Speaker 1: 0:30

My name is Sharon Rooks and my business is Sharon Rooks Homes and that's in a relationship with Berkshire Hathaway, which is the company I'm associated with. I am a realtor, as you can probably tell that, and I serve as buyers, sellers, renters, land owners and people who want to expand into land. I really specialize in three different areas. I do first-time homebuyers, who I just love and adore, I do downsizers and then I also do VA and military. Okay, those are my real specialty, but of course, I'm here to help anybody with everything.

Speaker 2: 1:13

Yeah, that's wonderful. I love the versatility and the specialty all in one. Thank, you.

Speaker 1: 1:17

Thank you. Yeah, it's taken a while. You know, when you first start real estate, they say what do you want to specialize in? What's your niche? And I'm like I don't know, I'll help anybody, just come help here, I am here for you.

Speaker 2: 1:36

And then, as you start in, more you see the things that you like to do the most and the things that you're the best at. I would like to ask you for a little bit of a background about yourself and how you got started in this industry. What led you to where you are today? What's the journey been like?

Speaker 1: 1:45

Well, you know what? It's been a great journey, I will say. I've had just a a charmed life. I had a father who was in the Marine Corps and one brother and, of course, an amazing mother who was a stay-at-home mom. We moved around every single year, so I went to a different school almost every year of my childhood until we moved to Massachusetts and then I went to high school and college. There I met my husband, who's also a Marine, and we've spent the, we spent, he spent 25 years in and we spent 13 years together in it and retired here and we came to Potomac Falls, sterling.

Speaker 1: 2:25

I spent 15 years in the school system as a school nurse and I loved it. I absolutely adored it. The kids elementary because I don't really want to have kids that are taller than me and I'm really quite short. So I do love my little ones and I always say I get paid in hugs Great compensation. It is, it really is. And then my mom got ill. She lived with us and so I retired, became her primary caregiver until her passing and then I said dogs, you have all of my love and attention. And that lasted for two weeks and I said I got to do something.

Speaker 1: 3:05

I can't just sit around the house and I had friends who were in real estate and that's how I got into that. Wow, I know. And then about three years ago I went back to school so that I'm teaching part time and doing real estate the rest of the time. Yeah, it's really been a life of reinvention. Yes, I love reinventing myself. I've never done the same job twice and to me that makes you so I'm going to use the word blessed again, because you get to try so many things. I still haven't done everything. I don't know what I want to be when I grow up, but one of these days maybe I'll figure it out Maybe, right, I love that.

Speaker 2: 3:47

That's such a great mindset to have, because you feel like sometimes you feel like you're boxed in somewhere and you feel like you can't grow out of that. But that is so not true. You have to definitely believe in yourself and believe that you are capable of doing that. And just whether it's rebranding, reinventing yourself, you're capable of doing it. You just have to take that leap of faith, I'm going to say, because sometimes change is hard. It can be scary. You don't know if it's going to work or not, but you won't find out until you actually do it.

Speaker 1: 4:17

Right, and there are a lot of people who find a comfort zone and that's where they stay, and maybe that's perfect. That's perfect for you. I'm so happy and pleased for you. Yes, but for me that's never been the case. I've always been a I guess I've always been a wanderer, since early years.

Speaker 2: 4:34

Yeah, staying curious is so important.

Speaker 1: 4:36

Yeah, and you know what, as a military spouse and a military child, I always found it was very important, because if I didn't, every time we moved from my husband or from my dad, you know, making friends and getting accepted into a new school or into a new job there were so many jobs that I just fell in love with and I was like, oh, I don't want to go. But his career came first and that was where our hearts and minds were. So I was very blessed.

Speaker 2: 5:06

Yeah, absolutely, and I can definitely see where that specialty for you comes from, having that background with helping families in the military and the Marines. Talk to me a little bit about that and how having that perspective and experience growing up and having that in your life has shaped your work life with helping your clients in the military.

Speaker 1: 5:25

Exactly exactly. You know what. I understand what they're going through. My husband and I have bought houses when we were transferring. We've also rented homes. I understand the you know the decision whether to are we going to be here three years? Are we going to be here three years in rent? The best schools for our son, the best neighborhoods where we can find, you know, amazing friends that will stay with us for the rest of our lives? So I try to bring that to all of my clients, especially the military ones, because they are going through that. I don't know this area, I don't know where I want to be, and a lot of them do that I'm going to rent for a year because I just have no idea where I want to be.

Speaker 1: 6:07

And I am with you. I'm here to help and advise you, and that's exactly it. I'm here as an expert and as a guide and to advise, and that's any of my clients really truly is. I am here as your. I'm going to say the word nurture because it's something I feel very strongly about. I'm here to nurture what you need and what you want, and and that's especially true in the military, because some of them are only here for short periods of time yes, and I want them to remember this place fondly. And you know what the best recommendation you could ever have is if someone says you, sharon, because she really helped us to find the home that we were so happy in. Yes, and that to me, is gold.

Speaker 1: 6:55

Absolutely, oh my gosh, oh, oh, my gosh, I love it.

Speaker 2: 6:59

I love that for you. Oh, thank you so kind, Absolutely. It means a lot Good good, good. I want to ask you what have been some challenges for you navigating your career through all this experience and all this time that you've had with laws, changing policies, changing technology? What have been some struggles that maybe other people can relate to, and how have you learned from those?

Speaker 1: 7:24

challenging moments? That's a really great question and I know that you have met with a lot of other realtors throughout the time and we're all kind of going there and going. All kind of going there and going what is going on? Yes, and I'm a creature of habit, I'm not a big changer. I hate change in some ways, so it is difficult for some people. I do have a fabulous brokerage and they have kept us up to date every step of the way, advising us. They're always a phone call text away with advice.

Speaker 1: 8:01

One of the challenges this past year is the rates have just not gone the way we hoped that they would, and I'm very lucky. Early on in my career I met an amazing mortgage broker, scott Ward, with Potomac Mortgage Advisors, and he's a wholesale mortgage broker and, ladies, hello, if I say the word wholesale we all know that's where I need to go, because that's where I'm going to spend the least and that's exactly the thing. So when I have buyers, even now, I will say don't get hung up on the word rates. Rate is an ugly word. Yes, tell me what you think you can afford, what you think that would fit into your lifestyle, so that you could buy the home, even if it's not the home of your dreams. It's the home of your dreams right now. And at that point I take them to Scott and he makes that happen. And so we're not dealing with what is the rate. We're dealing with here's how much you can afford a month, and we'll make that happen for you. And then, when these ugly word rates- go down.

Speaker 1: 9:11

It's a great way to put it. Yes, then you have this amazing home, but you'll have it for less and that's been my struggle this year to get. I have been so proud of my buyers who were bold enough to buy and to not get that mindset oh, the rates, the rates, the rates. Get out there and find that home and then, because you're going to have a home longer than the rates are going to be ugly. You know you got to get over the. You know, oh, I can't buy now because the rates are 7%. When we bought our home, our first home, the rates were 13% and we never even thought about it because that's what the rates were and it was something we could afford. So I mean, I think that's the key now is trying to get the buyers to understand that the market is still fabulous, there are still amazing homes out there and you're missing them. Yes, and I do. I'm going to keep talking here for a second. I do have this and it may not make any sense to you, but it makes sense in here.

Speaker 1: 10:18

I have this little example that I try to tell people. It's like Black Friday I'm going to buy this for my family on Black Friday. I'm going to wait, I'm going to wait, I'm going to wait. Black Friday comes. I get up super early, I'm going to go to the store and there's 4,800 other people who want the same thing. Yep, I want, and that's the way the rates are. The rates are a little higher now, but you don't have as much competition. Get in there, win the home and then laugh all the way to the bank when the rates go down.

Speaker 1: 10:50

Yes, that's my spiel for buyers.

Speaker 2: 10:53

No, that is a great way to put it. Oh my God, it makes total sense because it's so true. Thank you.

Speaker 1: 10:58

It just dawned on me one day and I'm going oh my God, I probably say this. And people go oh, would you please stop saying that? No, but it makes sense, it does. People just don't understand that when the rates go down Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds- of people are going to hit the market.

Speaker 2: 11:15

Yes.

Speaker 1: 11:16

And another thing buyers need to do.

Speaker 1: 11:18

Just one last little thing about my buyers is prepare now, get educated, talk to a realtor, talk to someone who can advise you. I always steer my people to Potomac Mortgage Advisors. He gets them qualified, he gets them ready so that when they feel the time is right, we're ready to jump. And then they walk around with like a ball of cash in their pockets. There we go. I mean, it's just like that, because he's got you so well qualified, we're done. Wow, I know how about that. Folks I know and he's an amazing person and I have spoken enough about him. But I will say I was very lucky to team up with him because he is a wholesale yes, and there's not a lot of them around.

Speaker 2: 12:06

No, no you got that right.

Speaker 1: 12:08

There you go. So that's my whole buyer thing. And as for seller, sellers, you know I know what I own a house. Your house is not the most beautiful home in the whole wide world. It's not worth $3 million, but it might be worth a million. It might be worth 800,000, but listen to your expert. Let us guide you. Let us guide you about the laws, the new way of managing the sale of a home, so that you get the best qualified buyers. There are the changes that we have now. We are all living through, we're working through, but they are not inhibiting a sale or a buy. We're making that happen regardless, and that, to me, is what you have a realtor for.

Speaker 2: 12:58

Exactly. Well said, well put. Thank you, yeah. And now, in your opinion, what are some good factors that people should be looking out for that you think a real estate agent should have?

Speaker 1: 13:10

Oh, that's a good one. Yeah, I think a realtor should not be here for just this one transaction. He or she should not know your name just while they're working with you and then forget about you. There are people I know who say, well, I'm going to go back to someone I used 30 years ago. That must mean that they made an impression upon you. They found you the home, they kept up with you. You know they're still in the business and that means something. Don't go back to them just because it's too hard to find somebody else. There's too many other amazing realtors out there.

Speaker 1: 13:52

A realtor should be knowledgeable about the market, about the area you're looking in. I do business all over Northern Virginia, but I'll be the first one to say down at Quantico is a tough area for me because I don't live there. I know the area, I'm happy to work there, but I'm also happy to say perhaps we should talk to someone who's more experienced in that area. Or further down at Fredericksburg. Those are areas that have a lot of military and I love to help people, but I'm also the first one to say I want the best for you. So I think a realtor needs to be communicable. You have to stay in touch with your clients. Communicable. You have to stay in touch with your clients. If they call, you should be returning their call within an hour or two. It should not be a day unless something dreadful has happened. Yes, these are things that are supposed to be ingrained in realtors. You are responsible for your clients, absolutely.

Speaker 1: 14:54

And they need to know that you're there for them and they can't do that if you're not filling them in on what's going on with the house they're buying, giving them updates on where things stand in the process. I mean, that's what a realtor is for, because the internet does a lot of things right now and there's a lot of millennials and even older people who are very savvy on the Internet and could go there and find homes. But I will tell you that if you go and find a home on Zillow, it may not really be there. Is it already gone? It may be really gone, uh-oh.

Speaker 1: 15:33

It is something that they do fill in from our MLS. As soon as we list a home, it populates out to realtor and homes and Zillow, but it doesn't always come back, so it doesn't always so call, call a realtor. Yeah, you know, get that expertise because you know what. We stay certified, we stay up to date, we have to take 30 hours of classes every two years, we have to pay to have licenses and we are monitored very carefully by the National Realtors Association and the Virginia Realtors Association. We are here because we want to be and we want to help. Yeah, and if you get somebody who's good.

Speaker 2: 16:21

You're in good shape. Sounds like. I feel like Sharon might be that person. She's very knowledgeable. She's very kind and she's very sweet, but most of all she is very knowledgeable and she knows what she's talking about y'all.

Speaker 1: 16:31

Thank you Absolutely.

Speaker 2: 16:33

That means a lot, of course, yes, and then let's see I have so many questions I don't want to ask you, but I don't have enough time sometimes. All right, so let us see how do you stay motivated and inspired in your work as a real estate agent and what keeps you passionate about the industry?

Speaker 1: 16:52

Wow, that's amazing. I mentioned that I deal with a lot of first-time homeowners and downsizers. I think both of those areas are so invigorating because you get the excitement of a first-time homebuyer, a couple who is going to get married, or they just want to buy a home together, or they're engaged and maybe 40 years down the road they want to do it whatever. Or they're engaged and maybe 40 years down the road they want to do it whatever. The excitement is there and I always kind of give them that nurture that I feel they need.

Speaker 1: 17:24

As far as downsizing, some people who own homes think, oh, I bought a home, I understand, I got it, but you know what things change so much. Oh, yeah, and if you bought a home 20 years ago, it is, I can promise you everything is different now. Different, oh, I believe it. So the motivation there is to not only make them or help them to understand, but to guide them into the next adventure. Yeah, and that is very exciting. And, as I said, about three years ago I went back to school and I teach reading in Sterling Elementary and I get very motivated by that too. Yeah, so I also help a lot of people that I know from the school system and things like that. So I think every day it's a new challenge, it's a new excitement, and I'm also a pretty up person. I don't know why. I guess I got it from my dad. I've always been an up person, I've always been a person who cares about people, and so the motivation is there. Yeah, it is frustrating sometimes when you just I want it so much for you.

Speaker 2: 18:35

Yes, but I can't want it more than you do. Yes, correct, well said.

Speaker 1: 18:40

Right there, so that is tough.

Speaker 2: 18:42

Yeah, no, but it sounds like you're doing a great job.

Speaker 1: 18:45

Thank you.

Speaker 2: 18:45

I want to touch on your teaching career a little bit.

Speaker 1: 18:48

Oh, thank you.

Speaker 2: 18:49

That would be wonderful, if you don't mind.

Speaker 1: 18:50

You know what it was. The market changed. Obviously, we started having struggles and I said to my husband I said you know what? I think I would like to go back part-time and teach, and so what I do is I teach kindergarten through fourth grade. I know it, they're just so special. I absolutely adore the kids and you get such a great relationship with them. And we teach phonetics, we teach reading. I have a lot of English as a second language students and you know what? It's just a oh my.

Speaker 1: 19:30

Give yourself a round of applause because it happened, it came in, you got it, we got it, yeah, and we do it all at a small table. I pull my kids from classes, we come and we have a 20 minute lesson. I put them back and we do it every day, and it day for each one of them too, and so for me, it's important that I'm in touch with what's affecting them. How can I be here for them? Yeah, and how can I enrich their lives? Yes, and so to me, that gives me an extra boost so that when I go back and I do real estate, I carry those good feelings with me.

Speaker 2: 20:18

That is so wonderful so.

Speaker 1: 20:20

I mean, to me it's just, it's, it's just a amazing life that I'm living.

Speaker 2: 20:27

And that's so beautiful, that you get to be with these, these kids. They're so impressionable, they're at their purest, you know they're soaking it all in. And to just have somebody there who believes in them, who's there to back them up, who's there to support them Maybe they don't have that at home sometimes, right, and when they're with you in your class they get that and the fact that you can make a difference in their lives, I do hope so.

Speaker 1: 20:51

And you know what? We always have a different shirt every year, the teachers. This year, on the back of our shirts, it says Dear student, behind me, I want you to know how important you are, and I'm going to cry because every time I think of it it makes my heart just sing. Anyway, it just. I'm so happy you're here and to me. I thought that was brilliant because I don't have to say it to every one of them. They see it, they can read it and hopefully I make them feel it yeah, hopefully we all do, because we have an amazing group of teachers.

Speaker 1: 21:26

Yes, so dedicated, and you know what I think? I think Loudoun County is very, very lucky to have such amazing teachers yes, and kudos to all the teachers out there.

Speaker 2: 21:39

Yes, I know sometimes it can be tough out there it can Right, it can, yeah, and every day is different.

Speaker 1: 21:47

Some days are really hard, but they keep coming back and they keep trying to reach those children and it makes a difference in their lives when they do so you can't ask for more than that.

Speaker 2: 21:58

No, and we can't ask for more than having great understanding and patient teachers too, because we know the work that they do is very important and it helps, like our future, and it's so important. Sometimes I could get into a whole other topic about that, but we need to cherish our teachers and everybody in the education system, because without them, topic about that. But we need to cherish our teachers and everybody in the education system because without them, think about it like where would the kiddos be learning all this stuff? Oh yeah, like we are nothing without our school system.

Speaker 1: 22:30

Yes, and Loudoun County is a very dedicated school system. I can't think of one around here that is not. Virginia is really Northern Virginia is so special. Yeah, you know, it's not only a rich, an enriching area, but it is a. It's just got so much, it offers so much for everybody, and our students to the parents. I think they feel it too, yeah, and we're always happy to bring that to the whole. I think they feel it too and we're always happy to bring that to the whole family.

Speaker 2: 23:00

I love it. Would you mind sharing just like one, maybe like a funny feel-good story or something that you've had with one of the kiddos that you remember. Maybe they were a little too honest and it was a little funny to you.

Speaker 1: 23:12

Well, I have to say there's not a day where I do not get asked how old are you? Oh, okay, oh, please, we all do. Yeah, right, and people look at me and they probably can figure out how old I am. But the students have no idea, but they always want to know. So one day I said I'm 19, oh, you're so. Oh, and I, yep, I know it, I knew it. And then another student came in the next day and said my sister's turning 13. And I went oh my gosh, she's getting old. And then they looked at me and thought wait a minute.

Speaker 2: 23:53

Wait what? Oh, no, I better go tell her.

Speaker 1: 23:56

There is never a time that a teacher is not asked how old are you? You're married, you have children. I'm not sure how I was at that age. I think I felt the same way. Teachers stay at school. They do not have lives. No, yes, they do not do anything.

Speaker 2: 24:12

I used to as a kid, you know. You just think like where's your baby? Is your baby in class here? Guys, Like right, that's right, be being classy, like right, exactly. Oh man, that must make your day. And then going into the real estate world and helping people on that side amazing, like you do live a very enriching life thank you.

Speaker 1: 24:27

I feel it's a life of service and um, that's the way I was raised and um, that's the way I hope to continue to live my life, and the way my son lives, his, my husband yeah, that's beautiful, thank you so much for taking the time to share that.

Speaker 2: 24:41

I appreciate it. This has been such a blast. I hope to continue to live my life in the way my son lives his, my husband. Yeah, that's beautiful. Thank you so much for taking the time to share that. I appreciate it. This has been such a blast. Yay, oh, thank you, of course. Is there anything perhaps that we have not touched on that you would like to share, whether it's? About yourself, your industry, maybe you're writing a book, maybe you have a new service or product coming out.

Speaker 1: 24:57

I do have several books. They are on my website, sharon Rooks Homes, and they are sellers and buyers and some of the tips for each. I'm coming out with a book for military, for VA, you know, kind of navigating the VA system and how to buy a home as a military person or as a retired military person. I do work with a company that helps me to get these and to focus what I want to do and where I want to. You know, turn my efforts. You know it's hard. I don't have a service that I or any kind of specials that I have coming out.

Speaker 1: 25:39

I'm here, we're coming into the spring market. Believe it or not, it's only January, but we are turning our minds to spring market. I do have a few sellers that I'm working with that are going to be coming up soon, some amazingly beautiful homes. I just encourage people to. If you've thought it, if you want it, if you want to get out of renting, if you want to create your own dream as your science is over there, I'm creating the life of my dreams I want you to do that too, and I want you to reach out and at least let's get knowledgeable.

Speaker 1: 26:17

Knowledge is power and when you're ready, you'll be prepared because you know everything and you've already gotten qualified and you're ready to go and find that great, amazing home, and I'm here to help you.

Speaker 2: 26:31

Thank you. Where can people check you out? You've got your website, are you?

Speaker 1: 26:35

on.

Speaker 2: 26:35

Insta Facebook.

Speaker 1: 26:37

You know what I am on Facebook Sharon Rooks Homes. It's very unimaginative. No, that's okay.

Speaker 2: 26:45

Easy is better.

Speaker 1: 26:46

Yes, it is, but my website is very good. They've just redone it with Berkshire Hathaway and you can go on there and find homes. You can contact me and if you just want to, you know, look me up. I'm on Google and I'm here. I'm here to help and I'm here to serve and hopefully I can help more people, because that's what brings my life joy.

Speaker 2: 27:16

Oh, thank you. I have one more question before I let you go. I know, I'm just like, thank you. I have one more question before I let you go. I know, I'm just like throwing you questions today. Do you have a quote or a saying, maybe a mantra, a verse, a song lyric that has touched you in any way or resonated with your life, that you would like to share with our listeners?

Speaker 1: 27:36

That is such a good question and I do have affirmations and that works that I say and I do um, I am a person who has lost, uh, my mother and father and my brother at a, at age 52, of a sudden heart attack.

Speaker 1: 27:52

I guess it's really not a saying or anything. I guess what I would say to you as someone who also has medical issues don't wait. If you feel that your body is talking to you, react. I will just share a short story. A couple of years ago, I was about to start my spring break.

Speaker 1: 28:17

Spring break seems to be a bad time for me. Oh man, and I came home from school on a Thursday and I said to my son I said, boy, you know, I'm feeling some pressure. I think I might have pneumonia. It's something I get. Oh, I shouldn't have done that. It's okay, I get sometimes. I said you know what, if I don't feel better, I'm going to go to the urgent care, because I didn't want to go to the hospital. And the next day I went to school and I went oh boy, I really don't feel well, I'm going home.

Speaker 1: 28:46

And it was the last day before spring break and I says, boy, if I don't feel better, I'm going to go to urgent care on Saturday. Well, saturday, my husband and I went out and went shopping. I went, I just really it's hard to get a breath, you know. And so this went on Easter Sunday night I went to bed and I said you know what, and this is my body talking to me If I fall asleep, I will not wake up. Oh my goodness, it was just this, because I kept falling asleep and waking up, and waking up and I said I cannot fall asleep. And I got up and I watched TV all night and I went to urgent care and the nurse put the pulse oximeter on my finger and she goes ah, this is broken, let me go get another one. She goes uh-oh, my heart was beating 32 beats a minute. What? And I was not.

Speaker 1: 29:33

You know, we usually should be 75 to 80 beats a minute, yeah, yeah, yeah, so we went to my my son actually went with me because my husband was at work and we went and they said, well, you're getting a pacemaker. And I was like, oh, okay, all right, but if I had not listened and I waited too long, I waited way too long and I was lucky because my brother died like that, of a heart attack, and I was lucky. And so that's my, that's my big wish for everyone is that you, you listen, you don't wait, you get regular checkups and, uh, and just take care of yourselves.

Speaker 1: 30:13

Oh, my gosh, that is and I'm know a walking advertisement for that you are and I'm chugging along and all is well.

Speaker 2: 30:23

But you're thriving, you're here, you're glowing, you look beautiful. Thank you, yes.

Speaker 1: 30:27

Thank you, even though I'm not 19.

Speaker 2: 30:29

Girl, you look 40. Come on now.

Speaker 1: 30:32

Oh, you're so cute. You're beautiful. No, thank you.

Speaker 2: 30:34

Yeah, absolutely, and and thank you for sharing that story and it resonates with me because sometimes we can neglect our health or put off things. We're like we'll get to it tomorrow. I have a million things. This is. Once I finish those millions of things I will get to that, Especially women.

Speaker 1: 30:48

It's very tricky because we don't present the same way as you always hear men. You know, oh, my left arm. I never would have thought it Right. You could have knocked me over with a feather and I drove myself and my son to the hospital, oh my goodness.

Speaker 2: 31:05

Well, I'm just glad that everything is okay, thank you, and that you're here and thriving. Here I go. Thank you so much for being on the podcast we so appreciate you.

Speaker 1: 31:13

Thank you so much.