Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Truong.
Hi Stephanie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always had a passion for Real Estate. I love touring homes and seeing the different architectural designs, exteriors and interiors. I bought my first condo at 26 followed by a few more investments. One day, it dawned on me that if I was a Realtor, I could represent myself in these transactions and collect the commission instead of letting someone else pocket the money. That prompted me to get my real estate license. Of course, my timing was bad because that year was 2008 when the market crashed. I decided to put real estate on hold and instead began my career in Tech. I spent over a decade as a Customer Success Manager for several tech companies in Austin before calling it quits in 2019. To be honest, I was tired of the corporate grind. My work did not feel rewarding or impactful. I didn’t feel like I was making a difference in the lives of others. I was ready for change and decided that it was time to do work that I was passionate about — Real Estate. Here I am, 2.5 years later! I love that I am able to be a part of such an important event in the lives of others. I love helping people find a place to call home.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’d be lying if I said it was easy! Like the old adage, “if it was easy, everyone would do it.”
Real Estate is very complex. Did you know that there are over 200 steps in a real estate transaction? I didn’t realize how much work my Realtor did for me behind the scenes until I became an agent myself. I have a whole new level of appreciation for Realtors! We just make it look easy 😉
I’ve had some really easy transactions but also a fair share of complicated ones. And let me tell you, those complicated ones have made me cry, kept me up at night and given me a few grey hairs! I’ve had to deal with a lot of different personalities, some not so nice ones if you know what I mean! I’ve had surprises pop up mid-transaction, delays in closings, threats of lawsuits…there is never a dull moment in real estate. These are just some of the challenges I’ve faced but I wouldn’t change anything about them because these challenges have helped me learn and grow.
As you know, we’re big fans of TruHome Group. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
TruHome Group is a real estate company based in Austin, TX that is dedicated to helping buyers, sellers and investors with their real estate needs. When you work with me, you can expect a person of high integrity, credibility and commitment. I am accessible and responsive. Ask any of my current or past clients. More often than not, I hear people complain about how they are not able to get a hold of their agent. That is definitely not the case with me! Communication is extremely important so I make it a priority in my business.
TruHome Group is a big proponent of supporting local and giving back to the community. At each closing, my client(s) make a selection from a list of local non-profits that I support and my company, TruHome Group makes a donation to the organization chosen. I’m a huge animal lover so we support Austin Pets Alive, Love-A-Bull & Wyatt’s Second Chance Ranch. We also support Dress for Success, CASA of Travis County and local Schools/Teachers. This is an initiative I am proud of and am so grateful that I am able to give back to my community while helping individuals & families find a home.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
We are already starting to see the shift in the real estate industry. Real estate agents are having to react to more competition in the market. Traditional brokerages are having to change the way they do business to stay competitive. I believe that new technology is going to have the biggest impact on how we conduct real estate transactions. That is why I have aligned myself with eXp Realty, a cloud brokerage that understands the importance of technology and its role in this industry. eXp also recognizes that the traditional brokerage model is going to be obsolete. They have created a movement that is taking the real estate world by force and people are starting to see the impact we are making in the industry. Whatever the shift, I know that I will be able to quickly adapt & respond because of the resources and technology that we have at eXp Realty.
Contact Info:
- Email: stephanie@truhomegroup.com
- Website: TruHomeGroup.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homesbystephtru/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsstephtru
Image Credits
From left to right: Photo 1, 6, 8,9 – SGina Photo
