Today we’d like to introduce you to Kashmir Cortave.
Kashmir, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up, I thought it had a luxurious life. Now as an adult I realize how much I didn’t have but my mother made the best of it. Addiction is very present in my family! I had 2 options: 1. Follow the same path 2. Do better. Attitude and energy is everything. I had 2 children at a young age, 19-21. Ghjbga didn’t work out with their father so I was on my own. How can a mother raise 2 boys and not miss a beat but still financially provide without risking my freedom by doing something illegal? BARTENDING.. I was fortunate to have my mother watch my boys while I worked. Is be up by 7am, make them breakfast and pack their lunch. Drop my boys off, which were never late on my watch and I take extreme pride in that lol. Go back home clean up, nap, gym get dinner prepped, pick them up take them to whatever sport had practice, come home feed them. I’d then get dressed for work, drop them off to my momma and work from 9:30-3:30 am. Only to wake up at 7am and do it all over again. It was hard!! I cried, I’d fall asleep driving home, I missed holidays nights weekends rush birthday parties!! Nights off were not an option as a single mother. Then BAM here came Covid.. I was forced to stop bartending.
In between this chaos, I went to college to be a teacher, physiologist, nurse, barber and real estate. I had no clue where my place was where did I belong? One day I trusted a fellow bartender who helped me find a rental. I made it very clear that I had to be in Pearland! I trusted him when he said this home was zoned to Pearland ISD. I’d definitely was not. I told myself “I’m going to become an agent so no one will ever have to go through that” the school that my boys were zoned to was terrible!! And so I did just that! I was bartending and was a realtor until covid. Switching was so scary because there was no guarantee in real estate. Starting over in my mid 30’s is scary but so Is bartending and leaving my teens at home alone. It was sink or swim. I SWAM!! Here I am! Doing what I never ever imagined! I surpassed any goal I had dreamt of! I did better!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely NOT! This has been and still is a super emotional career!
Thanks – so what are you most proud of?
I’m most proud at my capability to juggle so many clients and never ever miss a beat!
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
There are no coaches, not too many agents want to help unless you pay a crazy amount of money, no real class you can take to prep you l!! It’s literally trial and error! You have to be extremely careful because you are dealing with other people’s finances!
Contact Info:
- Email: kash.cortave@gmail.com
- Instagram: YourRealtorKash
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kashmir.cortave
