Today we’d like to introduce you to Allie Martinez.
Hi Allie, 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?
Sure! I attended high school in Houston, TX, where my mom, grandpa, and aunt were all Realtors. Growing up, real estate was always a dinner table topic, and the somewhat unconventional work schedule was my normal. In spite of the strong real estate ties at a young age, I majored in Economics and Asian Studies at The University of Texas, and was certain that I wouldn’t follow in my family’s footsteps. After school, I took a bit of an unconventional route by cycling from Texas to Alaska (as a member of Texas 4000), working across a wide range of companies (start-up, eco-conscious advertising, and tech), and even taking a round-the-world backpacking trip. Ultimately, I found myself craving a bigger challenge, more autonomy, a more direct way to impact my community, and less bureaucracy. I finally decided to make the leap of faith and get my real estate license.
Watching my grandpa navigate the real estate market as a teenager, I learned that doing the right thing and being a true support for your clients is where you find the real rewards – he’s in his 80s and has been retired for years now, but his past clients still call him just to chat. Now in my 4th year of real estate, I’ve steadily grown my business through referrals, and recently hit a big milestone by hiring my first full-time team member. I pride myself in an honest and data-driven approach, and always aim to exude calmness with my clients in this somewhat chaotic market.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Real estate has been a challenge through and through – which for better or worse, is something I thrive off. In my first year in real estate there was a lot of uncertainty and even some anxiety around what success would look like. I had just left behind a stable job, was starting from a complete standstill, and still had a lot to learn. Shortly thereafter, my husband and I welcomed our son into the world, which added a different type of challenge as I learned how to juggle parenthood with building a business.
The struggles of starting a new business felt like they were beginning to lift in 2020, with my business taking off and our newborn days behind us. Life was surely going to be a breeze, right? Hah! Though learning how to operate efficiently and scale in a global pandemic wasn’t originally on my roadmap, I feel very fortunate for everything we did have during a year that was very unforgiving to so many people. Smoother road ahead in 2021, for all of us, fingers crossed.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am most proud of the fact that I work with mainly repeat clients and referrals. It’s the highest compliment to have a friend or past client introduce me to their loved ones because they know I’ll take great care of them as they navigate this housing market. A client recently wrote that “despite an ultra-competitive market, Allie’s professionalism, perseverance, tactfulness and intellect enabled us to compete”, and that’s really exciting and validating for me. The trust and teamwork I develop with my clients is a big deal to me, and I want to offer that level of service to all of my clients.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
For the last 15 years, I’ve lived in central Austin, and I truly can’t imagine living anywhere else with my family. The sense of community here is nothing like I’ve experienced elsewhere. I love that parks and outdoor spaces are highly valued, that music is the heartbeat of the city, and that there is always a growing list of incredible restaurants.
Unfortunately, as the city continues to grow rapidly and more companies announce their moves regularly, I think we’re quickly coming to a fork in the road on some larger social policy and infrastructure issues that will shape our city for years to come. Specifically, the lack of affordable housing and lack of protections for people experiencing homelessness are growing concerns that we need to solve as a community. Please,
Contact Info:
- Email: alliemartinez@realtyaustin.com
- Website: www.alliemartinezaustin.com
- Instagram: @alliemartinezatx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alliemartinezaustin
- Yelp: https://yelp.com/biz/allie-martinez-realtor-austin-2
Image Credits
Annie Ray Amber Perley
