Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julie Neira. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Julie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard

Every day I am able to live out my passion and my purpose through Real Estate and serving my Clients. The Industry standard is to generate sales, numbers, portfolios, and profit but, through my faith, I have decided to create my own Industry Standard. My clients are treated with honesty, faith, and integrity above all. They are not here to serve me, but I am humbly here to serve them. The majority of my clients are Veterans, Active Duty, Gold Star families, or parents of those who serve our country. It is my honor as a Full Service Agent to serve them well in gratitude. This is where people see my motto, “Julie Helps Veterans!” My service to clients does not end at Closing, I am available from the initial contact to any issues that may arise after. The purchase of a home is one of the biggest milestones in one’s life and it is a privilege and honor to help that become not only obtainable but a memorable and joyful experience for all parties involved.

I have made it my goal to serve others and not just sell properties or houses.The industry standard or common belief is that getting into Real Estate is the financially gainful way to invest and build wealth. While this may be true, it is also a very personal way to invest in people and their lives.

Julie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I don’t believe that my story is different from others, but I do feel what centers around my business is. As I share my story, my only hope is that it will inspire others to take that big leap of FAITH. I was a sales representative at Ashley Furniture Homestore and making a good living by all standards, after four years of employment I found out I needed to have surgery. As it turned out, this was a blessing in disguise. After my surgery I had a six-week recovery period during which I reached out to a good friend who was an office manager for a boutique brokerage in West Ashley. I asked her to arrange a meeting with the Broker in Charge to obtain more information on Real Estate and the steps it took to obtain a real estate license. Little did I know that God had a different plan for me that day. A week later, I was able to meet with the Broker and after an hour of talking I left excited for what would ultimately be my future endeavors. I decided to stop at the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors and speak with Kelly Bramble regarding the timeline of licensing classes. Walking around the corner, I saw someone with her arms stacked with notebooks, so I waited to introduce myself until she entered her office to inquire about classes. Kelly noted that the next slated classes started in three hours and asked if I wanted a spot. I was hesitant, but she informed me that after this class the next won’t be for another nine months. I wasn’t ready to make such a big commitment so quickly, so I decided to call my Husband Bill. Like me, he was amazed that things were falling into place like they were, at the time I was dealing with recovery from the surgery and classes would only be a few nights a week. I was overwhelmed with fear but also knew the odds of this happening were rare. I signed up, and headed home to get ready for my first day of class. On my way home I contacted the Broker to inform her of what transpired. She simply stated to let her know when I passed the exam and she knew I would succeed. I now know her encouragement was what I needed to get to the finish line and to start my new career.
Shortly after the class ended, I drove to Columbia to take the State licensing exam and passed. My career then truly began with humility which is often needed in each of our lives to keep us centered and focused on what truly matters.

In Real Estate, it is extremely important to find your niche’ otherwise you become overwhelmed by the whole process after you are licensed. Not long after settling into my new normal, I became a Homes for Heroes Affiliate. I support firefighters, police, military members (active, reserve, and Veteran), teachers, healthcare professionals, and first responders by giving back a percentage of my commission when they buy or sell a house with me and it is my personal way of expressing gratitude for the daily sacrifices. Most everyone surrounding me plays a part in my why. My daughter is a pediatric cancer survivor and if weren’t for the Doctors and Nurses, I would have broken down multiple times. During her down time from chemo treatment and when she wasn’t in the hospital, my daughter was visited by her teachers and home schooled when permitted. Many of my family members served in the Military and my brother was also a Firefighter but was injured and no longer able to fulfill the expectations. I know many of us are aware of the sacrifices of those around us, but there are few who are willing to thank them monetarily. I am honored to do so and I know every time I do, it will come in handy whether it is applied towards repairs by a Seller or towards new furniture as a new Homeowner.

I am a passionate Veteran proponent specializing in negotiating the offer and exceeding the needs of Veteran homebuyers and sellers through the stressful Permanent Change of Station move. I feel every agent, especially those who market themselves with the Military Relocation Professional (MRP) certification, should take the initiative to educate themselves by attending seminars and remaining up-to-date on current guidelines.Through continued education, unique experiences and knowledge applied, I will continue to remain an asset to the needs of our Veterans and their families as I work toward obtaining my Military Relocation Professional designation and becoming an even greater asset to my Clients.

I work with both Buyers and Sellers and no matter the Client’s needs, I exceed the expectations at all costs. All of my Sellers are offered complimentary full home staging services and I have even painted walls, cabinets, trims, and accents in the past when needed. My Buyers trust that they can rely on me to be present during Inspections, Closings, and Walkthroughs and that I will fight ethically and professionally for them when issues arise. I have had to remove large appliances and trash, handle rodent problems, and more for Buyers who were not treated fairly by other Sellers or their Agents. I am there, come high water or trouble, side by side and whether they’re a Buyer or Seller, they will know they are fully represented and covered. I have been careful to align myself with Brokerages and organizations that reflect the same ideals and morals, in order to create a firm and sure safety net for my clients.

In addition to the services I provide, every sale of a home helps a local Veteran. I directly donate a portion of every commission to local Veterans and non-profits related to serving Veterans such as Warrior’s Haven and Homes for Heroes®. Over the years, it has quickly added up to tens of thousands of dollars in supporting the needs of the Veteran community and their families, who are often overlooked and unable to locate resources to meet their needs. What I am given, I give back, and this is reflected every day in my business. Being a business owner myself, I am very supportive of other small businesses and purchase many of my staging items and art from local businesses in an effort to bring attention to their brand.

I am also very active in the community as a whole and have developed “Veteran Businesses of the Lowcountry” a YouTube channel on which interviews are uploaded featuring both Veteran and Veteran Spouse local business owners. I am a Veteran Spouse and the host of VBOL; my co-host, Chase Mason, is a Marine Veteran and we also have a very talented, professional and passionate videographer on our team.. This initiative is only 6 months young, but I am excited for what is to come; the best is yet to come!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

My entire business, my entire presence.. is built on a lasting foundation of faith and wrapped in passion, purpose, honesty and integrity. My heart and service have set me apart and continue to build my reputation and my business. My clients have become family. I operate mainly on referrals and they have steadily come in, sometimes flooding in, due to the trust I have gained and built by working with integrity. As we all know, a referral is one of the greatest compliments we could ever receive and It is quite humbling.. Julie helps people, not only Veterans, but by being a Veteran spouse and in working with and specializing in businesses related to those who have served, I carry these same values forward with me in every transaction and interaction. Your wishes, property, and needs will be respected by me, that is never in question.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

That’s an easy one! God. Truly, God has always remained faithful in having me at the right place at the right time, making lasting and sound connections, and being referred by other clients, Agents, and people who have met or conducted different forms of business with me. People know that they are in good hands and they respond to that by sending their loved ones, friends, and colleagues to also receive that care. This does not waiver and I will not compromise on that. I love what I do and I love serving, and it all comes down to that. I cannot wait to see what the future holds and I am excited to meet you all.

Contact Info:

• Website: JulieHelpsVeterans.com
• Instagram: @JulieHelpsVeterans
• Facebook: Julie Helps Veterans
• Linkedin: Julie Helps Veterans
• Youtube: Veteran Businesses of the Lowcountry

Image Credits
Stephanie Selby Headshots