Daily Inspiration: Meet Corrie Sommers

Today we’d like to introduce you to Corrie Sommers

Corrie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey to selling real estate really started at a young age. At the age of 6, I saw the famous Frank Lloyd house in Pennsylvania and decided I wanted to be an architect. I was even accepted into M.I.T.’s School of Architecture. Due to the cost of school, I decided that path was not right for me. In 2003. I was a loan officer for a mortgage broker, this was before the NMLS license and we were required to get our real estate license. Initially I never intended to sell Real Estate; but I eventually wanted to transform homes into beautiful dwellings.

I left the mortgage industry and worked in the Entertainment Industry for several years and then entered back into the world of Finance working for a Financial Planner’s office. At that time, I had moved to the East Coast to prepare my mother for retirement. While there, she encouraged me to get my real estate license in Massachusetts and sell homes; how much easier would it be to move back to LA after selling real estate and transition into selling verses trying to find a job in finance?

As it turned out, selling real estate grew quickly for me in Massachusetts. I plugged into a team where the owner was also a former developer. We always represented new construction developments and new homes. I had to choose between Finance and Real Estate, here I am! I sold between 28-34 homes a year in Massachusetts and within two years was in the top 1% of the state. Moving back to LA was a little different journey for me, price points are different, mindset of consumers are different and while I strive to help as many people as possible, it is taking longer to help the same volume of people.

Alright, 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?
Moving and starting over is a struggle. On one hand you have the experience of selling over 100 homes and a dozen leases; but it is a new market. How do you stand out in an area where people are on reality shows, where there is a perception of flash equals skill and expertise? I am aware of agents that took out loans to take pictures with expensive cars in front of multimillion-dollar homes, pay for VIP access to professional sports events to make relationships with athletes’ mothers to try to sell homes. That is not me. I believe in cultivating genuine relationships; introductions from past client to new clients and meeting people organically.

I have never been a flashy, look at me look at me person. I believe information and integrity is more important. When I have worked with high-net-worth professionals, athletes, celebrities or recording artists I have not revealed that information to media for an article, or posed in a photo for social proof. Is that a mistake? Some might think so, but for me having worked with clients like this and in the past with people’s net worth, their information needs to be guarded. My clients privacy is extremely important.

I decided to record videos to help consumers to market myself instead. My YouTube Channel: Real Estate 2 Financial Freedom weekly covers Los Angeles Housing Market Updates, neighborhoods in Los Angeles, local businesses, topics to help home sellers, home buyers and finance.

The job of being a REALTOR® is not just one narrow path; half the job is acquiring clients. A huge part is negotiating, guiding, and protecting those clients during the purchase or sale of their home. There are so many components to this job. That is why you see highly successful agents with teams; various parts of this job are delegated out so that they can focus more narrowly on the one or two actives that yield a return. For me part of the challenge right now is doing most of it myself and yet still making sure I am spending enough time onboarding new clients.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have a saying; Distinction – Advocate – Partner. That is because not only I consider myself a partner with my clients in achieving their goals, we are working together but I am fighting hard for them. For me what sets me apart as a distinction is my background in Finance. I am looking at the big picture for my clients and their long-term financial health. Far too often the baby boomer generation is running out of money in retirement, no one wants to work so hard to survive during their working years to retire and then must downgrade everything in their life because there is simply not enough money.

My approach is distinctively different. Most agents will immediately encourage someone to sell their home to buy a next home. I always tell my clients, if you can keep your home, while buying a new one, do that! Look into those options first. My background in finance also really helps with complex transactions; when the unexpected pops up, such as the solar loan that is not transferrable. It is helpful not just in negotiating a fair solution but needing to go beyond the scope of a real estate responsibilities.

I am actively involved in my community; I currently serve as the VP of the Toluca Lake Chamber of Commerce. I do events in this community like hosting adoption events for dogs, mixers bringing community together, working with our annual fundraiser for our local Fire Station #86. I also host the annual Community Howl which is a fun event day before Halloween where there are give aways for dogs, contests and a group walk.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I believe when you are new you have no idea what you don’t know and that is pretty much 98% of the business of real estate. It is important to plug in; either with a team under someone experienced or finding a mentor to work with formally to help you along. Being a part of a team is not going to benefit you unless you build a relationship with that agent to really learn; the big stuff and the little stuff. I actually mentor agents now. When I was in Massachusetts I was active in our office’s training classes teaching new agents as well.

There’s so many different roads to success in real estate; some people have built big businesses from just golfing and taking to people, some are networking masters, some love to knock on doors, cold calls and some are follow up masters. I’m actively involved with several organizations serving on boards which does not leave much time for additional networking. As an agent you have to do something to interact with people if you want to grow.

When people are considering becoming a real estate agent and have no money saved to live; 6 months to a year. I recommend they work in real estate first in a way that pays you a steady paycheck like being an assistant in a large team, office manager assistant or transaction coordinator. Real Estate is not an industry you jump in and immediately earn a large annual amounts, despite what reality TV would lead you to believe. The majority of real estate agents in this country are women who make around $45,000 a year.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.CorrieLuxuryHomes.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corriesommersluxuryrealtor/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CorrieSommersLUXURY/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corriesommers/
• Twitter: https://x.com/corriesommers
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/realestate2financialfreedom
• Other: https://www.google.com/maps?cid=269482183490968299

Image Credits
Jonathan Golden