After 36 years in real estate, Crye-Leike broker Kathy Tucker has a lot on which to look back. Highlights of her career include winning local Realtor of the Year in 2004, and serving as president of the Greater Chattanooga Association of Realtors in 2004 and 2006, as chair of the Professional Standards committee of the Tennessee Association of Realtors in 2006, and as TAR Division 3 vice-president in 2007 and 2008.
But Tucker also has a lot to look forward to, particularly in 2013, as she begins serving a three-year term as a director of the National Association of Realtors. She will also be serving as a Tennessee association director and continuing her work as a TREEF (Tennessee Real Estate Educational Foundation) trustee.
If one word could define Tucker’s career, it would be service – to her clients, to the 52 agents at the Hixson office she manages, and to her profession. Tucker took a few moments out of her busy schedule to discuss the upcoming year, including her meetings in May with Tennessee Senators Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander, and the importance of being of use.
What motivates you to serve your profession as extensively as you do?
I got into the business in 1977 and then focused my early years on selling real estate. I worked a lot with local builders and built a nice business. Then, in 1997, I went into management with Crye-Leike Realtors. In 2000, someone encouraged me to run for the board of directors of the local association, and I did. I was on the board from 2000 to 2011, and served on a lot of committees. Once you’ve given time to your local association, you naturally step forward and serve the state association. I’ve always tried to lead by example. I tell my agents, “Get involved and give back,” so I need to get involved myself.
What does being a director of the NAR involve?
We go to the mid-year political meetings in Washington and talk with our representatives about the issues that would affect home ownership. We try to get our point across and hopefully convince them to agree with us. Then you go to the national convention to express the needs of your state and to bring issues that would affect us back home. Being on the board of directors is wonderful, but a lot of the work actually takes place in the committees, so being on those will give me a better opportunity to serve.
Any national committees catch your eye?
I would love to serve on the Governmental Affairs committee, but I don’t know if I’ll get a chance to. There are other good committees, like Risk Management, and I’m willing to serve wherever I can get involved and help to make decisions.
When are you going to Washington this year, and what will you discuss?
We’re going in May. We’ll hopefully be able to talk with Corker and Alexander about how hard it is for buyers to secure financing. We need to review the laws.
Corker has spoken to the local association before. What are your thoughts about his points of view on housing issues?
He’s very open to listening to us, but he doesn’t always agree with our way of thinking. One thing he wanted was for the buyer to have more money invested when they’re able to obtain a loan. We were against that because, with the way the economy has been, it’s been hard for a buyer to come up with even the least amount of money, which would be 3.5 percent on an FHA. We were concerned that would slow housing.
As broker, do you list and sell?
Crye-Leike believes brokers need to be in the market listing and selling so we know what our agents are doing. Our forms are continually changing, and we need to not only understand them, but also experience what buyers are going through with inspections, financing, and that sort of thing. But more than that, I love working with homebuyers – especially first time homebuyers.
So you like working with customers. What about your agents?
I’ve been with some of these agents since we started at Gloria Sutton years ago. In those days, she was the only one with multiple offices, and she was aggressive. We’ve become like family.
What sparked your interest in real estate?
I was around real estate people all of the time. They drove big cars and wore fancy jewelry, and I thought, “I could do that.” [Laughs.] So I went to work for a local homebuilder, which gave me a good background in the builder business. After a couple of years, I earned my real estate license and then went to work for Gloria.
Your proudest accomplishments to date?
Being Realtor of the Year in 2004 is number one because that’s a huge honor. Also, when I was president in 2004, we became involved with Habitat for Humanity. The Cultural Diversity committee came to us and said they wanted to build a Habitat home, which at that point cost $45,000. So we put together a task force and came up with the idea to raise $45,000 in 45 minutes for building a home in 45 days. Everyone got into the spirit of it, and we raised $112,000 in 45 minutes. It was magical.
Final thoughts?
I encourage everyone to get involved and give back. You make great friends, not only at the local and state levels, but I’m also hoping to do that on a national level.