Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Corral.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born and raised in Houston and am a proud third-generation My Mexican-American mother and Colombian father were both entrepreneurs, so I grew up in a household where owning your own business/practice was emphasized. Nonetheless, my passion growing up did not fall in line with business nor medicine. My passion was music and the arts. I was heavily involved in the Latin music scene most of my life and had a successful recording/publishing career for many years. After some time, I fell in love and started a family. Unfortunately, that relationship did not end well and I needed to restart my life for my daughter and I. Music would have been my first go to, but being a newly single mom and the demands of a music career did not seem appealing to me. Late nights in studios, traveling and crazy schedules would keep me from the person who needed me most and whom in reality needed most, my 3-year-old daughter Mikaela. After some thought, lots of prayers and many conversations with my own mother, we came up with the idea that I should get my real estate license. My mom had been in real estate when I was younger, and I remember being fascinated by it. Soon, I began studying to get my license, and my new career was born. Having already had a career in music and entertainment where sales skills and marketing are incredibly important, this new path was very second nature for me.
My first deal was a bit of beginner’s luck and closed at over a million dollars. I think that set the tone for me because it really boosted my confidence as a beginner in that I was able to put my skills to work and make it happen even as a rookie agent. Since that day almost six years ago I have been fortunate to build a very strong and loyal clientele all over Houston. I am known for creative marketing, strong social media presence and most importantly my transparent and fierce handling of business. The clients I work with often become repeat clients and friends. I attribute this to my honest demeanor and great communication/people skills. It has taken a lot of work and dedication to get to this point. I remember running around town in the beginning, showing houses at odd hours, missing special occasions with family and friends so I could host open houses or meet a deadline for my clients and because of those sacrifices I can now proudly say I have built a prosperous and strong business that delivers results and allows me to pick and choose what I take on. My bread and butter in real estate is new construction. I exclusively represent a handful of builders in the area with projects ranging from 3-50 units. My job begins with helping identify a tract of land, analyzing the market to determine what we should build, helping consult the builder about floor plans and finishes, down to the nuts and bolts of marketing, negotiating and selling each home. It is an awesome feeling to watch ideas come to fruition when we break ground and begin construction and often bittersweet when we close our last deal at a development. However, by gaining the trust of my clients and earning those strong relationships, we continue to push forward onto the next project and so forth. I truly love what I do. I did not think I would find something I was as passionate about as music, but this comes very close. It has allowed me the ability to still be creative and meet a lot of new people and flexibility in my schedule to be a great mother.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road to success is never smooth. Most success stories often come from people who were born into adversity or had a very impacting moment in their life that forced them out of their comfort zone. I am no exception. As a woman, I have experienced criticism from others who don’t feel that this early in my career I deserve the success. I have dealt with jealousy and envy that I would not wish upon anyone. I have had people try to sabotage my deals. But that is the nature of the beast. Not everyone wants you to shine. But I don’t focus on those things, I try to focus on improving my craft, staying educated and aware of market trends and news. I focus on delivering results to my clients. I have also experience deals falling through after months and months of hard work without a single dime of pay. For this reason, I always tell new agents never to jinx themselves by calculating a commission amount. Wait until you are literally at the closing table before you start spending your money because of deals bust, inspections come back bad, buyers get cold feet, sellers reconsider. It’s just the gamble you experience in this business. My best piece of advice would be that you cannot do real estate “part-time”. You’re either all in or nothing. It requires your full attention and commitment. I would advise you to save your money and learn how to invest in real estate. You cannot go wrong when investing in real estate unless of course you are being advised by an agent that doesn’t know the market and in that case just call me!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My business is marketing and selling real estate in Houston and the surrounding areas. No deal is too big or too small for me. A deal is a deal! The majority of my work is in development and selling new construction, particularly inner loop townhouse communities, but I have also sold luxury homes as well as starter and resale homes. I work with investors and builders from the ground up! I have sold homes for many families across Houston as well and enjoy getting them the top dollar they deserve. I also love working with buyers of all price points but have an affection for first-time buyers. I find it very gratifying to help newbies because it is their first major purchase and they will always remember buying their very first home. I try to make it as seamless as possible for them during this very special time. My clients love the unique marketing plans I create for their properties and the fact that I fight hard for them. I am known to many as “The Boss Mom” a moniker I started using many years ago. My message was for women like myself who are mothers, but still very goal driven and focused on their businesses and careers. It is very possible to have both a happy family, be a mom, and have a successful career. I recently began a small line of merchandise that is geared towards mothers called “The BossMom Collection” that consists of t-shirts, tank tops and caps with edgy slogans and designs for the modern mom. It has been awesome getting orders from all over the country and expanding my brand as a career woman who focuses on balancing both mommy duties and closes deals in 5-inch heels! My personality is vivacious and bold. I am passionate about life and people. But I am very compassionate and empathetic and that I believe sets me apart. I treat every deal as if I were helping a family member and try to create a satisfying experience for my clients. That is always my priority.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
Growing up the third of 4 children our household was never dull. I was exposed to an entrepreneurial spirit very young and watching my mother hustle hard for us inspired me. She was a, and the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. After my father died, she had to stay strong for her children and provide. I am sure she had weak moments that overwhelmed her, but I never saw them. All I witnessed was her getting up every morning very early to get out the door and run her businesses that employed many other women. It was beautiful to witness that resilience. When I went through my own hardship, I knew I could make it because she had been able to with four children to care for and during a much harder time than today where resources we scarce and technology was not as advanced. That gave me strength and hope that I could accomplish my goals no matter what life threw at me. This helped shape my confidence. My mother always emphasized being a woman who could stand on her own two feet and to relentlessly chase your dreams. I am forever grateful for that.
Contact Info:
- Website: amandacorral.com
- Phone: 832-232-2293
- Email: amandacorral3@gmail.com
- Instagram: theamandacorral
- Facebook: facebook.com/theamandacorralgroup
Image Credit:
Photo Credit: Ruben Stunner
Clothing by XLabel Apparel
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
