Today we’d like to introduce you to Celeste Batres.
Hi Celeste, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Coming from a traditional Latin family, going to college was almost a non-negotiable. Being a Dreamer I knew I had to work harder than most of my close peers but I loved school so to me it was a no-brainer even if getting there was not an easy road! Having graduated from the University of Houston, I knew the next step was going into corporate and climbing the heck out of that ladder. But as a woman and a minority, climbing that ladder became more and more exhausting and in turn discouraging. As I grew in my career I began to realize that my creativity and my soul were not shining the way I wanted them to.
Come 2020 it seemed that all of us had some sort of awakening. Mine came in the form of a termination of employment letter and a severance check. That made me take a hard look at what it was that I wanted to accomplish. I will never forget the day I called a great friend for advice, anxiety at 100% because I knew that, that phone call would change my life. That day I decided to jump into real estate, build my own business, and walk away from the security of a bi-weekly paycheck.
I began to shadow my realtor friends to try to learn the ropes as I was prepping to take my license exam. My personality is wired to do research and prep and that’s exactly what I did. I loved all of it and trust me it’s not just what we show on social media or what you may see on Selling Sunset. It’s hard work! It takes you being knowledgeable, patient, outgoing, empathetic and so much more to truly be a great realtor. At the end of the day, yes it is my business but the fact that a home can have such a huge meaning to a person is invaluable.
Now living in East Downtown I am central to the entire city, which I love! My clients range from Millenials, empty nesters, first-time home buyers, investors, business owners, and of course Latinos. I love helping clients with their upgraded second home or their brand new construction. Being able to be resourceful and having a great team backing me up has been instrumental to the growth and success in my business.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There’s a saying “If it comes too easy it’s not worth having” and that’s what makes life fun and keeps you on your toes.
Being in my 30s and starting a brand new business is nerve-racking! Having the patience to plant the seed, water it, and see it grow is an amazing feeling but far from the instant gratification that most of us crave. Staying motivated and patient when you’re not seeing the results you are hoping for can be hard but the hardest part is moving past it to keep it going. But a new business is just that, a lot of hard work, long hours, and some tears go into building it but consistency has helped. The best feeling is getting to a place where you really see the fruits of your labor.
I am a super organized person but there are a ton of pieces that go into building something from the ground up so wearing different hats and handling all aspects of the business including marketing, social media, and transaction coordinating, to name a few, can be a lot. Every day grounding myself and my thoughts and manifesting my wants and needs has really helped me keep my head in the game and be intentional about my actions, the people that I meet, and the energy I place on everything happening around me,
To my clients, I am also a jack of all trades. handling emotions, different personalities and their fears of going through a big moment in their life is a huge part of what I do. Also making sure I am educating my clients along the way is extremely important, I want to make sure my clients always feel supported and understood throughout the entirety of our client/ realtor relationship and beyond that.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
From the beginning of my career in real estate, I have been a part of The WIRE Team with eXp Realty as our brokerage. Being part of an international brand like eXp Realty has opened up the doors to endless connections all over the world which sets us apart and has helped us grow tremendously.
The WIRE Team itself is a close group of hardworking women who exude inspiration, mentorship, empowerment, and years of experience which makes the team what it is and what makes me proud of being part of it.
We pride ourselves in building connections with businesses around the city to support but also to keep our network growing to be able to provide our clients with great resources. Although we are all remote we are a close group of women who host events and get together constantly to learn from each other and provide knowledge to our community. We love welcoming new realtors to provide mentorship and support to all of those who don’t feel heard or uplifted in their current situation.
What really makes us unique is the amount of creativity and knowledge that each individual agent has and brings to the table. We have all faced challenges with different clients who feel like owning a home is unattainable or building a portfolio is too difficult because they are business owners themselves. We’ve built a great extension of our team which we call the Dream Team in lenders, insurance brokers, title officers, inspectors and so many others who are instrumental to bringing the best knowledge and support to our clients.
Being central in the city I specialize in new construction, land, and resale in Downtown, Midtown, Montrose, The Heights, West U, Upper Kirby, and the West/Southwest part of the city, Although I have clients all over the city! Living centrally really helps me be readily available to my clients in all parts of Houston and surrounding areas.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
As an 8-year-old child coming from Guatemala to a new country was a little bit of a shock, to say the least. Adjusting to a new life, a new country, a new school, and a new language was one of the biggest challenges I’ve had to face at such a young age.
But my personality really helped me see the beauty in change. I loved school! So my main focus as a child was to excel academically and work hard to be the best. As the oldest of 3, there was always a sense of leadership and responsibility that I felt towards my siblings.
I always managed to learn something new, I loved books, or challenge myself with extracurricular activities. I played the violin and through my high school years, I was an officer in JROTC.
I’ve always been a true extrovert, friendly, independent, loved fashion, and always a talker so my personality really helped me adjust to new schools and new people growing up.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.celestebatres.exprealty.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/cb_spacecityrealtor
