Real Estate Apprentice® Runner-Up Sets Sales Record
ALISO VIEJO, CA., Oct. 19, 2005 – Andy Bearden, Real Estate Apprentice Runner-Up for Season I received his real estate license in October 2004 and started selling for Ebby Halliday Realtors® in November 2004. By August 2005 he had closed 43 transactions. After Andy’s wide media coverage as Real Estate Apprentice Runner-Up and his quick success as an agent they asked him for his business plan and decided to appoint him as their Director of Builder Services. This all happened within the first year of Andy’s career in real estate. “My 2nd Place in the Real Estate Apprentice Grant Program gave me creditability and was one of the main reasons I was offered the opportunity,” he said.
Before entering real estate Andy was VP of Sales/Marketing for a national homebuilder in Dallas. Prior to that, he served as Regional Marketing Associate for Greystone Communities, managing the marketing for senior living communities. In earlier years Andy was a caseworker with the Texas Baptist Children’s home. He holds a degree in Social Work majoring in Gerontology and an MBA from the University of Texas.
Because of his background, Bearden’s business plan included working directly with homebuilders. He thinks it is a good partnership and so does the largest real estate company in Texas, Ebby Halliday Realtors®…and with 4 billion in closed transactions last year, they should know. The company will now utilize their network of 27 offices across the entire Dallas Ft Worth area to implement Bearden’s plan of multiple services. Bearden will spend his time working with builders, setting up new accounts and new programs.
According to Bearden “Numerous sponsors of the grants of the Apprentice Program helped me with ideas and guidance that I could implement immediately, especially items such as the iSucceed mentoring program and various real estate books from Thomson Publishing. Even the application process for the Apprentice Grant helped me solidify my thoughts and business plan. “You must map your real estate career with a business plan and treated it like a serious enterprise not just a hobby,” he said.
One of the biggest issues facing new rookies is the struggle to jump from a salary to a commission based income. According to Andy “The primary thing is to realize that you are starting a business. If you are going to open a bakery you must buy an oven. If you go into real estate you will fail if you do not make a proper investment and get the right tools such as business cards, signs, good education, and join a mentoring program, etc.”
“Many people get into the real estate business because they want the freedom but then have difficulty disciplining themselves to do the work necessary to succeed.” Andy always comes to the office early in the morning just like he was working a regular 8-5 job. He does this to meet veterans, and learn how the business works. Often times because of fear, people don’t spend the money that they should. Andy does agree and provides the following advice for new agents “Invest in yourself, create a plan, execute on it and don’t forget to apply for the Real Estate Apprentice Grant Program,” he said.
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More about the Real Estate Apprentice™ Foundation
Formed in 2004, The Real Estate Apprentice™ Foundation is a non-profit venture created to assist new licensed agents entering the real estate industry, to overcome their fears and obstacles and to facilitate them to become top producing sales people by providing quality guidance, education, products and services and to help guide them on a successful fast track to profitability. 20 bi-annual grants, totaling $250,000 are awarded with no strings attached. Grants are sponsored by various leading real estate companies, service providers and industry leaders. Visit www.RealEstateApprentice.com for more information.
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