The New Majority: houston's minority news reader

Realtor, Courtney Johnson Rose is in a class by herself:
Well, at least with 29 others

By Paul Fitzgerald Bennett.

One look at Courtney Johnson Rose and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice comes to mind. The Houstonian has a conservative disposition wrapped in a brain which is as coherent about real estate as Ms. Rice is about affairs of state.

Recently, a stranger's hand shake was met with a slight left downward tilt of her carefully quaffed hairdo. Surely, someone who is so decorous must have a bit of nuttiness hid away in the deep recess of her human psyche.

"I don't know how to swim, even though I have a pool," said Ms. Johnson Rose with a pause.

What this New Majority African American is doing in real estate has others searching for a similar mental formula. Recently, the 28 year old was featured on the cover of Realtor Magazine as a member of the "30 under 30" club after closing 30 transactions which totaled more than $5.8 million in sales in 2006 (sorry fellas, she's married). The associate broker's boss at Houston based George E. Johnson Development is her father.

"She really believes in delivering high quality service to customers," said Mr. Johnson.

It's the main reason that when it comes to making cold calls and advertising the UT graduate and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority member says "no way" to two selling must dos'.

"My real estate business is based primarily on referrals. When you purchase a home from me it will not be the last time you will hear or see me. Conversely, my clients feel very comfortable with referring me to their friends," said Ms. Johnson Rose who averages two referrals every week.

Ms. Johnson Rose credits three strange bedfellows with her success. God and family is an explainable match; but corporate America? "It was in corporate America where I learned about budgets, scheduling, timelines, and forecasting," said the former Accenture Senior Analyst. "What I learned there has positioned me for what I do now."
And when it comes to what she does now, Ms. Johnson Rose is a wealth of knowledge. If you're in the market for a new home, she says your credit rating should be at least 600.

"You can buy a home with a lower credit rating, but your interest rates may not be the most ideal," said Ms. Johnson Rose.

Other tips include working on the same job or in a similar industry at least 2 years. Lower tax rates equal to more house but with the same monthly payments. And because Houston sits on a flood plain make sure a prospective home is not subject to a water invasion.

"If you're going with a builder make sure they are credible. Know who actually services the warranty on the home. A lot of builders will go with 3rd parties," said Ms. Johnson Rose.

Many home buyers and sellers see realtors as an unnecessary 3rd party when it comes to a home purchase. The internet and "Sell Buy Owner" sale signs suggest folks like Ms. Johnson Rose may go the way of the Saber Tooth Tiger.

"But would you go to court without an attorney?" asked Ms. Johnson Rose who already knew the answer. "If you had a medical problem, you would see a doctor. Why not have a professional help you with the biggest financial transaction you'll probably ever going to make."

According to Traversehomesales.com, 80 percent of home sellers who initially "Sell Buy Owner" will eventually find themselves with a realtor.

In addition to residential sells, Ms. Johnson Rose is looking to spruce up her commercial sells resume.

No wonder.
You'll find George E. Johnson Development a few doors on the left as you enter The Power Center at 12401 S. Post Oak. The real estate development firm helped re-develop the 17,000 square foot building. Also on the development tap is Corinthian Pointe, a master planed community which will feature 452 homes along with a smorgasbord of retail centers, an elementary school and a YMCA. Tossed in the commercial mix is a new sanctuary for Greater Saint Matthews Baptist Church and the creation of the Center of Hope and the Knowles Rowland Gym at St. John's United Methodist Church.

But it's not all about building for Ms. Johnson Rose. In 1993 the then 14 year-old lost her maternal mother Agnes to heart failure. And in 2003, the Agnes B. Johnson Scholarship was established.

"I was blessed by God to have two wonderful parents that I grew up in the home with," said Ms. Johnson Rose, words apparently shared by a beaming father as he spoke of his daughter.

"We're trying to clone her," he said. If that happens, George E. Johnson Development will soon be competing with Bill Gates and Microsoft for financial supremacy of the Blue Planet.

< Previous | Next >