Catherine Straughan recently left Compass Real Estate to join Vivo Realty. As a relatively new real estate agent, she said that making the change gave her more opportunities to learn and continue to grow in her new profession.
“Compass is a fantastic company and very forward-thinking in their software and marketing,” she says. “But I can’t say enough good things about Vivo.”
Among the factors that enticed her to switch affiliations were the fact that Vivo Realty is a boutique-style firm, it’s family-owned, and its agents are adept at building strong, intimate relationships. She also appreciates how co-founders Bernice Maez and her son, David Maez, are available to her and other agents at all hours of the day.
“Bernice is one in a million,” Straughan says. “Her knowledge and passion are unbelievable, and she has so much empathy. She is amazing.”
On Her Own Two Feet
Straughan hails from tiny Winnfield, Louisiana. Her husband’s career originally brought her to Texas. He passed away unexpectedly five years ago, leaving her as the sole provider for their three kids.
She worked in medical sales but wanted a career that proved a better work-life balance. Of course sometimes real estate seems like more work than her previous career, but she enjoys it immensely. So far, most of her success has happened in northern suburbs such as Frisco, McKinney, Prosper, and Celina. This is close to her home where she is often off to sporting events and other kid-related activities. It’s also allowed her to work with custom builder Jeff Pfeifer, someone she enjoys working with and learning from.
Like most agents these days, she’s constantly faced with the challenge of finding homes for her clients in a market with dwindling inventory. When she does, there’s then the even bigger challenge of making an offer that actually gets accepted. While it can be frustrating at times, Straughan says she loves what she does and is still excited to get up every morning and enjoy it.
“It’s so rewarding to help people find their dream home and make it possible,” she says. “There’s nothing better.”
