Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Boling.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Danielle. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started my career in the early 90’s as a leasing director for an apartment complex near my home. I was fortunate to have my friend as my boss, and he was (and still is) a very influential part of shaping my work habits. He taught me time management, organizational skills, and perseverance. A few years later, I opened an industry magazine, saw a fancy ad, and decided to pursue an interview with an Atlanta-based company called C.L.A.S.S. (Certified Leasing and Sales Specialists). I went on multiple interviews and was finally selected for the job. I would be one of an elite few troubleshooters nationwide that traveled around the country, guaranteeing management companies that we would triple their occupancy rates within 45-90 days. I worked 45-90 days straight with each assignment and wasn’t told where I would be going until immediately before the flight was booked. I had to report to the owner of the company each evening after work and state whether I leased any units or not. It was high pressure (especially for someone in their early twenties), but it taught me independence, responsibility, and leadership. The experience was incomparable to anything else out there, and it was an honor to have been chosen to be part of their vision.
I later took a position with RealPage, Inc. as a national software trainer, where I was again traveling the country, this time teaching property management software to all levels of staff. This taught me patience, public speaking skills (and how to overcome my nerves) in addition to learning highly technical software platforms. I surprised myself with how I was able to grasp these outrageously complicated nuances and step out of my comfort zone to expand my industry expertise. I even wrote a technical user’s manual for the company on one of their accounting products.
My next move was to a local real estate brokerage firm, where I was given the unique opportunity to learn both new construction and traditional residential sales. I did intensive understudy work with local builders and sales reps to learn what goes behind the sticks and bricks, how to identify good construction vs. cutting corners, and how to best represent my clients in all phases of the buying process. I loved every minute of it and absorbed everything like a sponge. I even took on roles as an on-site sales rep for some of the homebuilders to learn the process from a different perspective.
After a few years of that, I realized that I wanted to start my own brokerage firm, which would be the culmination of the knowledge I gleaned from working in the various aspects of the industry. I felt that I would be able to offer more than the average agent out there, and was excited to build my company and my brand from the ground up. I opened my brokerage almost 15 years ago, and I continue to learn every day. Every day is different, each client has a unique situation, and every property is one-of-a-kind.
Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road – nothing worthwhile ever is, but the challenges made me stronger. Buying or selling a home comes with a rollercoaster of emotions, and then you have to factor in unexpected setbacks: appraisal issues, change in financial or familial circumstance, things like that. One of the most challenging and humbling times in my career was the economic recession of 2009. Shortly after being honored with Dallas Realtor of the Year in 2009, the market crashed. Buyers who were doing stated income loans no longer qualified (despite six-figure incomes), people lost jobs left and right, and sellers would ask me how I could save their homes from foreclosure instead of asking how much they could get from the sales. It was devastating – roadblocks at every angle. It was a scary time of uncertainty for everyone. The American dream of homeownership suddenly took on a whole new meaning, with an emphasis on providing the basic human need of shelter. People were just trying to survive. There was no abundance, no frivolous spending, not a lot of materialism happening. This was not a bad lesson to learn, and when people came out on the other side, they came out resilient. For me, it taught me not to ever get too comfortable with the market and to be ready to change and adapt to the cycles in order to be sustainable. It also made me appreciate the hot market we are experiencing now that much more because it’s only temporary. Pretty much everything is temporary.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Network Real Estate Partners is a boutique, full-service real estate brokerage firm that specializes in pre-owned and new construction. We handle land, investment portfolios, luxury property, commercial, historic homes, urban lofts, and everything in between. We are in the DFW Metroplex, Greater Austin, and soon to be in Chicago (slated for Spring 2020). We have been awarded for excellence in the industry many years running, and the importance of this is that the votes come from clients and peers, which means everything to me. I have worked hard to build a team of folks who are like-minded and extraordinary. They can read my mind before I even speak, and know exactly what to do in any circumstance. Ethics and integrity are at the forefront of it all, followed by advanced and continuous education in the field. We find success by knowing things that others do not and providing representation that’s more comprehensive than the typical.
I especially enjoy historic homes, as I was born and raised in Oak Park, Illinois. The famous Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio was down the block from my childhood home, and I spent many exciting days taking in the architecture until it became part of who I was. I am an HHS – Historic House Specialist, a designation earned through Preservation Dallas. To this day, I still get a thrill from seeing hidden doorways, stained glass windows, exposed ceiling beams, and deep window sills!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Dallas is a real estate mecca! Our economic climate is such that jobs are abundant, the cost of living is low, the weather is mild (minus a few tornadoes), and the housing market is stable. People get more home for the money than on either coast, and property taxes are low. Schools are great, major corporations are choosing Dallas for their headquarters, and equity can be built rather quickly.
I would definitely tell real estate newbies to start out here. They just need to find a mentor who thinks outside the box, and who allows them to learn through daily experience, not just from a classroom. The nuances of real estate are not taught in a classroom, but through trial and error, successes and failures.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.danielleboling.com
- Phone: (469) 688-7611
- Email: daniellesboling@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielle_boling/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielleanastasiaboling/
- Other: http://www.thebohemianbroker.com
Image Credit:
Paxton Maroney
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