As one season came to an end, it was time to begin preparing for the next one. I eventually realized that all the ways I had lived intentionally with my time over the years were building up to this moment and this opportunity to serve others in such a meaningful way.
Gazing at the holiday lights speeding by on our drive home, I felt compelled to begin planning. With my girls leaving for college soon, it was time to get ready for the next season of my life.
I first started in real estate as a third generation REALTOR® in the 1990s. Both of my parents and my grandfather were all REALTORS®, and I always knew it was the career for me. I enjoyed it for a few years before beginning my family and shifting my focus.
My husband and I decided I would stay home with our girls to be as present as I could for that phase of our lives. While the pregnancy itself was difficult – it almost always is with twins – I jumped right into being a mother. I ended up working outside the house at their school later on to help make ends meet, but my girls were always my focus even as I traded time for dollars.
Once graduation came near, I found myself thinking about what was next for me over that final holiday season together at home. My plan to dive back into real estate began to form from there.
Step one was closing our company. When my grandfather passed away, my husband and I took over his manufacturing company. We kept it running and built it back up through the recession. There were a variety of things I wanted to get in order so I could hit the ground running in real estate, but the biggest one was my mindset. I needed to remove distractions, and selling the company was one of them.
I immersed myself in books and research, studying everything I could get my hands on about real estate. I set some big goals for myself and made them happen. I knew I wanted to invest in real estate as well and created a company, Next Phase Investing, with my husband. I finished out my term as president of Eastwind Running & Endurance (a local endurance sport organization that I grew to nearly 200 members over the five years that I ran it).
It took a few years to get everything in order, but once I took my test in 2020, I was ready to dig in. Unfortunately, that was the week before the COVID shutdown. However, that did not stop me for long. Within months I was going full speed and have been ramping up ever since. At some point, I realized what I had been doing all those years – being intentional with my time. It was not something that I thought about from the start; rather, it evolved as my family and I grew together. My husband lost his parents young, and through that experience we decided not to put off anything for later.
When we dropped our twins off at Grand Canyon University, six years ago, we didn’t realize that we would come to love Arizona and have it feel like home so quickly. We started putting in the time and effort to become knowledgeable about the State, the people and the Real Estate Market. We were sold on it and purchased some investment properties and became licensed to sell Real Estate here. I am very excited to be able to help others find their luxury dream home or buy investment property in both Oregon and Arizona.
We live experiences and have fun as we go along because tomorrow is not guaranteed. What made the biggest difference to me was realizing that we cannot just let life happen every day – we have to wake up with purpose. My purpose has become helping others specifically through real estate. I have done many charity events through marathons, 5ks and triathlons over the years (I even completed a half Iron Man!), but my passion is helping others build generational wealth through real estate.
Through my work, I help families open doors, create new options and escape the rat race life has become to go from surviving to thriving. My favorite part of being a REALTOR® is using what I have learned over the years to help my clients reach their next level of success.
Real estate is a tool, and it can also be a very emotional process. Whether you are buying your first home or flipping your 20th investment property, I am here to support you throughout this journey. I care about your success, which is why I take the time to look at the big picture with you. Making sure we have the best plan to fit your needs now, I also ensure that you are prepared for whatever the next season of your life may bring. I am intentional in all I do and help my clients use real estate to truly change their lives.
I know my communities unlike anyone else. With my extensive experience in investment, commercial and residential real estate, I am confident I can help you get where you want to be. Truly, I am just excited to share everything I know with others – it is my favorite part of my job! Once the transaction is closed, I will continue to support your success as your lifelong REALTOR®.
Sincerely,
Nicole Richards
