Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendra Wells.
Hi Kendra, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As an Orlando, Florida native, I grew up in the city beautiful as the youngest of two. My background is mostly hospitality. I began my post-education at Valencia College, where I received my A.A. in Business Administration. Half a semester after receiving my A.A., I enrolled into UCF’s- Rosen College, graduating two years later in December of 2015. Although I had some very enriching experiences, which included studying abroad for a semester in Hong Kong. By the time I got into the field of hospitality full time, I was burnt out. The industry had a treacherous schedule, I had just sped through years of schooling, all while being a single mother of one. I found myself feeling unfulfilled, not by just my career but my personal life as well. There was never enough time in the day to spend with my son and I worked lots of hours but still unable to enjoy the fruits of my labor. Back in 2016, I found myself moving for what seemed to be the millionth time and thought to myself, “I need a home for my son and I, a foundation and place we can really create memories. Not to mention moving gets exhausting, expensive and somehow you seem to lose an item or two with every move.
Growing up, homeownership, finances, nor credit was discussed much in my home. Although I had learned some things during my education, I still had no idea what it took to own a home and I hadn’t paid much attention to my credit or finances while I was completing my degree. I began doing research and attended a first-time home buyers seminar. Within that same month of attending the seminar, I was able to connect with a realtor and a lender who to my surprise, said I had a pretty good chance of purchasing a home. Six months later, I closed on my first home! It was a roller coaster ride but one in which when you get off, you want to ride it again. It was so clear to me at that point that I wanted to educate and help individuals and families experience that same excitement that I felt. A career that would be rewarding and eventually allow me to have the flexibility I desired.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There had been so many horror stories regarding testing for your real estate license that I just knew it would be my biggest challenge. I enrolled into a four weeknight course (because I was still working a full-time job) held Monday through Thursday in which I completed. About a week later, I took the state exam where, I passed on the first try. That was really the easiest part for me. The real challenge came after I got my license. I had to find a brokerage that I felt most aligned with the vision I had for my business, one that could provide me with the tools and continued education I needed to be successful. I changed brokerages twice within my first year.
I found that the most challenging was knowing where you fit in or finding your niche and adopting a business mindset. Since I had a love for acting growing up, I immediately took to the camera conducting video tours of new construction properties and hitting up social media hard. Although I struggled with being consistent at first, I landed and closed a three-quarters of a million-dollar deal within my first six months in the business. Currently, the challenge in the market is the lack of inventory and pricing for material, which has caused a rise in prices.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Also known as The Orlando Lifestyle on social media. I work in the residential sector of real estate. I help first-time home buyers get into their dream homes. As well as assist current homeowners in selling their home for the highest market value. Along with helping homeowners sell their distressed home that is costing them more money to keep.
My goal is to not only get buyers and sellers in or out of their current home as smoothly and headache-free as possible but to educate them along the way. I inform first-time homeowners about the benefits of homeownership and to see all the possible avenues owning a home can create for them. I also offer free consultations to both buyers and sellers where I map out a strategic plan to get them to their specific goal. As well as conduct first-time homebuyer seminars free of charge. I also volunteer in the community with different organizations that are raising awareness about causes such as human trafficking and child abuse.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I had a love for acting and modeling. I participated in multiple local fashion shows and the Martin Luther King Jr parade for years. I enjoyed performance arts; it was therapy for me. I was also on the dance team in high school and ran track as a sprinter from age nine until I graduated high school, where I got into hurdles, long jump and triple jump.
Contact Info:
- Email: kendrawellstherealtor@gmail.com
- Website: theorlandolifestyle.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_theorlandolifestyle/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsorlandolifestyle
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbEkTWq80Orw8DKEtiuR4MQ
