Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacy Lynn Massar.
Hi Stacy Lynn, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I began my real estate career as a nervous buyer back in 2000 when I was in the process of purchasing a condo in San Diego, CA. $200,000 seemed like a lot of money for 900 sqft and no garage. I didn’t know anything about real estate and I was uncertain of the process my realtor was not very knowledgeable or helpful so I spent all my free time at the local Barnes & Noble reading up about real estate and started asking my realtor the questions I had. By the time my condo closed and I got the keys I also had a job offer to go work for him. I took the job because I was a teacher and the school year had started already when I moved to CA., I had no idea I would fall in love with helping other families find their homes. As a military spouse then it was easy for me to get referrals through the local bases and word of mouth. My business took off quickly and helping relocating military families was my #1 source of business.
After 10 years in real estate in California as an agent and a loan officer my family moved to Texas. I took over 2 years off selling here in Texas as I went through a long and challenging divorce. As soon as it was finalized, I got my license in Texas and immediately went back to work with more fire and motivation than ever since I was not a single mom. The beginning was tough and long to get my business going since I was new to the area, didn’t have any friends, no network, and just a few family members. Business was not coming my way. I had to go back to the basics and start from ground zero. I had to pay for leads, which I never did before. I had to start to get myself out in the community. I needed to grow my sphere and I needed to get involved.
It took a few years to grow my business to where it is today. I wanted to do it the right way and form a good reputation in town. One of the best things I did was take over a networking group in town the was fizzling out. I wasn’t sure how, but I was determined to make it grow and connect women locally and support one another. 6 years later I still run Rockwall Women In Business, which is a networking group of like-minded women who are positive, supportive, and engaged in helping one another grow personally and professionally. We also support local women’s and children’s charities as well as other local organizations the need some assistance. This group has helped me meet amazing women, grow roots in our community as well as meet new potential clients.
Several years later I met my husband (next door neighbor) who is a criminal defense attorney in town and later got his real estate license to help me. As the business grew, I couldn’t keep up alone and I wanted to spend my evenings and weekends with my daughter, Reagan when she was with me. I didn’t want to miss out on time with her so Ben got his license to take over showing homes so I could be the mom who was at the school events and the sporting events. Becoming a team with Ben was the best decision we ever made to provide balance at work and create more family time.
A few years later I grew a small team that included Ben, my dad, and 2 other agents. Being a team leader has been amazing and being a part of my agent’s success bring such joy! 2022 has 3 brand new agents joining the team and I’m excited to get to teach them the right way to sell real estate and that it can be done morally, ethically, and successful at the same time.
2021 will be my most successful year to date with nearly 60 families served this year. Our price range was a low at a $50,000 lot all the way up to a 2.1M horse farm sold this year. We love serving all price points and all people and I feel this allows up to grow and reach more people each year and it compounds into future sales.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has not always been smooth. As I was starting my business, I was a single mom who was living with her parents. I was starting my whole life over while trying to start a business in a new state. The first few years were bumpy as I was learning how to do business in Texas, trying to balance being a single mom, and also trying to earn an income to provide for my daughter. Things did not come easy and I was working very long hours and not getting to spend very much time with my daughter. As soon as I was getting momentum and some balance in life my ex-husband decided to sue me for full custody of my daughter. After nearly a year-long divorce, I was back in court again fighting to keep my daughter. It was one of the toughest and most stressful times in my life. I made it through with keeping the exact same time with her and the same schedule just a lot less money so I was back to the beginning financially again it seemed. Slowly the consistency of what I was doing in my business started to pay off and more and more clients were coming my way. The market has been good in our area so that certainly has been helpful. I lived through the 2008 crash in California where we were hit very hard and I came out ok so working in a good market for the last 8 years in Texas has been a wonderful blessing.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Massar Realty Group Brokered By Fathom Realty?
Massar Realty Group is known for a few things. First, everything I do branding-wise is yellow. I love yellow it’s my color, it’s my brand and it just plain makes me happy! Every closing gift has yellow in it, every marketing piece is yellow, our yard signs are yellow and black so they show up better in yards and I often wear a lot of yellow. I get photos of yellow clothing, yellow purses, and yellow houses from clients as well as acquaintances on social media. We have nailed the branding color down pat!
Second, I’m known for fighting for my clients. I have a strong belief that we should all work together in this industry and treat each other professionally and with respect. I work hard and fight for my clients to get top dollar when selling, to get the lowest price when buying, and making sure they’re taken care of all through the process. We often get referrals from lenders because we work hard, efficiently and get clients under contract because we fight to win in multiple offers, winning in this market is not just throwing in the highest offer. There are so many other factors and we fight using all we have to win and have been very successful.
I believe I’m also known for being highly educated and knowledgeable in this industry. I get calls from agents asking me what I would do or how I would handle certain situations. I love being a resource for agents and having a reputation for knowing what I’m doing. I have become a broker and also earned many designations over the years including: GRI (Graduated Realtor Institute), MRP (Military Relocation Professional), RENE (Real Estate Negotiation Expert) & SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist). Helping active duty and veterans is a passion of mine after being a military spouse for 10 years. These veterans are struggling to use their VA entitlements in this hot market and it’s my mission to get our veterans into homes. I also love assisting our senior population. Many seniors need more explanation, guidance, and physical help. My husband and I have assembled boxes, gone in attics, and coordinated estate sales and movers for our seniors. The hugs, smiles, and homemade pies let us know we are appreciated.
Not every real estate agent operates the same and we urge clients to interview a few before deciding. We also seriously encourage buyers not to call the agent listed on the for sale because they were hired to get top dollar for the home. Buyers need someone to fight for them not the agent already on the side of the seller. Sellers we also encourage them to interview a few agents before deciding. The agent who gives a discount may cost you a lot more than the discount offered if they’re not working for you. I’m not the agent for everyone and that’s ok. Not every buyer or seller are right for me and that’s ok. I have learned over the years to let the drama clients go early on. The commission is not worth working with someone for months that doesn’t appreciate me or treats me poorly. In the beginning, I took every client I could to earn a living, Thankfully, I now am in the position to also interview people and decide who is the right client for me and if we’re not a good fit that’s ok I happily refer them to an agent with a similar personality or mindset and I’m happy to bless another agent with a new client.
Something that sets me apart from others is that I pride myself on looking at each person as an opportunity to serve them and not the commission that comes along with them. I always remind myself when working with buyers the nerves and stress I had back buying my condo in San Diego and I treat them and serve them in a capacity I wish I was served. I believe strongly that my desire to serve others is how my business went from having to buy leads to being a 100% referral operation now.
Myself and my team offer full-service listings with professional photos, staging guidance, a full-time assistant dedicated to the clients’ needs as well as a marketing assistant to get the house blasted out to the world (slight exaggeration!). We offer top-notch assistance to buyers and having a team allows for an agent to be available quickly in this hot market. Having more than myself be able to show homes has benefited our clients in the hot market. We do also assist with rentals, but honestly, it isn’t our main focus with our business.
Our clients become family. We have annual events, deliver pizza on moving day, have contests throughout the year and host an annual National Margarita Day party in our home as well as do family photos at the holidays. We want every client to be a client for life and not ever seen as just a “deal” or “transaction”. When you work with the Massar Realty Group you’re a part of the family!
My family is also very involved in the business. My daughter, Reagan, knows how to install for sale signs, lockboxes, and set up for open houses. Reagan also knows more real estate than most 13-year-olds! We are a family business and love to be able to share our family and even open up our own home to our clients.
I would love readers to know that not every agent is the same and to do their due diligence when selecting someone to represent their biggest financial asset.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Networking has been an important part of the growth of my business. I tried many groups over the years and they’re not all the same or have been the right fit for me. I don’t want to be forced to bring leads in each week. I want referrals to come naturally and actually refer people to those who have proven to do good business and treat others right.
I’ve learned that networking with people who have the same interests and are like-minded is the best route. Running Rockwall Women In Business has connected local women and produced a ton of business over the years for all the members. Our members are stay-at-home moms selling products, dentists, massage therapists, a local judge, city councilwomen, realtors, lenders, insurance agents, attorneys, travel agents, restaurant owners, and more. The variety of women and businesses that attend make this group so interesting. The women who have been attending for years and are consistent are the ones who benefit the most form the group. This is the case with anything in business though…what you focus on consistency will thrive. We meet once a month for a lunch meeting or once a month in the evening. Our next event is a Vision Board Party where we will gather and create bird that out 2022 goals will be focused on. Throughout the year we will encourage and celebrate the goals as they are met.
In 2021 I became a Rotarian in Rockwall and it has provided me with a larger sense of community that serves Rockwall and I’ve met an entire new group of people I wouldn’t have met otherwise. I’ve found through the group the North County Food Bank volunteering opportunity and have spent one Friday a month helping to distribute food to our community in need. I’ve met great people doing this. Each week at Rotary I try to talk to or sit with new people to continue to grow my sphere without asking or discussing my business. When the focus is on serving others, I truly believe the reward will come one day and if it doesn’t, I was still serving the community and helping others!
My daughter and I are also members of the National Charity League (Lone Star) and while this group isn’t networking it has truly opened doors and opportunities I didn’t know of before. Since June my daughter and I have volunteered together over 70 hours right in Rockwall. None of this volunteering comes with looking for or asking for business. However, I do believe the more people we can meet and serve the more opportunities can arise. NCL has grown our mother-daughter relationship to be even stronger and it’s teaching my daughter to see her community differently and see all the ways we can help and give to other selflessly.
I believe any organization you are a part of can be beneficial to your business, but don’t join for the wrong reasons. I don’t “give to get”. The more I have volunteered the more I want to. I’m truly blessed to be able to take time away from work to volunteer in my community and I feel honored to be able to share that love and passion for our community with my daughter and of course the world through social media.
Contact Info:
- Email: StacySellsTexas@gmail.com
- Website: MassarRealtyGroup.com
- Instagram: @massarrealtygroup or @stacymassar_realtor
- Facebook: Massar Realty Group with Fathom Realty
- Twitter: @MassarRealty
