Having turned in over $23 million in sales in 2021, real estate professional Kelsey Charles is a force to be reckoned with. In fact, the trendsetter began leveraging a free Facebook group as a means for lead generation and launching an initiative which is becoming even more popular these days.
Charles began her real estate journey in 2019, having built her own channel for lead generation, via her Facebook group, Buying Home, Hawaii. Additionally, she garnered $12 million in just her first year, doubling that in her second year, at $25 million and, after her stellar campaign in 2021, has now amassed over $60 million.
The Real Broker, LLC realtor is now the top-selling agent in Hawaii and among the Top 10 in the nation at the brokerage. Aside from entrepreneurs, Charles, a veteran's wife, is working wonders in guiding military families to find new homes too.
"I basically helped people buy houses using their VA loan. It allowed them to buy a million-dollar house at zero down. Military families often do not know the advantage they have in this brutal market," said Charles. "Many local families, unfortunately, never save up enough to afford their needed down payment, and with Hawaii's lowest property taxes in the nation, it makes it a prime investment."
Her ideal clientele consists of entrepreneurs who typically own multiple properties and are looking to buy in Oahu, Hawaii. She offers services with a friendly demeanor, heart, and in spending time with each-and-every client to get to know them on a personal level.
Overcoming Adversity
The path traveled was certainly not kind to Charles, who endured much heartache and hardships, including battling an opioid dependence and poverty, to achieve what she has today. The key to finding her success is attributed to her honing in on her skills and work ethic to fight through.
"There are so many transferable skills learned when you have to work hard and hustle. You learn to be resilient and put in the effort to be successful," Charles said. "I want people to know there's hope out there, especially if they were an addict. You do not have to be a statistic. You can still have an amazing life."
At just 18 years old, Charles found herself homeless, nearly broke and with no support from family or friends. She used everything she had to fly to Hawaii, bet on herself and even attended college at Hawaii Pacific University, on scholarship.
But the journey wasn't all that simple.
Charles grew up in Janesville, WI, and suffered through opioid dependence at 12 years old, though still managed to graduate high school with honors and having to skip school on occasion to make money to help her mother pay rent. After finding therapy for her opioid dependence and getting clean, for which she has now gone well over a decade, she met her husband, a Navy veteran.
Supporting their family in Hawaii with a military pension, Kelsey dropped out of college. She started driving for Uber to make ends meet, sometimes just to make $5 so she could help feed her family. She was also suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, thus further complicating her life. That is when she decided to pursue her real estate license, enrolling in a pre-licensing course, and setting the groundwork to become what she is today, an incredibly successful millennial real estate businesswoman with an entrepreneurial spirit.
"The vast majority of people leave the real estate profession in their first few years and never really make a sustainable income," said Charles. "I knew that I was just going to find a way to do it. I just gambled on myself, hoping that I could figure it out."
Charles is primed for a breakout 2022 with goals like earning her broker's license, diversifying her clientele, and helping Real Broker, LLC continue to grow. All the while, she also has plans to assist with the housing shortage in Oahu via property rehabilitation initiatives.
About Kelsey Charles, CRS, MRP, CLHMS
Kelsey Charles works with veterans and second-home clients to buy and sell homes in Hawaii. Since becoming a real estate agent in 2019, she has sold over $60 million worth of lucrative real estate investments. For more please visit her website, https://kelseyhawaii.com/