Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Gaines.
Lauren, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My start in real estate was not something I saw coming. I always had a “job”, starting at 15, working in a salon during the summers visiting my mom in Paso Robles, then at a Chinese Restaurant once I returned to Santee for the school year, where I met an amazing family and went to work for them as their nanny. In my 20’s I started working in the corporate world and landed an amazing job at a financial services company as an administrative assistant and chair of the Special Events Committee. Unfortunately, that company idealistically talked about work/life balance, but when I started my family, I found that work was never going to allow balance in my life or my family. After my dear friend who was already in the industry suggested that I would be a great fit for real estate, I started to look at it as something that could give me the ability to work hard and be an amazing mommy. The idea of being my boss had always been something I dreamed of, but I never imagined how truly empowering it would be.
When my oldest daughter Ella was just two years old, I found myself starting over, leaving the corporate world and ready to start from the ground up. I took on a part-time job assisting an agent in Normal Heights handling his appointments, marketing and general business activity. Soon I took on transaction coordination and I was able to learn more about the contracts and in’s and out’s of a real estate deal. Just days before Christmas, 2015, while I was expecting our second daughter, Zoe, I earned my real estate license. Once I returned from maternity leave I realized I had learned so much in my time as an assistant and transaction coordinator, but I knew I wanted my real estate career to focus on the East County, where I call home so that I could focus on my little family even more.
I knew I needed help from someone who knew everyone in East County, so I reached out to my friend who runs the Santee Chamber of Commerce. She connected me with several outstanding brokerages in East County, but one stuck out. To me, culture is everything, and when I walked into Mission Realty Group, I knew it was where I wanted to be. They allowed me to put my family first and continue pushed me to tap into strengths and passions I had never really allowed to shine professionally before.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
First of all, coming home to tell my husband, that I planned on leaving my hourly assistant position to go to commission based only sales… Yeah, that was a fun conversation. I get it; no realist would tell their partner to go ahead and quit their secure hourly job when we had two sweet girls to provide for. Thankfully, he knew that this day was coming, I had my license and he knew that it was something I had to do to get our family to the next level. I’m always a fan of trusting your gut and my gut said this was the time.
Of course, the start was hard, I went months before getting my first real leads. It was one week after New Years’ 2017, and I had signed up to hold another agent’s open house in Alpine. I was sick with a cold, but I figured I committed and I would hate to let that other agent down, even though we had never met. Karma. It was a cold day and I wanted to pack up as soon as I started. I had one family through and then it was crickets, but then it happened. Regardless of feeling less than stellar I had literal sparks with my first listing lead and my first buyer lead. In stockings and surgical booties, because the seller didn’t allow shoes in the home, I hit it off with two families that would change my career’s trajectory forever. Weeks later, I helped those buyers buy a stunning home in Alpine and the listing lead turned into my first real listing and sold in no time.
That’s not to say once I had those two sales under my belt it was smooth sailing. It’s real estate so you’re often dealing with many personalities, sometimes difficult life changing issues in people’s lives and lots of emotions. All of which is worth navigating to help peoples life long goals become reality. I’m a Pisces, so emotion is no stranger to me. Luckily my pageant days as Miss Santee 2004, taught me that poise and grace go a long way. I’m as sweet as pie until you get in the way of my client’s goals. This business is also full of fun characters who are always testing the limits of humanity… turns out not all agents are created equally.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
The culture at Mission Realty Group is exactly what I had envisioned when I considered where to hang my license. Our office is located in Santee, where many of the agents were born and raised and now raising their own families, including myself before we purchased our home in Ramona this summer. The core values of our company are family, community and service. We’re heavily involved in Santee and beyond, volunteering for various organizations and always hosting events for our clients and community. Whether it be hosting active duty military for Thanksgiving, pulling together a bike giveaway for active duty kiddos right before the holidays, or hosting our annual client appreciation party, we’re always looking for creative ways to give back to the people that have given us so much. I am a member of the Santee Young Professionals Committee that helps connect young business professionals in the community is fun, new and exciting ways. It’s a blessing to work with a company that also shares my desire to serve the community.
When it comes to real estate, we handle it all. From residential real estate, commercial, and property management, we are your one-stop-shop and have someone to help with your real estate needs. I focus on residential real estate with an emphasis on the east county given my roots here but have sold homes all over the county.
Because of our amazing administrative and marketing staff, we’re able to market our listings in a way that exposes the home to neighbors, the surrounding community and beyond. We’re known to sell homes on the first weekend because of our killer open houses as we host food, drinks, music and more. I always tell people that I love open houses, because it’s like hosting a party and never knowing who’s coming!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
In 2018, I had the pleasure of meeting the Moyers family. They are still a locally based active duty family, with two boys and a little girl well on her way at the time. We met and talked about their goals in purchasing their first home, and what they were needing as their family was ready to expand in just weeks. After looking at several homes we were able to get them into the perfect home just in time for them to welcome their sweet Kataleya. We had such an enjoyable experience they have been gracious enough to keep me on, not just as their agent, but life long friend. Last year we were able to help their friend buy a home just doors away. It’s experiences like that, that truly make this industry special. I’m helping families achieve goals they have dreamed of, and to be able to give a high level of service so that we’re able to build true bonds makes this rewarding.
Contact Info:
- Address: 278 Town Center Pkwy, Ste. 203
- Website: www.LRGRealEstate.com
- Phone: 619-672-2999
- Email: lauren@missionrealtygroup.com
- Instagram: @LRGRealEstate619
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/LRGRealEstate
Image Credit:
John William Photo
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