Real Estate Apprentice® Finalists 5 & 6: "Thanks God He's a County Boy"

Aliso Viejo, CA Feb 16, 2006 – (Part 3 of 5) Misty Carter, the home grown gal from Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Patrick Shamblin from Centennial, Colorado – both musically famous states or states of mind – are now singing their own real estate songs of praise for the Real Estate Apprentice Grant Program.  Both Carter and Shamblin were today announced as Finalists 5 & 6 for the third Season III of the Real Estate Apprentice Grant Program.

Misty Carter is a full time rookie agent with Keller Williams Realty in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Patrick Shamblin is an agent with Home Real Estate of Centennial Colorado, These two Finalists received their respective licensing courses at T.R.E.E.S. (Tennessee RE Educational Systems) in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Armbrust Real Estate Institute in Greenwood Village, Colorado; both are part of the RealtyU^® network of real estate schools. Carter and Shamblin will receive $5,000 worth of real estate education products, education, books and services each.   

The Real Estate Apprentice Grant Program, which opened its doors in July of 2004 set about as its first mission to provide $250,000 worth of tools, products and services to rookie agents struggling to make it in an increasingly competitive real estate industry. Earlier this year the Foundation announced that it had increased its grant value in 2006 (Season IV and V) to $1,000,000. “Most rookies have commitment, enthusiasm and zeal, but lack an enlightened game plan or the necessary tools to achieve their goals,” said Dr. Martin Oliver, the Executive Deputy Director of the Foundation. According to Oliver, high agent failure reflects poorly on the real estate industry. “This is why we have teamed up with some of the best companies in the industry, in hopes that their products and services can help new licensees carve out a niche in one of the most entrepreneurial industries,” Oliver added. Those interested in a first hand inspection of what the real estate Apprentice Grant Program offers should visit their website at www.RealEstateApprentice.org

At college Misty studied broadcast journalism in an effort to meet new people and learn how to tell their story.   Misty believes that the relationship skills learned by interviewing people will help her greatly as she grows her real estate business. “I am also using the computer skills and originality gained by producing news stories to market myself to the community. The fast-paced, deadline-looming atmosphere of the news business can be very similar to the real estate industry,” she said.

Raised in Claremore, Oklahoma, Misty participated in multiple plays and musicals, student government and faith-based groups. She attended the University of Arkansas and Middle Tennessee State University where she was involved with campus television stations, Habitat for Humanity, traveling choir and Alpha Delta Pi sorority. For the past two years Misty has worked as the Sales & Marketing Coordinator for a subsidiary of the nation’s largest book and magazine wholesale distributor. Misty and her husband Dustin recently began volunteering with Safe Haven; middle Tennessee’s only shelter that houses homeless families together as a unit. Misty and Dustin attended real estate school together and look forward to combining their strengths into a successful real estate team.

Patrick Shamblin was born 20 miles east of Los Angeles and raised in the farm town of Cerritos, which later grew to become a thriving model of suburbia. The seeds of a real estate career were planted in him as a toddler as he would beg his parents to stop the car whenever he saw a construction site. As a child these sites were his playground and as a young adult he held construction jobs. Progressing from laborer to handyman he ultimately become a property manager, landlord and investor. Being naturally shy and introverted he took on sales jobs as a challenge only later to break sales records and win awards for top salesman. He is now an agent operating under Home Real Estate and lives with his wife and two young boys in Centennial, Colorado.

Patrick bought “Hot Wheels” direct from Mattel at age 4, operated a bicycle repair shop at 9, negotiated with real estate brokers to clean and paint their windows at 11 and threw two Sunday paper routes at 12. “Beating my weaknesses has been a lifelong fight and I thrive on challenges,” he said. With experience in all aspects of business from initial idea to managing up to 100 employees at a $30 billion company he has journeyed from construction to property management, investor to real estate agent.