Learn the way this award-winning Kentucky brokerage proprietor bought his begin, and why he’s specializing in the significance of firm tradition.
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With specialties in residential, farm and land, equine properties and new growth, in addition to multifamily funding and industrial transactions, Christie’s Worldwide Actual Property Bluegrass gives a luxurious expertise to its Kentucky shoppers. “We believe that luxury indicates a quality of service, not a price point,” CEO and proprietor Rusty Underwood stated.
Targeted on empowering its brokers to create “custom-tailored customer and agent experiences with an emphasis on staff support services,” Underwood is worked up in regards to the firm’s progress regionally. “We have industry-focused agents who believe in giving back to our industry and community,” he stated.
Learn the way this award-winning Kentucky brokerage proprietor bought his begin, and why he’s specializing in the significance of firm tradition.
Identify: Rusty Underwood
Title: Proprietor-CEO
Expertise: 14 years in gross sales
Location: Central Kentucky
Brokerage title: Christie’s Worldwide Actual Property, Bluegrass
Rankings: No. 3 in Kentucky for particular person gross sales and No. 5 in MLS for brokerage
Crew measurement: 70
Transaction sides: 817 for brokerage in 2024
Gross sales quantity: $339,079,000 for brokerage in 2024
Awards:
- Realtor of The 12 months Award, Bluegrass Realtors (2023)
- Voted Lexington’s Finest Realtor (2024) Enterprise Lexington, Chevy Chaser, Southsider
- Prime 5 producing Realtor within the state of Kentucky (2023/2024)
- Nationwide Affiliation of Realtors’ Class of 30 Below 30 (2016)
- Kentucky Actual Property Fee Good Neighbor Award (2016)
- Bluegrass Realtors Good Neighbor Award (2016)
- Prime Producers Membership Lifetime Member
Background:
- President, Think about MLS (2023-2025)
- Director, Nationwide Affiliation of Realtors Board of Administrators (2023)
- Finance Committee, Nationwide Affiliation of Realtors (2023)
- President, Bluegrass Realtors (2022)
- Board of Administrators, Commerce Lexington (2022)
- Delegate Physique Consultant, Kentucky Realtor Affiliation (2022)
- President, Realtor Group Housing Basis (2019-2022)
- Treasurer, Bluegrass Realtors (2020)
- Kentucky State Realtor Reduction Basis Board of Administrators (2022)
- Gross sales & Advertising Council, Constructing Business Affiliation
- Financial Improvement Committee, Kentucky Realtor Affiliation (2024)
How did you get your begin in actual property?
My introduction to actual property was by way of my household. Having builders on either side of my household I started my profession at a younger age taking part in quite a lot of development trades and common contracting.
I didn’t intend to pursue actual property as a profession and was principally enthusiastic about legislation all through highschool and faculty. Whereas in faculty, I bought my actual property license on the recommendation of a mentor, who grew to become my actual property mentor. This was the very best skilled recommendation I ever obtained, and in the present day, I’m lucky to nonetheless have the flexibility to work with my mentor, who’s now an agent in our brokerage.
How did you select your brokerage?
My spouse and enterprise associate Rachel thought-about quite a lot of affiliations after we have been choosing luxurious manufacturers to convey to our market. Whereas there are lots of nice manufacturers to select from, our alignment with Christie’s Worldwide Actual Property was with out query the correct path for us.
We have been trying to find the proper mix of worldwide attain, outstanding custom and the mixing of industry-leading expertise. After a 30-minute cup of espresso in Chicago with Natalie Hambrick and Thad Wong a number of years in the past, which became a several-hour assembly, it was clear to us an important piece for us was an ideal match: the tradition.
What stays the North Star for our firm (tradition) is essentially the most useful asset for fame, agent and {industry} relationships and the willingness to advertise your companions throughout the desk and throughout the nation.
Inform us a couple of excessive level in your brokerage profession
The very best level in my brokerage’s profession was additionally one of many lowest. Early in 2024, one among our top-producing brokers had a sudden medical emergency and was hospitalized for a number of months. It’s each agent’s largest worry.
In a single day, they grew to become unable to work and, on the recommendation of medical professionals, have been unable to talk with shoppers for a time whereas they healed. With out discover, they have been hospitalized and unable to speak.
Inside a matter of hours, different brokers in our workplace stepped as much as take over their 31 transactions in course of and shepherd them along with her clients to closing, with out asking for something in return. They simply wished to help their colleague and good friend.
With the ability to help one among our personal and having the mentality {that a} Christie’s Worldwide Actual Property Bluegrass buyer is the duty of the whole firm displays the precise tradition we work day by day to advertise.
What’s your prime tip for freshly licensed brokers?
This can be very necessary when first stepping into the enterprise to arrange your apply and to obtain mentorship from a extremely skilled agent. By the point you construct your small business, will probably be extraordinarily painful to return and reinvent your efficiencies and habits. If you happen to can align with a extremely organized, extremely profitable agent who can present you methods to manage and create accountability for your self, you’ll be forward of the sport.
I might additionally suggest saying sure to each assembly for the primary 12 months in enterprise and making it your mission to make sure that each individual in your sphere of affect just isn’t solely conscious of your new career however how critical you’re about it. If you’re aligned with a profitable mentor, auxiliary enterprise companions will need your time (lenders, title corporations, insurance coverage and so forth).
Down the street, will probably be harder to take all of these conferences, however as a brand new agent, it’s simply as necessary to change into extra intimate with the totally different merchandise out there on your shoppers and operators in your market.
What’s your prime prediction for the long run?
That the common agent geography protection will proceed to develop (which means brokers might be prepared and assured to journey additional for enterprise) and that luxurious actual property will outpace conventional markets in appreciation in 2025.
