This week on Dallas, Texas, What's Good, host Brianna Jovahn sits down with Amber D’Yone, a journalist-turned-realtor whose passion for empowering others shines through in everything she does. Amber shares her journey from working in media to navigating the real estate world, all while balancing single motherhood and personal growth.
With a focus on helping underrepresented families achieve homeownership, Amber dives deep into the importance of generational wealth, real estate education, and authenticity in business.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Key Quotes:
Topics Covered:
Call to Action:
Feeling inspired? Listen to Amber’s episode and take your first step toward real estate success!
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:46 Icebreaker Question
02:04 Getting to Know Amber D’Yone
03:00 Transition to Real Estate
05:56 First Client Success Story
10:04 Challenges in Real Estate
11:45 Building a Real Estate Team
13:54 Programs for Homebuyers
19:11 Sharing Knowledge and Breaking Barriers
19:30 Habitat for Humanity: A Decade of Service
22:30 Personal Triumphs and Challenges
23:18 Navigating Grief and Finding Strength
29:03 The Power of Being Yourself
33:33 Final Thoughts and Motivational Moment
#Dallas #real estate #generationalwealth #singlemotherhood #USDAPrograms #HabitatforHumanity #RealEstateMentorship, #Homeownership
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Hey ladies and gents, this is your girl Brianna Jovahn and we are
2
:here with another episode of What's
Good Podcast and we are in season eight.
3
:We have another guest with us today.
4
:Her name is Amber D’Yone.
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:Thank you so much for being here.
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:Amber: I'm so excited.
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:Thank you for having me.
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:Brianna: Indeed.
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:Why have we, like this is meant
to be because We have been
10
:back and forth for a few years.
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:The whole time I've been podcast and
we just talked about that, right?
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:So we are finally here and I'm
super excited to be here with you.
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:Amber: Yes, me too.
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:Brianna: All right.
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:So usually we get started
with an icebreaker.
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:Are you ready for your icebreaker?
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:Amber: I'm ready.
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:Brianna: Okay.
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:So your icebreaker is, if you
could choose any famous historical
20
:figure to have a real estate
client, who would it be and why?
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:Amber: Oh, goodness gracious.
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:Dead or alive.
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:It doesn't matter.
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:Dead or alive.
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:Oh.
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:shoot, that's a hard one.
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:I'm gonna go with the only person I said
I would ever fan out if I met and that's
28
:Oprah and everybody say, why do you be
so, you know, this, I guess that's kind
29
:of like a space, a safe space, but I
really, Oprah started out as a journalist.
30
:I started out as a journalist.
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:she had a TV show.
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:I've been doing TV.
33
:I want to produce more TV shows.
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:and she, I just.
35
:It's just her persona.
36
:It's like when she walk in the room
and I feel like when I walk in the
37
:room, I get the same type of, respect.
38
:So I would say Oprah, because she
knows a lot about real estate.
39
:She has a lot of, her, catalog of
real estate is probably humongous.
40
:So yeah, so, um, it probably would be her.
41
:Nice.
42
:Yeah.
43
:Okay.
44
:Brianna: So not just cause she
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:Amber: got a TV show and she famous.
46
:No, it's more of a
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:Brianna: personal connection
because of the journey that you've
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:gone on and journey she has.
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:Correct.
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:Amber: Correct.
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:Nice.
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:Brianna: Okay.
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:So, as we know, we're talking about
real estate, so we're going to get
54
:to know you a little bit better.
55
:We're going to get started
with our genuine conversation.
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:Background: Okay.
57
:Brianna: So, for you, who is Amber?
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:Amber: I am, a woman of God, first of all.
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:Brianna: Love that.
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:Amber: I'm a mother, mother of two.
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:I have a 18 year old who's getting
ready to go to Kansas State.
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:let me, let me rephrase that.
63
:I'm a single mother of two.
64
:so I'm very proud of myself because I put
my son through private school by myself
65
:and now he is going to Kansas State
University, which is a very good school.
66
:I have my 18 year old and
I have my 12 year old.
67
:My daughter is, autistic.
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:So, I'm very involved with
my kids, my kids life.
69
:I am a journalist.
70
:That is my love.
71
:I love to write.
72
:I write books.
73
:I started out in the
entertainment industry writing.
74
:and then I have an entertainment
company, which is Your Media
75
:Bae Entertainment Group.
76
:That's how we met.
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:Yes, correct.
78
:Correct.
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:I feel like I'm a real chill, cool person.
80
:I'm all about the, my
business, all about the money.
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:I know how to keep business
and personal separate.
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:I think that's why I have
so many relationships.
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:but yeah, that's me.
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:Brianna: I love that.
85
:So, as we mentioned, when we first
met, you were into media, right?
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:But now you have transitioned
into real estate.
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:Yes.
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:What does that transition
look like as far as industry?
89
:Because that's two different things.
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:So, how did you transition and
what made you get into real estate?
91
:Amber: So, my dad passed
about two years ago.
92
:and the reason why I got into real
estate was because my dad was really
93
:big about generational wealth.
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:Right.
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:I had been taking real estate
classes since I started college.
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:Like literally I was taking
a class here, a class there.
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:So I've always been
intrigued by real estate.
98
:I used to work for Habitat for
Humanity for over 10 years.
99
:So I was very, I'm very intrigued
by real estate and helping people
100
:get somewhere that they love.
101
:So, that's always been
at the back of my mind.
102
:And then during COVID, the entertainment
industry, just like all other
103
:industries, they took a big hit.
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:And so, although we were surviving.
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:It made me think about I need
to do something different.
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:And so when my dad passed,
I said, you know what?
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:I'm not, I'm not waiting anymore.
108
:And I went and passed my test.
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:Nice.
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:Brianna: So I know they say
the test is really hard.
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:How did you prepare for it?
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:Amber: Girl, people would be exaggerated.
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:, I swear.
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:Like the test.
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:You
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:Brianna: just good with tests?
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:Amber: No, I'm horrible with tests.
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:I have bad anxiety when
it comes to tests, really.
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:But the thing about it is, if
you really want something, and if
120
:you really, really pay attention
to what they're saying in class.
121
:And if you take the, there's like a prep
you do, that it's like a two day prep and
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:they basically go through the entire test.
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:You don't know what questions are.
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:Is this known
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:Brianna: or?
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:Amber: Yeah, yeah.
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:Everybody, this is a,
it's like a test prep.
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:Okay.
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:Okay.
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:And they go through the entire test.
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:You don't know what questions are
going to be on there, but like they
132
:tell you, they're just going to change
up the wording of the question, but
133
:it's going to be the same thing.
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:and so I went through
that and I passed my test.
135
:I passed it in the, well, so the very
first time I was focused on it, I
136
:was like, oh my gosh, the state part,
they just came like the federal part.
137
:The main part of it was the
hardest part and I was like,
138
:okay, well let me focus on this.
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:So I focused so much on that, I didn't
really pay attention to the state
140
:and so when I went in there, I passed
the first part of it, I passed it
141
:with flying colors, but the second
part, I missed about two points.
142
:I studied for a week, I went back in
there and I passed the test in 23 minutes.
143
:And the man, yeah, the man was like,
ma'am, are you sure you're done?
144
:I was like, yes, I'm done.
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:But because you, as long as you
pay attention to what you're doing,
146
:the verbiage does not change.
147
:It goes the same, the same verbiage
throughout the entire test.
148
:So it's like, as long as you understand
the stuff that you're reading and you
149
:are retaining the stuff that you are
reading in, I think that, you know,
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:it's not, you don't have to be scared.
151
:I literally had bad test anxiety,
so it was nothing like that.
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:But I went in there and
I passed the test and.
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:I was done.
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:Brianna: Congratulations.
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:So how long have you been in the industry?
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:Amber: Um, as of October,
um, it will be two years.
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:Brianna: I didn't know that.
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:I'm super
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:Amber: fresh.
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:Brianna: So what is a success
story that you can share?
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:Cause I know based on your bio, I
was reading, doing a little research.
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:You work with entrepreneurs, you work
with creatives, like anybody that
163
:really needs assistance and don't
feel like they can actually get it.
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:A new home.
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:You make sure that they have those
resources and those opportunities to
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:make sure that they do get a new home.
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:Amber: Okay.
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:Brianna: What has been
a success story for you?
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:Amber: I'm glad you asked this because
I just, I'll be on cloud nine every
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:time I tell somebody about this story.
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:my very first client, her
husband spoke no Spanish.
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:she was not a citizen.
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:She was on DACA.
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:Her husband had no citizenship.
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:I'm new, I'm fresh.
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:I don't even think I can get
them a house to be honest.
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:But it was something I guess the
Lord just kept telling me you can get
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:them a house Don't give up on them.
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:And so I had met the lady and
we were talking she was young.
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:She had young kids two young boys
And she kept she she I would go show
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:her house And so one day we were at
a house and she was like Amber She's
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:like first of all, I just want to thank
you because she spoke English very
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:good English And she was like Amber.
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:I just want to thank you because most
of the time when I tell realtors I have
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:DACA, I don't have citizenship, they
don't answer my phone calls anymore.
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:And I, in the back of my
mind, I was like, why?
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:Because that's the purpose of what
we're doing is trying to help people.
188
:But it's harder to get someone
who doesn't have citizenship.
189
:She didn't have I 10,
she didn't have anything.
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:they just had the cash money
to be able to buy a house.
191
:And so I stuck with her and stuck
with her she got to the point where
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:she was getting kind of down and
depressed because she was thinking
193
:like I'm never going to find a house.
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:And I'm telling you at the point I think
maybe she called me maybe a week before
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:and that weekend we went out and looked
at a house and we got her a house.
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:And so one thing she told me,
she was like, I don't want to get
197
:a house when my kids are older.
198
:I want to be able to raise my kids
in a house where they can go outside
199
:and they can run in the yard.
200
:And so I ended up getting her, I think
it was three acres of land and a house.
201
:And so she's planning on putting another
house on the land, but it's enough
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:room for her, her family, her kids.
203
:and so that will always be my success
story because I was able to help someone
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:whose husband couldn't ever understand me.
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:Right.
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:And sometimes when you're
translating, It's hard because
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:the language is so different.
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:When you're buying a home, it
may be something that I'm telling
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:her, she may not even understand.
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:And then she's trying
to translate it to him.
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:But at the end, he was
very thankful to me.
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:They both were.
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:I was able to get their kids.
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:I got them some little plaques with
their names on it to put in their rooms.
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:That was their gift that I gave them,
something that they could grow up with.
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:and it was just like, just helping them
knowing that, we had nothing in common.
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:I didn't, I didn't know these
people, nobody referred them.
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:and that was my very first client.
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:Brianna: So how did they find you?
220
:Amber: So I was a part
of this referral program.
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:Brianna: Okay.
222
:Amber: because at beginning as a
realtor, it's a hard thing because
223
:You're building your own business,
but at the same time you're building
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:this business, you have so many fees.
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:Starting out, you have that.
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:I think that's harder than the
test is realizing how many fees.
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:And as soon as you pass the test, the
minute you pass your test, you start
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:getting emails, text messages from all of
these different companies and you don't
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:know, should I put my money over here?
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:you don't know what's
right and what's not.
231
:So at first I was spending money
over here, spending money here
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:until I sat back and I'm looking.
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:You know.
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:I'm like, well, I'm a part of all
these different programs, but none
235
:of them are helping me focus on the
real estate and getting people houses.
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:So I think that was a really big
issue for me when I very first started
237
:was when you first start that test,
I mean, when you first pass the
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:test, it's so much stuff coming at
you and then you have these fees.
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:So but you're not selling a house yet.
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:You haven't sold a house.
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:you have fees for your license.
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:You have fees for your broker.
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:You have fees for the
different systems you use.
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:That stuff's not free.
245
:So that's the hardest part I think
of starting real estate is not
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:having a clientele to start off
with, but then having to, maintain.
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:I mean, if you haven't sold a house and
you're not selling a rental, I was lucky
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:to sell two houses in my first year.
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:Some people don't sell any
houses in their first year.
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:Some people don't sell any
houses in their two years.
251
:I was lucky to sell my two
houses in my very first year
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:and then I caught on to rentals.
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:So that's kind of what helped me
survive, but some people, they
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:don't make it past the two years.
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:They don't make it.
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:Cause that two years we have to renew.
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:So a lot of people drop out before.
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:Brianna: continued education where
you have to take the test all over?
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:No.
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:Amber: Well you got to take continuing
education, but not the test all over.
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:Okay.
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:Yeah.
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:We have to have a certain amount
of hours that we have to complete.
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:Yeah.
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:Cause at this
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:Brianna: point it's like
keeping up your license.
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:Amber: Correct.
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:Brianna: Right.
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:Amber: And so if you're not selling any
houses, you can't keep up with them fees.
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:You can't keep up with the fees.
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:And then when it comes to renewal, there's
a whole big old fee when you renew.
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:and then you have to take those
continuing education classes costs.
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:Brianna: Okay.
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:So we have not talked about this.
275
:This is on a whole nother end
because I've realized even watching
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:TV when it comes to real estate,
it's always like a luxury thing.
277
:I mean, every agent, they got their Louis
on, they got their YSL, they looking
278
:real good and looking real cute, right?
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:But on the other end, like
behind the scenes, it's real.
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:Amber: It's very real.
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:Just your face change.
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:Brianna: So what else, have you learned
on that, as far as the agent side?
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:Amber: so it's very, I
wouldn't say it's cliquish.
284
:I think that.
285
:People get in and they try to find, you
know, you want to find the right mentor.
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:because again, you're coming
into an industry where it's
287
:just like any other industry.
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:Just like the entertainment industry.
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:If you're not a part of it, you
have to become a part of it.
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:But you also have to have individuals
who are already in it who can
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:refer you so people can trust you.
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:Because that's with anything.
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:when I first started the
entertainment industry, I didn't
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:get in just by writing stories.
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:I actually had someone who was already in.
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:They started referring me to
doing this, referring me, and
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:that's how I built my connections.
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:So it's just the same
way with being a realtor.
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:You have to be able to find those
individuals that will actually,
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:guide you through it, to be able to
connect you to certain individuals,
301
:As long as you do the work,
you're going to be able to
302
:connect with the right people.
303
:So networking is like a huge key.
304
:if you don't know how to network, Do
not go get your real estate license.
305
:Brianna: That's real.
306
:Amber: Like if you don't know
how to, if you do not know how to
307
:network, you cannot be a realtor.
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:So it's a
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:Brianna: situation to where
like it's a legit team.
310
:Cause I know I've talked to other
people that's been on the podcast.
311
:They were saying, you know, they
have this person on their team.
312
:They got this person on their team.
313
:Who would you say builds your
team or as far as mentorship?
314
:Amber: You have to build your own team.
315
:Okay.
316
:And I'm going to be honest, so
there's two different things.
317
:every realtor, when you start, you have
to have a broker, but brokers sometimes
318
:have different teams that you can be on.
319
:I'm not on a team.
320
:I'm still individually doing it by
myself, but I have individuals that
321
:I work with that accountability team,
So when it comes to building my own
322
:team, you have to think about it.
323
:When you buy a house, what
kind of things do you need?
324
:You need a lender.
325
:You need somebody to finance you.
326
:you need a title company.
327
:I have to go find all those things.
328
:Brianna: Okay.
329
:Cause that's what we, when we were
talking about teams at that, those are
330
:the people that they were mentioning.
331
:Like they had these go to people
that they can go to to make
332
:sure that the client is good.
333
:Yeah.
334
:Okay.
335
:Amber: But if you didn't know any
mortgage loan officers or any lenders
336
:or any plumbers to begin with, you're
having to build all of that up.
337
:So, I mean, with my broker, I'm
with Rogers Healy, which is a
338
:very good brokerage, may I say.
339
:I've been through two others
before this, and this is the
340
:one that I love this brokerage.
341
:but they have a lot of stuff built in.
342
:So, I can go into a database, and I can
say, people can say these are the trusted
343
:individuals, and you can choose from those
individuals, then you can start building
344
:your relationship with those individuals.
345
:So that makes it a little bit easier.
346
:if your brokerage is too big, you'll
notice like it's really hard to get help.
347
:I was at a very big broker and,
they put me with a mentor who
348
:had not sold a house in 10 years.
349
:Brianna: So is it because they retired?
350
:Yeah.
351
:Amber: still, why would you have mentors
who have not sold a house in 10 years?
352
:The real estate industry does like this.
353
:It's more, it's like a maze.
354
:You know, those mazes we
used to do back in the day.
355
:That's how real estate industry is.
356
:It's nothing straight about it.
357
:But if you have a mentor who haven't sold
houses in 10 years, how do they know?
358
:How do they know what
the current industry is?
359
:You can read the news all day, but
if you're not in it, actually on
360
:the ground in the neighborhoods, you
don't actually know what's going on.
361
:That makes
362
:Brianna: so much sense.
363
:Like Leah, cause you just, like
you said, it's a current market.
364
:So what happened 10 years ago was totally
different than what's happening right now.
365
:years
366
:Amber: ago.
367
:What happened last year is
totally different than now.
368
:What's happening right now is
going to be different from what's
369
:going to be happening in six months
370
:Brianna: Yeah.
371
:Okay.
372
:So let's get into the investing
side of being a buyer, right?
373
:When your client comes to you and say hey
i'm looking to buy a house or i'm looking
374
:because you know You mentioned rental as
well What does that look like to for them?
375
:You need to have this thing these
type of things in order What
376
:would you say they need to have?
377
:Amber: So, I think what scares people
the most is that you start off saying
378
:that they have to have the credit and
the income, but nobody ever really says
379
:anything about if you don't have the
credit, do you have the work history?
380
:Because there's so many different
lenders, so many different programs
381
:out there that can help individuals.
382
:And that's part of the reason why I
wanted to do this because people think
383
:it's just you go to a bank, you go to
Bank of America, you go to Wells Fargo
384
:and you get a loan for your house.
385
:there's other programs out there that can
help people who have low credit scores.
386
:there's, programs out there that
will help individuals who have
387
:been on their job a long time, but
maybe they don't make enough money.
388
:So there's a lot of different
programs that people don't even know
389
:about, and it's not widely exposed,
because I feel like more people
390
:would want to get their own space.
391
:so starting out for me, I think
you have to have the drive
392
:and the want to want a house.
393
:you have to come in and you want to be
educated on the proper way to buy a house.
394
:because I think a lot of times
people, they go to individuals and
395
:they want to purchase a home, but
they don't even know the process.
396
:And so they get into this process and
then something starts happening and they
397
:don't know if they should back out or if
they should continue to go because they're
398
:not being educated on what is happening.
399
:So, I think for me, as long as you
have the drive of wanting to get a
400
:house, of course you have a job, you
have to have some type of income.
401
:Even if you're self employed, we
have to be able to prove your income.
402
:so I think for me, as long as you
have some type of income, you have
403
:the drive, and actually want a home.
404
:I think that's for me because you
can work on your credit score.
405
:there's different programs out there where
we can get some down payment assistance.
406
:where we can get some
closing cost assistance.
407
:So there's, I don't think, you don't
have to have 20K built up for me.
408
:You don't.
409
:Because I'm the one that's going to go out
there and try to find the lender or find
410
:the home or find the owner who's willing
to work with the buyer to get them a home.
411
:Brianna: I love that.
412
:So, let's tap into that educational
piece that you mentioned.
413
:There are different programs.
414
:What would be one program that you worked
with recently when it comes to the closing
415
:costs or credit repair, whatever the case
may be, that you could share with us?
416
:Amber: So, USDA, which is a program
for homebuyers, and it basically,
417
:it's called a USDA Rural Development.
418
:and it was created to
develop the rural areas.
419
:but it helps individuals who have
low income, but who have been on
420
:their jobs for a very long time.
421
:The main focus is individuals who are
teachers, anyone in the, medical field,
422
:if you're a firefighter, rescue, anyone
in the rescue, field, those are the
423
:individuals that they like to focus on.
424
:And so that's one that I just
got certified in and I've
425
:been helping individuals find
homes through that program.
426
:with that program, you can actually
buy land, you can buy a house,
427
:you can get a new house built.
428
:and it's, it, you don't really,
you don't have a down payment.
429
:And then they try to make your
monthly payments to where you can pay
430
:Background: So
431
:Amber: it's a government program, it's
a federal program, and it's a program
432
:that a lot of people don't know about.
433
:especially if you're a teacher, there
are a lot of teachers that do take
434
:advantage of it, but there's a lot
of teachers that, that aren't aware.
435
:There may be some single moms out there
and this is the way you can get a home.
436
:This is what they want to do.
437
:They want to give teachers homes.
438
:Brianna: That's beautiful.
439
:So why do you think, is it just a
situation where you have to know a certain
440
:person or they just don't make it public?
441
:Because I know a lot of times we see
things, but we don't pay attention
442
:to it until we're actually in that
situation or other times we just don't
443
:know until coming across somebody
like you and then we get educated.
444
:So is this publicly known or would
you say you would have to be in
445
:these type of spaces to understand?
446
:Amber: So, this goes back to my, my
media, my branding background, right?
447
:So it's definitely publicly long known.
448
:the thing about it is, is there
a lot of awareness behind it?
449
:No.
450
:So they don't, yeah, there's
not a lot of people pushing it.
451
:a lot of realtors.
452
:They are in it for different things.
453
:And so, if the USDA does not pay a
certain percentage of the home, they may
454
:not even tell you about that program.
455
:Brianna: Hmm.
456
:Amber: So, You know, that's
where we get our niches from.
457
:You know, everybody has their own niche.
458
:And so, I think for me, because I worked
for Habitat for so long, and I helped
459
:so many people get into homes, I wanted
to be able to do that on my own through
460
:other programs that were available because
I can still use Habitat for Humanity.
461
:That's another program.
462
:Right.
463
:Brianna: I was going to, after this,
if we could talk about that, because
464
:I know, my sister in law, she went
through Habitat for Humanity and that's
465
:Amber: such
466
:Brianna: a program, so,
but go ahead, keep going.
467
:Amber: so USDA is sort of
similar to that, but they help,
468
:they even help with repairs.
469
:people don't realize that there's
programs that you can do where you can
470
:get into a home and if the home needs
repairs, there's a loan where you can get.
471
:that will help you do
the repairs on the home.
472
:basically you find a house that's
affordable to where they give you amount
473
:a whole amount It's enough the loan covers
the price of the home and the repairs and
474
:a lot of individuals don't know that So
you may find a house that you absolutely
475
:love And it just needs some repairs and if
you can get it at a lower price, then you
476
:put in a bid for it and then do the loan
To be able to do the updates to the home.
477
:Brianna: That's wild.
478
:Okay, you dropping some jam.
479
:Amber: I hope so girl.
480
:I'm new at this but I love doing
this and I've tried to educate
481
:myself as much as I could.
482
:Brianna: tell you love it because
like you're so willing to give
483
:out the information because
there's a lot of gatekeeping.
484
:Yeah.
485
:And you're so willing to be
like, okay, You can do this.
486
:And I really, really enjoy that.
487
:Well, thank you.
488
:I appreciate that.
489
:Yeah.
490
:So let's talk about human,
human, humanity, habitat
491
:for humanity, for humanity.
492
:Let's talk about that.
493
:Cause I learned about sweat equity.
494
:There's so much.
495
:That I'll learn just asking
questions about, the program.
496
:So go ahead and tell
people about that one.
497
:Amber: So, Habitat for Humanity,
I worked there for over 10 years.
498
:I actually started out there,
as AmeriCorps or do you, are
499
:you familiar with AmeriCorps?
500
:So AmeriCorps is like a program
through the government where they
501
:will pay for you to go to school and
you can work for a nonprofit as an
502
:internship, but they actually pay you.
503
:And so I started out with Habitat
for Humanity as an internship.
504
:And ended up getting hired on, full
time and I was there for over 10 years.
505
:Habitat for Humanity is a program,
that it's a grassroot program, so it
506
:could be in different states, different
cities, and it's basically ran by
507
:that individual, uh, organization.
508
:So, I was a part of Habitat, Dallas Area
Habitat for Humanity, which is the biggest
509
:habitat, in the Dallas Fort Worth area.
510
:and I was over Family Services.
511
:So, basically what I did was, any
families that came into the program,
512
:they had to go through different classes.
513
:Because a lot of individuals who came
to the Habitat for Humanity program,
514
:they had never been homeowners.
515
:they really did not understand the home
ownership versus renter situations.
516
:So there's a lot of things
that change when you become
517
:a homeowner versus a renter.
518
:And so through Habitat, I was able
to get different, experiences.
519
:Companies and different
organizations together to be
520
:able to educate these families.
521
:So like even one small
thing, pest control.
522
:An apartment, you just have to call
a phone, you have to call the office
523
:and say, Hey, I need pest control.
524
:In a house, you actually have
to keep up with the schedule
525
:of your own pest control.
526
:You have to set up those appointments
and make sure that they're coming back
527
:frequently if you need pest control.
528
:Some people, that little small
thing, they don't even know.
529
:Changing your filters in your home.
530
:As a renter, you don't change
your filters in your home.
531
:So, those different things,
I was a part of, my team, we
532
:educated individuals on that.
533
:But then we also Did you make
classes or Yeah, we had classes.
534
:I created a schedule to where they
would take like a two day home ownership.
535
:it was required once they got in
their home, they had to take it.
536
:And then we would have different financial
classes, that they could come and take.
537
:we also had, I was over, doing like
community events, and so we would
538
:be in the community talking about
Habitat, but then we would also
539
:be able to provide our homeowners.
540
:So say for instance, you got into a
Habitat home, you started struggling,
541
:we had like a little store in the back
where homeowners could come and get
542
:toiletries and different things, and so
I was responsible for those things too.
543
:So I've always been a, kind of
like a giver or, I've always
544
:wanted to support individuals.
545
:So, Habitat for Humanity was
like, I absolutely loved that job.
546
:I did.
547
:I cried so many times because you
should hear some of those stories.
548
:You know, it was just so many
families that, they never thought
549
:homeownership was obtainable because
nobody that they knew was a homeowner.
550
:And they were the first homeowners.
551
:It was like the first
person going to college.
552
:That's the, you know,
that's how it felt to them.
553
:They were the first in their family.
554
:So.
555
:It was very rewarding.
556
:Very, very, very rewarding.
557
:Brianna: I love that.
558
:Amber: Yeah.
559
:Yeah.
560
:Brianna: So now this is a good
segue to our next section.
561
:And we're going to talk about
highs and lows and it doesn't
562
:have to pertain to real estate.
563
:It can be anything that you want to
celebrate, that you want to share with
564
:us and say, Hey, this Amber, I did it.
565
:So what would you like to share with us?
566
:Amber: Girl, Amber, you did so
good with raising your kids, girl.
567
:Oh my gosh, girl, you have
a son going to college.
568
:Like I never would have thought my
son would be going to a D1 school.
569
:and so that, that is something
I'm very, very, and I, I sent
570
:him to private school on my own.
571
:Yeah, when you said that, my eyes bucked.
572
:I was like, that's
573
:Brianna: beautiful.
574
:Amber: Yeah.
575
:And I told him the, so, I'm, I'm so mean.
576
:Um, but I told him, I was like, after
he graduated, I was like, look, I don't
577
:know how you gonna pay for college,
but you gonna have to pay for college
578
:all your own But I, of course I'm
helping him pay for college, but still.
579
:Right.
580
:Must put a little fire under his mind.
581
:Yeah.
582
:Put a little fire but no, I'm
very proud of myself for that.
583
:And I would say for these last
two years I was really like in a
584
:bad place, because my dad passed.
585
:and my dad was like the pillar
of our life, and I think that
586
:over the two years I was able to.
587
:Actually like take out time for
myself and realize who I was.
588
:and I feel myself coming back to
myself, but even a better person.
589
:And so I'm so thankful for that because
a lot of people don't know how to
590
:take out that time for themselves.
591
:and a lot of people don't actually
know how to go through grieving.
592
:So I actually studied, you know,
what grieving was because I knew
593
:I was going through it, but it
was, it was really bad for me.
594
:And then I started going to a counselor.
595
:Like a lot of people don't
like to do the counselor.
596
:I love.
597
:Absolutely love the, like, I love food.
598
:I absolutely love a counselor for you.
599
:I mean, cause
600
:Brianna: you're feeding your soul.
601
:Amber: That's exactly how I look at it.
602
:Brianna: So on the opposite end, cause I
kind of want to dive in a little bit more
603
:with the other side of your grieving,
604
:Cause of course we still grieve
and we still think about our
605
:loved ones, especially of sounding
like you are daddy's girl.
606
:Amber: Oh no, I was the girl, my daddy.
607
:Oh girl.
608
:He was my, he was the pillar, but my
dad was the pillar of our entire family.
609
:You know, you have that one person that
just like, he is the glue of everything.
610
:It was my dad.
611
:And so he was, I mean, my dad, if it was
not for my dad, I don't think I would
612
:have been in the entertainment industry.
613
:He used to take me to every
concert he could think of.
614
:So like, he made me
fall in love with music.
615
:And that's what, yeah, so I, I,
that was my, that was my guy.
616
:Yeah.
617
:Brianna: Cause my, when I usually
do the low question, I always
618
:ask people, you know, what keeps
you motivated to keep going?
619
:Cause again, I'm sure I, I haven't gone
through losing my father, and I don't.
620
:Want to act like I know
what that feels like.
621
:but for you like what keeps you motivated
to keep going because you're here You're
622
:still striving, you know, you're of
course helping your son Helping your
623
:daughter and you still do what you need
to do to keep moving and grouping So,
624
:what do you do that keeps you moving and
625
:Amber: grooving?
626
:The okay, so I when I started off I said
i'm a a woman of god, so I think that
627
:i'm spiritual and religious So I think
making sure that I have a even balance in
628
:between the two really helped me a lot.
629
:Because people, yes, I love the
Lord, but we also have a universe
630
:and people don't realize that.
631
:And so that universe
does a lot to our energy.
632
:the frequencies in the world does a lot to
our energy and people don't realize that.
633
:And so, me focusing in on those
things is what actually helped me a
634
:lot through getting through my dad.
635
:Because my whole family's
going through this.
636
:It's not like I have somebody to talk to.
637
:And at this time, I was going
through a relationship breakup, so,
638
:I didn't have anybody to talk to.
639
:Like, literally anybody.
640
:and so that's why I started
going to my counselor.
641
:because, you know, you'll talk to
some people and just like you said,
642
:I like for you, you know, I commend
you for being honest because people
643
:think that they know what you're going
through because their granny died or
644
:their sister died, but a girl and her
dad is two totally different things.
645
:A mom and her boy is two
totally different things.
646
:And so, my dad taught me my hustle.
647
:My dad gave me, my ability to Be so, you
know, so strong, you know what I mean?
648
:He taught me, he taught me
a lot, you know what I mean?
649
:And so losing him was something that I had
never felt that pain, all the breakups I'd
650
:been through, you know, even my daughter
being, I have a, my daughter's a preemie.
651
:She was born at 24 weeks.
652
:And so that was painful, but the pain
from my dad passing, that was the
653
:most pain I had ever felt in my life.
654
:not understanding that grieving
properly, it was just like I had
655
:went into a whole complete show.
656
:It was like some days I
couldn't get out the bed.
657
:I literally, you hear people
say that and you're like, well,
658
:why can't you get out the bed?
659
:But I actually felt it.
660
:and then because I couldn't get out of
the bed, my businesses are networking.
661
:My businesses are making
sure I keep my relationships.
662
:And so, because I couldn't get out of
the bed, because I couldn't do my work,
663
:I started getting into financial issues.
664
:And it was like, at one
point, I was at rock bottom.
665
:Like, literally, the bottom.
666
:And so, I think that, I started
really, like, listening to books.
667
:and I started, going to
sleep to frequencies.
668
:and I started, really focusing on me.
669
:if I wanted to go out and I went to
party, I'ma go out and I'ma party.
670
:If I wanna stay home and
I'ma do this, I'ma do this.
671
:I started learning how to say no and
started saying more yeses to myself.
672
:And I think that sort of allowed
me to get through the grieving, and
673
:allowed me to actually get back to me.
674
:Like sometimes people get through grieving
and they can't get back to the set
675
:themselves, because something is missing.
676
:there's a gap, there's a hole,
but, I think I was with my dad
677
:the whole day before he passed.
678
:It was just me and him.
679
:and so I think that kind of gave
me, a little relief in my grieving
680
:and I, and I created his obituary.
681
:I created my dad a 12 page
obituary and a whole video.
682
:So I think that kind of
helped with my grieving too.
683
:Cause I was able to look at people sending
me all these pictures and you know, all
684
:these quotes and all these good memories.
685
:I'm like, Oh my God.
686
:It was just one video.
687
:My dad was a big character.
688
:He was like, I get a lot of my, we
haven't really had time together,
689
:but I get a lot of my corny like
jokes and stuff from my dad.
690
:And so, it was this one video.
691
:They were talking about my
cousin who had passed away.
692
:I think, no, it was his birthday.
693
:and my dad said, my dad was older
than him and he said something
694
:about you caught up with me in age.
695
:my mama like, look, she gave him cause
they were sitting next to each other.
696
:It was just like so hilarious.
697
:So I keep that in my phone.
698
:And so those different things, I
believe in seeing the red bird.
699
:I hear my son.
700
:I mean, I hear my dad's voice sometimes.
701
:All of that stuff helped
me get through my grieving.
702
:Yes.
703
:you really have to allow yourself.
704
:I think that's the thing.
705
:And then you have to allow yourself.
706
:So that was good.
707
:Brianna: Okay.
708
:So our next segment
would be one free advice.
709
:In fact, a lot of times we
pay thousands and thousands
710
:of dollars to go to different
seminars or pay for these classes.
711
:And at the end you're like,
what did I get from this?
712
:Nothing.
713
:So what could you share
with our audience today?
714
:It could be a quote, it could be just
some advice, anything for them to take
715
:from this and then actually use it.
716
:Amber: Okay.
717
:I know this is very about
to be very cliche if I say
718
:this too, but it's the truth.
719
:Um, be yourself no matter what.
720
:I think that part of the reason
why this is my first time being on
721
:a podcast in many years is because
I started to lose myself and you
722
:can't, if you lose yourself, you
can't be yourself in front of people.
723
:So I think that I was afraid
to be myself in front of people
724
:because I had lost myself.
725
:And one thing I do know in
real estate, I use, your real
726
:estate bay, for so many reasons.
727
:Because in the real estate process,
you have to trust somebody.
728
:And so I want individuals to trust me.
729
:But at the end of the day, you
also have to, um, you have to
730
:think about your personality.
731
:And so in the entertainment
industry, it's your media bay.
732
:And it's also about the trust, but
it's also in the real estate industry.
733
:I built it up to where when I see
people, I say, Hey, bae, how you doing?
734
:You know, especially if I don't
remember your name, I'm not
735
:gonna be like, what's your name?
736
:You know, I'll remember it as soon
as like after we kept talking,
737
:but I meet so many people.
738
:So my thing was, Hey bae,
you know, how you been doing?
739
:So I think it's just the,
me being more personable.
740
:and you know, you see a lot of realtors,
they have on the suits and all that.
741
:I wear what I want to wear,
what makes me feel comfortable.
742
:Yeah.
743
:And I treat the individuals
how I would want to be treated
744
:to make them feel comfortable.
745
:And our first meeting, we're
not talking about a house.
746
:We're talking about who we are as
individuals, because everybody that you
747
:meet on your first meeting as a realtor,
they're going to talk about the houses.
748
:I want to be personable So the main thing
that I can tell anybody is no matter what
749
:journey you are on is remain yourself.
750
:Don't try to remain yourself.
751
:Learn how to remain yourself, who you
are, be true to you, because at the end
752
:of the day, if somebody comes into your
life and they try to change some things
753
:about you, how do you move on after that
when you've already lost yourself in them?
754
:so we lose ourselves in the world all day.
755
:So if we could learn how to be
our true selves, our honest, true
756
:selves, we can accept criticism.
757
:we can grow, we can accept when
we're wrong, and we can move on.
758
:And so I think that's what it is for me.
759
:I'm so down to earth now
because I've accepted who I am.
760
:So if I do something and if
I say something, I'm like,
761
:Oh shoot, that wasn't right.
762
:Oh shoot.
763
:Okay.
764
:I'm sorry.
765
:I will apologize for it because.
766
:you don't know sometimes when
you hurt people's feelings.
767
:You don't know sometimes when you say
something that is offensive to people.
768
:Especially if it's not intentional.
769
:It's not.
770
:I'm never intentional.
771
:I am.
772
:I'm a cancer.
773
:I love everybody.
774
:Brianna: And you're emotional too.
775
:Amber: I'm very emotional.
776
:So I don't like to hurt your feelings.
777
:So I, I never intentionally want to
hurt somebody or hurt their feelings.
778
:So I just think that sometimes
my, my, the way I say different
779
:things, I'm so natural that.
780
:Or I'm so real sometimes that I say
the wrong words in the wrong order.
781
:But I, I think that, you know, if
you know me, you know that Amber's
782
:just, you know, she's just being real.
783
:She's not trying to hurt you.
784
:So I think being me helps me not
only in my real estate, but it
785
:helps me in my everyday life, in my
entertainment business, because being
786
:myself, you next time you call me
or whenever you call me, you know,
787
:you're going to always get Amber.
788
:No matter what I'm going through,
you're going to always get me.
789
:I love that.
790
:Yeah.
791
:So always be yourself.
792
:Brianna: Indeed.
793
:Okay, so tell the people how they can
contact you, if that's social media,
794
:website, if that's for your media bay
or if that's for a real estate bay,
795
:So just tell the people
how they can plug in
796
:Amber: Okay, so, I give
everybody my phone number.
797
:I'm just going to be honest
because I have so much going on.
798
:Now remind you, this is my business line.
799
:And I do know how to block people,
so I have no problem with it.
800
:Background: Disclaimer, okay?
801
:Amber: Just a disclaimer
real quick, but no.
802
:first of all, social media.
803
:So you can reach me, on social media at
Your Media Bay or Your Real Estate Bay.
804
:on IG, on Facebook, everything is
those two, those two platforms.
805
:And then my cell phone, if you
want to talk about a house or if
806
:you want a media run, whatever
:
807
:So, Hey, she gave y'all everything.
808
:I gave you everything.
809
:And I do know how to say no.
810
:Indeed.
811
:Brianna: Because again, we
got to be ourselves, so we
812
:Amber: have
813
:Brianna: to
814
:Amber: be ourselves.
815
:Brianna: Okay.
816
:So after this, we're wrapping it up.
817
:We always leave it with
a motivational moment.
818
:Sometimes it's a scripture, it's a quote,
something that I saw or something that
819
:I received that just made me feel like,
Hmm, I can bring this on the podcast.
820
:So today it is a scripture.
821
:It's by, Jeremiah, chapter 29, verse 11.
822
:Background: Okay.
823
:For I know the
824
:Brianna: plans I have for
you declares the Lord.
825
:Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.
826
:Plans to give you hope and a future.
827
:So I'm gonna share my thoughts
and you can share your thoughts.
828
:And it's a wrap.
829
:So for me, when it comes to this
particular scripture, I was on a hiatus
830
:as well for, was it for two years?
831
:Maybe a year?
832
:But it was a very, very long
time because I lost myself.
833
:There was a lot of things that
was going on with me internally,
834
:physically, spiritually, mentally.
835
:And I just didn't feel like myself.
836
:So after sitting down and really
understanding why God gave me this vision.
837
:I just had to get back to Brianna first.
838
:So, going back and understanding
that God gives us these visions,
839
:gives us these things, and you
feel it and you keep coming back
840
:to it, there's a reason for it.
841
:And I've always known when I did the
podcast, I was in my happy place, just
842
:talking to people, linking up to people.
843
:and I have an accounting background.
844
:So for me, just being in this space just
lets me know that I'm in the right space.
845
:I'm in the right area.
846
:I'm doing the things
that God wants me to do.
847
:And sometimes it does get hard.
848
:Sometimes you be wrong.
849
:But as long as you get back to what God
called you to do, I feel like that's the
850
:happy space that we always have to get
back to, and that goes back to you saying,
851
:we always gotta fill up our own cups.
852
:We have to be for, we gotta be for
ourselves, we understand what God has
853
:for us, sometimes we can be a little
hard headed, but at the end of the day,
854
:when we really sit down and just be with
God, and understand that this is not for
855
:us, it's bigger than us, Then we have to
do these things to get out there, talk,
856
:communicate, network, because again,
we're a vessel and I'm really big on that.
857
:So, you know, if you have something,
if you have like a burning desire, I
858
:would say do it because at the end of
the day, God has placed that in you.
859
:What are your
860
:Amber: thoughts?
861
:That's so crazy that you read that verse
because that was one of my favorite ones.
862
:Amen.
863
:Yeah.
864
:And so, it goes back to being you.
865
:He created us.
866
:And he created us, and he gave us
a path, and as long as you stay on
867
:that path, you will be successful.
868
:And I think for me, I kept trying, girl,
I'm telling you, I've been taking real
869
:estate classes since I was straight out
of high school, and I've kept fighting
870
:it and kept fighting it, and if it was
not for real estate and me staying on
871
:the path that I know he wants me to be
on, I would not have been able to get out
872
:of the financial burden that I was in.
873
:Thank you.
874
:I kept fighting it and it kept putting
me in a deeper financial burden.
875
:And so, that's why I say when
it comes to being you, you know
876
:who you are deep down inside.
877
:I don't care what anybody say.
878
:Yeah, you have some stuff that have
affected you, but you as a person,
879
:you know who you are deep down inside.
880
:And sometimes you don't want to be
that person because you feel this
881
:person won't like you or this person,
they don't like what you do or this.
882
:You can't worry about any of that
because at the end of the day, those
883
:people weren't born with you and those
people are not going to die with you.
884
:so I think that for me with that.
885
:for that scripture, I think it is, stand
on your path when you know, it's right.
886
:And don't be scared because if it's
your path, then it's going to happen.
887
:And I think a lot of times we get to that
point where it's like, should I do this?
888
:Should I not do this?
889
:and, you're in your head, but
you keep seeing these visions
890
:of you supposed to be doing it.
891
:And I believe so much in visions.
892
:That's another thing that helped
me because I kept seeing all of
893
:this, me on the stage talking to
multiple people about real estate.
894
:So I kept seeing these visions
and I'm like, you know what?
895
:I know that this is my path.
896
:And as I'm walking in this
path, it feels so good.
897
:It feels so good.
898
:and that's why I know I'm supposed to be.
899
:And I think that scripture has a lot to do
with that because, everybody has a path.
900
:Everybody has a path.
901
:You can't, you, even, and I
hate to say this, even people
902
:on drugs, everybody got a path.
903
:And you hate to even think that the
Lord would put them on that type of
904
:path, but everybody has a path, and
you gotta follow that path the way
905
:He wants you to, and you gotta focus
on you and be happy in your life.
906
:Like I'm totally happy.
907
:And I can tell you, you got this
little glow going on over here.
908
:I can tell you happy in your path too.
909
:So that's good.
910
:Brianna: I receive that.
911
:Amber: Yeah.
912
:Brianna: I mean, yes.
913
:Like this whole time I've been
seeing a glow as you talk about media
914
:and as you talk about real estate.
915
:So I'm super excited for
you in this new journey.
916
:Amber: I was a secret
agent for a long time.
917
:Nice.
918
:So I'm not going to be
secret agent anymore.
919
:You out there.
920
:Yeah.
921
:No, I'm out here.
922
:If you don't know, I'm a realtor by now.
923
:We need to talk.
924
:Okay.
925
:All right.
926
:So Amber, this is it.
927
:Brianna: Did we leave
928
:Amber: anything out?
929
:Is there anything you feel like I missed?
930
:Tell the
931
:Brianna: people.
932
:Amber: I just want to thank you.
933
:First of all, I want to thank you
for being committed to yourself
934
:because, people don't know how we
met, but we met on social media.
935
:I had never met this young
lady a day in my life.
936
:During COVID, I had to figure it
out in the entertainment industry
937
:and I ended up reaching out to you.
938
:I remember when you were on
your hiatus because you told me
939
:and I think I reached back out.
940
:You were still on your hiatus.
941
:So I really, I love relationships
like this because it's a very,
942
:very natural relationship.
943
:I just want to tell you keep doing
what you're doing and keep loving what
944
:you're doing and it will bring you so
much wealth and happiness in your life
945
:that you will be like, Oh my gosh,
what am I going to do with all this?
946
:So yeah.
947
:Brianna: Thank
948
:Amber: you.
949
:for having me too.
950
:Yes.
951
:Brianna: All right, ladies and gents,
if you're listening to this morning,
952
:noon, evening, or night, thank you
so much for tuning in to what's good
953
:podcast and we'll see you guys next time.