Today we’d like to introduce you to Sofia Botero.
Hi Sofia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was first introduced to the real estate industry through my mom who at the time had been studying for her license.
She told me about a scholarship being offered by my local Keller Williams that allowed people to study free of charge! I decided to give it a shot and study real estate alongside my other classes at the University of Utah. The more I studied, the more I started to enjoy learning about the topics which led to me seriously considering real estate as a Long term career! After about 6 months of studying, I had finished all the units in the curriculum and it was now time for me to take the Utah State and National Exam for my license. I remember being so nervous, I wasn’t sure if I would pass but I kept telling myself: “I tried my best, whatever happens is what was meant to be, I just have to persevere.” Long story short, I passed my first try!! But that was only the first hurdle!! I had already chosen the Keller Williams South Valley brokerage as the one I would join so once I got my license it was straight into KW as a brand new agent. The only two avenues I could take were joining the productivity coaching program or join a team. I didn’t want to rush into anything even though I was anxious to get started, but I spent about a week or two investigating and interviewing all the teams and during that time I was also registering with the national association of realtors + salt lake board of realtors, getting my Supra key access, registering for required classes, and just learning all these new tools I was given access to! It was a lot! It still is a lot haha! When interviewing all the teams, none exactly called out to me except for one. The North Summit Realty Team! They were different in the way that I felt comfortable with them, I truly felt we aligned and after we met, it was a no brainer to me who I would choose to join. I’ve been with my team for about 4 months now, and it’s safe to say we pursue Real Estate much differently than most other agents do. We don’t exactly do the usual cold calling , we don’t use dialers, or do the usual door knocking; we don’t pursue our business as a sales business but rather as a relationship business. We inject ourselves in our community, making new friends, building connections, and if someone along the way needs guidance on purchasing, selling, or investing in Real Estate, we’re here to help. Getting into this career as a new agent, I knew that it was going to take time. I’m building my own business alongside my team. It takes time to build relationships and expertise just like any other career. And while it can get discouraging at times, and I may feel scattered and overwhelmed with all the new information being thrown my way, I know it’s all helping me become the best version of myself. As I grow in both my career and grow myself , when the time comes for my business to boom, I’ll be equipped with all the knowledge and skills I’ll need to guide and educate people and get them on the right track towards their property ownership goals!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In my opinion, The Real Estate career path isn’t regulated enough. I believe it is much too easy for people to get their license , and the curriculum doesn’t REALLY teach you how to guide people through one of the biggest transactions of their lives and how big of an impact it can have on people if not done correctly. Once I got licensed I realized “oh shoot, I don’t actually know how to help people” and unfortunately that’s a super common feeling for most new agents. it’s a learn as a you go job haha. Which is why it’s so important that when an agent joins that they find an experienced agent or team to shadow/ work with to make sure that agent doesn’t screw someone over unintentionally. I’ve learned so much with my team just these last few months and have already had the opportunity to consult and guide people in my circle and get them more equipped in their real estate journey!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about North Summit Realty , Keller Williams South Valley?
The North Summit Realty Team is a Real Estate Consulting Firm under the Keller Williams South Valley Brokerage with our Team Leader having over 20 years of experience ! We specialize in new builders, new and established investors, real estate developers, residential transactions (that’s where I specialize in!) I’m also very proud of our teams emphasis on education. In Utah, Real Estate Agents are required take 18 hours of CE classes every two years in order to renew their license. These classes are complimentary to having your license and vary in topics such as VA loans, REPC contracts, reading appraisals reports, and many more. Instead of the 18 hours, my team and I commit to 6 hours of CE classes a month! It’s safe to say being educated is one of our main priorities !! In addition to this, I’m very proud of my teams ethics. In my experience, I’ve heard one too many stories of agents rushing people into a transaction that shouldn’t be taking place in order to get that commission check. Yes, we have bills to pay and families to take care of but we all knew that getting into this career there were going to be times where we might not get paid for a while. If that’s not something you’re prepared to handle then don’t get into this career and push people into situations they definitely shouldn’t be getting into. In other words, I’m proud that we don’t push a client that just isn’t ready to purchase a property despite having the means to on paper. Something my team leader says in cases like these is “I’m going to need that commission in the future just as much I need it now.” We invest our time and money into our people and sometimes that means incurring losses. It’s our clients best interest above our own; this is the Code of Ethics we sign onto when we become a Realtor.
What are your plans for the future?
As I grow my knowledge and expertise in Real Estate, I see a lot of opportunities to pursue for my family and I. We hope to one day own our business, start homesteading , and learn how to be more independent by growing and producing our own food. It’s a lot of hard work but it’s worth it in the end! As I gain more insight on the real estate side , I feel more fully equipped to make investing decisions in the near future for my loved ones and I to achieve our goals !
Pricing:
- An agents commission is always negotiable!
- Agents are paid through a percentage of the purchase price of the property
- Sellers pay their agents through their net proceeds from selling their home
- Buyers generally don’t pay their agents out of pocket, it comes through the purchase price of the home
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.northsummitrealtygroup.com/about
- Instagram: @agentbotero
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GKCepPy3x/?mibextid=wwXIfr
