Local real estate agent talks business, family and why she loves living and working in Erath County.
By SARA VANDEN BERGE
Lani Rust is quite possibly one of the easiest people I have ever had the pleasure of speaking with.
Smart, engaging and thoughtful, Lani is one of those rare individuals that is easy to connect with.
That’s probably why she is good at what she does.
Lani is an agent with Clark Real Estate Group, a company she joined in March 2019.
The company is based in Weatherford, but has offices in Stephenville, Granbury, Mineral Wells and Possum Kingdom.
Her office in Stephenville is located at 1359 W. South Loop, Suite D.
“We do a lot of farm and ranch, but we do residential as well,” she said.
Lani graduated from Texas A&M University in 2001 with a degree in agribusiness and is still a hardcore Aggie.
She and her husband Mac have two daughters, Madison, 13, and Halle, 10.
After the couple moved to Stephenville, Lani worked as Mac’s legal assistant. (He no longer practices law and now works as a contract pilot.)
After the couple started their family, Lani said she wanted to do something with a little more flexibility.
Real estate seemed like a natural fit.
In 2017, Lani earned her real estate license, and a new career was born.
Here are a few more things I learned about Lani during our recent chat.
1. What is the most satisfying part of your job?
“I enjoy meeting different people and helping them with one of the most important purchases they will ever make,” she said. “We are a family who loves horses and land, so to me, the best days are the ones I spend showing a beautiful piece of property and driving across the land.
“I like selling houses too. Every transaction is different and that’s what I love.”
2. What makes Clark Real Estate Group stand out from other real estate agencies?
“One of the first things they told me before I started is that the company is based on Christian principles and that was a huge selling point for me. We pray before every meeting, and it’s genuine. I really like that.
“And we have a lot of support from our broker Tim Clark. He is a great guy and stands behind his agents 100 percent.”
3. What’s your secret to juggling a young family and busy career?
“Great friends,” she said. “I have a good group of friends who are also moms and we help each other out. I have a dozen people I can call whenever I need help and I know my kids will be well taken care of – and won’t even miss me.
“It’s important to have people you can depend on.”
4. What does your family do for fun?
“We show and ride cutting horses. We also play sports (soccer) or hang out at the lake in Palo Pinto. And we are very involved with Graham Street Church of Christ.”
5. When you work with families looking to relocate to Erath County, what do you tell them about the area?
“I tell them it’s great; that once they are here, they will never want to leave.
“I have a client moving here from Washington State. She has a young daughter who wasn’t excited about moving, but after spending two days in Stephenville, they couldn’t wait to get back.
“Erath County is easy to fall in love with. The school system is good and we have Tarleton State University and Ranger College. It’s just a great place to raise your kids.
“Mac and I love it here.”