Today we’d like to introduce you to Elyssa (Matson) Jones.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
From my very first job at 15, I was inspired to learn about business. My first boss owned a small local pizza shop where I started working, and he showed me every part of how things ran. When he did inventory, I asked questions, and he took the time to walk me through it. He showed me how scheduling worked, how he managed recipes, and even talked to me about the financial side when he decided to sell the business. I learned about income, expenses, profit and loss, inventory, scheduling and overall planning. Looking back, that experience really sparked my interest in business and made me want to own one someday, as well as set the tone for all my future work.
From there, with every new role I took on, I found myself thinking about what it would take to operate a business in that field, and asking questions to my employers, many of which were happy to teach me.
After spending years in the food industry, earning my bachelor’s degree from Cal State Long Beach, substitute teaching, and later obtaining my real estate salesperson and broker licenses, I decided to take the leap into business ownership. I wanted to build a brokerage that truly supported its agents while strengthening the relationship between property management and sales, a place where agents could grow and clients could be served with consistency and care across all aspects of ownership.
Now, in my first year of business, that mission has started to take shape. It’s been about building more than just a company, it’s been about creating a foundation where people, properties, and potential all connect. Every challenge and success this year has reinforced why I started: to build something that supports others, delivers expert care, and grows with intention.
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?
The first year came with its share of learning moments. As a solo owner, one of the biggest challenges was making big decisions without a built-in sounding board. It forced me to be really clear on my vision and trust my judgment, and read the fine print. There were also a few growing pains around tech, deciding and streamlining systems, finding what truly worked for my business. Though, overall it’s been smoother than I expected, some of which I attribute to my husband – having his support allowed me to focus my energy on this business. Right now, we’re in the midst of a website provider and CRM change, though it does take a lot of time and energy to make this change, we are working towards setting up systems for our future.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
EJ Properties is a full-service brokerage, we handle sales, management, and overall real estate guidance. I’ve been managing property for many years now. Before starting my own company, I was the office and property manager for over 200 units, and even before that, I worked alongside my dad on our family properties back in high school. So real estate is something that’s always just felt natural to me.
I take the liability side of the business seriously, I actually read the Civil Code, which is not exactly fun reading, but it’s the backbone of what we do. Knowing those rules helps me keep clients protected and helps me make fair, balanced decisions. I’ve learned that being fair is usually the best way to stay out of trouble and keep things running smoothly.
We’re a growing brand, finding our place in a busy and ever-changing real estate world. What I’m most proud of is how adaptable we’ve been, we keep learning, improving, and using our experience to move forward.
What really sets us apart is our boutique-style service. We take the time to actually know our clients, understand their goals, and give them the kind of personalized care that big brokerages can’t always offer. At the end of the day, our job is to make real estate feel a little less overwhelming and a lot more personal.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
There are a few ways people can work with us. Of course, we work directly with property owners, buyers and sellers. Right now, I’m also really interested in connecting with experienced agents who are looking for something different, agents who are ready to grow, want real support, and are maybe tired of the big franchise model and high fees that don’t really give much back to them.
At EJ Properties, we’re building something more personal, a place where agents have a voice, can be a part of the direction of the company, and are provided support to help them grow. I want to work with people who are strong on their own but want the kind of structure and collaboration that helps everyone win together.
So whether it’s through sales, management, or growing the brand, I’m always open to partnerships with people who share that same mindset of fairness, care, and professionalism. Feel free to reach out to me by email: [email protected]
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ej-properties.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ejproperties_02250024/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ej-properties
- Other: https://share.google/E2xlm2ka026idBUTM
