Former Musician Jerry Allen Is Making Sweet Music in Real Estate

By Rick Mauch
Candy’s Dirt Contributor

Like most entertainers, Jerry Allen had a side gig, or an “alternate career.” He was a professional musician and sold insurance.

“I had transitioned to part-time musician and full-time insurance agent when we moved to Granbury in ’98. Mickey, my wife, was the driver’s license lady for Granbury from ’98 until she retired in 2012.” 

When Jerry and Mickey moved to Granbury, he had decided he didn’t want to play in bars anymore and left his band, Trey Riata. They had won an assortment of awards for Best Band, Best Vocals, etc, from several of the local associations, but he said it simply wasn’t a good fit for him any longer. 

“Then as soon as we moved here, they closed my insurance office in west Fort Worth and I went on unemployment for the first time in my life. While on unemployment, I took their career fit tests and found that I could qualify for just about anything, but there was a need for computer repair persons,” he recalled. 

So, he got certified as a computer repair specialist and immediately started working at the Granbury ISD in the technology department. He remained there for 10 years and then went to work for the city heading up the new conference center (new in 2008). 

“There was a monthly meeting of the Keller Williams group that used our place for their meeting and I stopped a buddy of mine that had gone to work with them and asked him about what he thought,” Jerry said. “He said he was having a great time doing it and that it was pretty profitable, too.” 

One day an old friend from the school district invited Jerry’s wife Mickey to go to a career night to check out Keller Williams. Mickey had been a Mary Kay lady and knew how sales worked. 

“She asked me to go with her and I didn’t really want to, but she said they had free food, so that did it for me,” Jerry said with a laugh. “I went. I saw. I listened. I made notes. It made an impression enough for me to start considering it.

“But I already had a job with the city and that was a steady paycheck, so I didn’t think about it anymore.”

Fast forward a couple of months and Jerry had an episode at work that seemed to be a mini-stroke. He went to the hospital, and was there a couple of days while they did tests. Finally, the doctor came in told Jerry that everything appeared normal, but that his job was “killing him.”

“I returned to work a few days later and went back to doing what I would normally do when I got an email from human resources. It said, ‘Hey Jerry! Congrats on your upcoming 60th birthday! You have enough time between your school district work and the work for the city to be able to retire!'” Jerry said.

Jerry remembered that the Keller Williams class said you needed to have about six months of expenses socked away when you start and be out of debt if possible. Having not taken a sick day in eight years, suddenly he had that kind of money.

So, he retired, signed up for real estate classes online, locked himself in his office, and completed the 180 hours of classroom instruction in 10 days. He took the test and joined the Keller Williams family.

CD: What is it that attracted you to real estate? 

JA: The ability to work from home was great. I could deduct my home office as an expense and my internet was better than just about anyone’s office internet was, plus the flexible hours – yeah, right! – and the ability to set my own pace and pay scale.

CD: What is the greatest reward you get from your profession? 

JA: I wanted to help out my family and friends in every way I could. That simple mantra has helped me to become a very successful Realtor. I enjoy giving the keys to that couple who just got their first house. Or that homeowner who FINALLY sold the house they’d been trying to sell through three other Realtors. 

CD: What is the biggest challenge? 

JA: In the current market, it is pretty hard to get a first-time home buyer’s offer accepted over other folks. Everyone needs a home, but not everyone can afford a home right now. But that will change. Keeping folks motivated and hopeful is hard in this particular market. 

CD: How has the industry changed since you first came on board? 

JA: Due to COVID, we had a glut of brand-new Realtors who jumped in to take advantage of the booming sales. Now, the National Association of Realtors says that over 60,000 of them have bailed out of the industry just this year. About July of last year, the market took a sharp nosedive due to the Fed tightening interest rates, and you saw housing prices fall, fall again, and then fall even more…..some properties almost being “fire sale’d” just to move them. That resulted in lower sales prices, which in turn affects appraisals on homes going forward, since appraisers have to base their home valuations on comps (comparable sales). Those were very low, so appraisals were low. 

CD: What are some of the most notable commercial properties you’ve bought or sold?

JA: I primarily work with residential properties or farm and ranch or land listings, but I did work out a contract that was dead in the water for PJ’s Lawn Care service. It fell short on the financing appraisal, so I worked out an owner finance note with the parties and we brought it to the closing table.

CD: What advice do you have for young people entering the business now? 

JA: Get your credit right. Have six months of cash flow before you go into real estate full-time. The expenses of going part-time are almost the same as full-time, so I would say to wait until you can afford to go full-time. Build your mailing list, whether it be from Facebook or whatever, but start building it. Then start talking to folks in the industry. 

CD: What are your hobbies? 

JA: Rabid Cowboys, Rangers, Stars, and Mavericks fan. College hoops and football, too. And, I still play music and sing at venues all over North Texas. It’s good for my health and my concentration, plus it is actually a lead-generation tool. Folks come listen and hear me and ask what I do. Boom! That opens the door for a conversation…and that is what it’s all about – establishing and nurturing a relationship.

CD: Any additional thoughts/comments? 

JA: I have always had a strong faith in Jesus Christ. I have leaned on that a lot, and it carries me through. Be you. People can tell when you are not being you, and then they aren’t interested in working with you.