Guru Mia Chatman with Austyn Avenue Estate

Rick Ripma: 0:00

Welcome to Indy's Real Estate Gurus. were recorded today from the advisors Mortgage Group studio right here in downtown Carmel. And I'm Rick Ripma, your hardworking mortgage guy. I've been in mortgages and real estate for over 34 years, I've helped over 5200 folks finance their homes, my team and I believe in custom tailored loans, not a 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: 0:25

And now I'm Ian Arnold part of Rick's hard working mortgage team. I've been in the financial industry for 15 years helping customers rebuild their credit and get better interest rates for you. I have a passion in helping you secure your future through real estate and make sure you can have wealth for generations.

Rick Ripma: 0:43

And as we get started, remember, if you have any real estate or mortgage questions or needs, please go to HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com That's HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com , you can get all of our contact information from there, or you can call 317-672-1938. That's 317-672-1938. And today we have en Mia Chapman,

Ian Arnold: 1:06

how you said that right? That's two times in a row. Listen, I'm proud of you.

Rick Ripma: 1:10

I practiced it for an hour. Okay, long with my name, because I mess that up too. But me as me as a phenomenal real estate agent. She's she's got a really interesting story. You're, we're really excited to have you. Thanks so much for joining us.

Mia Chatman: 1:27

Thanks for having me today. You're welcome. I'm excited. Yeah,

Rick Ripma: 1:31

we appreciate it. That's what we like we did sign right here. And your company is called

Mia Chatman: 1:36

Austin Avenue Real Estate. That's Austin, au s t y in Avenue A ve in UAE.

Rick Ripma: 1:44

And how would anybody get a hold of you?

Mia Chatman: 1:46

You can call my phone text my phone at 317-500-5963. And my email address is MIA at Austin avenue.com. Again, that's Mia, Mia at Austin, a U S T Y in avenue.com.

Rick Ripma: 2:07

Do you just did that to make it hard on people? Right? That way? Actually, the reality is I'm a terrible speller. So it does not matter how somebody does it. In fact, I probably would spell it correctly. Because anytime somebody does something, it's not normal as to how I do it, because I don't spell correctly. So that's okay. It's it all works. And then the number 31755005963. Is that correct? That's right, perfect. So what did you do before real estate? Where'd you grow up? You know, how'd you get here?

Mia Chatman: 2:38

Oh, let's journey back. So, I grew up I was born and raised in Anderson, Indiana. So small town, you know, everybody knows everybody. And that's, that's where it began. I graduated high school, Highland High School in 2009. And then I went on to college, at IUPUI here in Indianapolis. And I thought that I had it all figured out. I didn't know what I was going to do. But I was just going to go to college, because that's what you're supposed to do after high school. Right? So that's what I did. So I was taking classes, you know, getting into student loan debt and just doing that whole thing. I mean, nobody told me to do it for it. So that's what I did. And it just, it started not to work out. I got distracted. I didn't really, you know, I wasn't really interested in any of the classes. I'm like, what am I really doing here except taking this money and going to class and not really having any type of passion? Anything. So it's like, I was lost. I was I was just doing what they all said to do to go to college. Right? So it was probably a year or two after that. And I had went on to start working, you know, I'm like, I need some money. I'm not, you know, the school thing is not for me. So I got you know, a full time job. I worked in the restaurant industry and you know, hospitality, I guess, if you will, for a while and I still didn't like that. Like, what am I doing? I'm just doing it for a paycheck, to be honest. And so, you know, I had my own apartment, I was doing my own thing. I'm a single woman out no kids, you know, I'm out just doing my own thing. And then I got into a car wreck. I got into a car wreck. And that led me to not be able to get to work. So everything kind of spiraled down from that. And I had to move back to Anderson with my mom because I had no car, no job, now no apartment, and I'm back at mom's house. So at that point, I'm like 22 or 23 years old still not even really Are you planning or had an idea of what I wanted to do with my life, I'm like, nothing. So I'm at my mom's and, and I was like, I gotta get a job again, because I can't just not work. And what happened in 2013, I interviewed for a position with a REMAX franchise. And that's kind of how the real estate piece started. And I didn't know anything about real estate I didn't have I never thought about it at all. I never knew people, you know, within the industry and made money doing it, I never, I never thought about it. So I was just like, I gotta get a job. And these people that these ladies, these two ladies that interviewed me and hired me, seemed like, they were great. And you know, I'm like, Okay, it's gonna be a learning curve. And they knew I had no experience, but I think it was the personality and kind of just our vibes together, that they knew I would be good in this administrative position for this REMAX office. So that's what I did, I started that job. And I did that for maybe a year, and I got to kind of see the ins and outs of how agents work, but it still didn't click like, this is where you're going to be right. So it was just still doing my job, I made like $11 an hour, I'm thinking, Okay, it's good enough to pay my bills. So I went out, I moved out of my mom's again, and got my own apartment again. And, and yeah, I thought it was great, just to kind of see the, the freedom that they had to kind of move in and out of the office, because that, you know, I had to be there at eight o'clock, would be there eight o'clock in the morning to open the place up and get it ready for these people to just kind of come in and out and I, you know, got to see, like how they, you know, manage, like their paperwork and kind of see the contracts and kind of just see what all goes into a transaction, you know, on the administrative side of things. So, I just thought it was, the biggest thing that I saw was the commission checks. I saw the closing checks, and I'm like, What are these people doing? You know, like, I knew they were out here, you know, wheeling and dealing. But I was just like, oh my gosh, so, but still, at that time, and 2013 is still never really clicked to me, like, this is where you're gonna be. So I think after that it was just still that worker mentality, you know, you have to work a job nine to five you have, this is what you have to do. And I was still kind of in that mindset. So I went on, and I felt like I just needed more, I was worth more, right? More than $11 an hour, right? So after a year, I was like, I'm gonna get another job. So now that I have this real estate experience, I put that on my resume and I start applying for different jobs within real estate, you know, you can go on Indeed, and click the field that you want, and a whole bunch of jobs will come up. And that's what I applied for. So I ended up getting a job with a property management company. So I kind of saw what that was like in terms of just a different avenue of what was going on within the real estate field in general. And I was like, Okay, well, now I'm getting paid $12 an hour, I'm doing great. You know, I got a raise. Yeah, no, you know, but at the end of the day, I didn't even know that it was teaching me just another, you know, outlet of what real estate can offer in terms of career choice, and just, you know, different strategies and stuff like that. So I'm just kind of taking it all in. And then my dad passed away was 2014. And what happened was I kind of spiraled down again, like, I wasn't really interested in my job. Again, I had to be there from eight to five, you know, it was one of those office jobs that actually had to be there all day. And it just kind of, I was just like this, this working eight to five stuff is not for me. It's just not like I hate to have someone to tell me, this is where you have to be all day. You have to ask to go on vacation, you have to ask to use the bathroom, you have to do all this stuff. And it's like, oh my gosh, I'm too grown. I'm in my 20s At this point, you know, so I'm like, Okay, I still did that job. But when my dad passed away, I kind of like just fell out of it and moved on from that. And then I started working for a window company. And that kind of gave me a not a not more freedom because I had to do that job. But it was it was a little more flexible. It was like Okay, you go to this event over here, you can go over here and we'll do that it was just it wasn't the same thing every day. All right, right. Yep. So after that, I just kind of I didn't like that job. I had to stand up all day. If I was if I was working, I had to stand up and greet people and you know, be this kind of appointment setter is what it was called. And I didn't like that. It sounds like Okay, so now I'm just it seems like I'm just jumping through getting job to job, but that's what it was like, I that's what I did. And you know, I had to pay my bills, because at that point I had an apartment I had to maintain. So what happened after that is I was like, Okay, I'm gonna put this on my resume again, because now I have this resume full of real estate experience, and apply to another job. So I got a job at another property management company, but it was for leasing. And in a little bit in between that I did lease apartments. But again, that was I had to go to the office, I was there all day. We know how that story. That story. Oh, my gosh, right. So that that was a short time to that was short lived as well. But so I got the job with this other management company. And they, they did leasing. For though, they needed a leasing agent for their, like single family homes, duplex homes that they manage. And that's what I did, I was just the leasing agent. And I came in and I was still like a W two employee, like we're gonna pay you. But it was like, you know, I got paid based on each lease and how much it was. And I was able to set my own appointments and schedule, and I kind of worked from home a little bit. And I only needed to go in the office when I had to, like, turn in some paperwork. So I was like, Oh, this is more my flow. This is more my speed, because I ended up doing that job for seven years. Okay, so I was like, Okay, well, this is kind of where I need to be. And within that time, it I think I got that job in 2015. And then, while I was there, the manager encouraged me to go ahead and get my license. So I'm like, Okay, well, whatever that means, right? I still didn't know that meant, like, you're gonna be a licensed Realtor, right? So I'm like, Okay, I'll just go ahead and get my license. And but I still did that job. And so that's how I kind of came about getting my license, but it still didn't click right. So I had my license, but I was still working this leasing job, I wasn't getting paid a whole lot, but it paid my bills. And I was able to, you know, set my own schedule, do my own thing. So that's what happened. And I became a licensed Realtor, but I still had that job. And then it was a few years after that it was maybe 18 months, going into two years. Because after you get your real estate license, you have to hang out with a broker for two years. And it was nearing the two year mark, and that the management company held my license. So it was, it was pretty smooth. But again, I didn't learn anything as far as how to leverage my license. So it was like, I was just doing my job, and they wanted to keep me there, I was great at it, you know, so they didn't encourage me to do bigger and better things. So I'm like, 18 months, and I'm like, You know what, I have this license, that's what I'm gonna do, I'm gonna quit my job again. And I'm just gonna go off and do my own thing, because I have a license now. Right? So I went to another brokerage. And I was like, this isn't what I thought it was. Because now I'm like, no income at all. I don't have any I don't have a job. I don't I don't know how to generate leads, I don't, I don't really know how to be a Realtor with my license. So, you know, that brokerage is, you know, was good, and it provided leads, but then I quickly learned these are not hot leads, you got to nurture them, you got to do that. And that this was just something I wasn't familiar with doing. So it was I don't know if it was, I don't know, the job that I had prior leasing the with the property management company called me back on my birthday in maybe 2018 or something and he was like, I need you to come back and do the leasing again. And I said, You know what, okay, because I need the money. It's all real, too big is not working out, right. I don't know what I'm doing. And, you know, and the brokerage, they provide as much as they can and support but it still was like, I need money right now. So of course, I went back and I did that. But I kept my license with that broker and I said, You know what, I'll come, I'll come back to work. But it's on my own terms. I'm not going to be your employees, you know, I'll be an independent contractor, you pay me by the lease. And it was coming. That's how I got kind of what commission life was like. So but of course, there were leads and he provided all of that for me. So I was able to finish out my two years and I said you know what? I can hold my own license now. So I went to the state transferred it into my own name. I didn't have a brokerage or anything to be with I just held my own license. So that's what happened. And I just continued to do that job. And then it was probably 2019 When I transferred my license into my to myself, I guess held my own license. That someone from Andersen that I grew up with and went to high school with contacted me about wanting to buy a house. So that's where my first client came from. And I didn't know anything. And the guy that I was leasing for he didn't teach me anything because he didn't want me to even learn that stuff. He wanted me to keep me doing listen. So I'm like, okay, but I figured it out. Yeah, I figured it out. I knew people like on social media that, you know, did mortgages. I'm like, I know, you gotta get a loan for it. So here's a guy that does this, you know, and I, I kind of learned with that transaction, how it worked. Nobody taught me I had, I had to do it on my own. Yeah. And so that's kind of where the basis started.

Rick Ripma: 15:42

Okay, so if somebody wants to get a hold of you for any real estate needs, what's the best way to get ahold of you?

Mia Chatman: 15:47

My phone number 317-500-5963. Texting is better? Because then I can call you if I'm not available at that moment. Okay, what's that number 317-500-5963. Perfect.

Rick Ripma: 16:03

And to get a hold of the Ian or I, it's HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com . That's HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com . Or you can call 317-672-1938. That's 31767 to 1938. And thank you for listening to India's real estate gurus, the gurus we interview share valuable insights, they reveal their strengths, personalities, and how they'll work with you. While we hardworking mortgage guys, secure your best mortgage real estate gurus work hard to, they avoid problems the amateurs don't 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 of India's real estate gurus.

Ian Arnold: 16:49

So me, that is a phenomenal story. Because most people like I went to I went to college to and I did the same thing you did. What am I doing? Yeah, I mean, I went for computer networking, because I was like, I don't want to, then I was like, I don't want to sit at a desk all day. That's just not me. I want to be talking to people. So it's interesting that most people are like, Oh, no, you must go to college, you must know what you want to do. But you knew that you had to find yourself, you have to figure out what works good for you. And sometimes that's just what, what the path takes. So I think that's phenomenal. So when you got into real estate, and when you first got so when you sold that first one? So did you just start going social media style? Or how did you start?

Mia Chatman: 17:35

Well, I think that it, it did open up a lot of opportunity when you first do that first deal, right? And I definitely put it on social media. So I think today, that's just where our customers are, that's where all the eyes are on social media. And, and it was just a snowball effect after that, you know, like, hey, especially when your clients are the one posting it, like, you're you're just kind of sharing it like, yeah, I helped them. And, and I think that it helps it helps generate business, it helps people feel more comfortable. And you're the one that looks like the professional, which I am. But you know, I think it does help with the with social media. And I think that's probably been the biggest driver of my business, where I don't have to pay for leads, I don't have to, you know, door knock or cold call. I think it's just organic connections that have been that have built my business.

Rick Ripma: 18:38

What I heard is, every job was preparing you to be a real estate agent. You started in and learning the contracts and learning, you know, learning kind of what goes on behind the scenes and all of that. And then when you were releasing you learn how to show houses when you were working for the window company. You learned how to do an open house. Right? Because it maybe not exactly but you learned how to stand there, how to present what you got. I mean, you learn and unbeknownst to you, based on what you said, you were being trained to be a real estate agent.

Mia Chatman: 19:13

Right now that think about it. It makes sense.

Rick Ripma: 19:17

As you're walking through I kept thinking why see why that I see what that yeah, I see what that did for I see what that did for you. And then finally who knows who somebody maybe, you know, God who I don't know, but somebody said, Okay, it's time yeah, here. Here's, here's a customer. Yeah, don't be a real estate agent.

Mia Chatman: 19:39

And it wasn't until I held my own license because you know, when you're with brokerages, they take a cut of your money, they take a little bit of your money, and it's and they didn't even have to give you the lead to do it. Right. So I'm like okay, that's that's kind of what clicked like there's not a brokerage doing anything for me. So every time I got paid like from the leasing my brokerage or take a cut of it. And it's like, why? But yeah, that's I guess that's the name of the game, right? So okay, fine. But that's why it pushed me to hold my own license so I could get 100% of my efforts. And that's what happened. And I think that it my brokerage actually got created by accident. I don't know if we can go into that. But what happened was I was holding my own license as what they call like a sole proprietor. Right, right. Well, you're not really with anybody, you're just licensed agent. So I was doing that during the leasing, I had a few sales under my belt, I was rocking and rolling. And then I had a new build client, first new build, I had no idea about new construction. So it was like, we were, you know, I took them around to see houses, they didn't really like them. So we tried the new build route. So I go into their office, they and the I learned quickly that the construction company handles everything. Yeah, you know, they literally just pay realtors to bring their people. And of course, you have to negotiate it. Yeah, kind of, kind of be their liaison between the two. But they're they're the ones drafting the contracts and doing everything, yes, with the house. So it was it was easy enough just to introduce them and kind of be there with my clients through that process. But the builder company said, we're not going to pay you because you're not with a brokerage. And I'm like, but I'm a licensed Realtor, like I do this. This is

Rick Ripma: 21:38

what I do with a brokerage, you are a broker, but go ahead and

Mia Chatman: 21:41

write but I didn't have an office or I wasn't with a company. So I was like, Okay, well, you know, so the building process takes months. So I'm like, Okay, I have this time before we close on that house, to I guess, get a brokerage. So that's what I did. That's why I had to create an office officially, with the state and with my bore, and I had to get I had to be I wasn't gonna hang it with another broker, you know, like, so I had to create my own. Yeah. And that's where Austin Avenue was born. Awesome.

Ian Arnold: 22:16

So how did you come up with the name The name? Well,

Mia Chatman: 22:20

it's crazy. Because you know how every, everywhere every street every everything has like a suffix like Avenue, road street Boulevard. And I just kind of put it put my stamp on it because Austin is actually my daughter's middle name. So her name is Riley Austin. And so it was just kind of my stamp like, Austin Avenue. Like that's my, my piece of real estate. So that's kind of where I came

Ian Arnold: 22:55

from. So you do I hear this from a lot of realtors. So you take your daughter to show homes and every Oh

Mia Chatman: 23:01

yeah, well, not now. She's in preschool. She started preschool in February. So she's been home for five years. Like, it's so crazy now that I think back about it's been five years. I I have been what was 2017 like six years ago. Okay, so I was I was I had just got my license crazy because I was working all through, you know, being pregnant. I remember being pregnant, almost about to deliver, when, you know, I went to the hospital like I'm about to have this baby. And they were like, Nope, you're not dilated enough. Go home. And I'm like, oh, gosh, so that at that time, there was a closing going on. So I'm having contractions. I'm like, you know, the pyramids on 86th Street. That's where the closing was. And the hospital I was at was not done spaced it

Rick Ripma: 24:01

obviously not St. Vincent's on 86th Street, right?

Mia Chatman: 24:04

The Women's Center. That's exactly where I was. I wanted to call it St. John's because that was an Anderson, but it's St. Vincent. But I went from the hospital to the closing having contractions and they're like, why'd you come here? We're done now. And it's like, okay, so that's how like, I'm not I think back like, I'm really dedicated to this, like I was in labor, working, emailing. And it's like, oh, my gosh, so now that it's crazy, because she's here, and she's been at home for five years now since ever since before February. And she's been with me the whole time, showings, closings, meetings like she she just had to come with me because I wasn't paying eight $900 a month in daycare. That was just too expensive, not affordable. And then I You know, she wasn't old enough to go to preschool. So she had to come with me, you know, and everybody else are dead and you know, they work and have their own lives. So she's my kid. She's gonna come right. So

Rick Ripma: 25:12

that's what happened. So she's a real estate agent. Oh, she's licensed yet

Mia Chatman: 25:15

Riley the realtor she's not licensed. But she will be proud to see that's all she knows. That's all she sees me. Do. You know,

Ian Arnold: 25:26

it's interesting, though, when we talk to real estate agents that have it a little different path of their parents or realtors, that so many of them were like, No, I don't want to be a realtor. Oh, yeah. I hate it. I hate it. So they go off to something else. Usually five, six years later. Yes, they are. Yeah, come on back home.

Mia Chatman: 25:45

Yeah, but I think she likes as you I'm there were a few times that, you know, we I would have to go and take pictures of houses and stuff that I work for leases where I was leasing at the time, but she was probably two or three years old, like, showing me the house. Like we'll go in there. And she'll say, this is the closet. And you can you know, I remember her saying the door shuts and I'm like, Oh, right. Great feature. So she's sweet. She's so sweet. That's

Ian Arnold: 26:14

great. Until you get the door that doesn't shut. Yeah, like, yeah, that was a great point. Yeah, I

Rick Ripma: 26:21

heard a story that as a toddler, and she still is a toddler. I guess she hasn't she had a credit card.

Mia Chatman: 26:28

Yeah, she I, I put her on a couple of my credit cards. And you know, there are credit cards out there that have no age limit. And you can literally use their social and everything and they'll send them a card with their name on it. And she has a couple of them. And I think you know, when she gets older, she'll have all that history, all that payment history. Of course, I

Ian Arnold: 26:48

I know you have a four year old handle it. She actually did

Mia Chatman: 26:52

swipe it the other day at Walmart. She bought her own bike and her own helmet, and she swiped her credit card. And she was so excited about it. But of course that's my credit line. She's the authorized user on line. That's what it that's what it is. Yeah. But but you know, I'm responsible with mine. So of course that reflects on her credit report once it comes available, I guess at the

Ian Arnold: 27:16

right age. All right, and how would somebody get ahold of you?

Mia Chatman: 27:19

My phone number. Texting is better than calling 317-500-5963.

Rick Ripma: 27:29

To get a hold of Ian or I go to HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com . That's HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com Or you can call 317-672-1938. That's 317-672-1938.

Ian Arnold: 27:40

All right now, I think it should be time for question of the week.

Rick Ripma: 27:44

I think that's right.

Ian Arnold: 27:44

I think it is. The question of the week is sponsored by Hey, Rick and I the hard working mortgage guys, where we believe in helping and supporting you and your realtor by sending constant updates through the loan process. Nobody likes to be left in a black hole. So contact us and we'll keep you out of a black hole. All right, so what was your first car?

Mia Chatman: 28:04

My first car? Yeah. Let me think it was a Chrysler 319 99 Chrysler 300. I bought it with my student loan money. And I bought it that's the car that I actually read. With my mom, but I love that car so much. I thought it was so clean had leather. It was black. I'm doing my thing.

Rick Ripma: 28:36

There may still be a long time. They were like one of the most popular cars out there. They looked wonderful. Yeah,

Mia Chatman: 28:43

I loved him. And you can't go wrong with a black car. Yeah.

Ian Arnold: 28:47

Except for one. It's always dirty. Right? Yeah. Why do you have to be? We're both in the car industry. Trust me. Oh, I want to go see that black car over there. Oh, man. I gotta run through the car. Surely.

Rick Ripma: 29:03

They do get dusty. i My second favorite is black. My favorite color is a white car. And everybody thinks oh, they get dirty. No, they don't like cars. That's why I like them. Yeah, they don't show the dirt anywhere near as much as the black. Yeah, but a clean black car. There is no car that looks better. Yeah. Green Car that's black. They just beautiful. So do you want me to ask a question?

Ian Arnold: 29:26

Yeah. All right. I want to hear something about a Supers. Okay, good. Yeah, this

Rick Ripma: 29:30

is one of my favorite questions. So what is your superpower? superpowers?

Mia Chatman: 29:35

superpowers? Oh no, I feel stumped or superhero like yeah,

Rick Ripma: 29:45

you fly. buildings in a single bound. She teleports to houses. That's, that's awesome.

Mia Chatman: 29:55

Um, I would just say my authenticity, me being who I am. Um, don't fake anything, I'm real transparent. You know, I'm honest, easy to get along with, you know, just me. Just being me,

Rick Ripma: 30:11

your superpowers being you, that's a great,

Ian Arnold: 30:14

nobody else can have that superpower. That's

Mia Chatman: 30:15

right. It's so unique.

Rick Ripma: 30:20

But you know, it's, it's actually probably the most true thing anybody could say, because that's really it is, who you are, is

Mia Chatman: 30:27

nobody can have this superpower. And it's all and that is all you

Rick Ripma: 30:31

you know, that's, that's, that's phenomenal. So speaking of, you know, because of how you do things, I know one of yours. It may not be it's probably a superpower, because it's part of you. But we touched on it social media. I know that's a big piece of your, your business. So if somebody's if somebody's out there a real estate agents out there, they don't know anything about social media, because what we found is there's there's agents who use it, and they do phenomenally well. And there's agents who don't use it at all, and they do phenomenally well. But they don't they don't do a social media, and then there's people trying to learn what to do. Yeah. What would you say to those people that don't use it? Or are trying to figure it out? And how should they use social media?

Mia Chatman: 31:13

You know, it's, it's really funny, because on social media, you can really be anything you want, you can make it look like anything you want, you know, so I think if somebody is looking to build more on social media, just, they just have to kind of take what they do every day. And put that online, you know, if you're showing houses all day, put it online, you know, if you're working at the computer, and you're mining some comps, or whatever, just put record it on your phone and upload it online. You know, that's, that's really all it is. And that just kind of shows that audience what you do who you are, and just have fun with it.

Rick Ripma: 32:02

So they record a video or just take a picture? Both. Okay, you do both? Andy And so let's talk about because somebody doesn't know, what social media should they use.

Mia Chatman: 32:12

Um, I like Facebook, I think it kind of the algorithm kind of tailors it to where you are and your location and the people that live around there. So it kind of puts you in like a local audience. Unless you're like, paying for ads and wanted to blast over the country and stuff. But I think Facebook, social media, and then Instagram, Instagram, I do have an Instagram. But my main thing is Facebook.

Ian Arnold: 32:49

So should Rick still be on MySpace?

Rick Ripma: 32:52

I don't think so. MySpace? Ever? Because it came out when I was at an age where

Mia Chatman: 33:02

you didn't do that? Yeah. I had MySpace. That was my first social media was

Ian Arnold: 33:06

everybody. Yeah, because Facebook came out everybody not everybody

Rick Ripma: 33:11

but me for being on Facebook and a reality or on MySpace. The reality is, I never was on MySpace.

Mia Chatman: 33:17

Yeah, that, you know, it's crazy now that there's so many different outlets and channels, like, I haven't gotten into Tik Tok. I haven't got into like YouTube, Like, there's so many that I haven't really tapped into. But I don't feel like I need to like, I feel like I'm doing okay, I'm doing well enough. And I can teach my agents to do well, just with the platform, because I don't want to make it overwhelming, then you have to hire somebody to do it all for you. And I'm just like, nope. So there's, you know, there's other things, there are other social media platforms that you can use. But for me personally, it's really just mainly Facebook, Instagram. I mean, there's a LinkedIn, but that's more of a professional side, if you're looking to gain more business on your client base. I mean, LinkedIn is good, too. If you're like an investment realtor, and you're looking to network with those kinds of people. And, you know, there's, there's a lot of different avenues to do

Ian Arnold: 34:13

on social media. So you're talking about posture. You don't want to hire somebody for that. So have you thought about growing your brokerage?

Mia Chatman: 34:19

Oh, so yeah. So recently, just recently, and like I said, my brokerage was an accident. So it was not planned at all. And what what I'm recently where I was thinking is, I can do this on a larger scale, like, I'm, I'm thinking, Oh, I'm gonna go flip houses. I'm gonna go be an investor. And it's like, I don't, I've worked with investors, but I haven't been an investor. And so I'm like, I need to kind of drive my focus on what I know and what I'm good at. And so just recently, I'm like, I'm gonna grow this brokerage. So currently It's just been organic, I haven't done any, like advertising, I'm hiring realtors, you know, come join me, it's just been organic. And I have four Realtors right now that I hold their license. And one of them, it's actually my sister, oh, wow, she's newly licensed, he got licensed this year. And so I'm able to work with her and, you know, teach her the ropes and stuff like that. So it's nice to work, you know, with a family member, but everybody else it's been, you know, just organic, you know, them getting their license them seeing what I can do, and then, you know, them looking for a broker to hang their license with, and it's like, well, I'm, I'm a broker, now I can hold your license, you know, and I'm like, if I can do it, I can teach somebody else to do it. So that's kind of how it's been with the, the realtors that I have now. But I think that was in 2021, that I felt that I got my first agent. And I think now that it might be a time to expand and grow that team. And there

Rick Ripma: 35:59

is value for somebody, in my opinion, to come into a broker and have the mentorship because mentorship is really important, what you didn't have at this time, and so learn it all on your own so long, good at a mentor that I think that could have cut down on your learning curve, and it would have helped you. You still got there. Right? It just would have maybe cut some time. Yeah, so mentors are extremely important. Yep. Well, one of the things I know, I think would be interesting to talk about is my son bought a bunch of Cago bought a house and it was it was like off market, which a lot of people have never heard of. So what is off market real estate? And how do like how does a real estate agent be a part of that?

Mia Chatman: 36:40

Well, it's it's kind of the same as far as like brokering a deal. It just never gets inputted into the MLS. So have you ever seen those signs around? We buy houses fast cash, call us, we'll buy your house? Yeah, that's off market, real estate, you know, those are typically wholesalers, who will essentially get a property under contract to purchase and then have an end buyer sign another contract saying, will I buy your contract from the owner. So it never hits the MLS? I mean, it gets recorded, it goes to the title company, it's a legit deal. But it just never goes on the market. So and you don't have to have a license to do that.

Rick Ripma: 37:26

So what they do is they find the house before they advertise so that somebody does it before they listed usually. So they they try to get in the head of it, then they go ahead and buy that get a purchase agreement, then they sell it to somebody else, before they ever close, and then it closes in the other person's name.

Mia Chatman: 37:43

Yep. So they can either do like an assignment contract where they assign their purchase agreement to an end buyer, or they do what's called a double close, and they'll actually close on it. And then the title company at the same time does another transaction to put it in, in buyers.

Rick Ripma: 38:00

That's something you help people with. Oh, yeah, I've

Mia Chatman: 38:02

been in between a few of those deals. Yeah. So that's, that's kind of what I like to say, that sets me apart from some other realtors is I know both sides. So I just recently had a deal where the seller had an investment property, it was a rental. And it wasn't in the best of area. And it was a vacant house. So when when we were talking, she was like, I want you to help me sell this house. But I don't want it to go on the market, it'll make it vulnerable, you know, it'll have a lot of eyes on it, it's vacant, I don't want somebody to break in and trash it or whatever. So I'm like, Well, I know the other side of it, we don't have to put it on the market for it to get sold. And what happened was in I didn't even have the she I didn't have to put it under contract she I think I built that built that rapport with her to where she trusted me that I could, you know, deliver and actually sell her house without putting it on the market. And that's what I did. I reached out to my contacts, I have a good, you know, network of buyers, cash buyers that, you know, either have private money, hard money or actual cash that will you know, they if it's a good deal, they'll buy it right. So I don't have to put it on the market. You know, I have that network where I can, you know, have on and off market selling solutions.

Rick Ripma: 39:19

That's awesome. I mean, it's interesting to hear, because we've had people on to do similar things, but no, he's actually explained it. I think it helps to really know how that works. So it's, you're gonna have somebody out there that's thinking, you know, I'd like to buy houses like that. They could talk to you and you'd be a perfect person for them. To work with you understand it? Yeah. I think that's phenomenal. Yeah. I think you have a good question. Oh,

Ian Arnold: 39:41

yes. So what do you think? What would you consider what are your most memorable deals?

Mia Chatman: 39:48

The memorable deals I have so many. She can't remember it just. It just depends. It just depends on if we're talking like a good memory or bad.

Ian Arnold: 39:57

Whatever you want, because every job We all know there's good and bad, but sometimes the bad is a learning experience. Yeah,

Mia Chatman: 40:04

yeah, it is. I know that there were at first, the the one that developed my brokerage is probably the most impactful one, you know, because that's what that's what kind of got me here today. But on the other side, I think there was there, okay, yeah, I got one. There was I was working with the homebuyer. And he had, he was buying a house that was occupied by a renter. And the owner must not have communicated that well that the house was being sold. And it was the day before closing, and you know how you got to do your final walkthrough and stuff like that. We found that right before we closed, they trashed that house, oh, broke windows, they took the dog garage door off, you know, the overhead door slides up and down, they took it off. How do you take that? Put that, right. So it? Oh, they took it with him, took it off, and it was gone. And they they completely trashed the house. It was crazy. And so I was like, well, must not have been meant for you to move in there. Because we you know, they have to maintain the right condition of the house until we close Exactly. It was the day before closing. And I'm like, Oh, gosh. That's why that was a very remember. Deal. Whatever clothes.

Ian Arnold: 41:35

You want to forget. Yeah. But so here's one huge thing. And I did not realize this before I got in the industry. So when we my wife and I bought our house, we went and looked at it. We looked at it a couple times. Then we had an inspector came up. We didn't look at the house again, until we signed after we signed paperwork. So while you're telling the story, I'm like, what would that have happened to me? I would have been so mad. So lesson for anybody out there the day before. Go look at the morning

Mia Chatman: 42:07

of closing or something before you sign the paperwork. Make sure it's okay. Yeah, I will say another let me do a good good rememberable there was a family in California that reached out to me on social media, it was Instagram. They reached out to me on social media. And they're like, we're moving to we're moving to Indiana. And they had never been here. They you know, they just knew they wanted. They did the research on states. And they just landed on Indiana. And then they landed on my page somehow, you know, because I'm marketing I'm doing my thing not knowing that people in across the country you can see me not even thinking about it. But a long way. Oh, she reached out to me. And I'm like, Yeah, I can help you buy a house. They're like we're selling our house here. So we're paying cash for the house out there. I'm like great that that makes you very competitive in this market. And so she you know, they were sending me all these houses and they they never even came out here. I never even met them never even saw them. And we I sold them a house and they moved out here. They actually moved south of here near like Evansville. Wow. And I wasn't even a part of that MLS. I wasn't even in that area. But you know, she, she trusted me. I was doing great. And I was up and down the state looking for a house. And you know, we settled on one she closed they were actually traveling across the country when she stopped in like Arizona or something to close the documents. And I had never met him never talked never, you know, person in person. And they moved here just on a whim and never met him. Yeah, yeah, she Yeah, she came up here. She came up here, you know, after they have moved in and got settled and stuff. So yeah, it's

Rick Ripma: 43:51

it's always, you know, at least in today, you've got other ways to meet people. All that kind of Yeah. But one last question. What are some of the so many misconceptions about what a real estate career is really all about? Yeah. What can you talk about that?

Mia Chatman: 44:07

So, I think and this is just my personal opinion. I think people see realtors, and they they like see money. They think it's like all about the money. You know, they're getting these big closing checks, they're just driving nice cars, they all look nice. So I think people want to get into, you know, the business thinking that's what it's about, you know, and I have to kind of educate people and even the couple of the realtors that I have now. Like it's not about that it's it's almost not even about the house. It's about the people that are buying and selling them and living in the houses. And so I I kind of I always want to educate people and let them know like that. You have to be a people's realtor. You know, you can have all you know, show the nice fancy house Is or even ugly houses and say you're closing a bunch of deals, but it's really about the people behind it, you know. And it's not just about contracts and closing getting checks, like you really have to be a people person and really be passionate about the people that you're helping and working with. Because a lot of people don't know anything about closing on a home or buying a home. And that's kind of where you have to come in. And, and I like to say I'm not even a salesperson. I'm not a salesy type person. Because when I think about salespeople, it's like, hurry up and buy, you know, what, buy this, buy this, buy, buy, buy, buy, you know, and I'm, I'm not that, you know, I like to think as myself that, like, the position that I hold as a realtor is more like, support, guidance, you know, or more of an advisor. So it's being a realtor, and I think it's changed a little bit. Because when I, when I think of a realtor, when I was younger, I thought of like, business suit, you have to be dressed up every day and be this professional person, and you have to be professional, but you know, in terms of look, and you have to look like something and you have to you know, it's not that it's not that you have to build relationships and rapport with people. And that's how you become a successful realtor, because again, I'm not that salesy. Hurry up and buy, and this is not a hurry up and buy field, these people are spending hundreds of 1000s of dollars on homes, and you can't take that lightly. You can't take that like as a, I'm gonna get a big check at the end. It's like, No, you have to make sure it works for those people. So I think that, you know, some people may look at realtors, like, you know, it's just, it's just a good way to make money. But that's, you do good by people. The money will follow, right?

Rick Ripma: 46:58

Yeah, it's about the relationships. That's all. That's it? Yep.

Ian Arnold: 47:02

All right. So if somebody wants to get in relationship with you, and get them to buy or sell a home, how would they get in contact with you?

Mia Chatman: 47:10

You can give me a call or text that 317-500-5963

Rick Ripma: 47:17

And if you need to get a hold of Ian or I got a HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com That's HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com Or you can call 31767 to 1938. That's 31767 to 1938.

Ian Arnold: 47:29

All right, and Mia, we'd like to thank you for coming on the show. You were phenomenal. Thank you. A reminder, if you have any friends, family or coworkers looking to buy, sell or refinance, contact us and we'll be more than happy to help you and follow us for more India's real estate gurus