James Webb didn't jump at the first door to open after a lockdown-induced career change… He knocked on a few others instead.

 

James worked in advertising and communications roles for nearly a decade but was laid off when COVID lockdowns ended his stint as a communications manager at the Whitewater Center. He obtained his real estate license in the summer of 2020 and began interviewing firms in search of the right fit. He landed on Allen Tate SouthPark a few months later and hasn't looked back since.

 

“That was the ideal time to transition to real estate," says James, a Flagler College (Florida) alumnus and the 2021 company-wide Rookie of the Year for Allen Tate. "Real estate had always been an interest and something I thought I would explore at some point. It’s difficult to stop a career when you’re swimming in one direction. But being laid off ended up being a huge blessing in disguise.”

 

That new direction has led to a steady rise in business at the brokerage he chose for its marketplace brand equity and reputation. James sold 60 homes in his first two years and notes he found such a high level of support within the office, he looked forward to going to work.

 

"Going into the office has almost become a lost art," James points out while encouraging all new agents to be in the office as much as possible.

 

“You’ll meet people, including other agents, and learn. You’ll hear conversations, get open-house opportunities, and learn about the business from top performers. I was in the office almost every day when I first started, for as long as I could be, learning as much as I had the opportunity to,” he adds.

 

James helped Coard Miller buy and list a home. Coard affirms James was everything he wanted in an agent, anticipating his needs and making each showing informative and worthwhile.

 

"James did a great job of going above and beyond to prepare for a showing and anticipate our questions," Coard says. "His attention to detail helped us assess each property’s condition and value with confidence — and it helped us feel comfortable after leaving each showing.”

 

Listing his property was also successful, Coard continues.

 

"James left nothing to chance. He helped us understand what added value to our house. We had someone on our team who was as invested in the sale of our house as anyone. He wasn’t chasing a paycheck."

 

David Deal, James' sales manager at Allen Tate, says he knew from James' initial interview he had what it takes.

 

"I do most of the first interviews in our office and he stood out," David recalls. "We have two leaders in our office. Michele Early is the BIC and I am the sales manager. I called Michele and said, ‘We need to hire this guy before he gets away.’”

 

Outside of work, James does get away — and often. He thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2018 and says he appreciates domestic travel. He's visited all 50 states and is looking forward to his annual Outer Banks trip this August. With his wife, Katie, and one-year-old daughter Nora, James has big plans for the coming year.

 

Whether in hiking boots on the trail or loafers at a morning showing, James is still finding his footing. He might have chosen an odd time to join real estate, but he says he owes much of that early success to the unprecedented market over the past few years.

 

Wrapping up year three, he’s busy planning for the future as he renovates his Elizabethan home and continues to build his business. He cherishes his time with his wife and daughter, and the special moments and milestones that come along with being a new parent.

 

James says it’s his planning approach and an understanding of how home buying impacts people's lives that have gotten him this far. They also make James a safe bet to keep growing in this business — and to take good care of the families who trust him with a life-changing choice.

 

“There’s no better emotional expression than your home, right?" James says. "You have your family, and you have your home. I think some folks have lost sight of that in the past few years, with how driven the market has been. It’s shifted more to a financial focus for sellers and buyers. And it's obviously a financial transaction, but we have to re-center and remember that there are people on both sides of the transaction, just looking for their next place to call home.”