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The Million Dollar Realtor

About Lisa Bennett

Lisa Bennett is a multi- million dollar real estate club holder, which means that she’s sold about $4 million dollars of real estate and has been recognized in the premium class of real estate agents by the Atlanta Board of Realtors. While she already holds a real estate license in Georgia, she’s studying for her license to sell in California. She said she has a network and family in California. Furthermore, she works with a well-known real estate company that has a presence in 54 different countries and which specializes in luxury homes. She wants to be sure she can serve clients very well, no matter where they want their property. She is looking for connections globally and has found that many of the people she meets in the higher echelons have property in different states. She commented,“I think that you have to be more versatile in business. You can’t limit yourself.”

Her Empowerment Workshops

Bennett said she meditates to concentrate and awaken her spiritual awareness, and that as a result she has developed a keen sense of discernment. She used to have a nail salon, which she expanded to offer meditation classes. The workshop facilitator said women gravitated to her, and she counseled and gave them awareness. She said she has seen women give their power away or shrink themselves so they don’t intimidate men. She believes in giving them tools to strengthen themselves and boost their self-esteem, set goals and be accountable to meet them. She explained that Dr. Barbara King asked her to facilitate a women’s summit, and then to put together church programs. “It led into me doing empowerment groups.” She said her topics included relationships, dating, handling one’s professional life and setting goals of various types.

She commented that the most popular are her relationship workshops for women.”I think, for the most part, that’s where women struggle the most and then it trickles over into their professional lives and they lose themselves in their relationships; which stifles their growth elsewhere.” She said she teaches women how to set boundaries in relationships with men, how not to just go along to get along. She touches upon how to be respectful to other women, as well.

Her observation has given her some insight. “In society men have a brotherhood, we’re supposed to have a sisterhood.” She said most women tear each other down because of self-esteem issues. “We are to uplift each other – everyone’s goals are attainable.

She mentioned that many women come to the workshops looking for answers, hungry for empowerment. She reported that participants share that having someone come in and give them perspective and help them navigate life uplifts their viewpoint and reference point. As she explains it, some women are ready to receive new knowledge and embrace it upon delivery, and then some grasp the teachings later. She said she strives to communicate hard truths with grace and love, rather than with an attacking stance. “But you’ve also gotta be truthful.”

One teaching point she shares is how a positive focus is a game-changer. “When you change your own energy, all energy around you will shift.”

Bennett added one hidden gem in giving herself away during the empowerment workshops.“I also found that empowering people empowers yourself.”

Giving Back To Her Community

She is also a 5-year board member at St. Jude’s Recovery Center (which mainly focuses on assisting alcohol/drug users). She said she has always been aware of community problems, and her mom made certain her children had open eyes to such issues. She had a beautiful cousin who was taken out by drugs, and the problem hit home. Regarding giving her time to this cause, she explained, “It just felt right.” This is one cause that she was passionate about, partly because she found that they work on several fronts to save families. The organization has been around for 40+ years and have a great track record and success rate, with aftercare services that help people integrate back into society.

Trip That Changed Everything

Bennett also has traveled to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in order to learn their real estate selling techniques. She commented, “That was an awesome trip.” She said her goal was to explore the real estate market in Dubai and connect with some local real estate people, developers, etc. “I always wanted to go to Dubai to do business.” She described it as a place where people are known to think on the cutting edge.“Their mindset is very elevated. They see that certain lifestyles are possible for them.“

She described the people in Dubai as forward thinking risk-takers. She said the cultural norm is to discover what someone does over time, in the course of the conversation. “You don’t start off asking them what they do.”

Her trip was fruitful by all accounts. While there she met a local sheik who had a real estate/construction business and a demographics research information company that provides people with demographic real estate information and Visas. She saw some of his real estate listings and his developments during the trip.

“You can’t be in that country and not have a job.” She said people have two weeks after a job loss to find a job, or they have to leave that country. While they have laws that are rather strictly enforced, she said she didn’t have an awkward experience there. She also commented that she found men there very respectful. Recounting her own personal experience, she stated, “I felt no danger.”

She mentioned that she has met people from all over the world.

COMING SOON: Author Lisa Bennett

Bennett is working on her first book, which is dedicated to educating buyers who are purchasing real estate. She said it will detail what to look for and what to look out for in the marketplace. She said the yet untitled book will share buying/selling property experiences, and touch upon market transition. It will be a step-by-step guide outlining how to understand when buying or purchasing or selling.
Bennet predicted that it will be finished in early January or February of 2015.

“I am a workaholic. It’s kind of hard to turn work off.” She said she unwinds by traveling to spas to enjoy the luxury side of life, playing and hanging out with her two Yorkies and getting together with girlfriends. She described herself as a foodie who likes to stake out new restaurants. She said she finds that prayer and meditation takes a lot of her time each day.

Tips For Real Estate Newbies

1st – for someone wanting to get into real estate, you have to take the class, which prepares you to take the test. She said this will familiarize the student with the laws, how to govern oneself in real estate and what one can and can not do in the industry.

She cautioned that knowing how to sell a home is a whole different ball game from the coursework.

2nd – do due diligence. Find out movers and shakers in the industry and interview them.

3rd – get a mentor and shadow someone.

“You have to find out how to do this in the real world. You really want to learn your market, and about marketing. You want to stay abreast of everything you need to know about the industry. The more you know, the more successful you can become.”

“With real estate, you have to understand architectural design.” She said it’s important to familiarize oneself with architecture, fixtures, textures (such as for counter tops).

“You really need to know your craft. People can tell if you are knowledgeable about what you are talking about.”

“With real estate, you want to get with someone that you trust.” She said it needs to be someone who cares and to whom you are not just a commission.

Connecting with Lisa

She works under the umbrella of Atlanta Fine Homes Sothebys, an international realty company.

Direct line: 404- 941- 1550
Email: lisabennett@atlantafinehomes.com
www.lisabennett.atlantafinehomes.com

Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International REALTY
3290 Northside Parkway NW Suite 200
Atlanta, GA 30327

404-941-1550 Office
404-941-1551 eFax

Multi-Mililon Dollar Sales Club Member, Atlanta Board of REALTORS

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