Today we’d like to introduce you to Seanne Thomas.
Hi Seanne, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started selling real estate 22 years ago. I had a nice corporate job that I enjoyed with good benefits, however, the business need was 2 pm-10 pm M-F and my oldest son was going to full-day kindergarten in the fall and I refused to be a weekend mom to my son. I knew I could sell because I was driving a free Mary Kay car based on my sales and I thought if I could increase my unit production from $250 to $250,000 I could make a living in sales. That is why I decided to get my real estate license.
During my real estate journey, I became aligned with the non-profit housing development concept. I work with the only non-profit affordable housing developer on St. Paul’s east side as well as Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity and Rondo Community Land Trust. In September 2016, I launched ABC Realty. We are a small but mighty real estate brokerage that looks like the communities it serves. We pride ourselves on providing world-class service and working to close the homeownership gap in Minnesota between white families and families of color.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One area of challenge and opportunity is recruiting and maintaining a culturally diverse real estate team. We are all individual entrepreneurs and I do a lot of individual mentoring and coaching on prospecting in your sphere of influence and goal setting supported by daily, weekly, and monthly activities that are results-oriented.
Market ebbs and flows are a part of this business and making sure revenue streams are always available can sometimes be tricky.
I have learned to meet people where they are and to teach people how to be an entrepreneur as opposed to a realtor. I now understand that real estate is a tool for community building and at ABC Realty, we are building community one transaction at a time.
As you know, we’re big fans of ABC Realty LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
What sets us apart from other brokerages is our community-building approach to real estate. We held a summer of community conversations around housing equity followed by a series of films such as Jim Crow of the North and Sold Out with several of our community partners.
The events were so successful Twin Cities TPT got involved and we were able to have the filmmakers participate in the community conversations our work culminated in the first housing summit on the east side of St. Paul and now continues out of the East Side Freedom Library as their Housing Justice program.
We are professional and knowledgeable and committed to closing the homeownership gap in Minnesota. We believe real estate is a family and community affair and everyone deserves a place to call home.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I love reading and yoga and I am a disciplined meditator.
Pricing:
- The real estate listing fee is 6%
- $500 broker administrative fee at transaction closing
Contact Info:
- Website: www.abcrealtytwincities.com
