Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Stephens.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Christine. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
In the 80’s, here in the D/FW are the multi-family industry took a hit with the oil recession. Therefore, I moved to Atlanta, Georgia where the market was more stable. I have been in the multi-family industry for over 30 years. I started with a Leasing position and quickly evolved into a management position with 6 months. Marketing and finding new Innovative ideas was always my passion. In the mid 90’s, I started my own company, Brite Rite Services, which was considered on the ‘Vendor” side of this industry. It gave me a different perspective of the industry from a different angle. When the Real Estate recession hit Atlanta, Georgia, I decided to relinquish the company and make property management my full-time focus. I then moved back to the D/FW area to go back into property management. The Texas market had recovered. I have taken many distressed properties and foreclosures and enabled owners to be profitable to sell. I have managed properties that were sold for a profit exceeding 1 million dollars. At the beginning of taking over these properties, they were distressed with low occupancy and low income prior to their growth. I have created successful strategies for a successful return for my owners. My experience includes; team management, motivation ‘thinking outside the box’. My strengths are motivation, empowerment, drive and the desire to enhance on the vision of how property management operates and in return be more successful than the national average. I am a member of NAPW and have my CAM certification, as well as being a certified manager in LIHTC (Low Income Housing Tax Credit). The multi-family industry has been so close minded that I figured that instead of racking my brain for others and not being heard, I would start my own management company. I have two other Managing Partners that have joined together with me to ensure that this comes to light. The main keys to a successful business include being an Authentic company that demonstrates Integrity to owners; creating a Passionate workplace that Empowers employees to take ownership and grow; building around Synergy by cultivating a team atmosphere. These key components create our Astra Residential’s excellence. I want to keep these attributes in effect no matter how large of a company we become. Morals and Standards should be kept in mind from the beginning to the end.
Great, 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?
Starting your own company is stressful, but I know that it will be self-rewarding. With everything in life, struggles make you stronger, knowing that there are so many companies out there that are doing the same thing as we are, but I feel that we are going to make the changes necessary to be different than the norm.
Astra Residential – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Astra Residential offers a broad range of services designed to maximize the value of owner’s real estate assets. Our team is skilled in all areas of multi-family real estate management, construction, re-positioning assets and much more.
Most investors/owners believe in their management firms and consider them equally if not more valuable than the properties they manage. Your assets are not just overseen, they are actively managed to increase their value over time. This gives you the peace of mind many investors/owners find essential. Our goal is to grow where we are actually purchasing multi-family properties and managing them ourselves. This will give us an edge on most the management companies out in this industry, most are only third-party management entities.
I am most proud of the fact that we are going to be known as a company that gives our employees the empowerment to think like an owner and make decisions like an owner. If you give them the tools and the knowledge to do so…..than you have an employee who will do the unthinkable, reach the goals set forth and feel like they are an important part of the building of an empire.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment so far was: stepping out in faith that I can make this happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.astraresidential.com
- Email: cstephens@astraresidential.com
- Facebook: Astra Residential
Image Credit:
AATC/AAGD
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