Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Brooks.
Hi Nick, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
During the early years of my life, I dealt with chronic asthma and was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age six. Because of my circumstance, I couldn’t help but look at life differently than the majority of my peers. Despite these challenges, I excelled as an athlete and was always encouraged to pursue whatever I put my mind to. Though my dreams were to become a professional athlete, my body started to show signs that it could no longer handle the rigors of the sport. At the age of 17, just days before my senior year of high school, I got into a severe car accident that left me with a chronic concussion and twelve staples in the head. This made me realize that I had to start seriously thinking about the next chapter of my life.
Shortly after graduating high school and starting college, I received my commission as a notary public, which led me into notarizing loan documents for real estate transactions. Through college, I noticed a developing passion for wealth building and financial literacy. I grew curious about different aspects of the real estate industry. I’ve always planned on owning various properties and being a businessman. In 2018, I became a licensed Realtor and hit the ground running. I was able to close my first deal within my first two months and continued the momentum from there. Despite working full time, I was still able to manage graduating with a Bachelor’s degree from Cal State State Northridge in the spring of 2020, which is something I’m extremely proud of.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not, but nothing is. I have experienced numerous failed opportunities, it comes with the business. More times than not, you’re going to do much more work than what you are paid for as an agent. Being an entrepreneur, you’re sacrificing the security of a consistent paycheck, and with that comes periods of instability. As you grow and continue to gain knowledge, you learn how to navigate through it. The monetary reward is always nice but the real value is the satisfaction I get out of helping people through such a huge moment in their lives. If I’m being honest, proving myself in spite of my age has also been difficult because most people aren’t expecting someone in their early 20s to guide them through such a stressful process. Majority of the time, I have to go the extra mile to win people over. Now at 24 years old, with a few years in the business, closing and facilitating multiple transactions, I have accumulated the knowledge and experience to eliminate that hesitation.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a real estate agent in Southern California and my specialty is educating buyers and sellers on the current real estate market and advocating on their behalf during a real estate sale. I have conducted multiple seminars on the home buying process with families and even college students. I do my best to provide optimal quality service, which I feel sets me apart from other realtors. I’m hands-on and always available when clients need to contact me. The job description for all agents is the same, but the quality of service can be the difference between a client experiencing a smooth or tumultuous transaction. Worst-case scenario, it can potentially prevent a deal from closing. My service is 100% percent client-centered. I take pride in giving them the best deal possible, even if that means a smaller commission for myself. In fact, I had a client recently who was looking to buy a single-family home. Acquiring the knowledge of his particular financial situation, it was imperative for me to advise him not to invest in a particular property. Although he loved it, I knew that this deal would be a disaster investment for his situation and set himself up for failure. We agreed that it would be best to revisit buying another time.
Keep in mind, I would’ve made quite a bit of money, but allowing my client to put himself in a potentially dangerous financial situation was not worth compromising my integrity as an agent for a commission check. My duty as an agent goes far beyond just being your representative. I am here to help you win in the real estate market by being transparent and attentive to your desires long-term and short-term. As a buyer’s agent, I am trying to give you the property with the biggest upside in equity for the lowest price and as a listing agent, I am trying to get the absolute top dollar for your home. I respect my client’s hard-earned money and make sure that it’s maximized. I am also proud that my services will be expanding in the near future, as I am currently in the process of obtaining certifications in Real Estate Brokering and Mortgage Lending.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I advise everyone to immerse themselves with people who are where they want to eventually be. Be a sponge around those individuals. We are inspired by each other and it’s much harder to be something if you haven’t seen it. In addition to that, ask questions. There really is no such thing as a dumb question. Closed mouths don’t get fed and it’s true across all industries. I’m not afraid to call people, pick their brains, and ask questions if I’m unsure because that lets people know that you’re serious about what you do. If you have a hard time finding a mentor, go on the internet. You don’t have to know someone personally for them to be a mentor to you. I’m always on the internet self-educating myself by watching some of the best realtors and businessmen in the world, absorbing their knowledge as best I can.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: _nickjbrooks
- Twitter: _nickjbrooks
Image Credits
Darius Carter Darnell Brown
