We recently connected with Contreece Bullard and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Contreece thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Early in your career, how did you think through the decision of whether to start your own firm or join an established firm?

The decision for me not to start my own brokerage was easy, because in Arkansas you must be a real estate agent for two years to open your own brokerage. Plus, I wanted to learn as much as I could before thinking about branching out on my own. In Texas you must be an agent for four years before you can become a broker.

When I started as a new agent five years ago, I joined Keller Williams of Little Rock, Arkansas. That was an easy choice for me. Keller Williams came to our real estate class spoke to us about joining their brokerage. However, I did visit two other brokerages to ensure I was making the right decision. I made the choice to join Keller Williams because of their training programs. They are dedicated to making sure you are successful as a realtor. Joining Keller Williams was the only choice for me. No other brokerage could match the level of resources and trainings they provided to new agents.

Face forward years later while living in Texas, I decided to get my license. When I arrived in Houston on March 5th, 2022.  My license was inactive because I didn’t know of any brokerages other than KW. So, I asked around about brokerages, and I was referred to CR Elite Realty. They are a much smaller brokerage that CB&A Realtors. They are located downtown Houston and the drive was exhausting on most days from Katy. If you know anything about Houston traffic, then you understand.

I left that brokerage on November 18, 2022. My brokerage is five miles from my home. What I love most about CB&A Realtors is the amount of training and resources that are at your fingertips. When I met with my Broker Linda Burnett! I knew at that moment I was home. There motto is “Welcome Home”. The structure that I so desired was within this brokerage. It was the best decision I have made this year!! Chance Brown is the owner, and they have five locations in Houston. He also teaches the new realtors orientation classes. Chance is such a cool and relaxed person to talk to. There is also another location in Austin. I had the opportunity to attend their orientation and I loved it!! Living in Katy, it made sense. Since joining I have connected with other agents at the office, and I am looking forward for 2023.

This is how I look at it, marrying the right brokerage will either cause your career to plummet or to grow! This decision is crucial in real estate since we are entrepreneurs!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Let me introduce myself: my name is Contreece Bullard of CB&A Realtors. I am a Houston real estate agent my career began in Arkansas. Since moving to the Houston area, I have come to love the diversity and countless opportunities for realtors. I have been a realtor for over 5 years now and I absolutely LOVE my job! Why? Simply put, being a real estate agent gives me the opportunity to do what I believe is my God given gift, helping people. I love networking, building relationships and partnerships. I partner with small businesses to host home buying seminars, conduct podcast and Q&A about real estate. The best part of my job is building long-lasting relationships within the community.

I obtained a Psychology from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, while working as a Cost of Care Manager for Anthem. As a Realtor, I am always educating myself on the market daily, keeping up with the trends and teaching classes about “How to build your business.” I enjoy educating future homebuyers, sellers, and investors on what to look for when choosing a property.

Aside from being a Real Estate Agent, I also wear the title of mom and grandma. I have a beautiful daughter and two beautiful grandkids that reside in Arkansas, these important roles have equipped me with the keen senses of patience, multitasking, problem-solving, organization, humility, sternness, resilience, foresight and proactiveness. Afterall, preparedness is the foundation of courage. I am a very discipline and structed person. That is one of the qualities a good realtor will need to possess. I understand I am hired to solve a problem, whether it is finding my clients the perfect, home, assisting my clients with building a new home, or selling their current home. I take this career serious because I focus on building lifelong partnerships.

I also work with investors to assist them with finding properties to rehab, commercial property or whatever they are looking for. I am most proud of my ‘Resilience”!! The market changes a lot, but I stand firm on being the best Realtor I can for my clients. I want them to walk away knowing they made the best choice to partner with me as their realtor. I learned early in my career in Arkansas, if you do an outstanding job, you will always get referrals from your past clients.

My motto is: I am overly excited about our journey together and I look forward to hearing from you! I can promise you one thing, I will collaborate with you to find a new home, build a new home, and show you the hottest investment properties!! Call, text or email me to begin your journey today! As your realtor I offer these services at no cost to you: Moving Assistance, Virtual Appointments, Concierge Services, Home Stage Services, Cleaning Services, Communication Channels, Housewarming Parties, and Open Houses on your listed property.

“Real estate is an imperishable asset, ever increasing in value. It is the most solid security that human ingenuity has devised. It is the basis of all security and about the only indestructible security.” -Russell Sage

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My Resilience! My personal journey on how I became resilient. I got married at the age of twenty-eight and my now ex-husband was 13 years older than I. I just knew he would be my forever husband. I prayed for this man. In hindsight I may have looked over several red flags. I was young and I wanted to be married before even learning how to be a Wife!! That is so important, a lot of women want a husband, however, they are not Wives! I say that because I was one of those women. I learned along the way making a ton of mistakes.

I was married for 14 years, and it was good, bad, and indifferent. I think if I were not fighting for my marriage, it would have ended in year 3. The age difference did not help us. I was wife number 3! One would think that would have been a red flag, however, it was not for me. I do not judge people from their past because we all have one. I loved him and I wanted to marry him. At least up until the day of the wedding, I wanted to run!! There was something inside of me saying “this is not it”. I went through with it anyway and now I am a Divorcee!

We must listen to our gut feelings. I have no regrets because if I would have not married him, I would not know who I am or what I do not want, or what I am willing to accept. I grew up in that marriage. I had to learn to love myself all over again and the woman I was becoming. Sometimes we go through things that make us resilient. We had an amicable divorce and we remained friends. We knew our marriage had run its course. I had nothing else to give to him or the marriage. I am grateful for the years we had, and I am looking forward to my final marriage one day.

Until then I will be working on my career and growing as a woman and a business owner. Women have the power to be resilient!! Do not let what you been through determine the outcome of your life!!

Have you ever had to pivot?

My pivot happened in 2012! I began another career outside of real estate, in the health care industry in 2012. I was offered a promotion to relocate to Texas in 2013. This was a hard decision because I had no family in Texas. My marriage was on life support, and I know I needed a change. The hardest part was leaving my mother. I prayed and asked God what to do. Long story short, I left the life I once knew for a new life in Texas. The night I moved to Tyler, TX, remember sitting on my floor weeping loudly.

I was scared! I was afraid! No friends no family. I cried myself to sleep that night. However, looking back that was the best decision of my life!! I did not let fear win. I met new friends immediately. As most of the people know me today, they know I talk a lot or that is what I have been told. So, that was the easy part making friends. My licenses were still active in Arkansas. I should have gotten my real estate license for Texas as soon as I moved here, but I was so caught up into learning a new city that I put real estate on the back burner.

I worked in the office at the time, and I was promoted to the Dallas office, now Houston. My life has changed for the better since moving to Texas. I have a wonderful support system. I call them “My Village”! I have dual careers and I love them both. I can serve my clients and do what I love. You never know what life may bring or what you must endure but I have learned it with a smile.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://contreecebullardrealtor.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contreecebullardrealtor/?fbclid=IwAR1LwrbrAWPH9wliR7BKU8mrP4j9GOODg-SSANWXBdoNHUdmZvgk8IW8UuU
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067489014585
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/contreece-r-bullard-143468255/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXTgTRarwpt789bpFX3esgA

Image Credits
All images were taken with my personal cell phone. Logo belongs to CB&A Realtors.