Tracy Halliday Traded Teaching for an Education in Real Estate
Share News:
By Rick Mauch
Candy’s Dirt Contributor
For nearly two decades, Tracy Halliday was a classroom teacher. She taught elementary students in the Houston and Spring school districts before coming to the Fort Worth ISD, where she was also a dyslexia interventionist.
Then, she decided to start teaching in a different way, for example, when and when to not make their dream home purchase.
“Real estate is something I have always had an interest in, and after all those years in education, I realized I could continue helping and educating people, just in a different way,” Halliday said.
“I take great pride in being the one who can help individuals and families with one of the biggest investments in their lives and their personal wealth.”
Halliday, although relatively new to the business, has received great praise from her mentor, Tracey Amaya of the Amaya Realty Group, RE/MAX Trinity in Fort Worth.
“She is a firecracker,” Amaya said.
Real estate is not new to Halliday as she has had relatives and friends in the industry. She discussed her approach with CandysDirt.com.
Has your experience as a teacher helped you in real estate? How?
Absolutely. I am used to explaining things clearly to others and as a natural teacher, not just a school teacher, I have a great deal of patience. I also don’t have a problem delivering bad news and finding solutions to problems in fast-paced, sometimes chaotic situations.
What are the major challenges you have found in real estate? The biggest rewards?
The first hurdle I had to overcome was changing my mindset to become my own boss. I am completely in charge of my success or failure, and hustle mode is real. Putting myself out there in situations and being in front of people knowing that you could be rejected is a hard thing to do. I have found as I have gotten into this profession, the more you do those things: take chances, put yourself out there, and hustle, the relationships and rewards are amazing.
Do you see any similarities between teaching and real estate?
Many similar skills are necessary, namely, organization, being the source of information for adults/children, and being able to problem solve with the people that you serve all the while being distracted by many things going on at once. My clients, just like my students, all have unique needs and situations that need to be taken into account to achieve the best outcome for them.
Are both professions challenged or helped by the technology developed for them?
100 percent helped! I hear from more experienced agents what this business looked like 20 years ago, and I know I have it so much easier. The main issue is with the amount of information the general public has access to. It is super important that agents make sure their clients know what sources are the most accurate.
Do you have any advice for those in the teaching industry looking for a change as you did?
When, for whatever reason, you can’t give it your all for the students that you serve on a daily basis, it’s time to make a change. The skills good teachers possess are so very transferable to many other professions, so just go for it.
If you know of an agent for us to profile, email Rick Mauch or [email protected]
