A decision to commit, and become really good at what I do, transformed my career.

 

When I say real estate has been my life, I’m not kidding—I got my license when I was 23 and haven’t looked back since. But how I got into real estate was accidental.

 

After college, I was looking for a sales position—and I got one—but found myself frustrated sitting behind a desk all day. I wanted to be out and about, so I took a job driving and fixing trucks, since I had some mechanical knowledge. One day, I accidentally fell off a truck and twisted my knee. It was a serious injury that required knee replacement surgery. While the insurance company agreed to pay for the surgery, they didn’t agree to take me back afterward.

 

So, during my recovery, I had some time to think—and I decided to get my real estate license. My family had been in the construction industry, so real estate felt somewhat familiar. I was lucky to have a wonderful mentor in those early days who challenged me. No matter how much I wanted to quit, he convinced me to stay.

 

I quickly realized that to succeed as a REALTOR®, you have to be fully committed. As rough as it was at the beginning, I started doubling my sales year after year. By the age of 28, I felt like a seasoned agent. That’s when I met Laura—we actually met during a real estate transaction—and eventually got married. We welcomed our boys, Matthew and Christopher, both avid hockey players. We traveled 30 weeks a year to watch them compete. Some of my happiest memories are watching them skate and perform at a high level. I even coached them when they were younger, so I felt incredibly proud of them.

 

But it wasn’t just my kids evolving—I was too. I stayed committed to my work and got my mortgage lender license in 2003. That license took me to the next level. It’s rare to find agents who both sell real estate and handle loan applications, but I did both. I learned to intricately understand a transaction from start to finish. My reputation as a REALTOR® grew, and I felt on top of the world—definitely not expecting what was to come.

 

When the real estate market crashed in 2008, it hit hard. Business dried up, and I watched my friends lose their homes. My kids never found out, but I spent 18 months without a single paycheck, burning through more than $100K of savings just to keep us afloat. It was stressful, but somehow we made it through.

 

Once business came back, Keller Williams asked me to be a team leader for their office. I accepted, of course, thinking it would be a good opportunity, but found myself stuck behind paperwork again. I missed being out with clients, driving through the city, and making deals happen. Eventually, I returned to being a REALTOR®—and not just that, I opened my own brokerage in 2016.

 

Since then, I’ve built a small but strong team of agents who work by my side. Running the brokerage has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.

 

Today, my boys are in their 20s, building lives of their own. Laura and I are still together—30 years and counting. We enjoy golfing and playing with our "toys," like our snowmobile and our boat.

 

Looking back, my longest relationship has been with real estate—36 years! I’m proud that the 23-year-old kid who once thought about quitting chose to stay and commit to being the best agent he could be.

 

With 36 years of experience in real estate, I bring a high level of competence to every transaction. I can quickly spot red flags in a home—signs of aging or hidden issues that others may overlook. Because I’ve also helped clients with mortgages, I clearly explain what lenders will require and help prepare them. 

 

Pricing is critical. I make sure homes are listed correctly from the start; otherwise, they sit on the market and lose value. My approach is honest and strategic—I won’t sugarcoat what needs to happen to get the home sold. I aim to be the kind of REALTOR® I would want to work with: focused, knowledgeable, and results-driven. I get the job done while keeping my clients informed, backing my recommendations with logic, and always putting their best interests first. Real estate is my area of expertise, and I use that knowledge to protect my clients with honest advice. It’s never about the sale—it’s about the client—and that mindset is what has led me to close thousands of successful transactions over the years.

 

Sincerely,

Jeff Northouse

REALTOR®

Direct Call/Text (616) 366-5240 

jeff42north@gmail.com

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