Today we’d like to introduce you to Cynthia Block Helstein.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Ironically, and I’m sure many think this way, I’m not where I thought I’d be. But I love where I am! I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. Upon completing college at Boston University, with a Bachelor of Science in Communication, my wise parents told me to get a job and pay the rent – so I did. I took a job at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), thinking I’d work there while I figured out my next plan. It is incredible how one’s life unfolds. While working there, I thought how wonderful it would be if I could do public relations for the hospital, which happened to have been my major. The job opportunities in the PR department never timed up correctly for when I was eligible to apply for a transfer, and instead, I ended up moving up into Healthcare Administration. I worked at MSKCC for almost 10 years, and if I hadn’t gotten married and moved to Houston, I would probably still be working there.
My husband and I were on the two-year plan. We’d move to Houston for two years so he could get an MBA and then we’d decide if and where to move. Six months after moving here, my husband, who had lived in Houston previously, started talking about our purchasing a home. No matter how hesitant or reluctant I was, he felt confident this was the right decision for us. So off begins our first home purchase. I knew nothing about real estate, and we found a home that was for sale by owner (known as an “FSBO”) and realtors were not welcome in the transaction. Therefore, we needed to do everything on our own. We consulted an attorney to review our contracts, thinking that would suffice, and we moved along with the purchase. At this time in my life, I was not employed.
When moving to Houston we decided I’d take the first few months or so to get adjusted to the new city and unpack, while my husband started his new job. Luckily, I got pregnant, and I decided to try and start off by being a stay at home mom. However, ironically, about the time we started looking for homes is when my husband and I decided I should also start thinking about going back to work. I had no idea what I’d do, as I loved being home with my baby and hospital administration is anything but a 9-5 job. I needed and wanted something more flexible. During our home purchase, quite a few things did not go as I had planned. Not only did I not know the process fully but I was at the discretion of the seller to guide me.
The short of it is I realized the value a realtor can play in a home purchase and sale and wanted to ensure that buyers and sellers have a positive experience when making such an important life decision. As a result, I ended up taking a real estate course and diving into a career as a real estate agent.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not being a native Houstonian probably presents the biggest challenge I’ll face. The reason I say that is because when growing a business, one always starts with their friends and family to refer them business and keep them top of mind. Having no local family and just starting to make friends means my referral pool started off very small.
As I have become more involved in the Houston community, joined networking groups, participated in different volunteer activities, this has become less and less of a struggle. I’m proud of my accomplishments.
Please tell us about Block Helstein Properties/ Realty ONE Group- Lone Star.
My brokerage is Realty ONE Group – Lone Star, and I’m branding myself as Block Helstein Properties. When I became a realtor, I was told to specialize in a certain neighborhood since having a neighborhood that I could say I specialized in would make me appear an expert. Though I definitely know some neighborhoods better than others, I’m proud of the fact that my business has really taken me all over the city of Houston. As a result, I feel like I truly know Houston. I’ve closed homes up in Cypress and Humble, down in Pearland, over in Richmond and Rosenberg, in the Energy Corridor, in the East End and all in between.
I’d say I’m known for my professionalism, loyalty, negotiating skills and availability. I want my clients to get the royal treatment. I want them to feel like they are my only clients. I believe I’m successful in this goal. My other goal is that my clients should go into every transaction as knowledgeable as possible. I purchased my home and inherited many problems. I’m not saying I wouldn’t have purchased my home had I known about the problems prior to the sale. However, I would have felt more comfortable having known potential issues ahead of time. Knowledge is power, and I want my clients to feel empowered as they embark on this journey.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
This might seem odd, but I don’t think there is anything I would do differently. I think about how my life is unfolding, and when I look back on my journey so far, I can see why things turned out the way they did. For example, when I was working at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center I had been trying to obtain a promotion to be an assistant manager in the Department of Medicine. I thought I was a shoe-in for this position but was disappointed when I applied and didn’t get the job.
When an opening presented itself in the Department of Surgery, my boss had to convince me to apply. I remember him strongly encouraging me, so I sucked it up and applied again. This time I got the job. Why is this important? Because during my first year as an assistant manager, one of the managers quit in the department, and I was given the opportunity to be an acting manager. The assistant managers in the Department of Medicine, where I had been turned down, were not given the same opportunity. When a manager position opened up in the Department of Medicine, it turned out I was the only one truly qualified for the job and subsequently got it.
They say hindsight is 20-20, and I believe it. Even having worked in hospital administration before becoming a realtor benefits me. I’ve taken so much of what I learned at MSKCC and applied it to both my personal and professional life. Each of our journeys are unique, it is what we do with it and how we grow from it that will help us be successful. I wouldn’t change anything. I’m so happy to be a realtor now and help people fulfill the American dream of owning a home. Life is wonderful!
Contact Info:
- Address: 12777 Jones Road, Suite, 400 Houston, TX 77070
- Website: www.blockhelsteinproperties.com
- Phone: (713) 485-6843
- Email: cynthia@blockhelsteinproperties.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blockhelsteinproperties/
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