Today we’d like to introduce you to Marissa Jazmin.
Marissa, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I had always had an interest in real estate but at first, didn’t know how to get started. In college I jumped around with majors, starting with architecture and the interior design, and finally majoring in design and business. I loved all aspects of those fields and together I just couldn’t figure out what kind of career/professional position I could see myself in. I loved architecture and interior design together but didn’t know how to blend the two together.
When I moved to Boston I jumped around from entry-level job to entry-level job but was working downtown. I loved commuting to work and getting to know the financial district and all the surrounding neighborhoods. My friends had always encouraged me to get my real estate license so I finally took the classes and passed the test. I was fascinated with old houses and fixing them up (the design side of me) and also how a home was sold through marketing, staging, etc. (the business side of me). Even though I didn’t know what I would do with my real estate license after I took the test I at least knew I was moving toward something I had a huge interest in.
In the meantime of passing my real estate exam, I was laid off from my administrative job. It was an oddly timed blessing but a new door had opened and I came across a job opportunity as a real estate assistant… but it was in Chicago. When I first got a call from the woman looking to fill the position she wasn’t sure if I would be a good fit since I didn’t have my Illinois real estate license and I didn’t live in Chicago just yet. She told me to call back in a few weeks (when I would be in Chicago scoping out the city and seeing if I could really move there, I had some college friends who were already living there so that was a plus) to see if the position was still available.
A few weeks go by and I’m still applying for random jobs and contemplating if Chicago was the right move for me. When I arrived I called the woman back to see if the job was still available and if we could possibly meet for an informal interview and she said OK. I took the bus to the agreed upon coffee shop and we had a long chat. I really liked her and had done my research on who she was, she was one of the top real estate brokers in Chicago and highly respected in the real estate community. She was aware that I had not fully moved to Chicago and had no real estate experience and was very much on the fence if I would be able to support her and her established real estate business.
I had expressed to her that I had the determination and ‘heart to hustle’ and learn about the business. After a few entry-level jobs, I was finally at a point that I was ready to dive into a career that I could be passionate about. I had finally obtained my MA real estate license, and although Illinois was a completely different state, this was an opportunity that I couldn’t see myself passing on. Real estate is very intimidating to get into because you are not guaranteed a paycheck off the bat. It will take time to make money but who prepares and saves up 6-8 months of savings to just start a new career??
This position was as a real estate assistant. There would be a lot to learn but the perks and opportunities to learn are what make it so valuable. This was the beginning of when I would learn to embrace the learning curve. A week goes by and I had thought about the job so much and I knew real estate was what I wanted to do and this was the job that was going to be my jump-start. I called the woman back to follow up and see where we were. I think she had to interview a few more people after meeting with me but I had somehow impressed her and promised I would work hard and I was offered the job.
For the next two years, this position was one of the best career stepping stones I could have ever experienced. I have never wanted to work so hard for someone and learned so much I felt so proud of what I did and who I worked with. I got to see some amazing properties in downtown Chicago on Michigan Ave, overlooking Lake Michigan, and penthouse terraces with 180-degree views. My boss was such an amazing businesswoman and an extremely hard worker. She never got flustered in tough situations and the most impressive sense of professional grace I have ever seen.
It was definitely one of the toughest decisions I made to quit this job and move back to Boston. I knew that walking away from this job was almost like giving away buried treasure. I knew that there could easily be a line of real estate hopefuls who would be happy to fill my position at any second. What I didn’t realize starting out, was that a real estate career would mean planting some roots and landing in a location that you knew you would want to stay in indefinitely. I missed Boston and still had so my friends that were still there and I became very eager to move back and apply what I had learned in Chicago back in Boston.
Fast forward a few years I am finally back in Boston and couldn’t be happier. It feels like I never left but the experience I had in Chicago was like a wrinkle in time. The woman that I worked for is still highly thought of and sometimes I wonder how she would handle certain situations. She has certainly been an inspiration for establishing my career and defining what it is to be successful. I still send her a holiday card every year and I’m forever grateful for the opportunity I had working with her.
Now that I am fully committed to real estate and have and I’m no longer working under someone I have the luxury of being my own boss. Sometimes I have to go back and think about certain situations and how they would have been handled and take that into considerations with big decisions. I know that moving back to Boston/Chestnut Hill was a great decision and I’m very happy to grow my real estate roots here.
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?
There have been many ups and downs along the way but they have all been worth it. They feel like they have added to this big life puzzle and were supposed to happen. One of the hardest struggles has been sticking it out and knowing that a real estate career will take time and to be patient.
There is also a constant learning curve either transaction or customer service related that keeps me on my toes. It helps that real estate is so interesting to me and I find learning more and more about it is very intriguing. It has kind of been a redeeming factor knowing that no matter how long you have been in the business, there are always new twists that come up that you might not have encountered before and learning how to work through them.
On another note, this doesn’t qualify as a struggle, but it’s something that keeps me focused on succeeding and being well received. It may also be a hidden compliment and maybe more of a challenge but apparently, I look young. Sometimes so young that people question my knowledge of real estate and if I have experience. The funny thing is, how do you quantify ‘enough’ experience.
Just because someone looks older doesn’t mean they’ve been in real estate for a long time. I know some agents who are in their 50’s and this is their fourth career and they are just starting out. At a glance, it may look like they have been in the industry longer but they might not have even sold a home yet. Or maybe I should have jumped on the gray hair trend that was sweeping through a year ago and try to look older and also being on the cutting edge of trends.
Either way, I enjoy sitting down with people and chatting with them in person and showing them what I know about real estate and how I can help them. If anyone has any doubts I’d love for them to read my testimonials and see what it was like to work with me.
Hammond Residential Real Estate – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
As a real estate agent, my job is helping people with one of the most important steps in life. Buying or selling a home is such a scary yet exciting experience. It also involves money and emotions that are very personal and unique for each person. My goal is to walk everyone through the process and guide them along the way. Keeping everyone informed and knowing what to expect usually makes the process go a little smoother. I really value buyer’s and seller’s trust in me it’s a great feeling to know that information that I’ve passed along has helped them with their sale or purchase.
I have learned that managing client’s expectations is a large part of the customer service side of real estate. If you can picture in your mind some of the different scenarios or outcomes, a buyer or seller are much more aware of what can happen and hopefully won’t too turned upside down by any changes. Customer service and noticing details are my strong suits when working with buyer and seller clients. All of my experience builds on top of each transaction and I look forward to sharing what I know and have learned along the way with others.
What I am most proud of having happy clients and reading my testimonials. It sounds cheesy but sometimes knowing that someone put so much trust in me feels like I did my job well.
What sets me apart from others is keeping in touch with people, keeping them informed about the market, and also my drive and determination to help them find or sell their home. Keeping a pulse on the market is important but also having a presence within the real estate agent community is huge. It is just as important for agents to work together to some capacity and keep each other informed as well.
There is also a team of real estate attorneys, inspectors, and lenders who make the whole process come together as well. Contacts like these can really make or break a real estate transaction and working with the best is an experience you can’t buy.
Do you feel like our city is a good place for businesses like yours? If someone was just starting out, would you recommend them starting out here? If not, what can our city do to improve?
Boston is such an amazing city and it’s exciting to see so many new people move here. Everyone has a different reason for their move whether it’s work-related, educational, or just a new city to experience. Boston’s skyline is literally changing as we speak and the surrounding towns and neighborhoods also have so much to offer in terms of lifestyle and community.
If someone is considering getting into the Boston real estate market there are an endless amount of amazing neighborhoods and projects going on. Staying on top of what’s going on and what will happen is also important. Get ready for a fast-paced market but also have fun. Ultimately, you have to love where you live and passionately share that with others.
Contact Info:
- Address: 826 Boylston Street Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
- Website: http://marissajazmin.myhammondagent.com
- Phone: 617-447-5656
- Email: mjazmin@hammondre.com
- Instagram: http://ink361.com/app/users/ig-2965430341/mjazminrealestate/photos
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjazminrealestate/
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
