12/29/2025
Oh my goodness, looking through my photos to capture the last year in real estate gave me all of the feels! I have officially completed my second year and entered my third year, and I have not regretted my decision for the career change once. At times, I wish I would have done it sooner, but then I remind myself, the universe tends to allow things to happen when the time is right.
When it comes to the number of deals I have closed and the money that was made, of course I know that number, but what matters is it was enough for me. Enough to pay off our kitchen remodel and send the kids to camp. Enough to venture to water parks, the U.P., Minnesota, California and Texas. Enough to feel like I am contributing to my family and still be very present in their lives. It was also not too enough. I was able to show up and be fully available for my clients. I never felt like I was too busy to give my clients my 100%, and that is important to me. My goal is never to feel like I can't bring my all to my work and my family.
You see working in real estate is tough. The paycheck does not come unless you put in the work and get a deal to closing. And do deals fall apart, absolutely, and it is heartbreaking when they do. It is also a career that you can get stuck comparing yourself to others. Hello comparison is the thief of joy.
This past year I taught multiple real estate classes to people who have a similar goal of homeownership. Raquel Owens, Realtor and I have been working on what it looks like work together with clients, and we have been rocking it! I have helped people transition through major life moves. I have helped first time homebuyers secure their first home. I have been focused on building relationships with others in the industry and having meaningful conversations. I have had the most fun experiencing what it looks like to grow in the business. As a team at Janson Homes we have been fine tuning our goals and setting new ones for 2026.
If you have never really thought about how you can support a Realtor, here are some things that really do mean a lot. Share their info when you have friends or family thinking about buying or selling their home. Follow them on social media. Comment, like and or share their posts. If you have worked with them, give them a google review. Call them if you need housing help. Maybe you need a recommendation for someone to come out and do work at your house. Let them be your go to for all things home, it's not only about buying or selling.
And once again, thank you for coming to my TED talk. If you ever need house advice you know where to find me. 👇🏼
Stephanie Larson
REALTOR®
RENE (Real Estate Negotiation Expert)
ABR® (Accredited Buyer's Representative)
Janson Homes
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
6312 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, mI 49009
Cell: (910) 988 - 4075
Email: [email protected]
