Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Montilla.
Holly, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am not sure I would have ever considered a career as a Realtor if it wasn’t for my husband, Jacob. He was a Realtor long before we got married, and I was intrigued by what he did and how passionate he was about it. Let me back up. While I am a Dallas native, I relocated to the Washington DC area and met Jacob. I had been working as a Salesforce.com Business Analyst for about ten years. While I really enjoyed the work I was doing, I started wanting a change.
Jacob suggested real estate. The idea excited me. After a lot of careful planning, I gave my notice and left my job. I was terrified but determined to give it my best shot. I was so blessed to have a supporting and humble husband encouraging me every step of the way. Jacob encouraged me to work and learn from other industry leaders as he had done during his long career. This practice was and continues to be instrumental in our success.
I had been licensed for about nine months and had made great strides in growing my client base when I got the surprise that I was pregnant. Once again, I found myself in a terrifying place… new career, new mom, unexpected expenses… you get the picture. Shortly after my daughter Zoe was born, we decided to move back to my home town of Dallas, TX. Jacob always loved Texas, and we wanted a warmer climate, lower cost of living, and a thriving real estate market. So, we made the leap, and I started over in Real Estate in Dallas. That was almost four years ago!
During that time, there have been many seven-day workweeks, long nights, and endless hustle! It is all paying off, with 90% of my business coming from referrals. I decided to launch MOXY Real Estate+Design, a boutique real estate and design brokerage, to explore the entrepreneur and home designer in me while still doing what I already love. I am now working on growing my team and getting the opportunity to mentor other Realtors. I have really hit a stride here in Texas. I’m so appreciative of my supportive husband, friends, family, and clients.
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 my career over when I moved back to Dallas while being a new mom was definitely a challenge. Thanks to my husband and my friends’ support, I was able to meet those challenges head-on and continue to grow my career. Being an entrepreneur, while exciting and rewarding, can also have some significant challenges. I need to be able to deal with uncertainty, be patient as my business grows, and be a great leader for my team, just to name a few!
This year has been especially challenging for everyone with COVID. This situation has challenged the way I work, think, and live. Just when I think I have things figured out, I find myself having to pivot my tactics and expectations. Rather than focus on the things I could lose, I have spent this time focusing on more quality time with my family and finding new innovative ways to do what I love and continue to help people.
MOXY Real Estate+Design – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
MOXY Real Estate+Design is a creative boutique real estate brand focused on providing high-quality service, extensive industry knowledge, and exemplary design services. Buying or selling a property can be scary and overwhelming. This is primarily because it’s unfamiliar… after all, most of us only buy/sell a handful of homes in our lifetime. Yet, it can have the most profound impact on our future.
My philosophy is this: real estate is made up of equal parts science and art. The Science is understanding the market, laws, contracts, etc. The art is interpreting science and applying it to the client’s advantage. It can be challenging to find someone who possesses both these perspectives, but that is what I love to do!
On the surface, real estate can appear very cookie cutter. Many people believe that you call a Realtor when you are ready to buy, sell, or invest. The truth is there are constant variables. I want to talk to my clients long before they are prepared to take those steps. My approach is first to educate and truly understand WHY you are considering making a move. With that understanding, I can genuinely help my clients find exactly what suits their needs. I always strive to work at my client’s pace, no matter how fast or slow that is.
I do my best to help my clients make a financially educated decision rather than an emotional one. I pride myself on always helping my client make the best decision for them, even if that is not in my business’s best interest. I want my clients to trust that I will do what is best for them and support them in their decisions. Part of my job is also to help clients fully understand the process. When you don’t understand something, it can cause a lot of anxiety. I want to relieve that for my clients.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I am proud to say that I have been nominated DMagazine Best Realtor 2018, 2019, and 2020; HomeLight 2019 Top Negotiator; and Expertise.com Best Real Estate Agents in Dallas 2019, 2020, and I am now among the top 5% of agents in Dallas.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3010 Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway, Suite 1200
Dallas TX 75234 - Website: www.moxydfw.com
- Phone: 214-466-8376
- Email: holly@moxydfw.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moxydfw/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MOXYDFW
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