Crystal Gonzalez May Be Young, But She Has Ambition, Passion, And Deep Dedication To Serving Clients

When I first met Crystal Gonzalez, I was impressed. She’s smart but accessible, kind but tough, and above all, she’s passionate about homes. The Lubbock native and David Griffin Realtor lives in Winnetka Heights and strives to serve her community, and Dallas as a whole, as both an agent and a citizen.

Gonzalez, who’s as beautiful as she is busy, sat down and answered a few questions for CandysDirt.com. We’re pleased as punch to have her on the blog! Find out more about this young, insightful Realtor after the jump!

CandysDirt.com: Where are you from?
Crystal Gonzalez: Good Ol’ West Texas, Lubbock to be exact.

CD: How did you get into real estate?
Gonzalez: I initially started in radio sales, and as a sales agent, you’re always looking for something you’re truly passionate about selling. Al Coker gave me my break into real estate as an on-site sales agent in a high-rise in Las Colinas, The Grand Treviso. It was a natural fit for me, and I excelled. After that experience I was in love with real estate.

CD: You live in Winnetka Heights but you have made sales records all over Dallas, especially in Uptown. Do you prefer to work in your own backyard?
Gonzalez: It’s all about passion, and selling what you’re passionate about becomes much easier, and clients can really see and feel that when they work with you. However, I’m passionate about achieving my client’s goals in general, and I think that shows as well when I’m working in all neighborhoods of Dallas. Plus, there are so many great pockets in DFW that I can’t say I prefer one over the other.

CD:What do you love best about living in Oak Cliff?
Gonzalez: My neighbors. I can honestly say if I needed to borrow an egg I could easily call 10 neighbors, 20 neighbors if I needed a bottle of wine. Oak Cliff, especially Winnetka Heights, is the type of close-knit community that you’d expect to find in a small town.

CD: And you drive a … let me guess, Mercedes Benz?
Gonzalez:  I drive a BMW X5. I’m not a big “car person,” and truthfully I prefer a bike, but for touring and showing you have to have space and comfort, we practically live out of our cars you know.

CD: What’s your favorite ‘hood in Dallas and why?
Gonzalez:  My obvious answer is Oak Cliff, but Uptown is a close second. When I first moved to Dallas, I had an apartment there and to me it represents such a lively, energetic, youthful, promising time of my life. I must stay there’s something great about having a mambo taxi in West Village and people-watching. It just feels so Dallas.

CD: What was your best/highest sale?
Gonzalez:  $1.6M, during my first year as a Realtor. I was working an open house and my clients called me wanting more information on the home. Don’t ever let an agent tell you open houses don’t work!

CD: Likewise, what was your most challenging or memorable transaction?
Gonzalez: My $1.6M was pretty memorable being so early in my career as a Realtor. I’d sold million-dollar condos, but single family homes are different. The seller asked that we close at this small title company and they were very difficult to work with. GOOD TITLE COMPANIES MATTER!

CD: How quickly have you ever turned a house?
Gonzalez:  Less than 24 hours.

CD: How much did you sell last year?
Gonzalez:  A little over $5M. Ugh, that seems so small, but I remind myself it was only my second year in business and I took a few months off to start a family.

CD: What have you learned about selling that makes you so successful?
Gonzalez:  I’m sure you’ve heard all the clichés, but to me it’s truly about understanding the needs of my clients. A great piece of jewelry can look good on anyone, and everyone loves new cars, but a home is so personal. It serves personal needs, both emotionally and physically. You can’t just push a home like you push other commodities. So understanding what my client’s needs makes selling become more of a service and less of a “sales job.”

CD: If you ever change careers for an encore you’ll…
Gonzalez:  Work in the test kitchen for Southern Living. Have you seen some of those dishes?

CD: Do you have a second home? If so, where?
Gonzalez:  Investment properties, yes, second homes, no. But when we do, it’s definitely going to be a get-away property.