Principal Perspective is a regular blog series from Wallace Real Estate that shares insights in the form of interviews with our Principal Brokers. In this edition, we hear from North Office Principal Broker Jennifer Humphrey-Poveda about her start in the real estate industry, including how she initially got involved with real estate and what motivated her to become a broker.
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I, like many who enter the real estate industry, came from a very different career path. In 1996, my husband and I were considering a move to Rockaway, New Jersey and the wonderful agent who was assisting us, John Rodimer with Prudential, told me that I should consider a career in real estate as he believed with my personality and skillset that I would make a great agent. I literally laughed at John for suggesting such a crazy idea.
While my husband was at work in his new job, John graciously showed me houses and introduced me to several beautiful communities in and around where my husband’s new job was located. I quickly mastered reading the MLS Book and found a Victorian home on a hill with 3 acres and a creek that I had to see. John pulled into the driveway which had a shallow creek flowing across it and told me, “I guess we won’t be looking at this one.” I looked at him puzzled and asked, “Why not?!” He stated, “There is a creek running across the driveway.” I replied, “And?” to which he replied he couldn’t just drive through the creek.
Unfortunately, John had never been to Tennessee or visited Cades Cove where driving through a shallow creek isn’t considered dangerous or unwise, so I suggested that we walk across the creek and up the hill to view the home. John indulged me and carefully rolled up his pants and removed his socks and shoes while I eagerly waited on the other side of the creek for him. Once he crossed the creek, he asked if I lacked feeling in my feet as although it was Summer the water was cold and the rocks hurt his feet. I told him, “No, I have feeling in my feet, the water is cold, and the rocks hurt my feet too, but I have to see this house.” I fell in love with that home and couldn’t wait for my husband to see it. Unfortunately for John, my husband hated this house, another house that we went under contract on didn’t work out, and my husband’s new job transitioned to him commuting back and forth versus us relocating so we did not buy a home in New Jersey.
Fast forward to 2001, my husband and I were considering another job transfer opportunity to Atlanta, GA and thankfully the agent assisting us there knew that we needed contingencies in our contract for selling our current home AND the job transfer as a company strike eliminated the position for my husband in Atlanta, GA. It was after the second failed relocation that I suggested to my husband that I pursue a career in real estate, so that we wouldn’t have to move, and our children could stay in this area and be near our extended families.
The “seed” planted by John Rodimer that I should become a real estate agent has been such a blessing to our family. It provided both the flexibility in hours and additional income we needed to pay for services to help our oldest child overcome the challenges of a learning disability.
Another “seed” was planted during my pre-licensing classes in 2001. The instructor of my classes told me that I should consider becoming a broker. I laughed at him and said I would NEVER want to be a broker. Well, that “seed” sprouted when our oldest son went to college, and we needed to pay out of state tuition.
I called John when I got my affiliate broker license and thanked him for his help searching for homes and for “planting that seed” to become a REALTOR. I called him again when I became a broker in 2016 and he still remembered 20 years later crossing a creek for the first time. There is much more to this industry than simply making money, it’s about providing a valuable service and fostering relationships that last well past the closing date.
As they say, never say never as you don’t know what your future may hold. I am thankful that I met John and that both he and our agent in Atlanta knew we needed contingencies in our contracts to protect us during the homebuying process. Without their knowledge, guidance, and expertise our failed relocations would have been costly to us and ended very differently. I highly recommend using a REALTOR when buying or selling a home to make sure that you have the necessary contingencies in your contracts too!
Jennifer “Jenni” Humphrey-Poveda is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, has been a Realtor since 2002, has been the Principal Broker for Wallace Real Estate’s North Office since September 2016, and has lead 65+ agents to close on over 500 transactions annually. In 2021, her office was ranked #4 based on closed units in the State of Tennessee for the franchise. Her focus is on maintaining an office culture of collaboration and mutual respect, protecting the best interest of her agent’s clients, and providing the training and support her agents need to build a sustainable business model. She is married, has two sons, and when not working enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, photography, volunteering, and exploring new beaches.
