Women in Business: Real estate agent Katie Burr encourages others to "push through hard times."
By SARA VANDEN BERGE
Katie Burr knows a thing or two about Stephenville, which helps explain her rapid success in the local real estate industry.
Katie grew up in Stephenville and graduated with her husband Justin from Stephenville High School in 2007.
“Justin and I have a picture together from homecoming when we were 12 years old. We were wearing our mums,” Katie said with a laugh. “But we didn’t start dating until we were seniors in high school.”
Today the couple has two children - Camryn, 9, and Caden, 7 – who enjoy playing sports.
After starting their family, Katie put off a career to stay home with the kids until they were old enough to begin school.
When that day arrived, Katie said she struggled with what to do next.
“It was actually Justin’s idea for me to get into real estate,” she said. “He thought it would offer a flexible schedule for our family, so I prayed about it.”
Katie earned her real estate license in 2015 and a year later joined Hayden Real Estate.
She specializes in residential property and has enjoyed some amazing success in the industry.
In 2016, Katie was named Rookie of the Year and won the Emerald Award for $1-2 million in sales, and in 2017 and 2018, she won the Sapphire Award for $2-4 million in sales.
“Last year was my biggest so far,” she said. “That’s when I exceeded $8 million in sales.”
In February of this year, Katie appeared on an episode of HGTV’s House Hunters, selling a home to a young couple in Stephenville.
Not bad for a woman who has only been in the business for five years.
I caught up with Katie this week for a quick chat and here are a few more things we talked about:
1. What is the most satisfying part of your job?
“Meeting new people and making lifelong friends. My clients are special to me and I gain a new relationship with each one of them.
“I like to stay in touch after the transaction is made. Those relationships are important to me.”
2. What makes Hayden Real Estate unique?
“We provide quality service and are known for our marketing. And the quality of our agents is unlike anything you will find anywhere else.”
3. What do you do for fun?
“My family likes to swim and cook out. Justin and I are both only children so we are very close to our parents and we spend a lot of time together.
“I also like to shop at the local boutiques. It makes me happy.”
4. When you work with families looking to relocate to Stephenville, what do you tell them?
“I tell them that there is a lot of opportunity to get involved in the community and that the people here are super nice and welcoming. Stephenville is a great place to raise kids.”
5. What advice would you give other women considering a new business venture?
“Never give up, never quit. There were several times in the very beginning that I wanted to quit, but I pushed through the hard times, put my head down and kept going.”
Katie’s office is located inside the beautiful offices of Hayden Real Estate at 155 N. Graham Street in Stephenville.