Tess Hernandez is an entrepreneur with a talent for turning opportunities into success. From running a thriving cookie business to building a real estate career in Lubbock, Tess approaches every venture with creativity, determination, and a passion for helping others.

When COVID-19 disrupted her world, Tess found solace in yoga. However, a ligament injury in her elbow forced her to rethink her cookie business. While she taught herself to decorate with her left hand, the passion wasn’t the same. Tess eventually turned her hobby of driving through neighborhoods and browsing properties into a career.

When Suzanne Scott reached out to Tess for a chat, she scheduled a time—fully intending to cancel the day before. Tess’s husband reminded her that she wasn’t happy where she was at, so that phone call had to be a God thing—“Don’t cancel the meeting.” 

Tess met with Suzanne. “I never had any intention of spending time in the office, other than team meetings, but there was something about the people there that let me be myself, and I was comfortable,” Tess expresses.

Tess was born for this role. One of her first transactions came from a social media DM when she first got her license. “A lady and her wife trusted me enough as a brand new agent to help them find a home,” Tess recalls. “It took almost two years to get everything in order and close, but we never gave up on each other.” She takes pride in finding properties and building meaningful relationships with her clients and peers. “People trust me because I love what I do, which reflects in my work,” Tess shares.

At home, Tess is equally dedicated. She and her husband Josh, married for 19 years, are raising their three kids: Journee (19), Jacksyn (15), and Jordan (8). Surprisingly, her kids love exploring vacant listings with her, trying to guess each home’s listing price. Her oldest is passionate about photography, and Tess hopes to one day have her join the team as the photographer for her listings and videos. Her son plays baseball, so they have spent countless hours driving to games—and, of course, checking out cool houses in other towns along the way.

Tess’s creativity extends to her professional projects. She collaborates with two REALTOR® friends weekly to produce educational, often goofy, videos that simplify the buying and selling process. “I’d rather people learn from us than rely on search engine results,” she explains. She has even started a year-long Buyer’s Boot Camp course to help those who want to buy but need credit assistance and education on securing those keys.

“As silly as it may sound to those who wouldn’t understand, real estate gave me a deep sense of self-worth,” Tess highlights. She was no longer just the substitute teacher or the lady who made cookies—she became the person people trusted with the biggest transaction they could make.

Looking ahead, Tess plans to start a team—a small group of like-minded, driven ladies (sorry, guys). At some point, she’d also like to publish a book. Tess remains as excited about the future of real estate as she was when she first committed to the industry. With a creative spirit and a servant’s heart, she is poised to make the Lubbock market bright.

 

Tess Hernandez 

Reside Real Estate Co.

806-778-6945