Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julie Neira. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Julie , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
As a woman living her life with an unwavering foundation of faith, I know we were created to serve one another because “faith without works is dead”. Often however, most of us get caught up in the everyday run around of life which leads to us forgetting this important truth and thus not living our lives with purpose until much later in life. While I had been in sales and serving the public for all of my adult life, this did not actually resonate with me until I became a REALTOR®. In fact, my Real Estate career began when I took a huge leap of faith which ultimately led to many lessons in humility and the harsh reality that I had been focused on making money for so long that I never experienced the pure joy of serving from the heart.
Being a REALTOR® was so different from any other sales position I had over the years because I had to pivot and sell myself to potential customers in an effort to win their trust instead of just selling a product. Whether buying or selling, the decision is not only stressful, but in all honesty could quite possibly be the largest financial decision one may ever make in a lifetime.
I knew I had to stand out in the sea of Agents in my market so I began to concentrate on finding my niche’. I immersed myself into the community by volunteering with Veteran nonprofits and a Veteran founded no kill dog rescue named H.F. Help No Kill Rescue and that is when people began to reach out to me. As a Veteran Spouse, it quickly became apparent to me who my audience would be; my focus would be on Veterans and their families. Not only could I relate to the many sacrifices, but I could show them compassion as they coped with and managed the daily stresses.
My first Buyer Client was a referral of a Veteran family relocating to Charleston, South Carolina. I was fortunate to learn so much through that one transaction and was greatly humbled when they called me to represent them in the sale of their home when they relocated 3 years later. Throughout the years I have been licensed, I have made it a point to become well versed in the VA Loan and, in doing so, have become a Veteran proponent in all aspects of the term. There have been many misconceptions about the VA Loan which made it extremely difficult for Veteran homebuyers for quite some time so in an effort to overcome that stigma, I made it a point to become a resource to Agents in my market.
“Julie Helps Veterans” came to be when my workload became too heavy to volunteer so I decided the logical thing to do instead was make a monetary donation. For the last 3 years and with every house sold, donations have been made to local Veteran nonprofits. However, this last year my husband founded Warriors Haven which will be a tiny home community for homeless Veterans so now the donation goes directly to the mission of assisting Veterans and their families facing difficult times. Along with the donation, I am a Homes for Heroes® Real Estate Affiliate for just under 3 years and I credit a portion of my commission back to any Community Hero to include:Military Members; Active, Reserve or Veteran, Teachers, Healthcare Professionals, Firefighters, First Responders and Law Enforcement Officers. Choosing to do this for them gives me great joy as it is a wonderful opportunity to give back to those making great sacrifices while providing loving care and protection to not only our community, but our nation as well.
I am honored and humbled to share that I have placed #2 in the State of South Carolina and #38 in the Nation in regard to the number of Heroes I have served thus far this year. I know most business owners do not just up and start a business without researching first, but I chose to put my faith in God and He continues to prove to me daily that I am here to make a difference in the lives of many. Between serving Veterans facing difficult times and assisting Clients (mainly Veterans) in the purchase or sale of their home, a fire has been lit in my soul with a purpose of serving others through Real Estate. I have faithfully and passionately stood up for and served those who fight for our freedoms and there is no better way to express my gratitude than by representing them in such a life changing experience.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a South Carolina licensed Residential REALTOR® with a focus on serving Tri-County Charleston and surrounding areas but I can assist with the needs in all of South Carolina. I take my profession very seriously because the trust that is put in a REALTOR® is indescribable! and what excites me most about Real Estate is the opportunity to serve and build relationships with so many. A few of my job duties are to communicate, research and negotiate all on behalf of my Clients but my personal set expectations far exceed the above mentioned.
My business is built on a foundation of faith, integrity, honesty and effective communication and they are the driving forces behind my brand. Although Real Estate can be extremely stressful business due to so much of the outcome being out of your hands, my faith always seems to make the process easier for everyone involved. One thing I am quite certain of is that old saying “whatever is meant to be, will in fact be.”
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
It sounds funny to say, but I am extremely grateful for the obstacles I was able to overcome throughout my career because those experiences only made me grow and evolve into an even more valuable resource for my Clients. My ultimate goal is to look at each transaction as a learning experience. Too often I hear Agents making decisions for their Clients and I only see liability and haunting regret as a result of taking that action. My Clients entrust me and I would never put them in a situation they did not choose to be in so every decision is theirs to make.
If you are embarking on a career in Real Estate, I highly recommend you search your heart and find your why because no one can effectively market to everyone. Once you zero in on your niche, people will see and feel that which is true to your heart and ultimately become inspired by your purposeful thoughts and actions. Consider also volunteering in the community because not only is it great for your soul, you also get to meet like-minded amazing people along the way. Most of my referrals come from my volunteering efforts and they are my biggest cheerleaders!
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I became a GG three years ago and my grandson Spencer Jacob is my everything! He is the one who truly fills my depleted cup. I was a young Mom at the age of 18 and worked very hard to make a life for myself and my daughter so I ended up missing a lot of her childhood due to working all the time. I enjoy my time with my grandson immensely and now that I am a business owner I can set the pace and choose to enjoy making lasting memories.
The most sound advice I can offer is to not let your business run you and take time off when you need it because believe me, you can not effectively help others when your cup is empty.
Contact Info:
- Website: JulieHelpsVeterans.com
- Instagram: @JulieHelpsVeterans
- Facebook: @JulieHelpsVeterans
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/juliehelpsveterans
- Youtube: Veteran Businesses of the Lowcountry
Image Credits
Stephanie Selby Headshots
