Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Walker.
Hi Susan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Born & raised on Long Island NY, I moved to Austin to pursue a degree at UT and graduated with a double major in Finance and Statistics/Operations Research. The analytic nature of my coursework proved the perfect complement to my caring upbringing in an Italian community of the northeast US. Industrious & determined to succeed, I worked my way through college in the restaurant business and had an opportunity to open my first business, catering company, at age 26 and then a lovely restaurant in Westlake Hills at age 36. When I met and fell in love with my husband (now of 30+ years), my plans to move back to NY and use my finance degree to become the first female “Red Coat” on the floor of the NYSE shifted. Nonetheless, both of my businesses proved a solid confluence for my passion for working with people, my attention to detail, my facility with numbers and drive to succeed.
I decided to go back to school for real estate just after the 2008 financial crisis and haven’t looked back since then! My finance degree has helped me to provide the best data to my both my seller and buyer clients. Since becoming a licensed Texas Realtor, my goal has been to become Austin’s Favorite Agent:). I work in all parts of Central Texas, from Liberty Hill & Leander to the north, to Kyle/Buda to the south, Manor & East Austin to the east and Westlake, Dripping Springs, Lakeway & Spicewood to the west.
I work by referral rather than “cold calling” people I don’t know and as a result, I’m able to devote my time to taking superb care of those who’ve placed their trust in me. I am blessed that my past & current clients keep me busy with their friends and relatives who need a committed and qualified Realtor to guide them and be with them throughout the exciting but sometimes daunting process of buying/selling a home.
Maybe it’s because I grew up as the middle child of a family of seven that I am so people-oriented, but the bottom line is I form lasting bonds and friendships with my clients and this is my favorite thing about my chosen career. That, and seeing the joy on their faces when we close on The One for them!
My real estate strengths center on my clients. Whether representing Seller, Investors, First Time Home Buyers, or Buyers who are Upsizing or Downsizing, 2021 was a year of excellence with regard to navigating the challenging & competitive waters of Multiple Offer Situations and 2022 in seeing a similar trend. I’ve been able to counsel my clients in the face of the currently adjusting real estate market in Austin and restore confidence to their strategies. I am constantly learning and share my experience and knowledge with my clients so that they can be comfortable knowing that they are making the best decisions in their real estate endeavors.
My business has grown steadily over the past 13 years as a local Austin real estate agent and I am humbled and hugely grateful for all of my clients who place their trust in me. I am a firm believer that, despite the sometimes complicated nature of Texas real estate, that we can have fun and expand our knowledge, all while forming lasting relationships and buying/selling the home of my client’s dreams.
Alright, 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?
I think being self-employed is never without challenges. Every time there is a shift in the global, national or regional economy, local businesses are exposed to fluctuations in their sales volume. I think the first five years of my business were the most difficult as I put my education and training into practice, built my reputation and was able to spread the word that I am a reliable source of accurate market information. Austin is a very special place to be a Realtor® because we have a fairly well-diversified economy with a variety of pillars that tend to keep our local economy strong. Everything from being the capital of the amazing state of Texas, home to the University of Texas at Austin, a constantly growing hub for the tech, innovation and music industries, keep this dynamic area not only stable but growing. I continue to meet new folks and get to know them by hosting Open Houses just about every weekend so that I am continually getting my name out in front of Austin’s buying public.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am very big on personal and career development and training. I feel it is my obligation to be the best trained and most informed real estate agent that I can possibly be so that I am best able to not only advise and guide my clients through their very personal and very important purchase or sale of their home but also so that I am best equipped to handle the unexpected items that inevitably come up in just about every purchase and/or sale.
I am fortunate to be married to a builder and so I have a sort of built-in expert in both residential and commercial construction and that has served both me and my clients in priceless ways over the past dozen plus years.
Additionally, as part of my own commitment to excellence, I enrolled in the Texas Realtor Leadership Program and completed that coursework in 2018. TRLP is a several-month professional development program that is open to a select few agents in the Austin area each year.
I enroll in continuing education courses each quarter and plan to complete my real estate broker training in the next 16 months as well.
I absolutely love working with buyers and sellers. I love showing homes. I love creating comparative market analyses to help both buyers and sellers to establish data-based offer packages (for buyers) and list prices (for sellers).
In my opinion, being a great real estate agent is both art and science. There must be consistent and over-the-top communication with all parties so that expectations are set and timelines are met. I am all about making this process a smooth and successful one so that my clients not only achieve their goals but have fond memories of the process from the start to signing on the dotted line, too! Again, since my goal is to become Austin’s Favorite Agent, I am constantly working super hard to exceed my client’s expectations.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I feel like my education and background are very helpful to my clients, but at the end of the day, people work with who they want to, and I feel like my ability to relate to people, to empathize and also to explain both the micro and the macro processes of the home buying and home selling processes, is what makes people feel like I am someone they want to work with. Despite the high dollar amounts involved and the stress that can accompany these types of goals, we often have fun, learn a lot and form a bond that lasts a lifetime. I am committed to helping my clients make the most money, more that they’ve ever thought possible, on the sale of their property while also using my skills and experience to help my buyers save money on their purchases and be able to get the best home possible. I’ll work harder and smarter than the 20 other agents combined to be able to exceed my client’s expectations!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.walkerhomesteam.com/
- Instagram: susanpwalkerrealtor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/walkerexclusivespropertygroup
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/walkerhomesatx
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNGub_JfPhlY0_RpMLnCjlA
Image Credits
Christine Varun & Ritika Avisha & Krishna
