering career changes. Known for her role on The Real Housewives of Orange County, Gina wasn't sure how to bridge her entertainment platform with a professional real estate career. But once she took the leap, everything changed.

The couple made a bold decision to launch their business during what Gina calls "the crappiest possible time" in real estate. Rather than viewing this as a disadvantage, they embraced it as an opportunity to build solid foundations during challenging conditions. "We're learning everything at the hardest possible time, in the hardest possible market," Gina explains. "When it does lighten up and things shift, we're already going to have the foundation built."

What truly sets The Gated Group apart is their rejection of traditional brokerage models. They've built a team culture focused on authentic connection and genuine support rather than cutthroat competition. Their decision to join eXp Realty rather than a traditional brokerage reflects this forward-thinking approach. "I don't understand why people are still wanting to work with a traditional brokerage," Gina says. "You're paying, you're giving up a portion of your hard-earned commission to brand someone else."

The Gated Group has expanded from Southern California to Dallas in less than six months, attracting agents who appreciate their supportive, collaborative approach. They're selective about team growth, emphasizing alignment with their core values rather than simply chasing volume.

Considering a change in your real estate career? Connect with Gina and Travis to learn more about their innovative approach to team building, authentic marketing, and creating success in challenging markets.

Follow Gina and Travis: 

www.instagram.com/ginakirschenheiter

www.instagram.com/travis.mullen.95

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www.instagram.com/allthingstwiss
www.instagram.com/askthegeneral
https://www.youtube.com/@nowpodcastforreal

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Speaker 1:

I told you I was in my daughter's doctor's office.

Speaker 2:

So I was like trying to get out of it. She was she was.

Speaker 1:

I was in the bathroom on my way out and I was like, oh my God, I got to freaking. Take this call. Well, thank you for taking the call.

Speaker 1:

Well, I think we're going to have to ask our listeners. Do you or do you not take calls when you're on the Twitter? Very good question, all right, welcome to episode 61 of Now Making Moves in Real Estate. So it's a general. My co-host C-Twist, along with some ballers, I mean, I don't know if you know this powerhouse couple with us today, gina Kirshenheiner and Travis Mullen, originally from the Real Housewives of Orange County, but they're also the force behind a newly established real estate group called the Gated Group. So it's a growing real estate team that's expanding its footprints in Southern California and now in Dallas, texas. So, whether you're growing a real estate business, building a team, you know all the things. We're going to chat about it with Travis and Janima. Welcome, thank you, so excited to have you on here.

Speaker 3:

You guys have been just a little busy, just a little busy, but we made it up to Fresno, very excited to be here, fresno California, which is amazing, it is really great.

Speaker 1:

Yes, yes, how do we get a real housewife of Orange County and her partner to Fresno California?

Speaker 3:

That's how good you guys are.

Speaker 1:

So let's talk about that. Let's talk about that because how good we are. Less about us, so tell us a little bit about your journey and real estate and where you were and where you are now.

Speaker 2:

You want to start with me? Well, I got.

Speaker 2:

I got my license first, so I guess, yeah, yeah yeah, so I got my license probably two and a half three years ago now. Um, I have her for about four months and I started bringing that up to gina. I'm like, hey, you should think about getting your real estate license. Yeah, um, I've been in mortgages so I was comfortable with real estate, but I thought she could do well in it and she likes to shop, so she works well with buyers, right, yes, and I feel better when it's other people's money, so it kind of worked for that. It's a win-win. So talk to her.

Speaker 3:

She at first was pretty resistant. Well, honestly, I was nervous because I knew that I had a platform and I knew that I wanted to do something with my platform. But it's intimidating, like even the thought of going back to pass the state exam seemed overwhelming to me and I like to joke, but it's true that when he was like, well, you got to, you know, take the test, or whatever, I was like the last test I took was a pregnancy test. So I was just felt like at that point you know, I've worked my whole life, but then I stepped out of the work you know sphere to take care of my children, so I just felt that reentering. And then I was in reality, television and entertainment, but that's a different bucket, that's a different lane. So it was hard for me to really conceptualize actually coming back and doing this type of having this type of career, and it took me a minute to kind of process that and get over it. But then, once I did, it actually was way easier, you know, than I thought, like anything else, you just have to do it and jump in. And so then, once I got my license, then I think that we you know, I wasn't really sure I wanted to kind of start slow.

Speaker 3:

I do think that it is a smart idea to join a team when you're new.

Speaker 3:

I still believe in that, even though we obviously didn't stay for long and you know, navigate and found our own way.

Speaker 3:

I think it's a good idea because you know you don't know what you're doing Right and you get your feet a little wet and you align with people who are more experienced and you have other people on the team that you can exchange ideas with, and so we did that for a little bit, but very quickly we realized that we, because of the platform we had kind of already, we had a luxury to be able to kind of express some of this, and I had this platform and also, like we, we did a good amount of business our first year in real estate and so he's really great at running our transactions, and so we just kind of figured we should make our own go at it and really brand ourselves and really really do this. Um, and I think that was the perfect timing, because we knew in our head for a while that we needed to leave the brokerage we were at and change things and redefine it and pave our own way. And then you guys were just there at the right time, like that.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that's. My husband says like this this is for life. It's like just delivered and the general walks in.

Speaker 3:

I love that. Yeah, that's great.

Speaker 1:

General reaches out on Instagram yeah, start this whole thing going. But before we get into that, I mean so you took your test, you took your test, you're doing your thing down in southern california, you're doing some deals alongside everything else that you're doing like legit. I mean, you have a job, you have a few jobs. Yeah, your parents, six kids, yeah, like, how are you guys doing all that?

Speaker 2:

yeah, it's not easy, but you know you, I think, honestly, we do it for our kids, right like? I don't think there's a bigger motivation for us other than, like, wanting to provide a nice life for our children, um, and even though they add a bunch of stressors to that, that's just part of it, right like? If we don't embrace the journey, then, like you know, 20 years from now, we'll be probably kicking ourselves, and so we just buckle up and get through each day, um, and you know, I'm thankful that I have a really good, like life partner, you know, and it's cool that we get to do it together, but you're that I heard that but like heard that, but without us having each other I think it would be very difficult to do all the same things as well.

Speaker 2:

So I think that's good, and then, I think, her job in the entertainment world and stuff. We have to buckle down for four really hard months and then the rest of it. We have a little bit of flexibility, at least scheduling-wise, so I think that allows us to do it Like. Those four months suck, though.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, they do. They're hard, but it's also like what do you want right? Like what do you want out of all of this? And I did have an incredible opportunity still do with being on the show and all of that but I understand, like with that in the entertainment industry, it's very volatile and it's not reliable. It's not always consistent, it has a life expectation on it and also I'm ultimately still a cog on a wheel with that and I wanted to use that opportunity to ride on my own wheels.

Speaker 3:

You know, and I think that that's what we're doing in real estate. It's such a phenomenal opportunity and we also entered real estate at like the crappiest possible time you could enter real estate, which I actually well, first of all, it's like a metaphor for my whole life, because I have never done anything the easy way. But also I really feel like it's actually better for us because we're learning everything at the hardest possible time, in the hardest possible way, in the hardest climate and market, and it won't stay like that forever, and so we're putting in the work now and then what it does lighten up and things do shift and change. We're already going to have the foundation built, built and then I feel like we're going to reap the benefits of it. So like that's another thing, like I want to encourage newer agents or any agents that are struggling to hang on, because you know it does seem it's a really difficult job.

Speaker 3:

It's way harder than everybody gives real estate agents credit for. And I always say I think it's because we all do our jobs so well that people really have this misconception that we're not doing anything. No, part of our job is to make you think that everything's easy and going smooth and we do it so well that you don't even understand that or know that. But I do think that you know right now it really is very difficult time in general and that if everybody just hangs on for a bit and things shift, they're going to see they're going to reap the benefits of it. So it's like don't put in all the work now and then bail out. You know like you got to hang on.

Speaker 1:

Well, and a lot of people only see the glamorous side of it.

Speaker 3:

On social Right, yeah, they're like down and dirty gritty, taking out the signs having them in your new car, yeah, or your old car, if you can't afford the new car yet. And we've seen, we've been on both sides of that, you know, and I think that, yeah, it is, it's a very difficult job but we're willing to put in the work and I think that's the difference too. It's like I see a lot of people in my industry, in my lean, that they want to have other opportunities outside of what we currently have. They're not willing to work for it.

Speaker 1:

And like, just put your name on it.

Speaker 3:

Right, and then it's like, oh, and that's a business, yeah, and it just doesn't work that way. You will not be successful that way, and that's why you do not see a lot of successful brands come out of this circumstance, and we're willing to work for it, and I think that that's part of what has found us the success that we are finding.

Speaker 1:

And you guys are working hard. Yeah, yeah, we're seeing it. So let's, let's talk about it now, okay, okay, cause you know, I am been following them for years and I see, you know Gina talking about becoming an agent. I saw it all unfold. Yeah, the one of the articles with you, the cute little outfit isn't so interesting, though.

Speaker 3:

It is interesting like, and it goes to show. That's why this is such a good HP in general. Like also is a good opportunity for everybody, because this is like a really good, strong message of like. If you just go after it, you could get it.

Speaker 1:

Well, yeah. So I was like I remember looking at your video and I was like first team, like what is that? Like what book is that, you know? And I looked at the phone number and I was like I bet you I could call it and I bet you she's going to answer. But I'm not going to do that, I'm just going to like message her on social. So I messaged you and I got like hearts yeah, you know. Like there was responses. I'm like hey, be on our podcast. And it's like heart. And I'm like she's totally not going to be on our podcast, like that's not going to happen. So then I was like at her, does she have someone doing her social?

Speaker 3:

well low-key.

Speaker 1:

It was my dad, yeah, but my dad's very nice and, mind you, I never said anything to Courtney about this and that's like I'm gonna hit Travis up, and so I invited him to go to exp con and he, he responded and I'm all, oh my gosh's like I'm familiar with the model.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, because at the time we were looking yeah and yeah, and it did seem like a viable option for us. Because it is. It does work well, it does make sense, it does make sense.

Speaker 1:

But he still said no. He still said no to me. We just talked about how busy, we are.

Speaker 1:

I just want to point that out. He wouldn't do anything. He was like that's not the right time to fill that and hard to get. He did play a little hardy cat, but then I pushed back. I'm like, oh no, you're gonna go somewhere and like I just want the meeting, just give me the meeting, just do. And he gave me the meeting. And then I'm like, oh my god, but is he really going to show up like so many people take a meeting and then they cancel. So I still never told Courtney, still never mentioned it to her until the day freaking of he's very reliable. Yeah, I will say that I know.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, but I didn't think he would. I thought he would like uh, we can't make it blah, blah, blah and he freaking.

Speaker 3:

So I tell courtney, that's the reasons he's such a good agent because when he says he's gonna do something, he does it like at home. If he says he's gonna do something, he doesn't and like that's a big part of being a successful agent is you say you're gonna do something or you need to do something. You have to do the successful human all those three. Yes, those are the kind. I love that for you. Yeah, and you, you're both like that. You guys together are like the best, yes, and then there's us.

Speaker 1:

When I told Courtney, I was like just real quick, and I told her that we had a meeting with Travis and I remember you just being like what the F and I'm like I know, like I freaking know, you know, and so we had the meeting and then we had another meeting and then another meeting and then another really asked for that.

Speaker 3:

That's another very thorough like in his research. So then it's like he goes into research mode. So then you probably regret that, because you're like this is a lot of you like that no, I'm very like, curious and inquisitive, and so I was fine with all the meetings.

Speaker 1:

But I also been doing this a long time. What at that time? Not even a year. But we've had a lot of people in conversation and they just disappear or they choose a different path or whatever it is. It's scary to make a move, it's scary. And so I was like we ain't celebrating nothing until she switches things on the DRB Anyways, and here we are.

Speaker 3:

Well, it's so interesting too because, like I obviously like like Travis is the one who does a lot of our, you know, like back end business work and like if we're making moves or if we're selecting new software or if we're doing anything like that, he's the one who spearheads all of that right. And then at a certain point, he will obviously bring me in because he cares about my opinion and we do do things together ultimately, but you're more of the look, these are the options that will make sense for us. Now let's pick one together. And so he literally came to me at a certain point and he's like it's between eXp and real, and he's like that's what it is right, we're going with the modern brokerage. There's no reason not to.

Speaker 3:

It makes the most financial sense and it makes the most sense for us and our ability to reach and grow and yeah, and all that on so many levels, it makes sense. But then, really, you know, I just can't stop saying it, but then it makes sense. But then, really, you know, I just can't stop saying it, um, but then it makes sense, it makes sense, it makes sense, really, not so nice. And then, but then it was my meeting um with you guys, and I think I met with you both for the first time at the same time yes and honestly, I never even.

Speaker 3:

I'm a person who I won't do any research, but I, if I I can, I'm a vibe person and if I'm a connection person and with human to human connection is a very big deal to me. And so I just felt so comfortable with both of you on the phone and I knew that he had researched the model, so it wasn't a question about whether it would work or not. It really was a question of am I comfortable with these people, are they going to? And I just found you so comfortable and so authentic and so helpful, you know, and supportive, even on the end, also not super pushy, and I think that that was like really the thing that made me feel like I knew right away that that's where I wanted to go. I never even took a meeting with anyone from Real because I just was like, why would you? Why I don't need to if I feel like this is right and I feel like it's comfortable.

Speaker 3:

And then I think we did have one little back and forth about whether, because real is a newer model, and so we were like, would there be more opportunity with that comes, with something that's newer? But ultimately for us, we looked at it and we decided maybe, but also way more problems with newer, and eXp is just so established and tried and true at this point and I would rather, you know, go a little slow and steady, but have it be more quality, than have a million people come in and then they will have a bad experience and then they leave. You know and you, that's what you guys have done.

Speaker 1:

I mean, you put your head down, got to work, built out the gated group, created a team all within a month, maybe two. Yeah, that was crazy.

Speaker 3:

Of joining. I know Well, with your help. I know that was the way it all happened. That's the why.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, it was the way and started filming and moved yeah.

Speaker 3:

And we moved.

Speaker 1:

I know, yeah, and we move. I know that and everything else all in one swoop. I know you feel like you're recovering a little bit right now like getting out of it.

Speaker 3:

Well, no, because I feel booked and busy way too way. They're always, yeah, but but not so much. Not so much. I do feel like I had a couple of days that I I took a little, you know a couple of days to chill and kind of, yeah, like she stopped filming, right, she gets a little bit of a break from that.

Speaker 2:

But like we're still building out the foundation and you know we want to do a lot more and we're going to do a lot more, and it's like you just have to sometimes rein it back a little bit and like let that foundation and let let that all kind of set and get ready and then like go light, light the shit up.

Speaker 3:

But it's such a good opportunity yeah how do you not go?

Speaker 1:

for it well, that's I'm saying. You're building it out and you're already in texas. Now you have an expansion team. Yeah, so not only are you an orange, you have a good expansion team. Yeah, a very strong one.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, yeah, we do. I know I'm very happy about that and and the like. What I like about it, too, is we're doing things that are very authentic to us and our brand. Like we are not just going with volume. We're looking for real quality agents that believe and are aligned with our foundational values and core values of the GEDA group, and we're being very selective about that.

Speaker 2:

I feel like um yeah, I mean we've already told people that we didn't think it was the right fit right and things like that. And I think that is important because I think you know people look too short term and get blinders on and stuff.

Speaker 3:

But yeah, that can like really create some problems down the road so I want to be able to support people that we bring on, you know, so it has to be the right circumstance and the right fit for everybody. But it's been great and I love real estate. I honestly love doing it.

Speaker 1:

You guys have already like sold how much real estate in your local market.

Speaker 2:

That was pretty cool to be capped after three deals. We were like yeah, this is great.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, capped, so yeah, yeah, this is great, yeah, so 100%. You guys close three deals, then you have 100% the rest of the year.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, and I'll tell you when we got our first check to come after we capped. I mean that's a nice check, you know.

Speaker 2:

I mean, it was a $2.1 million house in your life and then you saw a check and you're like oh yeah.

Speaker 3:

That's why I don't understand and I really do not understand why people are still wanting to work with like a traditional brokerage. At this point. I feel like you really are just you're paying, you're giving up a portion of your hard-earned commission to brand someone else. So as far as your pocket goes, to me it's the wrong decision and also marketing-wise it's the wrong decision. I mean, why are you going to continue to tell everybody how great Compass is? At what point are you going to just believe in yourself and start telling everybody how great you are and you get compensated more for that at eXp and eXp wants you to brand yourself?

Speaker 1:

That's just like such a new concept for folks to kind of be great. Well, I think we should hit on a little bit. The office People think they need an office and they're willing to give up 20%, 30%, whatever it is, to have that space and to go in and collaborate with the indie broker. Doesn't really happen, like most people actually don't go in the office. What about you guys? You guys have a team and you don't have a separate office.

Speaker 3:

I think it's about communication, yeah.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and I think like the neat thing about UXP I think I've said it before is like it has a lot of things. So if you want to feel connected, there's so many ways to feel connected, right. Like just being around somebody physically doesn't isn't the only form of connection. And like, if I need an answer from the broker, I get it much faster going into the world and I can talk to multiple brokers and even get multiple opinions if I need it, versus like if I'm in an office, maybe the guy's in a meeting, maybe this, maybe that, right, and so I think that people are just stuck in a prior way of doing things and then they're afraid of that change and they're like oh, I can't work remote, everybody can work remote. Like it's really not, yeah.

Speaker 3:

And to me it's about, it really is truly about connection, Right. And then when I think about how I prefer connection, I prefer to have connections that are authentic and feel like normal and comfortable To me, my agents, my team. It's a relationship just like with my clients. I would rather be in a relationship and see you when we're at a fun event, or see you over a cup of coffee, honestly, or invite you to my home. That's what I, you know, I have my agents just come to my home and we have coffee and we have content days. We go around the community and we are first of all.

Speaker 3:

To me, it is so much more valuable to be out with your team at the coffee shop in your community than it is to be in a box in an office, in some, you know, offsite spot where nobody sees you there, Nobody can access you Like. To me, the way that I get a lot of our business is by being out. That's why, like the times when I am filming, it's a little bit slower for us, because you get the most business just by being out, you know, and so that you're out with your team. That's so much more effective. It's like a twofer.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and I think the other thing that like people don't realize is like I think our agents get more access because we don't have an office. A lot of times like people will go into the office and they'll wait to ask the question right now, like they just they just call us right. We're like. You know, we don't have like a weekly. Okay, this is what we're going to train on, because if they need the training, they're getting the training immediately. Why do we have to wait till Thursday?

Speaker 1:

Right.

Speaker 2:

And so I think that there can be a lot of like pros to it that people don't see. Another thing is like a lot of the offices is like you know, you have the one manager and you have like a whole bunch of people below them. Right now, like I can call a bunch of people above me, I can call either of you I can call on, I can call stephanie gray and so like, but I can do that instantly. I don't need to go into the office or wait till the tuesday meeting or any thing.

Speaker 3:

Downline, yeah, and offline, yeah. You get the whole line yeah, so it's just it's very it.

Speaker 3:

Honestly, it's so much more of a collaborative environment in general, just being a part of this brokerage Because, yeah, we're the gated group and you guys are Twist Realty and you're now Nation, and then Martina and Amanda are next door and we're at their office today, but it's like we're all the same, Like we're all in it together and we're all wanting it to be a collaboration to help each other, and you don't get that with the traditional brokerages. It's cutthroat, it's competitive, it doesn't feel friendly and it doesn't and that's not inspiring to me. That doesn't make me want to work. That feels like work. You know where.

Speaker 3:

This feels like you're building and you're building an opportunity and you're growing with people together and that, to me, is much more. I would rather spend my time doing that and then that's the way that, yes, I can, we can take care of our family. That feels better to me than to me being literally being at. At the brokerage that I was at previously felt like I was on another house watch. It was cutthroat, you know. It felt competitive and it felt icky and I was like we could easily be a reality show with your own crazy, you know.

Speaker 1:

Well, I mean, courtney had an independent brokerage for, you know, over a decade and it, it, it does. It is great that she built something that was reflective of her core values and her. You know what she wanted to bring and the to all of the agents in our group, but it was just, it just stopped there, right, it was just like our local, smaller world.

Speaker 2:

Yeah but yeah, that's the thing is like we even talked about it like one of the options was we could go start our own brokerage, right, and like the way I look at it is like, yeah, we could do that and we could build a decent amount of people around us and stuff. But like here, from my standpoint is like I probably couldn't start brokerage for less money than what my cap is with the XP number, right, so that's just off the top. I could attest to that.

Speaker 1:

Exactly.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, right. But then like the whole collaborative nature of like if I had my own brokerage, I don't have, I don't know people in texas or wherever right and like well, yeah, you couldn't have, even if that's what was happening in your brokerage.

Speaker 3:

It's the reach. Like you couldn't have reached us doing it the way that you were doing it yeah, and so it's just it's more.

Speaker 2:

It's more flexibility and exp truly lets you be yourself, and I think that's what's important, right, it's like, yeah, you were able to build your core values and stuff with your brokerage, but you can do that at eXp Take way less liability, probably save money with the cat, and then you also still have all these other opportunities the eXp has, and eXp is so entrepreneurial that they keep coming out with new things. Right, I'm like, oh, land and Ranch, that's cool. I just joined it.

Speaker 1:

It's really cool.

Speaker 2:

It's really cool, and so, like they keep coming up with these different ways. And oh okay, you're into commercial. Well, they also have commercial right. And so I think like there's huge value in that that people don't see. And then, going back to the whole office thing, I think it's kind of like a flawed way of thinking, like, oh well, exp doesn't provide an office, so I can't have an office. Well, you can get an office right. And like people are like, well, yeah, but my brokerage pays for it. No, they don't pay for it, you're paying for it, you're paying your brokerage money. Like the brokerage wouldn't be paying for the office space if they weren't making that money back. They're a business right. And so it's just the mindset that people need to realize, like, oh wait, maybe this does make more sense.

Speaker 3:

But it also does depend on your who I mean. Exp is great and all the resources and everything that you said, but specifically who you join with that you think matters to your organization. Your organization matters, yeah, because I've heard and I've heard you know, even I talk to agents now who used to be with eXp. And then you have people within your own organization who used to be with eXp, had a not the best experience and then came back and now that they're working in your organization, have a completely different experience.

Speaker 1:

It matters.

Speaker 3:

The people matter. Yeah, the people do matter.

Speaker 1:

So yeah, we've had a couple agents locally that are like we want to be in your group. We're like well, sorry.

Speaker 3:

Oh that are in eXp they be in your group. We're like well sorry, you know, oh that R and EXV they are in a different. I know that's a problem, right. I know I have that too and I'm like it matters. Yeah, it doesn't matter.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, because if you are listening and you are considering EXV like it definitely matters, you're due diligence, exactly. Yeah, you know. Yeah, figure out who your tribe is.

Speaker 3:

Well, and also like I just want like people to understand that we're very accessible and so I don't know, because sometimes I feel like I do battle a stigma of like people don't want to necessarily approach me because they don't know. You know, and like if somebody is thinking of joining eXp, like they, I just want to encourage people to know that, like we want you to come and become part of our community and join us, because I don't want people to feel like you're unattainable yeah, so you're so.

Speaker 1:

So specifically, what I hear you saying is sure you guys are growing your real estate production team, but also you guys are building a separate business which is specific to revenue share. So folks that are out there that are realtors that might be with Compass, that are interested in joining eXp under, you know, your sponsorship.

Speaker 3:

Right, but keeping their own brand and keeping their own lane, and that's great too. And I feel very confident encouraging people to come to eXp if that's what they want, and they just want to. They have a ready brand themselves or worked on themselves or seasoned agents like by all means, you should do that, but still encourage them to come because and I have no problem, you know saying no, absolutely I would love you to join our line because I feel so well supported within our community that it's easy for me to say other people should join our community, yep.

Speaker 1:

I mean, and I know how people can access an appointment on your Instagram if they're interested. Well, that's great, because I don't even know that. So you see how well supported I am. My calendar's on there. It's a good call. So yeah, here we go. First point of contact will be the general. Don't be scared. People are like I'm more scary than gina no, she is no, she definitely is fake, you do proper housewife proper maybe

Speaker 1:

improper not kidding anyways, but yeah, my is is. If you're interested in that, you know it would start with me and Courtney and then you know, obviously back to you guys in terms of joining organizations.

Speaker 3:

So I think a lot honestly, exp is a lot of fun. It is a lot of fun Like I feel like we have a lot of fun as a group and a community within EXP. But it's all been that that was a big shift in in us doing real estate in general. If it, as soon as I came over, it felt more fun, you know well we're a fun bunch.

Speaker 1:

It's only been like less than six months or six months. It was December, and so we went to Cabo together. So we went down South to see you guys now we're checking it up in friends.

Speaker 3:

No, never gonna happen again that's what I feel like we do. We have fun wherever we go. I want to encourage people to come and join.

Speaker 1:

We are fine, we're professional, we're fun, we're badasses. We definitely are going to like push you to.

Speaker 3:

You can do better, you know but you're higher and I mean you need that. Well, those are the best friends to have, the friends that hold you accountable, the friends that push you to to be what you can be you know to be yeah, yeah, all right, well, well, I mean what else?

Speaker 1:

kids, what's next? I mean okay. So six months from now, what's it going to look like for Gated Group? That's a good question. Six months from now, we're May 27th, Basically like end of the year. Yeah, end of the year. You started the year, gina Travis, and then you brought on Kristen Brandon and then the Dallas crew, which is three. So what? You've got a team of five, correct, yeah, okay, yeah, I'm sorry. The math, the numbers make sense. Yeah, it makes sense. The numbers don't lie. Okay, so what do you think it's going to look like at the end of this year?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I think that I mean, we'll probably continue to just like focus on the team, and then I think we need to put more of an emphasis on the revenue share. It was hard to focus on that aspect of it while you're like trying to get the other one, you know, stabilized. But I do think, like we're in a spot like we're not like, oh, we want to grow, get a group to 20 agents or anything like that. Right, like we're, we're going to just be strategic about who comes on and who wants to join, and if it makes sense, it makes sense, and if it doesn't, that's OK too. But the revenue share, I think like we could really attack more aggressively now and I do think that like that's something that we're going to put a pretty big emphasis on.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, we're ready and I'd like to just see us by the end of the year, like now we are really developing out like our back end systems and all that which makes everything just run so much smoother. We're, you know, going full steam ahead fleshing out our website. That's really exciting, you know, like things that we're putting in place to be able to also like to just get a better um handle on everything that we can do internally to be able to better serve our agents, and I think that's a big deal is like we've talked about this. A lot is like what do we have to offer our agents?

Speaker 2:

yeah, I think, like most teams or a lot of teams, I should say like are established from like a top producer, a high producing real estate agent that is still in production and things like that, and I think, like because of our circumstance of having other jobs and things while we're starting, this is like we're able to look at it through a different lens.

Speaker 2:

We're like we're not like you're on, you come join our team but like you don't make any money because you're going to work my open houses right. Like we're like hey, I'd rather pay you a smaller percentage of the deal that we sourced and stuff so that you can go work the open house, you can get some, uh, other clients of your own right, because if we don't empower the agents that are work with us, then like what's the point of doing it? And I see so many, like you know, top producers that start these teams, but then they're like kind of holding people they don't want to let go of the business. Yeah, they're kind of like holding people back Right, cause they're used to being this top, non top producer. Oh, I'm 1% of the nation. I've never met agents like how big is this one percent?

Speaker 1:

it's like every agent I ever meet says I'm one percent in the top nation, yeah, and it's like I mean I wasn't in real estate but I was truly top one percent in the world and some pharmaceutical sales, well, I believe that that was legit. But you are right, I feel like it is in real estate, top one percent, top one percent to your market.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, you can slice the data however you want it to right totally.

Speaker 3:

We would like our team to be a top one percent, but that's the thing too. I think we are in a unique circumstance where we really are truly looking to support other agents to be built on. You know, we want to be built on this team.

Speaker 2:

It's like a real team effort, truly, um, and I think that we do sit in a unique position that we actually are able to to do that, you know so and the other thing is, like, you know, it's really hard to become a real estate agent and become a successful one, right, because you're only getting paid if you close deals and you're only closing deals if you know how to close a damn deal, right.

Speaker 2:

And so, like, for me, I think it's like not, it's it's short-sighted to be like, oh, I'm not going to help this new agent, like, like, no, I want to give them 25% of the deal that they probably you know other people maybe wouldn't give them anything because they need to make money. Otherwise they're not going to say, and they're not right, yeah, you know, yes, the potential, you gotta, you gotta like, you gotta care about these people and their future and their life to help get them started. Otherwise, you don't know what you're gonna miss out on, right. And so I think it's really important to like, empower these people and, like you know, help them take care of their family too, right?

Speaker 3:

And I think that that's it's. We're finding success with that because our newest agent to join our team he was he's been in real estate and he has his appraiser's license and but he's newer to you know residential real estate and he has three deals in escrow. Right now he's fired up.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, and he's and I'm I actually I know, oh, where's my phone. I would love to have read you should read the text message that brandon said, because it was like it was so kind and he was so thankful for the support that we should put him on the spot like it was all up. You're gonna find like no no oh like to read the text.

Speaker 3:

Well, because I feel like that really makes us feel so good, but it also really makes people like what we're trying to do is a little bit different than I think what traditionally people have been. He's very grateful. He's so grateful. He always says thank you, thank you, I'm like, and he's also a hustler and a hard worker.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, but he feels supported. He's here on our podcast too. Oh, he'll be fine. Yeah, she doesn't tell me anything. Yeah, just in utah, I know I'm like she's reaping, like I know you're the, just sit in it. You're sitting it, just sit in it, worry okay yeah, I'll show up.

Speaker 2:

I don't know if I want to read. I feel bad. Cut it out, you can read it he said okay.

Speaker 3:

So I want you both to know that I'm very grateful to be a part of the Gator group. You both have been so welcoming. It is so refreshing and I feel like I have found a team that I fit very well into. Travis, your support and guidance through these transactions has been invaluable and, gina, your social media acceptance of throwing me out there as someone you support does not go unnoticed. I think we are on to something really big here, and I swear I only had two beers over two hours ago. So this is real talk. Thank you, I love it.

Speaker 1:

It's so sweet. I thought it was so fun yeah.

Speaker 3:

It's very sweet. We don't have to put, we don't have, we could cut that out, but I just wanted you guys to know that because it really is, it was, and it makes us feel so good and it makes us feel so fired up because we're like wow, we really are doing this and we really are building something. And you know a lot of being part of a team lead. I feel like there is pressure on that because you really want to do it, just like everything else, like we're all competitive, we're all agents, whatever, but like you want to be doing it well. And so I think sometimes we look at each other and we are, you know, we are stretched thin.

Speaker 3:

We are doing a million things and we are doing our own production, and so we're like are we giving enough? And then it's like you get feedback like that and you're like this is going to work. Like you know, this is, we are and this is going great and it feels good. So we're just going to keep doing more of that. And you know, see where it takes us Impacting lives, yeah.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 3:

Well, and that's how I feel, I do think about that too. You know I'm like, okay, my, our other agent, you know she's a single mom. Like we. You have to value who people are and see who they could be with a little support and a little help, and I think that that is what I'm learning. That's like a life lesson as I get older. In general is just like navigating through life, and it's about connections and it's about the people that you let in your circle, and then seeing what people can do if they're just a little bit supported is like so incredible, you know, and I love, I'm like addicted to that feeling. So I love this role of being able to give a little bit of support and then seeing how far it could take people.

Speaker 1:

Like I really love that, the trickle down effect. Yeah, yeah, the trickle down.

Speaker 3:

That's my goal in life, yeah, and you work so hard, Like that's so what you do the same thing, because it's like you work so hard to build up something so great and now you're using that to trickle down onto other people and bring them up and support them up, and you know, essentially we're all kind of just doing the same thing. Leaders, leading leaders yeah, yeah, it's a cool feeling. I'm really. I really enjoy it and I enjoy being a part of this and I enjoy the space that that, we've, you know, taken up here, and I just hope that we can continue to grow and make it happen more.

Speaker 1:

You will. Yeah Well, I would say, like, tell our listeners where to find you. But that's a super dumb question, because everyone knows where to find these two. But you know, if you're interested in learning more about eXp, you know where to find us, and we're just so grateful to be in business with you guys. It's just been a real blessing, and one for coming to fresno yeah that's not that part actually.

Speaker 1:

Actually, that part I'm like super stoked about, but like it's weird, I don't know. I was like so weird that gina and travis are coming to fresno. I mean it might be an annual thing. Yeah, I'm going to get them to Mariposa.

Speaker 3:

I want to go to Mariposa. I like exploring, I like forest.

Speaker 1:

It's fun We'll talk about that later. Yeah, so, anyways, thanks for having us. Here's to another great six months. Let's make it happen. Yeah, all right, let's do it, because why? It just makes sense, it just makes sense.