Jenelle McColm shares her journey from San Diego real estate assistant to Utah agent. Learn about mortgage education, first-time homebuyer programs, and real estate investing.
Jenelle McColm Real Estate Boot Camp & Homeownership | From Rents to Roots
Jenelle McColm shares her journey from San Diego real estate assistant to Utah agent. Learn about mortgage education, first-time homebuyer programs, and real estate investing.
From Real Estate Boot Camp to Building Roots: How Jenelle McColm Is Turning Early Career Grit Into Long-Term Homeownership and Wealth
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Episode Overview
Guest Name
Occupation & Background
Life Stage Discussed
Homeownership Stage
Primary Topics Discussed
Key Takeaways
The Journey: From Highland to San Diego and Back
Real Estate Boot Camp in San Diego
A Father's Legacy of Leverage
The Instagram Deal
Managing 100+ Commercial Tenants
The Rocket Mortgage Rescue
Surviving the COVID Market Spike
Homeownership & Financial Insights
Down Payment Myths
Interest Rate Strategy
Investing Before You Own
The Power of Commercial Cash Flow
Lender Vetting
Market Cycles & Patience
Life Lessons & Core Themes
Memorable Quotes
Related Episodes & Topics
Photo & Visual Suggestions
Full Transcript
Janelle McColm Real Estate Boot Camp Utah Homeownership First-Time Buyer | From Rents to Roots Podcast
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Growing up with a Utah developer father, training under a former Navy SEAL agent in San Diego, and closing her first deal from an Instagram DM — Jenelle shares why real estate investing isn't just for seasoned professionals, and how young people can start building stability today.
Work Hard Mortgage helps families achieve the dream of homeownership in Utah. Get pre-qualified and understand your down payment options.
In this episode of From Rents to Roots , host Ryan Harding sits down with Jenelle McColm , a Utah real estate agent, property manager, and social media marketer whose journey into homeownership and wealth-building started long before she ever held a license. Growing up in Highland, Utah, with a father who built a career in real estate development, Jenelle learned early that property creates stability, financial growth, and long-term opportunity . Her path — from social media marketing student to San Diego real estate assistant, to Utah property manager and licensed agent — proves that young professionals can build roots in the real estate world even before buying their first home.
Jenelle's story resonates deeply with first-time buyers , aspiring investors , and anyone who has ever felt intimidated by the Utah housing market . She shares hard-won lessons about mortgage education , navigating rising interest rates, building a personal brand, and overcoming the fear that stops so many people from investing or managing property. Through her experiences in both residential and commercial real estate, she highlights how building roots through ownership can create the kind of long-term stability that transforms family finances for generations.
Whether you are renting and dreaming of your first home, trying to improve your credit, or simply looking for proof that homeownership is possible even in a competitive market, this episode offers both practical guidance and genuine hope. Jenelle's message is simple but powerful: real estate investing isn't just for seasoned adults. It's accessible to young people, new professionals, and anyone willing to learn, stay consistent, and take the first step toward creating stability for their future.
Watch the full conversation to hear the complete story, lessons learned, and practical insights from this homeownership journey. Prefer to listen? This episode is also available on <a href="https: <a href="https:
Jenelle McColm
Real estate agent, property manager, social media marketing graduate; daughter of a Utah real estate developer
Early career professional building her foundation in real estate
Aspiring first-time buyer; active real estate agent; property manager; early-stage investor mindset
After earning her degree in social media marketing, Jenelle moved to San Diego and became an assistant to a high-performing real estate agent — a former Navy SEAL who grossed nearly a million dollars in commissions the previous year. She describes the experience as "real estate boot camp training" because of how demanding and intensive it was. That season taught her more about discipline, hustle, and professional standards than any classroom could. It also gave her a firsthand look at what peak performance looks like in a competitive market, setting a benchmark she still carries today.
Growing up in Highland, Utah, Jenelle watched her father build a career as a real estate developer — starting as a leasing agent and eventually constructing 40,000-square-foot commercial warehouses. His core philosophy shaped her worldview: leverage yourself in real estate. He taught her that unlike a franchise or retail business, real estate doesn't require you to unlock the doors at 8 a.m. and lock them at 5 p.m. Your "money odometer is going up every single day, 24/7." Even when you're lying on the beach, your investments are gaining equity and collecting rents. That mindset planted the seed for her future as an investor.
Jenelle's commitment to social media consistency paid off in a tangible way when a friend reached out after seeing her real estate content online. That conversation turned into her first closed deal. Another moment confirmed the power of personal branding: while walking through the Parade of Homes, a stranger approached her by name, recognizing her solely from Instagram. These moments validated what her marketing degree had taught her — people don't like to be sold; they like to know you as a person.
Back in Utah, Jenelle works part-time as a property manager for her father's commercial buildings in Utah County, overseeing more than 100 business tenants. The role has taught her that there's always a problem to be solved — whether it's an HVAC issue, a repair request, or a lease question. She admits that many people shy away from investing because they fear maintenance, but her experience has taught her that "everything is figureoutable." With YouTube tutorials, reliable contractors, and a willingness to learn, property management becomes far less intimidating than it appears from the outside.
Jenelle shares a cautionary story about a client who was ready to buy but received a discouraging rate from Rocket Mortgage. The rate was so high that the client was about to walk away from homeownership entirely. Jenelle referred him to a trusted local lender, and the client secured a much better rate that made the purchase possible. He bought the property and stopped paying rent. The lesson? The right lender partnership doesn't just save money — it can be the difference between renting for another year and building equity today.
Jenelle witnessed the market shift almost overnight. She recalls listing a luxury home in Daybreak in May, only to watch the market turn days later. The experience taught her that real estate is cyclical and that adaptability is essential. "You've got to shift with the market," she says. Whether you're a buyer, seller, or agent, clinging to yesterday's market conditions leads to frustration. Success belongs to those who study current comparables, adjust pricing strategies, and stay optimistic even when headlines feel bleak.
This episode delivers practical, actionable education for anyone exploring homeownership in Utah , preparing to buy their first home, or considering real estate as a wealth-building vehicle. Here are the core financial concepts Jenelle emphasizes:
One of the most persistent myths Jenelle encounters is the belief that you need 20% down to purchase a home. She repeatedly clarifies that programs exist for 0%, 3%, and 5% down. For many first-time buyers in Utah, these programs are the bridge between renting and owning — and waiting to save a full 20% often means missing out on years of equity growth and rising prices.
Rising interest rates have cooled competition, which actually benefits prepared buyers. Jenelle notes that with fewer bidding wars and more inventory, buyers can now write offers without the extreme escalation clauses that defined the COVID era. The key is to get pre-qualified, understand your monthly payment comfort zone, and act decisively rather than waiting for a perfect rate that may never arrive.
Jenelle proves that you don't need to own your primary residence to start building real estate wealth. By working in property management, assisting top agents, and studying her father's development projects, she has built a foundation of knowledge and income that will make her first purchase far more strategic than a purely emotional decision.
Through managing her father's commercial properties, Jenelle has seen how diversified real estate — warehouses, retail spaces, and multi-unit buildings — creates multiple streams of rental income. Commercial tenants often sign longer leases and maintain their own interiors, reducing some of the turnover costs associated with residential rentals.
Not all lenders offer the same rates, fees, or communication styles. Jenelle's story about the client who nearly lost a deal because of a national online lender underscores the value of local mortgage professionals who understand Utah's market and can move quickly when deadlines are tight.
Real estate wealth is built over decades, not months. Jenelle's father built slowly, project by project, teaching her that "get rich slowly" through real estate is more reliable than chasing quick flips or trendy investments. The equity curve rewards those who hold quality assets through multiple market cycles.
Beyond the transaction details and market data, Jenelle's story is rooted in universal values that apply to anyone pursuing a better life through discipline and intentional choices:
This episode connects to the broader From Rents to Roots archive. Explore these related stories to deepen your understanding of homeownership, investing, and financial growth in Utah:
To enhance this homeownership profile and make it even more engaging for readers, consider adding these visual elements:
Chapter 1: Intro
Ryan Harding: Welcome everybody to the Work Hard Play Hard podcast. I am your host Ryan Harding and today I am here with Jenelle McComb and we are here to talk about some real estate and talk about her and her business and stuff like that. So let's jump right in. Jenelle, tell us about yourself.
Chapter 2: Tell Us About Yourself
Jenelle McColm: Okay, well I grew up in Highland, Utah. I got my degree in social media marketing and shortly after graduating I moved out to San Diego, California. I became an assistant to a real estate agent and got my start in real estate there. I grew up with my dad in real estate so that's kind of where I've decided to get into real estate because he's a good coach and everything.
Ryan Harding: So yeah, he already got a foot in the door, right?
Jenelle McColm: Yeah, a great foot in the door. He's a developer but he started out as a leasing agent so he's kind of got his thing. Yeah, so I became an assistant and that was a ton of fun. The agent that I was with, he's a former Navy SEAL and he was a baller. I think he grossed almost a million in real estate commissions last year in San Diego. He was crushing it and so I learned a lot from him. I always say that I went through real estate boot camp training because he was pretty tough. But yeah, so then I moved back here to Utah and got into property management and so I do that part-time and I'm a real estate agent. Got my license in September so I'm a real estate agent now and I love it. It's fun. It's a great industry to be in.
Ryan Harding: So why did you want to choose real estate? I mean obviously dad and stuff like that, just kind of seeing your dad doing it and you're like, I kind of like that?
Jenelle McColm: Yeah, so I really wanted to encompass three of my favorite hobbies and passions. One is photography and I wanted to get into being a real estate photographer. Two is interior design, that goes along with staging. And three, I really like meeting people. I just love making friends. I've always been somebody who makes friends and goes to parties and things. Being social is definitely something in real estate so that's what I like.
Ryan Harding: Definitely important. Yeah, you got to meet a lot of different people and stuff like that. And you said social media marketing, so how was that? Obviously it seems kind of important. This podcast is a lot on social media and stuff like that. How have you taken some of those things you've learned from that degree? Was that degree helpful, or is it something that you just learned already doing it on your phone yourself? Was there actually good application in that degree?
Jenelle McColm: No, there was a ton of great application. I loved the school that I went to. I went to LDS Business College which is now known as Ensign College and I could talk about that school all day because it was awesome and the teachers were great. A lot of the things that I learned about social media marketing is one, being very consistent, and two, having a brand, and three, being genuine and being yourself. People don't like to be sold, they like to know you as a person, so just having your own voice on social media. I learned a lot from the classes and applied those into my own account and I love it. It's fun.
Ryan Harding: And you've done a lot on social media, right? I mean you're pretty consistent, you have a voice, you're applying the things you've learned and stuff like that.
Jenelle McColm: Yeah, so yeah.
Chapter 3: How Social Media Helps
Ryan Harding: Obviously you're just starting off so you probably don't have a lot of data, but would you say it's helping to get your name out there to your friends and family and stuff like that?
Jenelle McColm: Yeah, that's why I started it. I kind of wanted to be on social media so my friends are like, oh yeah Jenelle is in real estate, Jenelle in real estate, and connecting me with real estate based off my page. It's helped a lot. I've had lots of friends reach out like, hey I know you're in real estate, can you help me out? I just closed a deal with a friend who said that through my Instagram which was awesome. I was walking through the Parade of Homes a couple weeks ago and this guy comes up to me, he's like Jenelle, and I'm like do I know you? He's like I see you on Instagram. I'm like oh that's so cool. There's traction there.
Ryan Harding: Okay, it's working, it's working, that's good. Well okay, so tell us about as an agent, having success and stuff like that, what would you say makes a successful agent right now especially in this market?
Chapter 4: What Makes a Successful Agent
Jenelle McColm: Oh my gosh. The biggest thing I feel like to be successful is one, having a good mindset and a great attitude. If you're just like oh ho hum the market's awful, people aren't going to want to buy or sell. You got to look at the positive of the market and show people the numbers. This market is shifting but this is awesome for buyers because you can get your offer accepted. Always finding the positive in the market and having a good attitude about real estate and showing that off to people. That's huge for me and success as a real estate agent. Also having a strong mindset. It's hard. This industry is extremely difficult, it is cutthroat, competitive, and just being out there you just gotta have a good mindset and be passionate. I'm very passionate about real estate, I love it, so it's a lot of fun and it can be fun if you make it fun. Just being passionate, have a good mindset, love it.
Ryan Harding: Well and you know that'll be what separates as this market turns and it makes it harder to sell real estate, harder to buy real estate, the ones that last are the ones that are probably passionate about it, right? Able to work hard and really get through this hard time or at least challenging time.
Chapter 5: Real Estate as an Investment
Ryan Harding: So tell us about your thoughts on real estate as an investment. Do you like real estate as an investment? I'm guessing in your own life maybe haven't bought a home yet or anything like that?
Jenelle McColm: It's a fantastic investment. With growing up in real estate with my dad, he's in his mindset and his career it's always been leverage yourself in real estate. He's always told me like Jenelle, stick with real estate. You're gonna want to go off and buy franchises and those are great too, but it's like he's always like focus with real estate because at the end of the day you want an investment that you don't have to unlock the doors at eight or nine a.m. and have to close them at 5 p.m. Real estate you buy, it's always paying you. Your money odometer is going up every single day 24/7. Even if you're lying on the beach, your real estate investments are gaining equity and you could be collecting rents. That's kind of what I was taught growing up. Leveraging yourself in real estate is a fantastic investment and you don't have to focus just on residential properties, you can also branch out to commercial properties and duplexes, multi-units. Just always leveraging your money in real estate, it's a fantastic investment.
Ryan Harding: Well I 100% agree with that. Whenever I look at other businesses and stuff like that I think about how much time it's going to take for me to run that business versus hey I'll go buy an investment property and I can make X amount of dollars on that. Real estate does tend to, I agree with that, that money odometer, I like that. It's always picking up.
Chapter 6: Real Estate as a Business
Ryan Harding: Well okay, so shifting gears a little bit to your own business, how are you able to show clients that you care?
Jenelle McColm: That's a great question. I honestly love working with my clients and the one thing I show them that I care is always being communicative with them, always talking to them, calling them, texting them. I feel like if you go radio silent on your clients, they will feel like you don't care even if you might care, they just don't see that. Always keeping in contact with them is one of my biggest things, seeing how they're doing, asking them questions. There's always a problem that they want solved and I want to be there to help them solve that problem. Communication.
Ryan Harding: Okay, and what's one of the hardest things about being an agent?
Chapter 7: Rejection
Jenelle McColm: Rejection, that's huge. That happens a lot and it's fine. Just let the water run off your back sort of thing, move on to somebody who isn't going to reject you. Rejection is hard.
Ryan Harding: Right, no I was good, I would have been a good realtor for you.
Chapter 8: Market Update
Ryan Harding: What about the market right now? We kind of talked in the beginning about how it's a little bit challenging. What advice do you have for people with this market right now?
Jenelle McColm: It's shifting for sure. We're seeing more inventory going up but staying on the market. Days on market is up to 17 days in Utah County. It's gone up but 17 days, it's not that long, it's still really quick. I feel like you can look at a lot of the cons of the shifting market but there's so many more pros to it. With interest rates going up it's causing less buyers to be able to buy, but there are buyers that are still able to buy and they can buy the house that they want, their dream home, because there won't be a billion offers on it. It's not going to be over asking price of X amount. You're generally going to be able to get what you want when you want it right now.
Ryan Harding: So it's a little bit easier for buyers maybe than it was a couple months ago?
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- Details Episode Overview Guest Name Jenelle McColm Occupation & Background Real estate agent, property manager, social media marketing graduate; daughter of a Utah real estate developer Life Stage Discussed Early career professional building her foundation in real estate Homeownership Stage Aspiring first-time buyer; active real estate agent; property manager; early-stage investor mindset Primary Topics Discussed Highlights Key Takeaways Stories The Journey: From Highland to San Diego and Back Real Estate Boot Camp in San Diego After earning her degree in social media marketing, Jenelle moved to San Diego and became an assistant to a high-performing real estate agent — a former Navy SEAL who grossed nearly a million dollars in commissions the previous year. She describes the experience as "real estate boot camp training" because of how demanding and intensive it was. That season taught her more about discipline, hustle, and professional standards than any classroom could. It also gave her a firsthand look at what peak performance looks like in a competitive market, setting a benchmark she still carries today. A Father's Legacy of Leverage Growing up in Highland, Utah, Jenelle watched her father build a career as a real estate developer — starting as a leasing agent and eventually constructing 40,000-square-foot commercial warehouses. His core philosophy shaped her worldview: leverage yourself in real estate. He taught her that unlike a franchise or retail business, real estate doesn't require you to unlock the doors at 8 a.m. and lock them at 5 p.m. Your "money odometer is going up every single day, 24/7." Even when you're lying on the beach, your investments are gaining equity and collecting rents. That mindset planted the seed for her future as an investor. The Instagram Deal Jenelle's commitment to social media consistency paid off in a tangible way when a friend reached out after seeing her real estate content online. That conversation turned into her first closed deal. Another moment confirmed the power of personal branding: while walking through the Parade of Homes, a stranger approached her by name, recognizing her solely from Instagram. These moments validated what her marketing degree had taught her — people don't like to be sold; they like to know you as a person. Managing 100+ Commercial Tenants Back in Utah, Jenelle works part-time as a property manager for her father's commercial buildings in Utah County, overseeing more than 100 business tenants. The role has taught her that there's always a problem to be solved — whether it's an HVAC issue, a repair request, or a lease question. She admits that many people shy away from investing because they fear maintenance, but her experience has taught her that "everything is figureoutable." With YouTube tutorials, reliable contractors, and a willingness to learn, property management becomes far less intimidating than it appears from the outside. The Rocket Mortgage Rescue Jenelle shares a cautionary story about a client who was ready to buy but received a discouraging rate from Rocket Mortgage. The rate was so high that the client was about to walk away from homeownership entirely. Jenelle referred him to a trusted local lender, and the client secured a much better rate that made the purchase possible. He bought the property and stopped paying rent. The lesson? The right lender partnership doesn't just save money — it can be the difference between renting for another year and building equity today. Surviving the COVID Market Spike Jenelle witnessed the market shift almost overnight. She recalls listing a luxury home in Daybreak in May, only to watch the market turn days later. The experience taught her that real estate is cyclical and that adaptability is essential. "You've got to shift with the market," she says. Whether you're a buyer, seller, or agent, clinging to yesterday's market conditions leads to frustration. Success belongs to those who study current comparables, adjust pricing strategies, and stay optimistic even when headlines feel bleak. Education Homeownership & Financial Insights This episode delivers practical, actionable education for anyone exploring homeownership in Utah , preparing to buy their first home, or considering real estate as a wealth-building vehicle. Here are the core financial concepts Jenelle emphasizes: Down Payment Myths One of the most persistent myths Jenelle encounters is the belief that you need 20% down to purchase a home. She repeatedly clarifies that programs exist for 0%, 3%, and 5% down. For many first-time buyers in Utah, these programs are the bridge between renting and owning — and waiting to save a full 20% often means missing out on years of equity growth and rising prices. Interest Rate Strategy Rising interest rates have cooled competition, which actually benefits prepared buyers. Jenelle notes that with fewer bidding wars and more inventory, buyers can now write offers without the extreme escalation clauses that defined the COVID era. The key is to get pre-qualified, understand your monthly payment comfort zone, and act decisively rather than waiting for a perfect rate that may never arrive. Investing Before You Own Jenelle proves that you don't need to own your primary residence to start building real estate wealth. By working in property management, assisting top agents, and studying her father's development projects, she has built a foundation of knowledge and income that will make her first purchase far more strategic than a purely emotional decision. The Power of Commercial Cash Flow Through managing her father's commercial properties, Jenelle has seen how diversified real estate — warehouses, retail spaces, and multi-unit buildings — creates multiple streams of rental income. Commercial tenants often sign longer leases and maintain their own interiors, reducing some of the turnover costs associated with residential rentals. Lender Vetting Not all lenders offer the same rates, fees, or communication styles. Jenelle's story about the client who nearly lost a deal because of a national online lender underscores the value of local mortgage professionals who understand Utah's market and can move quickly when deadlines are tight. Market Cycles & Patience Real estate wealth is built over decades, not months. Jenelle's father built slowly, project by project, teaching her that "get rich slowly" through real estate is more reliable than chasing quick flips or trendy investments. The equity curve rewards those who hold quality assets through multiple market cycles. Themes Life Lessons & Core Themes Beyond the transaction details and market data, Jenelle's story is rooted in universal values that apply to anyone pursuing a better life through discipline and intentional choices: Quotes Memorable Quotes Explore Related Episodes & Topics This episode connects to the broader From Rents to Roots archive. Explore these related stories to deepen your understanding of homeownership, investing, and financial growth in Utah: Visual Archive Photo & Visual Suggestions To enhance this homeownership profile and make it even more engaging for readers, consider adding these visual elements: Transcript Full Transcript Chapter 1: Intro Ryan Harding: Welcome everybody to the Work Hard Play Hard podcast. I am your host Ryan Harding and today I am here with Jenelle McComb and we are here to talk about some real estate and talk about her and her business and stuff like that. So let's jump right in. Jenelle, tell us about yourself. Chapter 2: Tell Us About Yourself Jenelle McColm: Okay, well I grew up in Highland, Utah. I got my degree in social media marketing and shortly after graduating I moved out to San Diego, California. I became an assistant to a real estate agent and got my start in real estate there. I grew up with my dad in real estate so that's kind of where I've decided to get into real estate because he's a good coach and everything. Ryan Harding: So yeah, he already got a foot in the door, right? Jenelle McColm: Yeah, a great foot in the door. He's a developer but he started out as a leasing agent so he's kind of got his thing. Yeah, so I became an assistant and that was a ton of fun. The agent that I was with, he's a former Navy SEAL and he was a baller. I think he grossed almost a million in real estate commissions last year in San Diego. He was crushing it and so I learned a lot from him. I always say that I went through real estate boot camp training because he was pretty tough. But yeah, so then I moved back here to Utah and got into property management and so I do that part-time and I'm a real estate agent. Got my license in September so I'm a real estate agent now and I love it. It's fun. It's a great industry to be in. Ryan Harding: So why did you want to choose real estate? I mean obviously dad and stuff like that, just kind of seeing your dad doing it and you're like, I kind of like that? Jenelle McColm: Yeah, so I really wanted to encompass three of my favorite hobbies and passions. One is photography and I wanted to get into being a real estate photographer. Two is interior design, that goes along with staging. And three, I really like meeting people. I just love making friends. I've always been somebody who makes friends and goes to parties and things. Being social is definitely something in real estate so that's what I like. Ryan Harding: Definitely important. Yeah, you got to meet a lot of different people and stuff like that. And you said social media marketing, so how was that? Obviously it seems kind of important. This podcast is a lot on social media and stuff like that. How have you taken some of those things you've learned from that degree? Was that degree helpful, or is it something that you just learned already doing it on your phone yourself? Was there actually good application in that degree? Jenelle McColm: No, there was a ton of great application. I loved the school that I went to. I went to LDS Business College which is now known as Ensign College and I could talk about that school all day because it was awesome and the teachers were great. A lot of the things that I learned about social media marketing is one, being very consistent, and two, having a brand, and three, being genuine and being yourself. People don't like to be sold, they like to know you as a person, so just having your own voice on social media. I learned a lot from the classes and applied those into my own account and I love it. It's fun. Ryan Harding: And you've done a lot on social media, right? I mean you're pretty consistent, you have a voice, you're applying the things you've learned and stuff like that. Jenelle McColm: Yeah, so yeah. Chapter 3: How Social Media Helps Ryan Harding: Obviously you're just starting off so you probably don't have a lot of data, but would you say it's helping to get your name out there to your friends and family and stuff like that? Jenelle McColm: Yeah, that's why I started it. I kind of wanted to be on social media so my friends are like, oh yeah Jenelle is in real estate, Jenelle in real estate, and connecting me with real estate based off my page. It's helped a lot. I've had lots of friends reach out like, hey I know you're in real estate, can you help me out? I just closed a deal with a friend who said that through my Instagram which was awesome. I was walking through the Parade of Homes a couple weeks ago and this guy comes up to me, he's like Jenelle, and I'm like do I know you? He's like I see you on Instagram. I'm like oh that's so cool. There's traction there. Ryan Harding: Okay, it's working, it's working, that's good. Well okay, so tell us about as an agent, having success and stuff like that, what would you say makes a successful agent right now especially in this market? Chapter 4: What Makes a Successful Agent Jenelle McColm: Oh my gosh. The biggest thing I feel like to be successful is one, having a good mindset and a great attitude. If you're just like oh ho hum the market's awful, people aren't going to want to buy or sell. You got to look at the positive of the market and show people the numbers. This market is shifting but this is awesome for buyers because you can get your offer accepted. Always finding the positive in the market and having a good attitude about real estate and showing that off to people. That's huge for me and success as a real estate agent. Also having a strong mindset. It's hard. This industry is extremely difficult, it is cutthroat, competitive, and just being out there you just gotta have a good mindset and be passionate. I'm very passionate about real estate, I love it, so it's a lot of fun and it can be fun if you make it fun. Just being passionate, have a good mindset, love it. Ryan Harding: Well and you know that'll be what separates as this market turns and it makes it harder to sell real estate, harder to buy real estate, the ones that last are the ones that are probably passionate about it, right? Able to work hard and really get through this hard time or at least challenging time. Chapter 5: Real Estate as an Investment Ryan Harding: So tell us about your thoughts on real estate as an investment. Do you like real estate as an investment? I'm guessing in your own life maybe haven't bought a home yet or anything like that? Jenelle McColm: It's a fantastic investment. With growing up in real estate with my dad, he's in his mindset and his career it's always been leverage yourself in real estate. He's always told me like Jenelle, stick with real estate. You're gonna want to go off and buy franchises and those are great too, but it's like he's always like focus with real estate because at the end of the day you want an investment that you don't have to unlock the doors at eight or nine a.m. and have to close them at 5 p.m. Real estate you buy, it's always paying you. Your money odometer is going up every single day 24/7. Even if you're lying on the beach, your real estate investments are gaining equity and you could be collecting rents. That's kind of what I was taught growing up. Leveraging yourself in real estate is a fantastic investment and you don't have to focus just on residential properties, you can also branch out to commercial properties and duplexes, multi-units. Just always leveraging your money in real estate, it's a fantastic investment. Ryan Harding: Well I 100% agree with that. Whenever I look at other businesses and stuff like that I think about how much time it's going to take for me to run that business versus hey I'll go buy an investment property and I can make X amount of dollars on that. Real estate does tend to, I agree with that, that money odometer, I like that. It's always picking up. Chapter 6: Real Estate as a Business Ryan Harding: Well okay, so shifting gears a little bit to your own business, how are you able to show clients that you care? Jenelle McColm: That's a great question. I honestly love working with my clients and the one thing I show them that I care is always being communicative with them, always talking to them, calling them, texting them. I feel like if you go radio silent on your clients, they will feel like you don't care even if you might care, they just don't see that. Always keeping in contact with them is one of my biggest things, seeing how they're doing, asking them questions. There's always a problem that they want solved and I want to be there to help them solve that problem. Communication. Ryan Harding: Okay, and what's one of the hardest things about being an agent? Chapter 7: Rejection Jenelle McColm: Rejection, that's huge. That happens a lot and it's fine. Just let the water run off your back sort of thing, move on to somebody who isn't going to reject you. Rejection is hard. Ryan Harding: Right, no I was good, I would have been a good realtor for you. Chapter 8: Market Update Ryan Harding: What about the market right now? We kind of talked in the beginning about how it's a little bit challenging. What advice do you have for people with this market right now? Jenelle McColm: It's shifting for sure. We're seeing more inventory going up but staying on the market. Days on market is up to 17 days in Utah County. It's gone up but 17 days, it's not that long, it's still really quick. I feel like you can look at a lot of the cons of the shifting market but there's so many more pros to it. With interest rates going up it's causing less buyers to be able to buy, but there are buyers that are still able to buy and they can buy the house that they want, their dream home, because there won't be a billion offers on it. It's not going to be over asking price of X amount. You're generally going to be able to get what you want when you want it right now. Ryan Harding: So it's a little bit easier for buyers maybe than it was a couple months ago? Jenelle McColm: Oh totally. Ryan Harding: What about for listings then? Chapter 9: Listing Update Jenelle McColm: Listings are different. It depends on which part of the market you're looking at. If you're looking at luxury, you're going to be sitting. I have a listing in Daybreak that is over a million and we've been sitting for two months. That's just the way the market shifted. Back in May we listed and it felt like overnight the market was like turned over. If you're looking at properties under 500, there's still multiple offers on them. It really depends on what part of the market you're looking at. Sellers are still able to sell. Looking at 17 days on market in Utah County, that's not too bad. Ryan Harding: By any other standards that would still be a pretty hot market. Jenelle McColm: Yep, definitely still a seller's market, still a solid market. One thing I'd suggest to sellers and sellers agents is don't list high. Everyone has this dollar amount in their mind of oh I can get the most amount for my house. The market shifted and you need to shift with the market. You gotta list lower than you think. Always have your real estate agent doing comparables in the area and seeing what's selling quicker and what's sitting. What I've noticed is homes are selling fast because they're lower than what their expected price is. That's the one thing I'm seeing — just list lower than your expectations. Chapter 10: Lender Pairing Ryan Harding: How important is having the right agent-lender pairing? Jenelle McColm: That is extremely important. One, you want a good agent that does their homework, always doing the comparables for the home that you're looking at because if you're buying too high, you want to make sure your appraisal is going to come back at a good price. With a good lender duo you definitely have to have a good lender because there's good synergy between a real estate agent and a lender if they work really well together. If you have a good lender that is able to give you good rates, good clientele experience, it makes the process more seamless and exciting to buy a home and not so stressful. I just had that last week. I had a client that was going to go with Rocket Mortgage and their rates were ridiculous. I was like here's a couple lenders, pick out of these ones. He ended up finding a good rate with the lender and he was super excited about it. If he'd gone with Rocket Mortgage he wouldn't have bought a property, but because he went with the right lender he was able to buy a property and get in and stop paying rent. It's very important. Chapter 11: Market Forecast Ryan Harding: What's your forecast for the market right now? You got your crystal ball? Jenelle McColm: I wish I had a crystal ball, we all do. Everyone keeps saying the market's gonna crash, it's gonna fall. Personally in my opinion, with where Utah is at in demand, I think things are going to level out but it's not going to crash. With what I've seen in the market, I think people are going to start seeing the interest rates rise and they're going to be like well I'm going to buy because I need to buy or I want to get into real estate and home prices are going to go down a little bit. They're going to be able to find that sweet spot where they'll buy, but I don't see a crash. Ryan Harding: We agree. We see a slowdown maybe, a little bit softening the market, definitely something. Chapter 12: Affordability & Waiting Ryan Harding: What are some challenges that first-time home buyers are still going to run into right now? Jenelle McColm: Affordability. I've had friends say oh I'm gonna buy when home prices drop twenty percent. I don't know if they're gonna drop twenty percent. If they continue to rise, it's going to be harder for them to be able to get pre-approved at the price that they want. If they're able to buy, buy now, because things aren't going to be very different. The only things that are going to change are probably interest rates. Ryan Harding: So waiting doesn't necessarily help them? Jenelle McColm: No, because waiting might take them out of the game, especially if you're a first time home buyer. Chapter 13: Myths Ryan Harding: Any myths that buyers or sellers believe that you hear and you're like that's not correct? Jenelle McColm: It's crazy, I get this all the time. Oh I need 20% down. People are still believing that. No, there's so many programs to help with three percent, five percent, as low as zero percent down. That's a huge myth. You do not need a full twenty percent down to purchase a home. You can still do it without it. I feel like I keep hearing that. It is funny. Ryan Harding: No, we have zero down programs, we have three percent down programs. There's other programs and stuff that you can do. Chapter 14: Social Media & Personal Brand Ryan Harding: Social media has done really well for you. Talk a little bit more about your personal brand. How are you branding yourself on that journey? Janelle McColm: I'm a big believer in personal branding and having your own brand. It helps you stand out. I love watching Ryan Serhant on YouTube. He's a real estate broker in New York City, big time. He always talks about personal brand and I've learned a lot from him. The biggest thing he always says is having your own voice. On my social media accounts, my brand is selwinell and it rhymes, there's a ring to it. I'm always on my social media and I try to get on there more with my own voice and not just the reels with the audio. You got to get on there with your own voice and talk to your audience about who you are, your values, because people hold on to that. They love that and they love it when you're real. I share my personal stuff, fun facts about me, like I'm a quadruplet. People are like that's so cool. Branding is huge and as a real estate agent, to be able to stand out from normal real estate agents you gotta have your brand. You gotta be that voice of this is who I am. I'm Janelle, I'm a real estate agent, I'm a quadruplet, and I love helping first-time homebuyers — that's my thing. I like to sell homes. Love it. That's my brand. Chapter 15: Real Estate Investing Ryan Harding: Anything else that we didn't cover that you wanted to talk about? Janelle McColm: I'm a huge advocate with teaching people about real estate investing. I don't know if we want to go more into that, but I grew up around that. My dad's a real estate developer. He's always doing a new project about every other year. He's built huge 40,000 square feet warehouse buildings. I've learned a lot about how to leverage money and be able to grow your money in real estate wealth. I work part-time as a property manager for him with his buildings here in Utah County and they're all commercial. There's over 100 tenants, all business owners. It's really cool to be a part of. The guys over at Crumbl and all the good big businesses out there. It's really fun to be in that part of the industry because I'm working with business owners and being able to help solve their problems within their own individual spaces. There's always a problem to be solved, whether it's with HVAC or whatever. A lot of people shy away from the investment side because of the management and the maintenance. My biggest thing is don't be afraid to pull up YouTube and look up how to fix things. People always say oh I can't purchase a property because I don't know how to fix a toilet. I don't know how to fix the toilet but I know who does. Plumbing companies know how to fix toilets. It's not that huge of an expense. It's way better to put your money into real estate and take that risk of gaining wealth in real estate and learn how to fix the toilet or learn who knows how to. That's a huge thing. Problem solving is one of my favorite things because I've learned throughout the last two years of being a property manager how to problem solve. Everything is figureoutable — that's Marie Forleo's thing. There's nothing that's not figureoutable. You're always able to problem-solve, you're always able to figure something out. If you don't know, then find somebody who does know. Property management and being able to own property is awesome. It's a good investment. Don't let the perceived obstacles stand in your way. There is money to be made and you're able to benefit from that. If anybody, if I can do it, anybody can do it. I learned everything through FaceTiming my dad or looking it up on YouTube. Everything's on YouTube. There are property management companies for residential rental properties. You can hire somebody. They range from eight to eleven percent or so. I'm a lot cheaper. Well, working for your dad, right? I definitely believe in real estate as an investment. Don't be afraid to take the risk of owning real estate because of something small. Makes perfect sense. Ryan Harding: Perfect. Well thanks Janelle, thanks for being on with us. I'm sure you have a bright future ahead as you're starting into this career. Expect good things ahead here for you. Thanks everybody for listening. Rate us on wherever you listen to your podcasts and subscribe to us and we'd love to see you next week. Thanks. Janelle McColm Real Estate Boot Camp Utah Homeownership First-Time Buyer | From Rents to Roots Podcast Janelle McColm shares her journey from San Diego real estate assistant to Utah agent and property manager. Learn about mortgage education, first-time homebuyer programs, social media branding, and real estate investing in Utah. Janelle McColm Utah real estate. First-time homebuyer Utah. Real estate investing beginners. Mortgage education Utah. Social media real estate leads. Property management Utah County. Low down payment programs. Utah housing market 2022. Real estate agent success tips. Homeownership journey. Building wealth through real estate. Ryan Harding From Rents to Roots. Helping families achieve the dream of homeownership in Lehi and across Utah. Work Hard Mortgage is committed to making the mortgage process simple, transparent, and accessible. Quick Links Home Episodes Be a Guest Contact Contact
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