Guru Jenny Melind with KellerWilliams

Rick Ripma: 0:00

Welcome to Indy's Real Estate Gurus. I'm Rick Ripma, your hard working mortgage guy and I've been in real estate and mortgages for over 34 years. My team and I believe in custom tailored loans, not the one size fits all approach. We believe there is the right mortgage for you, and we believe we are the team to deliver it.

Ian Arnold: 0:18

And I'm Ian Arnold,part of the hard working mortgage team. I been in financial industry for 15 years helping customers rebuild their credit to get the best possible interest rate, I have a passion in helping you secure your overall real estate dreams.

Rick Ripma: 0:31

And as we get started, if you have any questions on real estate or the Indian real estate market or mortgages, please go to HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com That's HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com Or you can call 317-672-1938.That's 317-672-1938 And today we're really excited. And Jenny I'm not gonna I think it's Mullin, but I don't want to misspell it. Are Miss pronounce it so it's Jenny

Jenny Melind: 0:58

Milind Melinda without the A

Rick Ripma: 1:01

okay, and you're with Keller Williams I am I guess before real estate, what did you do? Where'd you grow up?

Jenny Melind: 1:07

So I grew up in Pike Township and Indianapolis.My dad was the track and cross country coach and director occurred service Career Services at Marian college. So we grew up near that campus. And yeah, I went to school there, I ran for him there. And I have a political science degree. Okay.From Marian. And after that, I thought I was going to maybe travel or go to grad school and realize that bills, you know,take real life, life take real life. So I ended up in the service industry for a long time as a bartender server, all over Indianapolis really.

Rick Ripma: 1:49

So you ran that mean, what did you run, I ran

Jenny Melind: 1:53

cross country in high school. And then I played softball and basketball for a while but never ran track until I got to college. I kind of didn't even plan to run in college. But I just started working out with my dad's team just to stay fit and found out I was eligible to run. And so I joined the cross country team and then track season came around. And the steeplechase was introduced into the women's conference that year, for the first time. And so my dad was like, this might be something you'd be interested in. I didn't want to run endlessly around the track like mid distance or distance. So I started doing that and I got to go to Nationals a couple times for it.And I was number one of my conference couple times is pretty cool experience.

Ian Arnold: 2:44

Yeah. Oh, so I will say this. Once I've got an odd event and I did a steeplechase to one Yeah, so is the steeplechase is a you run around a lap, a whole lap and then one part is water. And hurdle. One talks about an odd thing for a track meet on track race that is it like the

Jenny Melind: 3:06

horse race. A lot of people like their face they're like what's that and it's the horse race where they have the Waterpik and it's seven and a half lap race and it's intense it's awesome.

Rick Ripma: 3:16

Yeah, you know, I think after this show or maybe during that we should go out and let you to row

Ian Arnold: 3:24

hopefully we're not going to steeplechase the only type of liquid around here is oil and I want to jump into that

Jenny Melind: 3:29

where do you go to school and run that?

Ian Arnold: 3:31

I did it I ran for North Central okay and then I did some events out of school and that's where I ran some I ran the one at IUPUI their their track that several times run it on that's awesome but they were IUPUI was designed for the Olympic trials for years and years back but that's how that track is and why it has I think10 lanes I believe Yeah, okay and that's why has 10 lanes where most like even high school and a lot of college only have

Jenny Melind: 3:57

eight Okay, nice we had we didn't have a track at Marion so we practice there and ran our meats there. The year I graduated they put in a track but one lane short of like a route like a Well that's weird.Yeah, that so it's very weird. I don't know what they were thinking but they can't really hold meats there is still

Rick Ripma: 4:20

fairly whoever was in charge couldn't count. Right.That is crazy elation.

Jenny Melind: 4:26

That's the word I was looking for. So

Rick Ripma: 4:27

So you did you did all that then you got into real estate.

Jenny Melind: 4:31

Correct.

Rick Ripma: 4:32

And how did you when you got into real estate? How did you get going? Because I know a lot of people really struggle with getting their business off the ground in real estate.

Jenny Melind: 4:40

Okay, well, I gotta give a huge shout out to Ryan and Ashley Mullen. With Fs houses they are who their husband wife team that got me into real estate. I knew Ryan in different circles growing up.And we had a mutual friend who you know, kept Coming into the restaurant that I was working at. And she had gotten into real estate, kind of the same way that I did. She worked for a property management company where they leased out houses to people. And so she was she was getting her real estate license.It was like, Hey, I think you'd be really good at this job.Would you be interested in talking to Ryan, and so I wouldn't talk to him and started leasing houses with that property management company. But he and his wife had this dream of owning their own brokerage and doing the same business basically, buying houses that were dilapidated, close in proximity to downtown. They were like the pioneers of Bates Hendricks, Fountain Square root and near Eastside. Yeah. So like2014 was when I got in, and they had this vision that they were going to start buying these houses, flipping them, so selling them to out of state investors. And so they paid for me to get my real estate license, and then basically groom me to sell their houses.And I did limited agency with them. And, and still rented on the side, like kind of as a side hustle. I didn't have to do any of my own, like marketing or lead generation, they basically fed me people, but it was my job to tour them around these neighborhoods. You know, and then they, they did a great job of like flipping the houses,they picked great neighborhoods that they saw the potential for long term residential sales, but also neighborhoods where we got decent tenants. And so it's very lucrative business. And that was like when Indy was starting to blow up as far as like being the perfect Mark market for buy and hold real estate. So that was,that was yeah, and then that's how I got in.

Rick Ripma: 6:54

So you got, and it's a thought You've obviously done extremely well. So you've moved from that into Do you still do a lot of rentals? Or is it what is your kind of your expertise now?

Jenny Melind: 7:05

Well, I still have clients from that time period that will reach back out to me if they want to sell now,because they the real estate market has changed a ton. And they're, you know, they're taking chips off the table and selling those properties. But,and that's like my, I feel like I grew up as an investor in real estate. So that's kind of I understand it really well. I'm an investor myself. So I'm still in that a little bit. But once the market started to get super saturated in 2016. And I, we had to change our business model a little bit and they started selling more residential houses.I just saw that it was, you know, the margin for me to stay in that was getting smaller, and you can make a lot more money on every I was only making like,$1,000 a deal. While I was doing that, but I got a ton of experience, like 30 transactions for the first two years, you know, each year that I was in real estate, so I decided I was going to go into residential. I went over to Tucker at that time. And another shout out to Cynthia Yoshida Schneider, who sells top 20% at Tucker, and she allowed me to be on her team and was my mentor for a couple of years.

Rick Ripma: 8:18

How important is it to be on a good solid team with a great mentor.

Jenny Melind: 8:22

I think it's really, you know, it was an amazing experience. She's such a professional, and she really taught me how to do it correctly, you know, listing and making sure that you know, she's very customer service oriented,and does a great job, you know,so she taught me everything that I knew about selling residential and I thought, you know, every issue that I came up against,you know, having somebody right there to kind of walk me through it. It was huge.

Ian Arnold: 8:48

So I know now you're with Keller Williams. So what made you go to Keller Williams,what what do they offer that support you?

Jenny Melind: 8:58

Okay, um, well, I kind of just, it was actually a whirlwind. I didn't even realize that I was going to be going to Keller Williams just happened. I had a cross transaction with Stacey Snively, who's an excellent agent in our office.And we I think we're about the same you know, Ty, she maybe has been doing a little bit longer than I have but I just could tell that she was along the same you know, vibe wavelength that I was in selling quite a bit and I just asked her you know, she was doing a, a, an Airbnb, so she has a really awesome Airbnb slash like pole barn in Westfield, like right outside of the sports facility there. And she's crushing it and I was like, what and she's like Keller Williams is teaching me how to do all these things. Like they have you know, this mentality that it's a work like life balance, that they you know,teach you To leverage yourself and you know that there's many,you know, ways to make money in real estate. It's not just grind and do transaction after transaction like there's more opportunities available. And so,you know, just that and then Mary propel who is our Keller Williams in dementia Metro North. She's the team leader there and I had met her. When Cynthia when I was joining her team, Cynthia was like, You got to go to Keller Williams and check out these other places. I want to make sure this is where you want to be. And I met Mary then. And she ended up being kind of like the Segway. Stacy Snively invited me to a mega agent panel in Ohio. And Mary was there and she was the one that had bought my ticket. And then she started offering to coach me and I was like, this,this makes sense. It's the vibe.They're so collaborative.They're just the office environment, everybody like really, really roots for each other? And yeah, it's just, it's a really cool workplace.

Rick Ripma: 11:03

How does that help you take care of your customer?

Jenny Melind: 11:07

So, um, I think number one, I was getting really burnt out on doing 50transactions a year, by myself,I had a transaction coordinator the last year that I was at Tucker, but I really just, you know, was needing to figure out how to build a team and leverage, you know, and take some of the workload off. And I think that Keller Williams,number one is designed to celebrate team building, they have a structure and like, exact formula in place that, you know,they, they teach you how to do it. And I felt like that was super important. Their training is amazing. Like, they really focus on and have something like every week, and then also split it up for like their top 20%producers, they have a different training on top of that, that they offer. So I feel like it's been huge, since I've been there.

Rick Ripma: 12:02

So if somebody wanted to get a hold of you, if they have any real estate needs,what's the best way to get a hold of you?

Jenny Melind: 12:07

My phone number is probably like a text message to me is the best way just because I get so much spam calling I never know who's calling, but a text message to my phone number at 31741840643174184064. Or you can also sign up on our website.It's Melinda group.com.

Rick Ripma: 12:34

And Melinda's Emmy li nd right, yep. And you're Jenny Mullin. Yes, right.

Jenny Melind: 12:40

All right, Dale,Jenny Mullin.

Ian Arnold: 12:42

And I would like to say if you do call her because we all get those spam calls. If she doesn't pick up leave a voicemail, please. Yes. Because I will tell you this right now.Even I'm bad at it up. I don't recognize this number. It seems a little weird. Since he's going to voicemail. If you leave a voicemail. I'll listen to it.And I'll call you back. But I get too many spam calls.

Jenny Melind: 13:01

Oh my gosh, I think I signed up for something recently that I'm just like,getting killed with spam. It's weird.

Ian Arnold: 13:07

I tend to answer everything if I can. It seems like if you answer it, you get more of them. So just try to not answer.

Jenny Melind: 13:14

I'm afraid that I'm going to answer it and they're going to steal my identity.

Ian Arnold: 13:20

Hello, yes. Now we have your her so she and Rick,

Rick Ripma: 13:26

they get ahold of you and I go to how would HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com That's HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com Or you can go to 31767 to 1938that's 31767 to 1938 and if we thank you for listening to indies real estate gurus thought I was gonna forget that you did.Interview share valuable insights they reveal their strengths, personalities and how they work for you. Well, we hardworking mortgage guys secure your best mortgage. Real estate gurus work hard to they avoid problems the amateurs don't even see. They listen. They find unrealized opportunities. If you're buying or selling a home a real estate guru is a valuable asset. If you're even thinking of buying or selling a home,keep listening and definitely call one indies real estate gurus.

Ian Arnold: 14:15

Alright Jenny, let's take a sidestep. Let's find out more about you. Okay, so let's say I gotta take away your phone for 24 hours you can't touch it after you get off the ground in the fetal position. I

Rick Ripma: 14:25

don't think you'll ever get it away from that I'll probably

Ian Arnold: 14:27

nine what do we catch you out there doing for fun?

Jenny Melind: 14:33

Okay, for fun.I've got three kids. They are definitely like at the top of my list for just trying to spend time with them. They're super fun. They are all aging up. My youngest is turning five on Sunday. Oh brace day baby. My middle is turning seven just got done with kindergarten and my oldest is going to be 11 in August and she is going into sixth grade.

Rick Ripma: 14:58

So that's big deal right there.

Jenny Melind: 15:00

Yeah, they keep us really busy. I love hanging out with my husband too. I feel like we do a lot of stuff as a family. He's got, like 55 close family members within the proximity of like, broader bowl.Wow. Yeah. So we do a lot of family law, family time law to quality time. And then I've got a dog puddle. I love dogs. And I grew up with a husky and I rollerblade and I rollerbladed with him. And so I like, same thing with puddle like he'll will go out and rollerblading and he'll like pull me on my rollerblades. It's kind of a thing I feel and I've like videoed myself on social media doing it and I mean, we live in Meridian Kessler, I feel like everybody knows each other there and people be like, Oh, with your dog. Like, oh my gosh, I really love it. It's so fun now.Yeah.

Ian Arnold: 15:50

I mean, that's a good spot to be because you're right there next to the moment on so yeah, it's especially if we're talking easily take the dog pick the kids. It's that moment on trails. Awesome. Right there

Jenny Melind: 16:00

it is. But like even just in Meridian Kessler,like Central and like we live between central and Washington.And it's starting to get to gravelly right now. But for like the past five or six years, they had just paved it. And it is amazing. Like there's just a good circle. And then there's a big hill that drops like I mean,it's, it's significant. And so we go down that hill, and it's pretty awesome.

Rick Ripma: 16:22

So I gotta go. How did this How did puddles get her name get his or her name.

Jenny Melind: 16:27

So one puddle, my kids will correct you. Like they'll wait a year and let you call him puddles for and then they'll be like, it's one puddle. If you like, oh gosh,okay. And we were just walking in broader bowl. We like we got him from a breeder, which I feel bad about. But for this age group, I feel like it was the right move. And we were just talking about a name. We knew that we were getting him and my four, then four year old or five year old prince was like, What about puddle, and it was like a little bit gray and dreary and rudder bowl. And there was definitely you know, we were walking by a puddle, and John and I looked at each other like that actually would work. So that's how I got it.

Rick Ripma: 17:07

There's usually a story behind the way. Yeah, an animal gets there. It's

Jenny Melind: 17:12

totally puddle.It's, he's cool.

Ian Arnold: 17:16

Now the real question is, then, well, how'd you name me? Well, we happen to see.

Jenny Melind: 17:22

I've got interesting ones for Yeah, all the kids too. But

Rick Ripma: 17:27

so what would you say your superpower superpowers are?

Jenny Melind: 17:31

Um, I think that I have a really great sense in reading people. I don't know if it's like my own mouth. Well,I've have more self awareness now. And it's growing. But I also I just like have a I just can read people or I have compassion or just Yeah, meeting people where they're at. I can talk to basically anybody and just don't it's Yeah, yeah, some way of just like being able to connect with people. I think

Rick Ripma: 18:05

now they're working in restaurants help you with that. Sure. Yeah.

Jenny Melind: 18:09

Customer service mentality. Growing up in Pike township to it was a very diverse experience, I think at school. And then, yeah, I've always just been like a very,like, big people person. And my mom is also that way. So I think that that's kind of a gift from her. But yeah, just kind of meeting people where they're at and connecting with people.

Rick Ripma: 18:33

Because there's certainly a diverse amount of people that we work with, isn't there and everybody's different.Oh, yeah. Makes a big difference. I bartended also,and I always thought that was a great training grounds for really being out there and doing anything and customer service.Oh, yeah.

Jenny Melind: 18:46

Yeah, I definitely feel like that was a huge benefit coming into real estate because it's you I mean, just take that and apply it.

Ian Arnold: 18:54

Yeah, the the movie cocktail is based off of Rick Ripma If you did not know.

Rick Ripma: 18:58

Okay, I did not.Now, and that was taller.

Jenny Melind: 19:03

I need to check that movie out.

Ian Arnold: 19:06

Tom Cruise. Yeah, it

Rick Ripma: 19:08

was a lot taller.

Ian Arnold: 19:11

Are you saying Tom Cruise is short? Yes. Yeah.

Rick Ripma: 19:16

He's also crazy is not really the right right term,but he is. He is a daredevil.

Jenny Melind: 19:23

In what way I always go to Scientology. Oh,no, it's crazy. Yes. Yeah. Well,that Daredevil, if you're a Scientologist, you're fine. But I just like that's the crazy I associate with him. No,

Rick Ripma: 19:33

it's the Daredevil is really what I met and that is he, he does his own stunts.Okay, okay. I am really into cars if you didn't, if you couldn't tell when you walked in. And one of the shows I used to love when it was by these other guys was Top Gear and he came on top gear and they one of the things a celebrity gets to do is race on their track. And I mean, he drove like a main I'm surprised he lived through it.He did I was like,

Jenny Melind: 20:00

What are you there? No. He watched

Rick Ripma: 20:04

the show was out of England. Interesting. Yeah, he's a he was a, it was my favorite show for years. It was a big, I guess it was the number one show in the world for years. And they they, anyway, he was. He's just crazy. He's just a crazy guy.

Jenny Melind: 20:20

He's pretty. He's a cool guy. I feel like the time that he was on Oprah really just like, you know, if that never happened, then I wouldn't like but I always think it's weird.I'm like, I wonder if him and Katie Holmes are still together?You know? They're not no.

Rick Ripma: 20:37

And all that you need celebrities you got

Jenny Melind: 20:42

dish. I love

Ian Arnold: 20:43

I love movies. So for instance, I mean, so you just know about that stuff over time. Like for last little tidbit. And then so the movie Top Gun almost was never made.Tom Cruise refused to do it. And so they're like, alright, here,let's send them we're gonna send you the Blue Angels. Why don't you just ride with them? As soon as he got off that the plane ride? He called them it goes,we're doing this. Wow, he was he refused to do it until he wrote in a plane. And now he writes in planes all in his own pilot license. But that's here,

Rick Ripma: 21:16

nor there is a daredevil. Yeah, I would not get in a plane with him as a pilot there. If nothing else, he'd scare the whatever out.

Jenny Melind: 21:25

Yeah, that's good information in case I ever find myself don't get into play with him as he used to offered Yeah,to playing with him.

Ian Arnold: 21:32

So let me ask you on the real estate side, what do you think separates what you do?Based off of other realtors?

Jenny Melind: 21:40

Oh, um, well, I don't know, like, this, there's a lot of realtors that do there that run their business probably the same way that I do. But, you know, I think my own way or unique way of doing it is definitely just like building relationships with people. I've,I feel like I've always like the connection piece or like, that's what like feeds my soul. And I think there are times definitely where, you know, you get lost in like really, like, you know,wanting to grow or you know,sell more or focus on numbers and that like, but that's not what makes me happy or like makes my business worth doing.It's really just like,cultivating relationships with people, getting to know them through the process. And then staying in touch with them, I feel, I always tell people, I'm like, we're gonna be best friends, like after this so. And some people like, you can just tell who will and who will not be my best friend. And, and it's really fun when the people that you really don't think that you're gonna, like, connect with and like that they are going to really take you up on that. And so I think that's the best part of our business is that we really get to have these intimate relationships with our clients. And I think that that's the best way to do it too.Rather than like buying leads or cold calling, or just, you know,I'm terrified of making phone calls. That's like part of what I'm supposed to be doing. And part of that, like warm lead generation. It's just, it's,it's scary to pick up the phone and like have them think like,that's the reason why I'm calling them because it's really not. It's like I do want to stay in contact. I do want to know what's going on with you. But it's it's scary at the same time, which is kind of funny.

Rick Ripma: 23:29

It's normal. Yeah.Yeah, most people are that way.Yeah, the the reality is the expecially with clients that you've already sold a house with to you have a minimum of what4560 days of relation, you know,very talking all the time,right? A very nice relationship when you're walk when you're helping somebody buy or sell a home. It could be a lot longer than that. I think that they it's a weird thing. All of a sudden, they close and you're no longer talking. And I had one the other day I was talking, I think was yesterday I was talking to him and they were they were like this. It's just weird.

Jenny Melind: 24:08

It is very weird.It can be for sure.

Rick Ripma: 24:10

Because I call him I call mine every three months.Okay, so I think you have to stay in touch. Oh, yeah. But I but it's, it's just uh, I don't know, it's one of those things that a lot of people have struggled with. But if you start doing it, you'll find it gets easier and easier. And most of the time you'll get off the phone going wow, that was great.Because you believe it or not,you're gonna enjoy it. Because yeah, meet these people. I find that I find it very nice.

Jenny Melind: 24:36

It's always I mean, there's sometimes it depends on the person for sure.But like most of the time when we hang up I'm like, I'm so grateful that we'd like had another chance to connect in like a real a real conversation.But there's other ways to like,you know, I do the pot buys and I do that hopefully pretty consistently. My it's just grown so much now I'm like like you used to be like 30 people and then 60, then now it's like,hundreds of people. So you know,just finding out a system for that and saying and contact. And yeah, the pop

Rick Ripma: 25:11

buys are a little difficult when you have several100 people that you're trying to. Oh, yeah, yeah. Because it takes that that's hard to do.Even calls can become like, I have too many people to call everybody. So I have somebody who helps me. Yeah. Because I have 1000s of people in my database that I've worked with.So I have to, you know, you have to you can't just call everybody or that's all How do you have somebody else call for you?Well, let's say you have a when you go to the doctor's office,and they do something, who calls you your doctor or the somebody in his office? And they call for that person? Okay, okay. Yeah,it's the same way. They just call and they, they say, Rick asked me to give you a call,just wanted to check up on you see how things are going to see if you have any questions. Is there anything he can do for you? It doesn't need to give you a call. And everything goes great. Yeah. And what you find is they see that as somebody that you call, yeah, that's how it feels. Oh, man, I'm

Jenny Melind: 26:03

about to split my people into two lists. Yeah, it helps a lot, because of you that want to talk to you. And I'm just kidding.

Rick Ripma: 26:12

And then the people you want to call.

Ian Arnold: 26:15

This is the reason why you build a team. Straight up, okay, you build a team, once you get to become so successful,you build a team. And the reason why you do a team is not because so other people can do everything you do know you build a team, so they can you can delegate stuff you don't want to do. Look, there's always gonna be some people, I don't want to call that that was a roughest transaction. But if I can still stay in front of them, look, I can hire a va, a virtual assistant, and all they do is make phone calls. Yeah. What's wrong with that? Nothing.Definitely. She's her wheels are turning, look at this.

Jenny Melind: 26:48

I know, right?

Ian Arnold: 26:50

So why not hire people? And then not only does that for you up? So for instance, take take all the contracts and making sure that's all? Do you sit there and do all the contracts and make sure everything is done? Do you do all that paperwork? Or do you have somebody help you out?

Jenny Melind: 27:06

Well, it depends on what season we're in. I had somebody for a while and it was amazing. Then at mostly most of my career, I've done everything myself. But I'm figuring it out here. Yeah, I mean it all yourself. That is unbelievable.It was crazy. Maybe 4040 to 50for sure. It was is a lot. And so the year that I had my best year, the last year I was at Tucker, I had a transaction coordinator. And it definitely was super helpful. It's got to be the right person, for sure.And so and that's what I've learned I've had right now I've got two people on my team. And I've had a couple other girls that you know, have come through and it's just, you know, when it's growing pains, for sure,and figuring out what works,what doesn't work. Why even why?Why do I want a team you know,because I can do it all myself.But really, my dream is to have,you know, some people that believe in the same type of business I do and that we like run it together, maybe like to other like team leaders, and then we have people under us.That is my dream. That's what I'm looking for,

Ian Arnold: 28:12

especially with your kids. And now that I mean most of them probably doing sports or doing all this other stuff. You can't be like, Oh, I gotta go do this. I can't I can't go see your game. Their little Timmy.And he's like, Are you kidding me? I mean, Mom, I need you here. Yeah, yeah. So yeah, to delegate is it one, we'll help you do more, and you can do more of the stuff you enjoy. Oh,yeah. So just pass all your unwanted stuff off to Rick. But But how would somebody get in touch with you?

Jenny Melind: 28:42

Um, so my cell phones the best way?317-418-4064. And then you can also reach out to me on my website, and Melinda group.com.

Rick Ripma: 28:56

And Melinda is me li nd Mullin. group.com. Correct.And the number 317-418-4064?Yes, awesome. I didn't do that by memory. But

Jenny Melind: 29:08

we have a great website, too. I just built it last year, somebody built it for me. And yeah, so there's a lot of information on there about our team and how we, how we do business and what we offer.

Ian Arnold: 29:20

So, alright, and Rick, how would they get ahold of you? Or if

Rick Ripma: 29:25

they should go to HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com That's HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com or they can call 317-672-1938?That's 31767 to 1938.

Ian Arnold: 29:36

All right. And now so we get into the question of the week and the question of the week is sponsored by Hey, Rick and I the hard working mortgage guys, were we bill, who were the thought I know. We believe in helping and supporting you and your realtor by sending constant updates to the loan process.Nobody likes living in a black hole. So we do not allow it here. All right. So here's the tough question. What was your first car

Jenny Melind: 30:00

Oh, it was a Toyota Corolla. When I was like,I didn't get my, my license legally until I was 19 1819.

Rick Ripma: 30:11

What did you get to do legally?

Jenny Melind: 30:14

Legally, I was a I was not the most disciplined child when I was growing up so as like my parents were like,you're not getting your license or car until you like, show us that you are responsible. So I would drive my friend's cars. I showed irresponsible. It definitely it definitely did not. That did not work out. So I was driving my Toyota Corolla by the time I was 18.

Rick Ripma: 30:47

So you by the time you're 18, you are responsible enough to Yeah, apparently they didn't know you were driving somebody else's.

Jenny Melind: 30:53

They knew my dad was like, if you show up here one more time in your friend's car. It's I'm calling the police. And I was like, Dad,

Ian Arnold: 31:01

I love you.

Jenny Melind: 31:04

Yeah, those high school years were rough. I was.I was a little.

Ian Arnold: 31:11

She was the one that all the moms said, Son know that you cannot hang out with her. It was more of my girlfriend.

Jenny Melind: 31:18

Jenny Roberts.Yeah, but

Rick Ripma: 31:20

I would say that's not a bad car. The Corolla.True, very dependable. Do you have fond memories of that car?Or did

Jenny Melind: 31:30

I you know, I do what I see like there's just not many of them out there. Left and so when I see one I'm like,there she is. all her glory.

Rick Ripma: 31:42

You're but you're not gonna go buy one again to have it around.

Jenny Melind: 31:44

No, no, definitely not. I also the best car that I drove was the one after that was a caprice classic. Okay, like one of those big body this little tiny thing that a huge?Oh, yeah. Yeah, that was my dream car. And when my mom My mom came into town and totaled my Corolla. So my then boyfriend was like, what kind of car do you want? And I was like, I think this and it was like,okay, it was probably I could probably have a much nicer,expensive car, but I chose this$1,800 beater. That never ran well, but I felt really cool driving it. Yeah. Have you guys ever written in the Caprice?Classic? Yes. Do you know I'm talking about the taxis? Like they're the old taxis. Oh my gosh. They like flow. And it's like being like having a cat watch. Anyway, I was gonna get we were walking into that.

Ian Arnold: 32:42

Oh, so how do we segue away from this?

Rick Ripma: 32:45

I think I think we should find out your your favorite question.

Ian Arnold: 32:48

Oh, all right. So we'll do that. So what do you think your most memorable deal was? Oh, wow.

Jenny Melind: 32:55

Ah, that's a tough one. Memorable? Oh, my gosh,there's just been so many now that trying to think who my favorite people are. Most memorable deal. Maybe I would, I would have to say on our own house, we did a huge addition to our house in Meridian. Kessler,and we had like the smallest house on the block. And I My husband used to, like, give me a hard time said like, we need a security alarm. He's like, Baby,nobody's breaking into his house. They're not choosing our house to break into. So in 2020,we were able to get a construction loan. And we blew out the back and the front of our house. And it was like, not even 1100 square feet. And we added 1500. So it's not a huge,I mean, it looks large. It's perfect, though. And it's beautiful. And we we love it.Every part of it is like we got to design it. So we didn't have to move. We live right across the street from our church and the school. My husband grew up going to church at first Meridian heights right there. So like now we're his recliner sits in our bedroom out the window is like the bell tower to our church. Just crazy. So it's pretty awesome.

Ian Arnold: 34:24

How's your house been broken into yet? No, I gotta go. We're safe.

Rick Ripma: 34:33

Sounds like you do use social media because you were talking about posting. So Oh, yeah. How do you see social media? What's the power of social media for real estate agents?

Jenny Melind: 34:41

Okay, so I, I,like built my business on social media for sure. Another agent in my office, Elena looselay, who kills it at Tucker like the maybe the first year that I was there on Cynthia's team. We were talking, we were on a dodgeball team together and for like,Camco or something, and she was like, girl, you got to start doing videos. And I was like,what I like, feel so uncomfortable. And this was like when nobody would do video like nobody was doing them. And I started doing them. And I just started doing a meridian Kessler minute and a butler Tarkington Tuesday. And I felt like,especially when I rolled off and started my own, on my own, I've really kind of found my voice and like my own flavor, and I really liked to be silly. I don't know if you guys can tell,but that's kind of like, you know, I think people that gravitate towards me. You know,they like my laid back personality, and they see that come through on social media.And then I like to have fun.And, you know, so, I mean, it's obviously like, it's blown up now. So, everybody, so you got to find something else to do.That's the hard thing now is like everybody's doing the same thing on social media. And so figuring out, like, all the time how to be different and authentic, you know, at the same time is, that's tough. That's not

Rick Ripma: 36:12

always easy. It's not? Because it amazes me,because it's almost like, a lot of I'll say real estate agents was probably much more than that have had to become or have become actors and actresses.Yeah. Because I mean, you watch some of them. It's pretty elaborate what they do. I'm more of a quick, easy. I mean, I have somebody who does my social media, and she just tells him what to do. That's what I do.And it goes out. And I'm not comfortable doing a lot of the I mean, I pretty much education is pretty much all I do. But other people have so much that they put out there, especially agents because you walk people through houses, and yeah, you do so much.

Jenny Melind: 36:51

Well, that hurt kills me too, though, because I feel like the people who you know, they're great on social media, but are they good agents?Like, how are they selling houses? Like, how are you doing this much on social media? And I guess you will probably maybe think the same about me if I was just getting started or something. But I'm like, there's a difference between being able to, like, promote yourself on social media, and then also having the experience of, you know, a knowledgeable real estate agent, because there that's two totally different things. Yes.

Rick Ripma: 37:20

What it does is it makes people feel like you're very successful. Okay, it doesn't mean that you are and I think that's kind of the point for especially a young, newer agent, but a lot of experience,very experienced agents have a lot of social media, but it does. I always said years ago anyway, if I had left the mortgage business and did anything else, I would have, I would, I would do a radio show because as soon as you do whatever you're in, you're an expert. And you're and you're you know what you're doing.Yeah, you can be brand new, you don't know anything. But if you're doing that, you must know what you're doing. Right?

Jenny Melind: 37:53

We assume right?Yes. smoke and mirrors. Yes.

Ian Arnold: 37:56

Whoa. So we've done how many of these shows? And will you think we're experts?All right. Well, thank you for telling me that. Hey, thank you thought that Haley, me.

Jenny Melind: 38:10

Know, I come back?

Rick Ripma: 38:13

Well, you everybody knows what the truth is. I don't need to talk about it. No,obviously, we both do a lot of business. So we both have, we both have our expertise. And everybody knows different things. And that's what's so interesting about talking to all the different guru real estate agents like yourself is just some of them. Social media is how they did it. And it's how they do it. And it's all they do. And it works unbelievably well. And they are very, very successful. And others have never done any post ever in their life. And they're very,very successful. So you have to kind of do what you wanted. You know what, what you are comfortable with, but it's pretty it's a pretty low threshold to do social media doesn't cost very much. It just takes a little bit of time. And I think that's the that's part of the draw to it is it's it's very inexpensive. Oh, yeah. Yep.But it's still you have to do it. Well, you have to get it out. Doesn't do any good. If you don't get it out. Right.

Jenny Melind: 39:09

Consistency is yes. Key for sure. Yep.

Ian Arnold: 39:13

All right. So let's talk about this. So what do you think real estate does for first time homebuyer for their family,either mentally and financially.

Jenny Melind: 39:23

Oh my gosh. Um, so I think number one like anybody who's paying rent right now as quickly as you can get out of it, do it. You're just you're paying for somebody else's mortgage right? You're making somebody else rich and we my husband and I learned that firsthand. He was the one in a position to buy our house in I say Meridian Kessler, where south border pole so 46 and central between central and Washington 47 Sorry, and that used to be like the cut off right? Like I was like, is it safe over here? And the houses are beautiful, but Like, even,you know, from that corridor down to 38th Street, I mean,we've seen that come up like,insanely, right. So by the time we, and how we did our construction loan, it was like,we have $100,000 in equity, you know, for the 878 years that we've lived here. And I think Indianapolis, a lot of these neighborhoods downtown, I mean,anywhere really decent neighborhoods close in proximity, or karma, whatever,if you own real estate in the last decade, you basically got$100,000, just for having it right. And so we were able to take that, and instead of buying the next house, which, you know,we probably would have only been able to do 400,000, and then have to dump another five or another 100 grand into it to just get it right. We were able to, like, build onto our house and still have just as much equity in that house, like even more. So we we've just been able to build so much wealth for ourselves. I mean, we're, we're not like we're still working hard. But just even if it's on the smallest scale, which he bought that house for 130,000,in 2012. You know, just get in as quickly as possible. And I think to like, it's very overwhelming with people that are like, you know, middle income, you know, not super tight on buying, you know, even they feel overwhelmed, like, oh my gosh, this is so much money.But it's so worth it when you make that first payment, and you know that you're like, dropping into the hat for yourself and your family. And your kids.Like, I just look at it like that, like they're, you know,you're building wealth for your kids in the future. So super important.

Ian Arnold: 41:45

I fully agree with you. Because if I were to change what I did, so my wife, my wife and I are four years difference,we got married, and I was 27years old, I was living apartment apartment just because I was like, Well, if I ever get married, then I'm going to have to buy a new house because that would not been the right one. So I should have bought earlier.Yeah. Because you don't realize,so say, You rent for 30 years,guess what, you just wasted all that money. Now, let's say you did a 30 year mortgage, and instead of rent, we're gonna change that into your mortgage payments. Whatever the value of the house, I've got 30 years is your value. That's how much you basically, let's say have in the bank, because you can sell your home. And you have that. So if your house you bought it for 150Say no appreciation, you just bought your house for 150,030years from now you have $150,000Basically in the bank

Jenny Melind: 42:37

for doing nothing.Yeah, just owning it, right. And then you get to do whatever you want with it. You know, it's just, it's so freeing, and I never really understood it.Like, as I've grown up in real estate, like it's just, and that I think is the important thing,too, is having a realtor that really cares about you and your position if you're not in the position to buy a house right now, like helping people to see that there is like very, you know, specific you guys to help people with bad credit, right?So, I mean, that's what I always like, brag on my mortgage lender to is like, he's so creative,which I can see that you guys are obviously and so that is,you know, thinking outside the box, strategizing getting them in a position, even if it's$100,000 house, who cares? You know, for them, that's huge for me in time, those will be my300 $500,000 clients, right. So,yeah, I think it's really important to have realtors out there that actually can see that there are people that need help,just getting organized to get their first home with

Rick Ripma: 43:39

a wealth you're helping them build is incredible. So if you can help them get to that point, it can change their entire life so

Jenny Melind: 43:46

special, like as a realtor, what we do, like, I mean, you know, there's just so many hats that we wear, but like seeing somebody's dreams, you know, going from one house to the next or you know, just even your first time homebuyer or finding a program like I want to say inhp or whatever. But people that are buying these, like that are on a fixed income and these programs, government programs that are building $250,000houses, and then they're selling them to these people for 150,000at you know as they're trying to get the neighborhood's to come up crown Hill is a really great example of that. But yeah, just helping people that really are marginalized and not able to get the financing just getting helping them with their strategy to get the house. Yeah.

Ian Arnold: 44:38

And if somebody is wanting to get this warm, cozy feeling working with you, and all your knowledge, how would they get ahold of you?

Jenny Melind: 44:45

They can call me and leave like message or text31741840643174184064 And yeah,that's easy. This way,

Rick Ripma: 45:01

and to get a hold of Ian or I, it's HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com That's HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com Or you can call 317-672-1938.That's 317-672-1938 and please follow us for more indies real estate gurus.

Ian Arnold: 45:15

Alright. Hey Jenny,we'd like to thank you for coming in. It's been a phenomenal having you on the show

Jenny Melind: 45:20

today. That is awesome. Yeah. Thank you guys so much. All right.

Ian Arnold: 45:24

And reminder, if you have any friends, family or coworkers looking to buy sell or refinance contact breaker, I will be more than happy to help you. Thank you and have a wonderful day.

Announcer: 45:32

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