We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sara Hopkins. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sara below.

Sara, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Here at the Sara Hopkins Real Estate Team we are on a mission to make sure every single woman deserves to know the power she holds—especially when it comes to homeownership. Every woman has the right to not only dream of a home, but to possess the strategies and wisdom on HOW to make it hers. After a client closed on her home, she looked at me and said “I truly never thought I would be a homeowner.” I’ve had so many stories from women that they didn’t think homeownership was possible. From the single 40 year old who thought she would one day be married, to the divorced single mother who never learned anything about the process and let their ex be in control of the finances. I want every single woman to feel empowered to know they can do this and they won’t be on their own, we will be right by their side guiding them on the journey. This is how our new homeownership for women class was inspired. I wanted to make an affordable (totally FREE!) and easily accessible class for women to come and learn all the steps necessary to have the knowledge needed to become an educated homeowner. As an all female real estate team we wanted to create a course specifically for women, built by women. This class also harnesses the power of female camaraderie by having the same women together for 4 weeks. The organic friendships built is really cool to see.

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

After college I moved to England where I lived for 4 years. My husband and I decided we wanted to raise a family in my hometown of Des Moines so we sold everything we owned and did a 3 month travel-around-the world experience with our final stop being Des Moines. We arrived back in December of 2009 & while I looked for a job in marketing/PR my mom, who is a Realtor, encouraged me to get my license. I begrudgingly did that with the intentions of only helping with real estate until I found a job in the magazine world. After a few months I fell in love with the job and realized I loved getting to be a part of peoples lives as they find a new home.

My background in marketing helped tremendously with promoting listings and getting exposure for homes. After a few years I was selling more than my mom (sorry mom!) so I ventured out on my own. I had an assistant that also started selling quite a bit of real estate so she became a full time sales associate and we hired a new assistant. From there, the team organically grew and I was so happy to have my mom join my team in 2020.

I have always dreamed of owning an office space for my team to grow, in 2020 I found an abandoned building on 6th ave in Highland Park, an up and coming neighborhood in Des Moines, and even though it was full of black mold and required an entire remodel (down to the studs!) I knew it had so much potential. I had a vision to bring it to life and the Re/Max Precision Urban office opened in 2021. We love being a neighborhood real estate office that houses my team as well as independent agents. It’s a unique space that is open and collaborative where we all help one another. Real estate can be really lonely, so it’s really nice to all have each others backs and ask each other questions or for advice. When purchasing this building I had a lot of people tell me I was silly to invest in that area, but I am so happy I did not listen. I love getting to work in a neighborhood I grew up in and offer an inviting community for anyone in the neighborhood to be able to come in and ask questions.

My team is a powerhouse of hardworking agents, all dedicated to achieving excellence in every transaction. We are a small but mighty team and we know everyone has each other’s backs and is here to help encourage and inspire one another. My main mission as a team leader is to teach agents how to build a successful business. Everyone on my team aligns with our core values- integrity, client-centric focus, commitment to surpassing expectations & authenticity.

One of the things that sets up apart from other real estate teams is we primarily work in the city of Des Moines. Of course, we have many clients buying in the suburbs, but my largest client base and sphere of influence is located in the heart of the city itself. I live in Des Moines, support the local businesses in Des Moines, & enjoy promoting all the cool things about our city. I have an instagram series called Friday Finds where I showcase local small businesses all through town. Because we sell a lot of homes in the city, it means we sell a lot of older homes. Selling older homes is something you need to be very knowledgeable about. Educating clients on what to look for (or what to be cautious of) is something I’m proud I can do with confidence.

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

I had a vision in my head for years of having my own office. So when the opportunity came to buy one I jumped at it. Unfortunately it was a pretty grueling process to make happen. I had no idea what i was doing. Dealing with contractors, and an SBA loan and soaring prices, and learning the hard way about city codes and requirements was incredibly tough. There were SO MANY times I wanted to quit and just be done. It didn’t help that this was happening during the busiest year in real estate history.. oh and my children’s school was closed and we had to attempt virtual schooling was tough to say the least. But i didn’t give up. I kept going with the reminder that his a dream i have and im not going to stop. I hope my daughter saw my perseverance and remembers that she too, can do anything she puts her mind to.

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

In a landscape where the phrases “authenticity” and “transparency” are often thrown around, I genuinely believe that these values have been pivotal in shaping my reputation and earning the trust of my clients. The cornerstone of my approach is the unwavering commitment to providing candid opinions about properties—I prioritize ensuring my clients find not just a house, but their ideal home. For me, it’s never about just making a sale.

I have never paid for leads, instead, I invest my marketing dollars in client events & thoughtful touches throughout the year. Wether it be renting out an ice skating rink with a hot cocoa bar, or getting an ice cream truck during the summer months for a sweet treat. These client events are more than just gestures; they reflect my ongoing dedication to exceeding expectations.

In a business driven by relationships, I want each client to understand that our primary focus is their well-being. It’s not merely about a transaction; it’s about making a genuine connection. I strive to ensure that every client, past and present, feels not only valued but cared for. It’s this commitment to going above and beyond that defines my real estate philosophy—one where the client’s satisfaction and happiness stand as our paramount priorities.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sarahopkinsrealtor.com/
• Instagram: @realtorsarahopkins
• Facebook: Sara Hopkins Greater Des Moines Realtor
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahopkins/