Connie Mahan Real Estate Group, Bushnell, Florida
How did you get involved in real estate?
I got involved in real estate completely by accident. Let’s go back to 2001: I was stocking shelves at a local warehouse, and a good friend wanted to take a real estate class, but it was only offered in person, in the evenings and about an hour’s drive away. She didn’t like to drive at night, so she asked me if she could pay me to drive her. I said, “Instead of paying me to drive you, how about you pay for me to take the class with you, and we’ll just go together.” I thought I’d rather sit in a classroom than sit in my car, bored. (This was before smartphones.) Honestly, the rest is history. I had zero intention of getting into real estate and did not know the first thing about it. But the instructor, Nina Pappas-Qualters, was absolutely amazing. And that class changed the trajectory of my life. I know it sounds crazy, but it was a blessing.
What market are you working in?
I started and have stayed in the south end of Sumter County, Florida. We’re very rural. We were really rural 20 years ago, but there’s a retirement community close to us called The Villages. It’s the largest retirement community in the nation. The economic development of that community has spurred growth in my community.
What kind of marketing do you use?
In other places, so much marketing is done through social media. But that’s relatively new for our market. This place is very grassroots, and it was tough for me initially because I was not born and raised here, and my family does not go back five generations. It’s a very solid, generational community, so the only way for me to break in was to get involved in everything I could. If the Kiwanis Club was having a breakfast, Relay for Life was having a yard sale or the PTO was having bingo, it didn’t matter—I was there. Through the years, I just looked for all the ways possible to be of service, and the rest is history. Of course, our company has social media and video, but that is secondary to the main pillar of our marketing: being present in our community.
How did you get involved with CRS?
About five years ago, I attended a power negotiating class offered the day before the CRS state conference. In that class, they described what you had to do to earn the CRS Designation, and I thought there was no way I could qualify since my market was so much smaller than Orlando, Tampa or Miami. But when I looked at the list, I was stunned. I had been working so hard for the last number of years, and I realized, “Hey, I qualify for this.”
Until then, I thought designations weren’t critical, especially in my area. It was more a matter of, “Did you go to school with Bobby? Do you go to church with Susie? Are you Mary’s grandson?” So, I had never heard of CRS. But after that one education opportunity and then getting my designation, it was like somebody relit the pilot light. I’d like to consider myself a little bit of an education nerd, and once I was exposed to the Council’s educational opportunities, the profession became even more exciting. I’ve been promoting the designation in my area since then.
Are you active in RRC activities?
Yes. I am currently area director for RRC for the state. I go to Sell-a-bration® every year. And whenever there is an education opportunity available, I take it. I also subscribe to the Council’s education passport.
Are you or your team involved in community activities?
Oh, gosh—are we ever. I couldn’t even begin to list all the things we support: sports, academics, band and other community activities. We personally sponsor a live music and food truck event every year—this will be our third year—and all that money goes to benefit our local youth center. We are heavily involved in our community.
Connie Mahan, CRS, achieved the CRS Designation in 2015. She can be reached at conniemahan@aol.com or 352-569-0233.
Photo: Brian Carlson
