Today we’d like to introduce you to Merek Greene.
Hi Merek, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
For as long as I can remember, artistry and design have fascinated me. I love how people use their imagination to tell a story, whether through visual art, dance, music, architecture, etc. The list goes on. Ever since I was little, I would turn on the T.V. and watch real estate shows. From “Flip or Flop” to “Million Dollar Listing,” I have always been intrigued in how homes are designed, built, and sold. This is what sparked my interest in real estate and what ultimately got me to where I am now. When I first got to college in the fall of 2020, I had my sights set on the music business. I thought I had it all figured out: an internship with a record label and plans to release my first song were all in the works. Due to COVID-19, my first semester presented unforeseen challenges that ultimately led to me rethinking my plans. Seven months ago, while watching one of my favorite childhood real estate shows, I considered real estate as a career possibility for the first time. I brought up the idea of getting my real estate license to my parents and they were fully on board. It couldn’t hurt right? In December of 2020, I studied to get my license and went full steam ahead. I completed my courses and applied for my test date.
Before my school year came to a close, I knew I needed to get some sort of internship. During March and April, I contacted several agents and brokerages. I knew that if I wanted to make real estate my career, I had to put in the hard work and get my foot in the door. I cold called agent after agent trying to find someone to take me under their wing so I could learn the business. Seeing other agents around my age lit a fire inside me to be successful. I thought if other people my age are doing it, why couldn’t I? Finally, after hours of researching top brokerages and calling agents, Keller Williams Newport Estates answered and I was able to sit down for an interview. I landed the phenomenal opportunity of working at Cindy Chin Realty. Today I am a 19 year old real estate agent in Southern California and am loving every minute of it. I work with an amazing mentor who is knowledgeable in every aspect of real estate and beyond. I am learning so much about the business and am excited for what the future holds.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey has had some bumps along the way. As I stated prior, I initially wanted to dive into the music industry, whether as an artist myself or marketing for other artists at a music company. That is what I thought I wanted to do in order to combine my love of music and business marketing. However, during the pandemic, I started to fall out of love for music due to a combination of events from high school. I went to a very competitive arts school with exceptional talent. Although I am a confident person, I did not always feel like I was a good enough singer/musician. I gave 110% into everything I did, but it would sometimes go unnoticed. I had given so much of myself into music that once senior year rolled around, I felt my battery begin to drain and my passion for music slowly diminishing. This is not to say I don’t sing at all anymore, I became burnt out from high school. So when college and the pandemic began, I became realistic with my goals for the future and how I wanted to use my time and energy going forward.
In addition, I am a person who thrives on staying busy. A combination of online classes and minimal social interaction was not the best situation for me. Though I had a lot of wonderful moments during the semester, it was not the experience that college should have been. This fueled me to find a renewed sense of purpose and is where my real estate journey began. Being a real estate agent is a tough job in itself – being 19 years old adds another layer of toughness. Adults older than me might not see me as a mature agent or hard worker. This can be the deciding factor in landing a deal when fighting for a client against another agent who is older than me. Although I am younger, that only makes me hungrier to learn and absorb all of the information and training I can. It lights a fire inside of me to prove people wrong and show I can get the job done. I will give 110% to help a client and just need to convince clients to take a leap and believe that I can do it.
As you know, we’re big fans of Cindy Chin Realty. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Cindy Chin Realty specializes in commercial real estate and luxury homes in Southern California. I am proud to work on a team with incredible accomplishments, including half a billion dollars in sales and over 400 property transactions. Cindy Chin Realty has a client first-mindset serving residential properties, commercial properties, and more.
I work at Cindy Chin Realty as a real estate agent. I started in May of 2020 training under my mentor Michelle Hilliard, an incredible tutor and mentor. I have been learning about the process of what it takes to get a client and close a deal. I have learned how to write up contracts and CMA’s for listing appointments. I have been to my teams’ listings and helped hold open houses. I have had firsthand experience in the world of real estate and have only scratched the surface. As the only Gen Z-er on my team, I bring a younger aspect and a new approach in terms of social media marketing. I grew up in the world of social media and have spent countless hours researching how to brand and market. I have learned how to market myself as a singer/musician, model, and now real estate agent, and have brought my knowledge and experience to my team. I have introduced new ideas and marketing strategies for social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. I love to bring my creativity from my art background and bring a fresh take on real estate marketing. I am so proud of what my team has accomplished, including half a billion dollars in sales and over 400 property transactions. Our team does residential properties, commercial properties, and more! We help in every aspect of the buying and selling process and always put our clients first!
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
In the next 5-10 years, the real estate industry will undergo a massive shift in its marketing. Social media will continue to grow as a primary marketing tool. The recent explosive popularity of video platforms like TikTok have allowed agents to give potential buyers an unprecedented first look at the inside of properties. Agents often post video tours and other content on TikTok and Instagram. Also, due to the pandemic, there will be a shift from larger cities to the suburbs, stressing more importance on living areas, a home office, home gym, and yard space. High taxes are pushing homeowners and renters away from California into other states like Nevada and Texas.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://bit.ly/merekgreene-realtor
- Instagram: https://bit.ly/MerekGreene-Instagram
- Facebook: https://bit.ly/MerekGreene-Facebook
- LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/MerekGreene-Linkedin
- Other: https://bit.ly/MerekGreene-TikTok
