Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Rhyne.
Hi Courtney, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
The part of my story that influences both my business and my personal life the most is our foster care journey, which ultimately led to the adoption of a sibling set of four beautiful children. My husband and I began fostering in 2020, and while every foster parent and child’s story is different, most foster parents would agree that the foster care system is broken and, at times, emotionally frustrating. A lot of life happened between the start of our foster care process and the long road to adoption, but I choose to focus on the beautiful parts of our children’s story.
I want people to understand that there is nothing supernatural or superior about those who become licensed foster care parents. We are simply willing to stand in the gap for children who, in our case, weren’t old enough to use their voices to advocate for themselves. Our children were 6 months old, 9 months old, 2 years old, and 3 years old when we first met them. They are now 3, 4, 5, and as I write this, we have two 7-year-olds. No, they are not twins—they are 11 months apart, so certain parts of the year we have two children the exact same age. Yes, that makes five children total. God has a way of reminding you that it’s in His timing, not your own, when creating a family.
When we began fostering, I was working as a probation officer. After the birth of my daughter, I saw an opportunity to leave a toxic work environment and the naturally negative interactions that came with nearly five years in the criminal justice system. I obtained my Texas real estate license while staying home with my children. Like many mothers of young children, I struggled with wanting to be with my kids full time while also wanting a sense of purpose outside of motherhood.
Joining Parker Properties Real Estate felt like a natural decision. Aimee Ashley—someone I deeply trusted and who was my former youth leader—was the Team Lead of the Freebird Group, which operates under the umbrella of Parker Properties. At the time, I didn’t know that Parker Properties Real Estate had been voted the top brokerage in three counties for over a decade or that I was joining the team of the top real estate agent in Montague County. What I did know was the value of mentorship and the leadership Aimee could provide as I built my business.
With the cost of daycare for five children, I knew from day one that I had to treat real estate as a business. I had the opportunity to serve as Aimee’s transaction coordinator, which eventually led to me becoming the transaction coordinator for the entire Freebird Group. I would encourage new agents or those considering entering real estate to pursue this type of role, as it provides firsthand experience in the process of going under contract, negotiating repairs, using the correct forms, and understanding the behind-the-scenes process involving the title company, lender, and other agents—parts of the transaction the client never sees.
That opportunity, unbeknownst to me at the time, condensed years’ worth of knowledge into a short period due to the volume of transactions we handled. It laid the foundation for my attention to detail and strong understanding of contracts. I also immersed myself in ongoing education through my brokerage, as well as classes hosted by title companies and lenders, knowing that my greatest strength as a young and inexperienced agent would be knowledge.
Through God, strong and godly support—especially from my husband and Aimee—determination, long evenings, and emotionally difficult sacrifices, I was named Most Valuable Player out of more than 40 agents in my brokerage during my first year of real estate. Since then, I have obtained a second real estate license, allowing me to assist clients in both Texas and Oklahoma, a strategic decision driven by my geographic location and commitment to expanding my business.
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?
Nothing in real estate is smooth 100% of the time. In many ways, a realtor is a problem solver—constantly navigating client expectations while also understanding state laws and the policies of city and county administrations to protect clients from legal issues they may not even be aware of when buying or selling a property. On top of that, there are the challenges that arise throughout a transaction: inspections that don’t go as planned, negotiating repairs, homes that don’t sell as quickly as desired, or working through seller cost assistance.
Especially in the beginning, real estate can feel overwhelming and emotionally draining if you don’t establish boundaries to prevent burnout. You can spend hours helping someone search for a home or properly price their property, only for them to decide to rent, use another agent, or stop communicating altogether. You learn quickly not to take those decisions personally—it’s rarely a reflection of you.
There are also moments when emotions run high, and part of the job becomes mediating and keeping everyone calm and focused on the bigger picture. Because you’re not guaranteed a paycheck, you have to be intentional about putting your clients’ needs first and not letting the stress of uncertainty influence your decisions or guidance.
As a mom of five children, all age seven and under, I also navigate phone calls, writing contracts, and showing homes in between the loud, busy moments of kids playing. It isn’t always easy, but it has taught me flexibility, patience, and how to stay steady in the middle of chaos—skills that serve my clients well.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a licensed real estate agent in both Texas and Oklahoma. I help people navigate some of the most meaningful moments of their lives—whether that’s selling the home their children grew up in, finding a building to start a business, making an investment, or purchasing what is often the most expensive asset they will ever own. My expertise spans residential, commercial, farm and ranch, and land transactions, allowing me to serve a diverse range of clients and property needs.
I’m known for being a communicative and knowledgeable agent who stays focused on my clients’ goals. I understand that I’m not just facilitating a transaction—I’m providing an experience. That experience can be positive or negative based on my attitude, the quality of service I provide, my timely communication, and ultimately how I make my clients feel. I believe in setting clear expectations from the start and serving every client with the same care and devotion I would show my grandmother or a member of my own family, ensuring they feel heard, seen, and valued throughout the process.
The Freebird Group has dedicated marketing staff that does an exceptional job branding our listings and our team. Many clients choose us because of our strong, consistent presence both in the community and across social media, reinforcing trust and familiarity before the first conversation.
What I’m most proud of, however, is being part of a real estate team that places a strong emphasis on giving back and being involved in our community. Alongside local businesses, we’ve helped organize food drives for the Bowie Mission and shared statistics with the community to show how many families the mission serves, allowing people to see and feel the impact of their support. I’m also a strong advocate for Clear Choice Pregnancy Center, which supports and speaks up for the unborn. I’ve had the honor of highlighting them through a Community Spotlight interview series and privately donating items to their “Mom & Me” closet.
In addition, our team has delivered small gestures of appreciation—chips and salsa, ice cream, and holiday treats—to our police department, fire department, local businesses, clients, and teachers in our local schools. There is something incredibly rewarding about walking the hallways of schools and recognizing the people who influenced you growing up and who now dedicate their lives to pouring into students. Those small moments of gratitude often create the most meaningful and lasting impact.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Don’t go into real estate thinking you’ll be on a Netflix series or that putting a sign in the ground will make you an instant millionaire. Reality TV and social media have glamorized the industry, but that version of real estate is not the norm. I’m intentional about being honest with anyone considering real estate. While the opportunity for financial success exists without a traditional ceiling, it comes at the cost of time, energy, and sacrifice. Success is the result of intentional decisions made consistently over a long period—not something that happens quickly or passively. If money is the only goal, you’ll likely miss the deeper responsibility of educating clients and empowering them to make confident decisions that can impact their lives—and sometimes future generations.
You have to be willing to work 60+ hours a week, have uncomfortable conversations, face rejection, and be prepared to go six months or longer without a paycheck. You need to set money aside for taxes and learn to wear many hats at once—business owner, negotiator, problem solver, and at times, therapist. I advise shadowing multiple brokerages because you will see that not everyone operates their business the same way. Being an assistant or transaction coordinator, will provide you with a wealth of knowledge that isn’t taught in the classroom and will provide you with hands on experience that you likely won’t have prior to obtaining your real estate license.
It’s also critical to be knowledgeable and committed to constant learning. You will never know everything in real estate, and the industry is always changing. I would encourage anyone starting out to attend every training, class, and learning opportunity available through their brokerage, title companies, and lenders. Staying educated allows you to better protect and serve your clients and forces you to evolve as the market evolves.
One piece of advice my mentor Aimee Ashley often shares is, “Know who you are.” The premise behind that statement is understanding that other people’s opinions are not always an accurate reflection of who you truly are. You can’t allow emotions to drive your decision-making, and sometimes a closed door isn’t rejection—it’s God’s protection.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.freebirdgrouptx.com/aboutcourtney
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtney_rhyne.realtor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CourtneyRhyneParkerProperties
Image Credits
Donna Ashley
