Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Phelps.
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?
I moved several times as a child, and every time my family packed up and started over, I found myself fascinated by the home buying and home building process. To me, it felt like an adventure! Walking through different houses, imagining daily life in each one, and figuring out which one fit our family best – it all stuck with me. Even at a young age, I was drawn to how personal and impactful those decisions were.
That curiosity turned into action. I graduated high school early and when I started college, I landed a job as a real estate assistant at just 16 years old. Shortly after turning 18, I earned my real estate license and started selling homes while finishing my last two years at the University of North Texas earning a bachelor’s degree in what else… real estate!
As I grew in my career, one lesson became crystal clear: if you put the client first, success will follow. Early on, I’ll admit I was extremely intimidated by this business. I was helping people make the biggest financial decisions of their lives, and I didn’t take that responsibility lightly. I committed myself to doing everything possible to make the process smooth, informed, and memorable. I wanted my clients to feel confident and cared for every step of the way. I also did everything I could do be as knowledgeable as possible so that my age wasn’t viewed negatively. What I quickly realized was that when you truly pour yourself into people – and they feel it – they remember. They tell their friends. They tell their family.
Around 2011, I made a conscious decision to take more ownership of my success and started putting myself out there more. I started asking for business, marketing myself in every way I could – print media, branding, internet advertising – anything that allowed me to show up consistently and professionally. I reached a point where I decided to invest in myself just as much as others had trusted me to invest in them while finding their homes. That mindset shift changed everything. My business skyrocketed and has continued to grow or sustain itself ever since.
In 2019, I took the next step and earned my broker’s license, founding Phelps Realty Group shortly after. Becoming a broker allowed me to expand my impact beyond my own transactions. One of the things I enjoy most is watching my agents grow and improve. I’ve had agents place their faith in me as a broker, and I’ve watched their businesses grow exponentially during their time we have been together. Being a part of that journey is incredibly rewarding!
The truth is, most people who get into real estate will never truly succeed. It takes discipline, integrity, and persistence. My mantra – “Do the right thing for the right reason” – has carried me year after year. It guides my decisions, my leadership, and my relationships, and it’s the foundation on everything I’ve built. I’m excited to see where the future leads!
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?
One of the biggest challenges I faced when starting out in real estate was simply my age and my personality at the time. I was only 18 years old and painfully shy. Naturally, it was hard to overcome the perception of being so young in an industry where people are trusting you with one of the largest financial decisions of their lives. I knew I had to be intentional about how I showed up. I dressed as professionally and “grown-up” as I possibly could… cue the blazers!
The shyness was something I had to work through from the inside out. The only way to overcome it was by putting myself out there, talking to more people, and learning through experience. Jonah, my boyfriend in college and now husband, was extremely outgoing and played a huge role in helping me grow. He coached me on what to say, what questions to ask, and how to confidently engage in conversations. I was also fortunate to have incredible real estate mentors early in my career who pushed me, coached me, and gave me practical tips and tricks to help me come out of my shell and believe in myself.
Another defining challenge came in 2009 – 2010, which was by far one of the most difficult periods of my career. Before the housing crash, I had been moderately successful, selling around 15 homes per year. When the market shifted, everything changed. Over the next two years, I had to pivot my strategy completely. I focused heavily on working with banks and their foreclosed properties and spent time navigating short sales. I cried so many times after meeting with sellers to tell them that unfortunately they were completely under water and wouldn’t be able to sell their home short of a miracle.
Some of the craziest real estate stories I have came from that period. I dealt with hoarder homes and squatters and was subjected to verbal abuse and even physical confrontations from occupants. It was incredibly stressful at the time… but looking back, it made me so much stronger, not just as a realtor but a human being. It taught me to have more patience and compassion for others and to be more grateful for what I did have at that time.
Today, my biggest challenge is balance. I’m constantly managing my personal real estate business, our investment property portfolio, and the brokerage. I never thought I would be juggling multiple different real estate businesses but here we are!
As you know, we’re big fans of Phelps Realty Group, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Our brokerage focuses on residential real estate in Fort Worth and the surrounding suburbs. I specialize in creating custom plans for each client in order to effectively accomplish their goals. Working with relocation buyers has also been an important part of my business.
What separates me from many agents is that I don’t focus on “making the sale”… I focus on building relationships. When you put your clients needs above your own, you never have to worry about earning money because it will always follow as a byproduct of this mindset.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I owe a huge part of my success to my husband Jonah for acting as a mentor and pushing me to get outside of my comfort zone. Naturally, I resisted for a long time, but once I took his advice and stopped caring so much if I failed, my business grew so much!
My parents were always supportive and encouraging of me. My in-laws even allowed themselves to be my guinea pig with a sale and purchase early in my career.
I am extremely thankful to Larry and Laurie Wall of The Wall Team and Tim Nystrom. All 3 of them took chances on me as a young agent and helped to shape who I am now in this business. I am also so thankful for our agents at Phelps Realty Group that have believed in me as a broker!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.soldbyphelps.com
- Instagram: @fortworthrealestateagent
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortworthrealestateagent/
