Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Tran.
Hi Jen, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My family immigrated to the US from Vietnam after the war. We found ourselves in Massachusetts at first but came to Texas in 1981 so I feel like a native Houstonian. I love being in Houston because of the rich culture and diversity. I started in the workforce at NASA Johnson Space Center. Since I started there as an intern in High School and then throughout college, I have held so many positions from Microsoft Expert to Server Administrator and eventually Aerospace Engineer. My last job there was performing trajectory analysis on visiting vehicles to the Space Station. So yes, I am a Rocket Scientist!
After taking a brief break from NASA to start a family, I found my way into real estate by accident. Once my youngest of 3 started school, I began to become restless and wanted to find something more to do with my time. A friend suggested we get our real estate licenses so we could flip houses together. I took the classes and passed the test and held an inactive license while I waited on her (I’m still waiting). My husband finally pushed me to speak to a Realtor to do something with my license and the rest, shall we say, is history.
I interviewed with several brokerages and finally decided to join one – the very first office I had interviewed and where I still am today. My plan was to work part time and make a little extra money to support my craft addiction. What I soon found out is that if you want to be successful in Real Estate, there is no part time! Being someone who always strives for excellence, I soon found myself immersing myself in my work. That was over 10 years ago.
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?
As all Realtors know, we eat and breathe real estate. It is wonderful having the extra income to do “fun stuff” but Real Estate never stops and I have a hard time letting go. We eat dinner as a family every day and we have a “no phones at the dinner table” rule but the phone never stops ringing. We have a countless number of photos of me hiking, boating, sitting on the beach – all with a phone to my ear trying to help a client.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Jen Fine Homes Team is currently me, myself and I but I am currently looking to hire an assistant to help with paperwork and marketing. I have been in the business for over 10 years now and I have thought about growing a team but right now, I am happy being a solo agent. My brokerage, Keller Williams Memorial, is THE LARGEST full service brokerage in the Greater Houston area with over 700 agents. I consistently rank in the top 10 for individual agents in our office.
I am a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS) and chair our office Luxury Division – growing it to be one of KW’s largest luxury divisions in the country. I am also a Certified Negotiations Expert (CNE) as well as a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS).
Although I do work in the Luxury Market, I still enjoy working with clients in all price ranges. I believe that everyone deserves excellence and a professional customer service experience no matter how much your house is worth. What I am most proud of is when a client tells me that they know I am juggling numerous transactions at one time but I made them feel that they were my number one priority.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
With the emergence of iBuyers on the scene, the real estate industry will see big changes in the future. I believe that many people may decide to go the way of iBuyers and cut the Realtor out of the equation. I can’t worry about those people. I just have to focus on helping those that appreciate the personal touch and superior customer service – because that is what I bring to the table and what I can control.
Contact Info:
- Email: jentran@kw.com
- Website: www.jenfinehomes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenfinehomes/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenfinehomes/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/jenfinehomes/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/jentrankw/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jen-tran-keller-williams-realty-houston-2
Image Credits
Common Ground Listings
