Ask us anything.... part 1

In this episode of 'We're Doing This Right, Right,' we engage in a candid mid-year check-in during an 'Ask Us Anything' session. 
We discuss personal routines, favorite fast food orders, and the importance of self-care. 
The conversation shifts to real estate, highlighting unique deals they've handled and the rewarding aspects of their careers. 
We also share their favorite vacation destinations and reflect on the importance of intentional time with family and partners. 
This episode provides a mix of personal anecdotes and professional insights, making it a relatable listen for women entrepreneurs and leaders.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates

00:48 Welcome to the Special Edition

01:07 Ask Us Anything: Kicking Off with Fun Questions

02:14 Taco Bell Favorites and Nostalgia

05:28 When Do You Feel Your Best?

06:12 A Dog's Messy Adventure

09:03 Turning Things Around: Self-Care and Productivity

16:15 Reflecting on Achievements and Intentional Self-Care

18:51 Understanding Assumable Loans

20:13 Navigating a Complex Deal

22:03 The Role of a Good Realtor

26:31 A Personal Real Estate Journey

31:02 Balancing Career and Passion

36:54 Favorite Vacation Destinations

Transcript

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 0:00

I'm forward thinking and working actively in my business right now. I'm taking time for myself. I'm exercising. just doing like all the things that we say we should always do. And my God, do I feel fucking vibrant

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 0:13

works. Yeah.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 0:48

Oh, Hey guys, we're doing this right, right. Welcome back to a very special edition of we're doing this right, right. And today it is ask us anything

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 1:02

I'm so excited about this. Go ahead.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 1:06

It's so fun. We took to the social media and asked our friends and families and followers what they wanted to ask us. So let's see if we can fill a full episode with questions and answers that you

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 1:18

I mean, absolutely we can because we can talk about anything, but I thought it was fun to, you know, we were talking about like what we wanted to plan for this episode. And I thought, because you know, it's July now and this will air in July and it's the middle of the year. it'd be fun to do just like a little, little fun mid year. Episode. Ask us everything.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 1:42

halfway there. We're halfway there

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 1:44

we, I've only briefly looked at these questions, but I've done zero prep and you haven't really done any prep either on these, so this is going to be great. I'm excited for it.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 1:54

it up. Before we start calling, is there anything you want to ask me?

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 1:58

Oh, um, yeah.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 2:02

Not to put you on the spot.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 2:03

are you so fabulous? That's the question I want

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 2:07

I got it from my mama and

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 2:10

I actually have a different question. I have a take, a take back question.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 2:13

Okay.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 2:14

Okay. We've talked a little bit about this on the episode of a previous episode in passing, but what is your Taco Bell order?

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 2:22

Oh, okay. Well, currently I don't really have a go to currently because I'm so frustrated with their menu change. My go to order for 20 years at least, if not more, maybe 30 years, was a double decker taco with no lettuce, add mild sauce, a steak gordita supreme with no sour cream.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 2:44

Oh, I like it.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 2:46

That's what I got. I miss the steak Gordita Supreme so much. The way the steak would melt into the flatbread was so yummy. I'm so sad about it. And the double dagger taco was just like, I can never decide if I want a soft taco or a hard taco. Okay.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 3:04

You're having a double,

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 3:05

around. There's

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 3:06

you remember the double decker commercials with Shaq? Remember Shaq was like the spokesperson

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 3:11

gets stuck.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 3:13

for the double decker taco, which came out, I think when I was in high school. The double decker like launched I think when I was in high school and it was a big deal and it is a solid solid choice But it's gone though, right?

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 3:28

Yeah. It's not on the menu anymore. And I don't, I don't understand they have everything they need to make it. And it's so frustrating to me. So Taco Bell, if you are listening, please bring me back my double decker and my state gordita. I know you still have the gordita bread like some

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 3:45

the steak, they still have steak.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 3:47

We can totally do this. And some employees, first of all, are like, okay, well, that order hasn't been around in my entire life. And I'm like, okay, rude.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 3:56

Rude.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 3:58

they're like, I don't know how to do that. For fuck's sake. You have everything in there. Just move. I'll do

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 4:03

Just moving on. Okay, I'm gonna tell you mine. So Since it was launched the Crunchwrap Supreme with no tomatoes It's my go to and I believe the Crunchwrap was launched sometime when I was in graduate school And I distinctly remember I had two guy roommates in grad school And so after we would go to the bars or whatever We would inevitably like go through the Taco Bell drive thru at like 3 a. m And always Crunchwrap Supreme, no tomatoes. If they gave me the tomatoes, it was absolutely ruined. And I was so mad. The other thing, yeah, you can't get them out. And then also I do love, um, They're quesadilla, the cheese quesadilla, the sauce they put in the cheese quesadilla is like legit and it got rid of it But it was always with the lipton raspberry iced tea Which they no longer have now and they have some sort of annoying overly sweet Mango iced tea situation, which I am not happy about, but I

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 5:12

How rude.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 5:12

have drank it. Okay. So now that we've hit done the hard hitting questions, let's, uh, let's hit our list. And then I, we just got a late ad. So did you see that one that came up from Stephanie?

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 5:25

I think we just, I think we just start there. Cause I

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 5:27

Okay.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 5:28

a good one. So when do you feel you're very, very best? So this question is from Stephanie Olivero. She's a real estate agent in New York city and Westchester County. so when do you feel you're very, very best? Just scribe it in detail. What this feels like. the circumstances and what it entails or has entailed in the past to be in your optimal state. Oh, Stephanie,

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 5:52

Oh,

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 5:53

How? When? I am feeling really good this week, and I will tell you why.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 6:01

Okay.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 6:02

I had a really weekend. I think, I think I told you about my literally shitty

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 6:09

Oh, shit. The dog shit weekend.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 6:13

shitty weekend, dog shitty weekend. So you guys, going to go down. We're going to go low before we go high.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 6:20

That's how it works,

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 6:20

a situation where one of my sweet, sweet great Pyrenes broke into the shop, ate all of the wet cat food that was in containers. Like she broke into a box, broke into the containers, ate all of the wet cat food from Costco. So not a little bit. It was a lot. then she was in the crate because we have this situation where the dogs have to be crated and, she had diarrhea then

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 6:46

dude.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 6:46

her water all over the crate. And I, first of all, Alex, should not have been the one to be switching the dogs. It should have been done before I arrived home, but it ended up being my job. When I walked in to switch her, she stood up, she shook,

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 7:03

No, you forgot the part about the water. She spilled her water. Right? In

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 7:09

all over the bottom of the crate was in her crate with her and she had had diarrhea in there. So now I have shitty water being shaken off her body onto me and it gets everywhere, head to toe, in my ear, on my face, on my clothes, on my shoes, I mean head

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 7:30

her ear. And it was like 11 45 at night. Right? Like, wasn't it super late at night?

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 7:35

it's very late at night. I had just come home from Bunco shout out to the Bunco babes. and it was dark. We have no lights in our shop for some reason. Somehow we bought a shop that we didn't realize didn't have electricity run to it. so it's this whole, I like didn't even know what to do. And I'm not a, a crier, but not in generally these situations, I'm kind of a problem solver. So anyways, I cried, I lost it. I was not well, and I come in and Alex is fast asleep.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 8:01

Oh,

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 8:02

Stopped that immediately

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 8:04

oh, that's the worst. Very obviously.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 8:08

in dog shit, diarrhea, not dog

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 8:11

Yeah. No,

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 8:14

And this is all your fault. He didn't latch the door to the shop the night before. He

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 8:19

this is all your fault.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 8:20

dogs for me before I got home. There's so many things that were his fault. So needless to say, that was Thursday. It sparked a terrible weekend for me. I could not get out of my funk to save my life. I was just unwell for the entire weekend.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 8:35

And Alex was. It's

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 8:37

And

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 8:38

worst.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 8:38

could not do a thing right save his life. He was the target of all of it. We had a date one day and I'm like, are you sure? Are you sure we should go on this date? I do not like you. Okay. So I was like, I've got to turn this shit around because I can't. I, I, I am unpleasant. It is unpleasant to be in this body right now

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 9:01

Yeah. Yeah.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 9:02

hateful. And so on Monday I said, okay, going to exercise today. So on Monday I got up. I have been intentionally getting up before the kids. That's one of the things. So intentional time by myself. I exercised by myself.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 9:22

Great job.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 9:22

pool. I exercise. I love swimming. it. And, I don't need to do a lot. 20 minutes is great. Like I'm outside, so I'm getting the sunlight. I'm in the water. I'm a water sign for you astrological people. it feels good on my body. It's a low impact exercise that is also high reward. You know, it's like, it's

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 9:44

yeah.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 9:45

It's

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 9:46

Swimming's fucking hard.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 9:48

Yeah, so it's great. And then I sit out in the sunshine afterwards and dry off and just have quiet time to myself. business has been thriving this week. I'm getting

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 9:58

Yes.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 10:00

feedback and people are thinking of me for real estate, which is like,

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 10:04

Yes. I love that.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 10:06

responses. I'm getting referrals. It's like, it just kind of feels like I'm firing on all cylinders. I went and took myself and got a pedicure. I mean, I worked

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 10:14

Yes, queen.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 10:16

love my job. So it's fun. It's like fine to sit there and work and, and I'm doing creative things that are exciting to me. it's projects I'm putting myself out there. In my office with other agents, like working on building a long term business with hopefully getting some golden handoffs of businesses down the road. You know, I'm forward thinking and working actively in my business right now. I'm taking time for myself. I'm exercising. just doing like all the things that we say we should always do. And my God, do I feel fucking vibrant

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 10:50

works. Yeah. And you know what's so interesting is like, that feeling, you know, when I, when I read Stephanie's thing come up, it's so funny sometimes, like, You, you had this like low, so then the highs feel higher and you can appreciate them. It's kind of like, you know, when you're sick and then you start to feel good again, and you're like, hell yes, like I am doing it. Like, it's kind of like that. Okay. So when she sent this, my first initial idea was like, what first came to my mind was like, what is my ideal date? Like, what would that be? Like, that's when I feel my best. And I think it's very similar. Like I want to be able to get up. I want to be able to have my coffee. I want to go for a walk. So I did that today. I went for my walk this morning and I had my coffee and yeah, I don't know. July was starting out really fab. Like I've had a fab day today so far. Like I got my offer, my client's offer accepted on this big kind of like. deal that I was working on that had like multiple moving parts. So I think for me, I feel my best, like when I'm achieving the goals that I want to achieve when I am in control of my time, like that is huge for me. Like I. Wanted to go for my walk this morning. So I did, I had a meeting, I got there. I did, you know, like when those things are like going and I'm achieving the goals that I want to achieve. And I don't know, that's when I feel my best, to be honest. Like, cause I'm such a goal oriented. I'm a Capricorn and I am an Enneagram three and I am just like an achiever. So like when I'm able to. Achieve my goals, whether they're like physically, mentally, work wise, kids wise, like whatever, that's when I feel my best when those things are like working.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 12:47

I'm hearing you say, when you show up for yourself in the way you told yourself you would,

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 12:52

Yeah. Yeah.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 12:53

you. Feel your best.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 12:55

Also, I have been like, really, you know, we talked about this. I've been really working on my health and my fitness and, last night, I tried some clothes on that I, that weren't feeling great that now like make me feel much better. So that was really cool. So just because I was feeling more confident in, in who I was and, and, and my body, like, and, and feeling happy with, with that. So, yeah, like when I'm achieving the things that I want to achieve, when I'm in control of my time, when I feel like. You know, like I don't mean control in like a bad way, but like, you know, when I've got things under control so that I'm not feeling rushed or I'm not feeling stressed or I'm not, that's when I feel my best. So, and also like, you know, let's just, I would love to like, also like go on a patio and drink an Aperol Spritz today, but it's going to rain here, so it's not happening, but.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 13:51

We're not getting rain here. We're getting like 110 this week. So the other thing I'm noticing too, the other big shift I made in my world that's making me feel better is noticing over summer, I feel guilt for working. Because my kids are like, mom, are you going to spend a day with us? Mom, are you going to hang out with us? So then I'm like really stretching myself. I have been really stretching myself then to spend time with them

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 14:17

Yeah.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 14:17

the things with them, which I want to do, but I need, I need to be in control of when and how I do it and it can't just be like every day I have this little bit of guilt pulling me to do

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 14:26

Yeah.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 14:28

So just making meaningful time to spend with them. So, I am, I have made that shift where the time, like Monday, instead of going to August swim practice, which I'm, I want to be at every swim practice. I want to be at every practice. I want to be at every game. That's the type of mom that I am. That's the type of mom that I had, but I had piles and piles of laundry on my bed that have been like looming over me, like just getting pushed to the side every night. Actually, no, you guys, it's a lie. Alex and I just started sleeping in a different bedroom. than dealing with this laundry,

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 15:02

I get it.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 15:02

follow me from her life hacks. But there's more reasons than that. Why we started sleeping in a different room. But anyways, I was like, I just have to get this laundry put away. I want those sheets changed. Like there's, there's these things that I want to do. And if I skip swim practice, I can be at home by myself. I can do this. And I turned on Bridgerton and put away all of our laundry and changed our sheets and

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 15:25

Love it.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 15:26

like. invited my husband home early, like told him to leave work early and get home before the kids for a little quick mommy daddy time before the children got home and like just did life for us and for me. And I, you know what, sometimes we just got to do that. Gosh, damn it. And we should do that for ourselves all the time.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 15:42

Yes. Absolutely. I think, yeah, I think. Yes, all of it. I don't have anything else to add. Do, do the things for yourself.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 15:51

thank you for that question, for helping us reflect and realize when we feel our best so that we can try to remember that and do it more. So thank you.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 16:02

Yeah, it's, uh, the, yeah. What's the next one? What do you got?

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 16:06

from Sierra from San Luis Obispo. She says, what is one thing you've done for yourself this year that you are really proud of?

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 16:15

Okay I have really started to be very intentionally Intentional? But also in, I, the word, the phrase I was thinking of was intentionally selfish and we've talked a lot about that, like You know, making sure that I'm taking care of my self first, and that has allowed me to really show up better for everybody. And it's also made me like, you know, a lot of this has to do with the physical because I was showing up in a lot of ways for people, but my physical body was not feeling good. I was feeling really tired and that made me feel really. stressed out and I wasn't sleeping well and I wasn't eating well and I just felt like this overall like unshakable exhaustion which just then didn't make me a good Person. Yeah. Like it just didn't make me a good person. So when I really started being more intentional about being healthy and healing my body and being, and being strong. Like I realized that that has made such a big difference in how I show up in so many different ways. That has been probably the best thing that I've done this year.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 17:32

Good job. I am really proud that I honored the commitment I made to myself to go to Michigan and see my family member,

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 17:43

Yes.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 17:44

when life really happened here and it would have been very easy to cancel that trip. And

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 17:51

Yeah.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 17:52

probably a lot of people would have to stay and go to that funeral, but I prioritize the life that's still here over the life that is gone. And I'm proud of myself, and it was really, really what I needed in that moment. And I'm proud of me, and I'm grateful to my husband for encouraging that. Okay what is the best deal you've taken part in? So probably

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 18:20

You were first.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 18:21

but it wouldn't have to be. It could be any kind of deal. Okay. So I do, I'm so excited about this one because I have a really amazing deal that we took part in. This was one of my first deals in real estate and I feel like it's a Deal that I really got to shine in because I'm persistent and I'm and I'm noisy and I'm a problem solver

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 18:42

Yeah.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 18:43

like all those things got to shine. But we had a military person. What was it? That was not my client, but I knew that person very well. They had an au pair and my client was a veteran there is something. that our veterans, our VA loans have, which is called an assumable loan. any government loans are assumable. So like FHA loans are assumable, VA loans, those are all assumable. So what that means is the buyer of a house could assume, like take on the loan that the seller has.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 19:24

Right.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 19:24

a military, a VA situation. There's also an entitlement. It's called an entitlement that goes along with that loan. So the VA gives a certain entitlement or amount of money that they're allowed to lend from VA at any given time. So with that assumable loan, that's a VA, there's an entitlement involved and there's the, the interest rate involved. So because it was active military selling to a veteran, this active military was able to pass their and the entitlement over to the buyer, which was the difference of like a 7 percent interest rate to like a 2. 75 percent interest

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 20:09

God,

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 20:10

dollar

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 20:10

yes.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 20:12

Now,

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 20:12

Amazing.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 20:13

we had to, this was not offered to our buyers. We had to ask.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 20:19

Yes.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 20:22

It

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 20:22

No.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 20:22

by the

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 20:23

Why

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 20:24

didn't even want to

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 20:25

jerks?

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 20:25

on behalf of the sellers.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 20:29

Listen, choose the right agent.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 20:30

and yes, they, they regret their decision to have worked with who they worked with, but I was able to use my relationship with the seller to pursue the assumption behind the scenes and get it accepted. And then work like tirelessly with a very. Difficult lending company to get the assumption through. And I mean, there was hurdle after hurdle after hurdle on this deal, we got it done and it changed these people's lives. Like

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 21:05

Oh my God.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 21:06

absolutely changed these people's lives. they are eternally grateful for the work that we put into it. They recognized how hard we worked. on it. They are so grateful. They are dear friends for life. They didn't end up getting to move in like on the scheduled plan because life happens. But also

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 21:24

Yeah.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 21:24

I have a shipping container apartment on my property. And I was like, no problem. You get to move in here for,

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 21:30

Oh my gosh.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 21:31

while you

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 21:32

Oh my gosh. You guys

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 21:33

you know,

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 21:33

what service?

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 21:35

I know, I know, 10 stars. So, I mean, we

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 21:39

10 stars.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 21:40

like, these people's lives and just make everything as easy as possible for them in a very difficult and complex situation. And it was so freaking rewarding. Such a confirmation that I was in the right place

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 21:57

I love that. I, I love that. And I love what we do. I know like. A lot of people don't understand exactly what realtors do. And like in any field, there's like good ones and bad ones, you know, just like there's good doctors and the bad doctors or whatever, or there's good lawyers and bad lawyers, or there's good customer service. People in bad ones, but like one of the things that really differentiates like really good agents and agents that really care is when they're able to really understand their client and do these different things, right? It's not just. Finding, you know, it's not you just searching Zillow and like finding, you know, or them sending you a house they found on Zillow, like just the extra care and the extra intelligence and the extra thinking, you know, thinking outside of the box, thinking of ways to help your client to achieve their goals. Like that is, that's my favorite part about this job. I guess if I. I don't know what my favorite deal is, but the one that I'm doing right now, what I love about it is like, I met these clients at an open house, instantly connected with them. Like the woman gave me a hug on the way out of the open house. Right. You know, I love to hug people, but she wanted to hug me. So and it just kind of created a relationship with them and kind of understood what they wanted and understood what they needed. And they had an agent like they and I was just pursuing. I didn't know they had an agent. I didn't find out till later, but I was just pursuing them as a relationship also. Right. And, you know, I was able to find them something that wasn't on the market that I knew was coming up. And then. A couple of these and I took them to a couple of houses that they're, you know, their agent wouldn't have been able to find them for, they, you know, ended up ended their relationship with the other agent respectfully. And and then we got them pre approved, but then their pre approval was like, well, you have to sell your house before you can. Buy this house. So then we had to be like, oh, okay, well, now we have to try to find a buyer for their house, which they don't really want to list. So, like, I went out and, like, found a buyer and found an agent who had a buyer for their house. And these are the things that I think people don't know that we do, right? Like, Because of our network and we talk about networking all the time, like, that's so important to us, but because of my network and the relationships that I created with here, I was able to reach out to many agents and people and just say, like, hey, does anybody have somebody who might be interested? And, you know, I know there's a lot of things about, like, cooperation and putting it on the MLS, but not everybody wants to sell that way and not everybody can do that. So anyway, I was able to put some stuff together for them and all the pieces just kind of fell in place and. Just makes me so happy. Like they wanted something. They had this dream. I was able to help them like achieve that dream and then work through those, you know, everything that came up, we were able to just like, handle it and like, be like, okay, you want this house? Great. Like, okay, I can get you this house. Oh, and now we have to sell your house. Okay. I can sell. We'll sell your house. And like, It just is all kind of lining up and it doesn't always work that way. And there will be bumps and things like that, but it just is nice when you can able, when you are able to kind of like create solutions for people. I love that.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 25:35

Yeah. It's so rewarding.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 25:37

Yeah.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 25:38

It's rewarding. I had lunch with one of my clients recently and, you know, I told him, I was like, obviously the paycheck's great and I need it. I have to take it to the bank. I've got, I've got bills to pay.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 25:50

Right.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 25:51

here this weekend. I'm going to have 1500 PG& E bill, you know, but it's the feeling of like having helped a lot. You achieve what you did and it's the relationship that I have with you now. And it's this, like, if I could do this three times a week different clients every week, I would be so fulfilled and so happy. Like that is what I'm striving for

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 26:15

Yeah.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 26:16

more than the money.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 26:17

Yeah.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 26:18

I mean, I want them to, but

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 26:20

I want the money too.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 26:21

that I'm chasing.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 26:22

Yeah.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 26:23

It, that is the catalyst. Okay.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 26:26

Okay. What's,

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 26:26

while we're on real estate, The next question is from Patty from Santa Margarita. She wants to know how long have you been interested in real estate?

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 26:37

my husband and I talked about me getting my license probably 17, 18, 2017, 2018. We talked a lot about it when I had, when we had our construction business, because it made sense for us to be able to like, when we're doing flip, if we wanted to do flips or wanted to do our own flips or whatever but I didn't get my license until. February of 22, so still two, two plus years in, but it's been something that has been interesting for me. I had a, I remember being really little, my parents didn't own, never owned. My dad has never owned a home. My mom bought one like three years ago. And I remember when I was little, what I observed was that the people who are really wealthy around me all owned property. Like, I recognize that really, really early on. And that was always something that was very, very important to me. So I guess I would say I was interested in real estate since I was little, but, but I think it really became an idea or a career idea for me. You know, when I was in a transition and it seemed like a really viable option for me and something that I knew that I could be good at. So, and it aligned with the things that I like to do, which is help people and help solve problems and, you know, manage multiple things at one time and make people happy. So that's how it was for me.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 28:13

I bought my first condo in April of 2012. So I was 26 years old

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 28:19

That's amazing.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 28:21

thank you. Thank you very much.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 28:22

That's like a big deal.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 28:25

she

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 28:25

I remember you

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 28:26

to me

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 28:26

telling that story.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 28:27

to buy a house.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 28:29

Yeah, I remember you telling me that. They sucked.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 28:33

her for sending me on this trajectory. But when I bought that condo at 26 year old, never having been in a transaction before in my life, I micromanaged my agent and I micromanaged my lender because they both sucked. And I, it was like crazy. I'd be like, aren't we supposed to be releasing our contingencies? Like, shouldn't we be having a conversation about this? And. It was at that point that I was like, Oh, this is something I'm interested in. I'm very interested in this. And then that condo I did very well on, like I, I, it appreciated a lot and I sold

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 29:12

Yeah.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 29:13

to the day for a

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 29:14

Oh wow.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 29:15

reason. And the next place we bought, I, I feel like I was very much deserved by my lender and my realtor. In the next, like when my husband and I first started looking for our next place frustrated by how that transaction went. Oh, my first lender fucked me. And my first agent really fucked me by forgetting to tell me anything about closing costs. Like didn't

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 29:39

What

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 29:41

got to the closing table and they're like, okay, we need your check for closing costs. And I'm like, we've

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 29:46

talking about?

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 29:48

Like you have all the money. I just gave you everything I have for the down payment. So just like stuff like that, I felt like, God, this could be done so much better than what it's been and then how it's being done. And I just, I really caught the bug. And then we bought our second house. And again, it was like, why am I doing your job for you? I could be doing this so much better than. what you're doing. And, and then like, and I was so obsessed with the market from the time I bought the condo on. Like I just became obsessed with watching, watching the market and seeing what it was doing. And I could see the value in like the wealth building that could come from owning real estate and buying and selling and investing. And, and I always house hacked. It's the, that's the hot term. You know,

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 30:29

Yeah,

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 30:29

and immediately moved a roommate in to pay more than half of my mortgage. And then when

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 30:34

so smart.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 30:34

I bought together, we still kept roommates and then we built on and added an Airbnb and house hacked in that way. And then when we bought this property, you know, we have two rentals on it right now, and I have ambitions of adding more. And you know, I, I kinda lately I'm using the phrase, like, I, I go out of my way to not pay my mortgage. Like I can't wait to

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 30:55

Yeah. Yeah. That's amazing.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 30:58

other people pay my mortgage essentially is what is, is my goal. all those things made me really just interested in real estate and I had a career 2010 that had golden handcuffs. And what that means is I had a pension. had a matched 401k. I had excellent health insurance benefits. I had a six figure salary right out of college. I had not salary, excuse me. I was commissioned only, but it was six figures to start and like maintained that. And that was really hard to walk away from, especially because I built a life that. And, and I caution people on this, but I built a life that relied on that six figure income. And it became very hard to walk away from. So I was tethered to this career that I really wasn't that passionate about. And I really, really, really wanted to do real estate, but it was scary, especially when I got diagnosed with kidney disease, because now I really needed health insurance. And I understood how that health insurance plan worked and I was comfortable over there and it was, it was scary. To consider moving. So, and, and while I am much more willing to jump than my husband, my husband was a lot less willing to let me jump. He liked the tether. So anyhow, I stayed there for a long time, longer than I would have liked to have stayed until I hit a breaking point. And then I jumped and I don't regret it for a second. I don't think my husband regrets it for a second either.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 32:29

Yeah. Yeah.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 32:30

some growing pains that 2, 000 a month we now pay for health insurance is.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 32:36

Yeah.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 32:37

but sometimes when we're like, where's all our money go? I'm like, Oh, there it is

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 32:42

There it is.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 32:43

Thank God we have people paying our mortgage because we're paying 2, 000 for health insurance.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 32:48

Dude. That is so much. That's so much. You know what I think it's when you're married or when you have a partner, it's very interesting when you're ready to take a leap, they might not right. And how you have to work through that and how, like, I don't want to say, but kind of sometimes like how limiting that feels, right? Like if I was just by myself and I could be like, bye, but, It is also like such a great, like, I love being in a partnership across the board. Like, I love the partnership that I have with you. I love the partnership that I have with David. I love like having these types of partnerships and relationships where you have somebody who is either balancing you out or is pushing you or who is doing. I just remember like, and this relates to real estate and that like when we moved here, I really pushed to be, to, to move. We were ready to do something different. And he was like kind of reluctant, but he's a very nice husband. And he was just like, okay not really, but you know, he was willing to trust me on this. And I kind of am in that person who is kind of leading the change all the time. But I remember very distinctly, like. When we had been here for about six months and I had my design business and I was doing a little bit, but we need more money and to be able to have somebody to have a partner, we were standing in an entryway. And I was like, I just, I feel like I'm having a midlife crisis. I don't know what I should do. I don't know if I should go back and get a corporate job. I've never even had a corporate job. Really? Like, I worked in education and athletics and, you know, like, those aren't corporate structure, but not corporate. I was just kind of like, what should I do? And my sweet husband was like, well, I don't really want to tell you what to do. I want, you know, you know, like you should, I don't want to tell you what to do, but when you're with somebody for so long, you know, David and I will be married 14 years this month and we've been together almost 20 years. Right. But I've known him since I was 14. And he was, I was like, no, literally I can't think anymore. I need you to tell me what to do. Like I can't make a decision. And he was just like, I think that you'd be really great at real estate. And I remember being like, great, that's what I'm going to do then. You know, like, I was just like, I don't know, man, like, great. You told me to do real estate, so I'm going to do it. But because we have that great partnership, he knew that this was something that I was going to be great at, like he. Knew it. And he believed in me. And, and I think that that was really a time in my life or a point in our life where he was able to work, he was pushing me or guiding me versus me always pushing him, but I think it was just like, you know, people ask me like, Oh, did you, did you fall in love with real estate? And I had interest in real estate and I did have this interest in like always wanting to own a home and owning property, but like, I think there's a lesson there for people who need change or want change, but don't know what to do, like, You can fall in love with something that you're not already in love with when you start, you know, and just to like, trust, trust the process or learn to love it. Like, I love what I do now. Like I just, I do, you know, like I, you see all those quotes. That's like, you know, if you wake up every day and you're excited about what you're doing, then you're doing it right or whatever. Like, do I jump out of bed every day and be like,

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 36:27

in your life.

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 36:29

yeah, yeah. Yeah. I don't, you know, like there are really hard days. I've had some of my hardest days in the last two and a half years, but also some of the best and like the freedom that we have. The control that we have in some respects, sometimes not, but anyway, it's just really good. I'm thankful for that.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 36:53

Okay. your favorite vacation destination?

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 36:57

Oh, I, I saw this and I don't know. I think my favorite vacation destination is the place that I haven't been yet. And that is Greece. And I swear to God, it was on my vision board last year and this year, and I don't know how it's going to happen. I don't know when it's going to happen, but if I don't go to Greece, I'm going to freak the fuck out. It's like a calling. I don't know. That's my dream destination. That's where I want to go. I mean, I've traveled to a lot of lovely places to beat and I did, or went on our honeymoon in Cape town. And that was incredible. I would go back there in a 2nd you know, I've been to Paris. Paris is amazing. Australia was amazing. I don't know, like. There's also something really lovely that we now for fall break, we usually go to Michigan. And I just, I love that, like, it's so simple, but like, it's just a nice time that we spend together. And like, I think part of that vacation is not necessarily just the destination, although we do love Michigan, like it's beautiful, but also just like that is a vacation that we take. Where we're just together as a family. There's no holiday, there's no other family involved. There's nothing. It's literally us just being somewhere together as a family and like having fun together. That's my favorite.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 38:21

Okay. Well, we're super synced because I was going to say my favorite vacation destination is Michigan. I'm going to be unique in this because. We have family, we have a river house, I mean my Aunt Nene has a river house, thanks Aunt

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 38:37

Yeah.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 38:38

And so, and I, fun, funny is for years, I was almost resentful for a little while. in my like mid twenties and thirties. Like God, we only ever vacation in Michigan because

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 38:50

Yeah.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 38:51

that's where my family is. Like I'm missing all these other places that we should and could be going because I'm just always going to visit family. I was resentful. And then here I am. I'm like, actually. my favorite because I go and we don't, we don't do anything

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 39:10

Yeah.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 39:11

mean, we go, we go to restaurants, we go, like we go out, we have time, but we see family and we lay around and we're at the river and we can float in the river and we can go swimming, we can go kayaking. I mean, there's all these things to do that are fun and it's easy. And like, have so many nostalgic. Childhood memories. And now when we take the kids, the kids get to make all those nostalgic childhood memories. And the town that we go in that I feel like I grew up in, I didn't grow up there, but I grew up going there every year, one or two times a year, my whole life. Like now my kids get to go and make those kinds of memories with their cousins

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 39:46

Oh, I love it.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 39:47

how fun is that? So, and I got engaged there and

colleen_1_07-03-2024_122452: 39:52

my God.

cheryl_1_07-03-2024_092452: 39:53

so. like some of my favorite people are there and it just feels like home. My parents will not live in their house forever. Yeah, it just, it feels like home in Michigan. So it's my favorite vacation destination.

40:08

That's a wrap on part, one of ask us anything. We will see you back here next week for part two. Have a great week.