Inspiring Conversations with Valerie Phillips of Phenomenal Realty LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Valerie Phillips.

Hi Valerie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In 2018 I knew I wanted more out of life, but I wasn’t exactly sure what road to take. I was working a job that I didn’t particularly like, and I was also trying to break into acting, but that wasn’t panning out either at the time. I was happily married to a wonderful man who unfortunately passed away in 2021. He suggested that I become a real estate agent. At first, I thought that was ridiculous! I never imagined working in that field as it, in my opinion, was too fickle. But because he suggested it, I trusted his judgment and decided to go for it. Little did I know, that was going to be the biggest financial breakthrough decision for my life. It took longer for me to get my license (over a year, as opposed to six months). Trying to balance work, Family, and studying was a bit challenging. But I knew I was destined for greatness because I felt the enemy was fighting me every step of the way. I had already received the maximum extensions I could use to pass my class. And if I didn’t pass my test, I would have to start all the way over. Well, I failed my first school test, but they allowed two tries. So a lot was riding on this second attempt. Because if I didn’t pass it, it was back to the grueling drawing board. On the way to my second school test, I got a flat tire! What are the odds of course! If I was late by 15 minutes, I wasn’t going to be able to take it. With tears in my eyes, I prayed and asked God to help me. I was able to make it to a gas station to put air in my tire and get to the school just with a minute to spare. Thank God, I passed! For the state exam, I studied very, very hard, although I knew sometimes that didn’t matter. The exam is exceptionally difficult to pass. I wasn’t sure if I was going to do a great job, but I at least prepared as well as I think I could have. I decided to leave early this time so no tricks with my car… so I thought! I made a pitstop to grab something to eat a little bit away from my testing location. And how about my car wouldn’t start!! I knew that was nothing but the enemy trying to prevent me from succeeding. This is exactly what I said.. I said, “devil, your childish! I’m about to walk to that facility, I’m going to pass my test, and then I’m going to come back and start this car!” I will never forget that moment. I felt God was filling me with the power that I needed to speak over my situation to turn it around. Well, that is exactly what I did! I passed my test, walked back to my car, and it started right up! I knew God was with me! From then on, I signed with a broker who completely embraced me and helped me jumpstart my real estate career. If it wasn’t for her, I would not have been able to transition to a full-time realtor.

One thing entrepreneurs can attest to is that you will have extreme highs…and lows! Those lows can almost start to make you question if you really are cut out for what you’re doing. But sometimes low moments aren’t there to scare you, but to give you the courage to try something that you wouldn’t ordinarily do. And in that sense, it’s actually a blessing in disguise! I had four deals under contract, and none of them ended up closing. It was very disappointing and a trying time. That is one thing about being a realtor, we do not get paid until the transaction actually closes! Thankfully, I had a husband who took care of me and who was able to pay all the bills while I got things sorted out, but we were by no means rich. I knew I had to do something soon. I got a radical idea to try wholesaling. My best friend told me about it and explained it in more detail. I also took an investing class a few years prior that I never really utilized, so this helped me as well. I decided I had nothing to lose, so I found a house that was in jeopardy of being auctioned on the County Tax Sale. I offered to buy their property instead of letting it go to auction. Long story short, they agreed. Then, I found a buyer who agreed to purchase it from me for $33,000 more than I was purchasing it for from the seller. All this was with no money down! So on my very first wholesale deal, I made more money on one transaction than I would have on all those four deals combined. Needless to say, if I never got in that financial hardship in the first place, I would not have been pushed into learning another income stream. God had to pull that out of me because otherwise it would not have happened. Instead of going wild with that $33,000, my husband and I decided to try our hands at our first flip. Long story story, it was disastrous! We made a few rookie mistakes, the most important being choosing a reputable contractor. But through it all, we finished the house and was able to get it sold making a profit of over six figures on our first flip! We were truly on cloud nine!

Unfortunately, about two weeks after we closed on that property, my husband unexpectedly passed away. I went from being the happiest I’ve ever been in my life, to the most broken I’ve ever been in my life in a blink of an eye. I still don’t understand why. It’s still very hurtful to know that we were living our life, doing absolutely wonderful and he had to leave. It’s going on five years now, and the Lord has definitely brought me out of my darkness. My children literally saved my life. I was very depressed and shattered, but my children gave me a reason to live. One day, I know the Lord will bless me with someone else to share my life with. But until then, I am grateful that I have at least experienced a true love that was real, and a true example of how a husband and wife should be. This is one reason why I take such pride in my real estate career, because it was a gift that I felt like my husband gave me. And I will always cherish it. I then decided to take it further and open my own real estate brokerage, Phenomenal Realty LLC. As a real estate broker, it’s even more rewarding that you are thriving. I’m thankful that I still doing wholesale, fixer uppers, and most of my clients now are referrals. That definitely means you’re doing something right when clients tell their closest people about you. It never gets old. I still have my ups and downs, but the Lord has seen me through each one. He allows me to have the victory each time!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The biggest struggle is when you have the lows that are associated with entrepreneurship. It can trick you into thinking that you’re not cut out for something! After losing my husband, those lows became even more scary because you don’t have someone by your side anymore. When you are used to someone being there, it is particularly hard to get used to. That is when you have to ultimately rely on God to see you through.

As you know, we’re big fans of Phenomenal Realty LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I have a real estate brokerage for three years now! Wow, now that I think about it, I didn’t realize it has been that long. I specialize in residential sales, whether buyer or seller. What sets me apart is my personalization. I’m very spiritual, so you don’t just get a realtor, you get a confidant and prayer warrior! I am most proud of the fact that I don’t really advertise anymore, but I am still getting consistent clients. That makes me feel like I am definitely doing something right!

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My advice for anyone starting out in anything in the real estate field is to obtain knowledge and find a great mentor. Be teachable, and correctable. The people you surround yourself with are the same ones who can make or break the projectory of your life. Choose wisely! And in anything, God outweighs it all. We make our plans, but the Lord orders our steps. You have to walk with God every step of the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://valeriesoldit.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vphilly22
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/valeriecmartin