We had the good fortune of connecting with Erika Jacott-Strum and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erika, what role has risk played in your life or career?

While many believe that risk is the possibility of something terrible happening, I see risk and life as one and the same. Every single day we wake up anything can happen. Whether we get up or stay in bed, something terrible might take place. Yet, most of us choose to get up and move forward. That one decision has already turned us into risk takers without even thinking about it.

Some may disagree but realistically, no one knows what our future holds. We can twist an ankle just for getting up. What’s the difference between going sky diving or getting up from bed? Probabilities are all there one way or another.

Looking at 2020, it has proven that life happens to risk takers or cautious people. The pandemic took place around the world. So many people died without ever experiencing life to its full potential. Survival is the goal today but we go back to the fact that life is going to happen, risk or not.

In addition to the world pandemic, I faced additional problems. A medical diagnosis of stomach cancer, followed by another medical complication, then a minor heart attack. It was tough to confront my health problems, maneuver around changes in my children’s school, keep running my business as best as possible, and face everything semi-alone since my husband was considered an “essential worker” and couldn’t help at home during the day.

God helps me tackle what comes my way. I don’t believe in risks; I believe in a God that helps me with life-changing decisions. Sometimes, I’m on target with God’s will, and other times I have to fall to learn a life lesson and that’s okay.

In the real estate world, Buyers, sometimes reject the idea of buying a home due to a higher mortgage payment versus their current rent payment. What is the difference between rent and a mortgage? The rent payment will always increase and the tenant will gain absolutely nothing after all those years of rent payments. On the other hand, the “risk takers”, also known as, “homeowners”, might have started with a higher mortgage payment on a fixed interest rate. Meaning their payment never fluctuated all those years. Thirty years later, the homeowner has zero mortgage payments and can cash out all of the equity at once thus recouping all monthly payments and much more. Eventually, someone inherits the homeowners’ property and sells it or may choose to continue collecting rent payments as passive income.

Tenants only receive their security deposit but not always.

Who are the real risk takers, tenants, or homeowners? It’s all in the eye of the beholder. The tenants take the risk of losing in the end. The homeowners just live life and move forward. Life or Risk happened in both scenarios but one lost an opportunity.

I love a quote by Erma Bombeck. It says: “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, “I used everything you gave me”.

If I want that to be true, I have to live life to the fullest or as some would say, “take all those risks”.

What should our readers know about your business?

As a real estate broker, I have a rare set of skills due to my background in mortgage finance.

·        Having analyzed thousands of transactions from the lowest price possible to high-end entertainers has enhanced my analytical, organizational, and research capabilities. I have not come across one realtor that can match my background.

·        Knowing what Banks, appraisers, and underwriters look for before making decisions on behalf of Banks is an asset. My knowledge of Banking guidelines made a difference in the past for some buyers that were declined mortgage loans by underwriters who incorrectly interpreted guidelines. After challenging those decisions with facts, the transactions were successfully closed.

Most realtors rely on loan specialists to close a sale. It is perfectly acceptable and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. I bring an edge to the closing table when it’s needed most.

Like a car that comes with heating and air conditioning. It’s perfectly acceptable. However, isn’t it nice to have the option to turn on those heated seats and steering wheel on those two or three days in CA when it’s ice cold? How about the option of turning on the cooled seats on muggy days? While you might not need them on a daily, they sure are appreciated on those special days.

I serve with the same professionalism regardless of the price point or location. My strength is in negotiating the best terms on behalf of my clients. When listing a home, I strive to sell it at its highest possible value, not just for the sellers’ bottom line but for the benefit of the neighborhood. When a realtor undersells a home, the neighborhood now has a lower price point and it hurts the next seller. As opposed to when I represent the buyer, my goal is for my buyers to end up on the winning side. This is why I avoid representing both parties in the same transaction. While some people might perceive that as positive, I view it as a mistake. It is like hiring the same lawyer to represent the defendant and the plaintiff. Why would anyone want that?

Finally, I’d like to share that Keller Williams has opened up a new division within the company worldwide called KW Sports and Entertainment. It is a very high honor to be part of the division as t is limited to high-performing agents. This inclusion only adds to my skill set and helps me develop deeper relationships with peers from all over the world. Not to mention that my service to the Luxury market has been taken to a higher scale. It brings insight to my personal clientele and strengthens my negotiating capabilities. Everything Is done with the utmost discretion and privacy.

I have learned that regardless of which real estate outfit I represent, it is the skillset I am hired to do. Nothing comes easy but experience does matter. Experience means that you have fallen enough times to remember how to avoid falling the next time.

I am an altruistic realtor with moxie. It may sound impossible but everything is possible to the one who believes.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Ah, what a great question! Since it is my best friend, it means that she is just as close as family and knows all of my relatives. They would be ecstatic to prepare a feast for her at some point during her stay.

On the first day after picking her up from the airport, I will take it easy. I’ll take her to eat a great juicy burger accompanied with truffle fries at Hopdoddy Burger Bar in El Segundo.

The following are the highlights of what she will see and experience during her stay:

·        The Original Pancake House in Redondo Beach. She would enjoy a Dutch Baby.

·        Santa Monica Pier through PCH so she can see the entire coast from Redondo Beach to Santa Monica. Then walk around 3rd Street Promenade to shop around.

·        Experience The Grove and eat at The Cheesecake Factory, and ride The Trolley back to the car.

·        Uncle Bills in Manhattan Beach.

·        Beverly Hills on Rodeo Drive.

·        Eat at 208 Rodeo.

·        Hollywood and visit the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.

·        Universal Studios Hollywood and dinner at City Walk.

·        Downtown Disney to walk around and take pictures but she and I are not Disney people so, it would just be for picture taking and some shopping for her nieces and nephews back home.

·        Lunch at Slurpin’ Ramen Bar in Anaheim.

·        Downtown Los Angeles sightseeing; The SoFi Stadium, The Stapples Center (I will always call it that), The LA Convention Center, The Disney Concert Hall, and drive around each district in DTLA.

·        Since I am a realtor, after all, I will have already set up a couple of showings for High-Rise Luxury Condos. She will enjoy seeing all of LA and The West Coast from the top of these wonderful buildings. Hey, maybe she wants to buy one.

·        Dinner at 71Above situated high atop the US Bank Tower-71 floors.

·        The Getty Art Museum.

·        Griffith Observatory where we will walk inside, and watch the Planetarium live show.

·        Kincaid’s Fish, Chops & Steakhouse in Redondo Beach.

·        Del Amo mall for last-minute shopping, some boba drinks, chocolates, and churros.

Hopefully, I will send her home flabbergasted at everything she experienced and I will miss her once again, until next time.

 

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

Throughout my career, I have been blessed with more than one mentor. Every single phase in my life has someone special to whom I am thankful to for teaching me a life lesson. They have all helped shape me into the businessperson I am. Even those who consider themselves to be my enemies have been an essential part of building my confidence, character, and ultimately, my success.

A couple of high-profile realtors whom I will keep private taught me that letters, advertisements, flyers, etcetera, are a reflection of the business and will show the caliber of the establishment at a glance. Therefore, nothing leaves the office unless it’s in line with the business image. In fact, my own personal character was a projection of their business. It is something I always consider in my own business, today.

A VP at City National Bank, Ilse Arevalo, taught me to always look at the big picture. Expand my vision and look at every angle possible before jumping to conclusions. Auditing mortgage loan files is critical and many people depend on the accuracy of our findings.

When we make mistakes, it affects a line of people. Making judgments without facts is not justice. She would always say, “keep digging.” I was proven wrong so many times by her that it really shaped me into a better QC employee and ultimately made me a better person. I use her teachings as a life lesson in all areas of my life. I have passed that mindset to others and try to instill it into my kids.

So many problems can be avoided by following that mindset. When all things considered it is easier to understand people, it helps us make rational decisions, and we become empathetic. The world would be a better place if we all took that approach in every situation. Even when we think we’ve viewed every angle, revisit because you probably missed a couple more.

Also, my husband has been there for me in all of my life adventures. He is always on my side no matter what. He is my number one fan and my biggest cheerleader, without his encouragement and dedication to our family, I could not do what I do. I thank God every day for gifting me a loving, caring, responsible, and dedicated husband. We complement each other and understand the importance of being one team supporting each other.

Website: www.strumhomes.com

Instagram: @Erika_Strum

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-jacott-strum-6971b747

Twitter: @StrumHomes

Facebook: @ErikaJacottStrum

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCea35ixWa3y7VoX6wUrG1WQ

Other: Tik Tok @Realtor.LifeinLA

Image Credits
Christopher Stillians, CMS Design Photo

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