We caught up with the brilliant and insightful China Schmitz a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, China thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

Yes. One of the biggest ways I’m running my brokerage, Grow Realty differently is by keeping the books open and putting a cap on my own income.

Before I started Grow Realty, I ran another broker’s company as their Broker Associate. That role had me stuck right in the middle — between the broker and the agents — every single day. What I saw was a broken model. The broker felt the agents didn’t appreciate everything the brokerage provided, and the agents felt like the broker was just getting richer and richer off their hard work. Neither side was completely right, but both felt frustrated and a little mistrustful.

That experience stuck with me. When I launched Grow Realty, I knew I wanted to do things differently. Our split is 80/20, but I cap my side at \$80,000 a year. That means I take a consistent monthly draw of about \$6,666, and if there’s anything left over, it doesn’t go in my pocket — it goes into what we call the **Grow Fund.** That’s money the agents and I talk about together and decide how to reinvest — whether it’s marketing, training, tech, or even helping an agent earn a new designation.

For me, it’s about transparency. I don’t want my agents guessing where their money goes, or assuming I’m living large while they’re grinding it out. They can see the numbers, they can see what I take home, and they can see what’s left to reinvest in our future.

The first time I laid this out, one of my agents said, “So you’re actually showing us what you make?” And I said, “Yep. I’m not hiding anything.” The look of relief on their face told me all I needed to know — agents want honesty, not smoke and mirrors.

I think this approach makes us feel more like a team. Instead of agents working “for” a broker, we’re working “with” each other. And when the company does well, we all get to celebrate, because we all know exactly how and why.

China, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve been in real estate for over 24 years, and what keeps me excited is that no two clients or situations are ever the same. Over the years I’ve been an agent, a mentor, coach, and even a Broker Associate running another broker’s company for over 10 years. That role especially shaped me, because I saw firsthand how the traditional brokerage model often leaves both the broker and the agents feeling misunderstood. That experience is what inspired me to launch my own brokerage — Grow Realty — and to run it in a way that’s more transparent, collaborative, and forward-thinking.

Grow Realty’s tagline is “Growing Greener Futures,” and that really has a double meaning. On one hand, it’s about money — helping my clients and agents make smart financial decisions that grow their futures in Texas real estate. On the other hand, it’s about values. I’m deeply committed to GREEN in residential real estate. I hold the NAR Green designation and I even teach continuing education classes to Texas REALTORS® about solar panels, energy efficiency, and how sustainable features impact transactions. I believe when agents and homeowners understand these things, it not only adds value to a property today, but it builds a greener and more resilient future for all of us.

Beyond Texas, I also run Grow Realty International, where I help clients explore real estate opportunities abroad. As a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS), I’ve built trusted connections all over the world through my global network of co-agents, lawyers, prop managers, and more. My sweet spot is Costa Rica, where I personally own property (and waiting on residency to come through!) and walk clients through every step of investing there — but I also connect people with opportunities in places like Panama, Mexico, Belize, Europe, and beyond.

Whats really excites me is when everything ties in together. Even this international side ties right back to our tagline, “Growing Greener Futures.” To me, that means growth in every sense: financial growth, by making smart real estate decisions; sustainable growth, through eco-friendly and green property investments; and future growth, where today’s good choices — whether it’s buying a tropical retreat, diversifying a portfolio, or adding GREEN features to your property and being confident it will add value — create fertile ground for tomorrow.

At the end of the day, what I want people to know about me and about Grow Realty is that we’re not just about transactions — we’re about trust, growth, and creating opportunities that last. Whether I’m guiding someone through their very first home purchase in Texas, helping an agent see the value of open books, or walking a family through an investment abroad, my goal is always the same: to make the process clear, approachable, and genuinely life-giving. Real estate has the power to shape futures, and I’m proud that Grow Realty is doing that in a way that’s transparent, sustainable, and global.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One of the hardest things I’ve ever done was earning my Broker’s license. Since I didn’t have a college degree to apply toward the requirements, I had to complete 470 hours of the 900 required — in just 18 months.

And this wasn’t during a quiet season of life. At the time, I was running a company with over 80 agents, leading a team of 10 admins, and teaching and training constantly. In the middle of all that, my dad landed in the ICU for two and a half months. I was making two trips a day to my parents’ house to check on my mom and their dogs, and I was delivering hot soup to my dad twice a day at the hospital.

Looking back, I don’t even know how I did it all — studying, working, caring for family. It took a lot out of me. But I’m really proud of the resilience it showed me I have. And honestly, I’m grateful that all of those hours were in real estate education. It gave me such a deep foundation in this industry, and it set me apart with knowledge and discernment that I still lean on every single day as a broker.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Honestly, I think it comes down to authenticity, knowledge, and being willing to serve. I’ve always tried to lead with integrity — and for me, that means admitting when I make mistakes, correcting my behavior, and being open to constructive criticism. Nobody has it all figured out, and I think people respect when you can say, “You’re right, I could have done that better,” and then actually change.

I also put a huge emphasis on growing in knowledge. Whether it’s continuing education, earning designations, or teaching others, I believe that being well-informed is one of the best ways I can serve both my clients and my agents. It’s not about being the smartest person in the room — it’s about being a resource they can trust.

The part that still surprises me is when people say, “Oh, I know who you are.” I’m not someone who craves power or attention, so hearing that always catches me off guard. But I think that’s actually been part of the key: because I don’t need the spotlight, I’m free to focus on serving. For me, that comes from my faith. Yeshua modeled servant leadership, and that’s what I try to live out. If my reputation has grown, I hope it’s because people see me as someone who is genuine, approachable, and willing to put others first.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chinaschmitz
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/china-schmitz/
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits

Professional Shots by Kenzierayleephotography