In this column, real estate agents across the nation share stories of the lessons they’ve learned during their time in the industry.
Top-producing luxury agent Samantha Curry has sold everything from showstopping penthouses to opulent waterfront estates, including a 2021 record-breaking sale in Highland Beach for $30.25 million. Find out why real estate has always been in the cards for her and what advice she’d give to any aspiring real estate agent.
Name: Samantha Curry
Title: Executive Director of Luxury Sales
Experience: 20+ years
Location: Palm Beach, Florida
Brokerage full name: Douglas Elliman Palm Beach
Rankings:
- Top 3 percent of agents nationwide (2022)
- No. 3 Florida agent of all Douglas Elliman agents (2021)
- No. 3 agent in Florida at Douglas Elliman (2020)
- Top 2 percent of all Douglas Elliman agents (2019)
- Top 3 percent of all Douglas Elliman agents (2018)
- No. 2 agent in Palm Beach (2017)
Sales volume: Over $1 billion
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? How does real estate relate to that childhood goal?
Believe it or not, I told my parents I wanted to be a real estate agent when I was six years old. I realized this the very first time I accompanied my parents to see a few houses with our Realtor. I would race through each home with my little sister in a contest to see who could find the “best” bedroom first. It was exciting, interesting and competitive, very similar to how I view real estate today.
What’s the most important thing you learned in a CE class?
I took a class on real estate negotiating about 10 years ago. It was the most helpful and rewarding class I have ever taken.
What was your most memorable transaction?
It began when my buyer told me he wanted to submit a $5 million offer on a property with an $11 million asking price. It sounds very unrealistic, but after more than six months of negotiating, we finally bridged the gap and closed the transaction under $7 million.
Despite many people telling me I would never get this deal done, we pulled it off. Our success proved the power of perseverance and creative problem-solving.
What would you tell a new agent before they start out in the business?
Be persistent and don’t give up. It takes time to build a successful real estate business. It may look easy and glamorous on TV, but in the real world, it is a challenging and competitive industry. Focus on gaining as much knowledge as you can about your local market and building relationships.
What’s the best advice you ever got from a mentor or colleague?
Thinking outside of the box really makes a huge impact. You don’t need to be like every other real estate agent. Do not be afraid to do something different. Go above and beyond for your clients.
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Christy Murdock is a freelance writer, coach and consultant and the owner of Writing Real Estate. Connect with Writing Real Estate on Instagram and subscribe to the weekly roundup, The Ketchup.