Isn’t she just adorable? We love Mindy Niehaus, a go-getting Realtor with Nathan Grace Real Estate, because not only is she absolutely lovely on the outside (just look at that hair!) but she’s a real beauty on the inside, too. Mindy learned about the real estate business from the best teacher there is: her mother. She took that drive and ingenuity from her time in fashion and her patience from her time as a teacher and became a Realtor that is scoring referrals like good deals during a sale at Nordstrom’s.
Not only that, but she has a killer sense of humor; it’s a trait almost required of Realtors nowadays. In that way, she reminds us a lot of Jeff Lindigrin at Great Western Home Loans. What has your lender done for you lately? See what you’re missing by calling Jeff Lindigrin at Great Western Home Loans today.
Jump to get the scoop on Oklahoma transplant Mindy Niehaus and what she loves about North Texas!
daltxrealestate.com: So, where are you from?
Mindy Niehaus: I come from the friendly country just north of here: Oklahoma! I went to Oklahoma State and go back home to Tulsa every now and then, but I LOVE living in Dallas and being a Texan! There is just a spirit here that is hard to explain. Or perhaps it’s just Whataburger?!
CD: So, how did you get into real estate? What’s your specialty?
MN: My mother is a real estate agent back home and I always enjoy talking to her about all her crazy deals. After realizing I wasn’t cut out for the fashion industry, nor a teacher, real estate was a natural fit and has been the best career decision I’ve made!
Since I live and breathe East Dallas, most of my business comes from there. However I don’t limit myself to any one area; I just recently put a house on the market in McKinney and have a buyer who just put a contract on a house in Trophy Club. I’ll go where ever the clients need me and I love learning about areas outside of my comfort zone and seeing what makes them unique!
CD: How do you stay sharp in a challenging market?
MN: Great question! It’s a mix between working hard, continuing to learn, and enjoying the challenge. I attend a lot of real estate classes, weekly area MLS meetings and tours to stay active in the industry, and I am constantly reading articles on daltxrealestate.com to stay up-to-date on the market. While it can be challenging, I really enjoy my career, so the challenge makes it fun!
CD: Where is home for you in Dallas?
MN: I’m in the Lake Highlands area of Dallas. I am just 5 to 10 minutes away from everything – NorthPark Mall, White Rock Lake, Park Lane, Central Market, and more! I do wish Lake Highlands had more to offer inside the hood. I can only do Mi Cocina and Neighbors so many times!
CD: And you drive a … let me guess, Range Rover?
MN: Yea I definitely keep one of those in the garage. But my daily driver is a Lexus RX330. I bought it from my mom and it has a low 179,000 miles and is still going strong. It’s been a great car and will probably drive as long as I can.
CD: What’s your favorite ‘hood in Dallas and why?
MN: I love where we are in Lake Highlands! I adore the wide range styles of houses in East Dallas, from the historic M Streets, mid-century moderns, and craftsman homes, as well as new builds. And honestly, anywhere that has amazing restaurants and shopping, friendly neighbors, and a great dog park is my kind of area!
CD: What was your best/highest sale?
MN: My best deal was for a buyer on a mid-century modern home in Lochwood earlier this year. While it was very well maintained, it was primarily in original condition. It sat on the market for 6-plus months and the price had been lowered numerous times! However, it provided so much unique character and my buyer realized it was the perfect home for her and her family.
CD: Likewise, what was your most challenging or memorable transaction?
MN: Dealing with a big bank. Need I say more?
CD: Tell us: What was the most interesting thing to happen to you while working with a client?
MN: I had a client who wanted to sell her beautiful house in Lake Highlands, however the A/C was broke and my seller did not have the means to get it fixed prior to listing or for repairs. A bit later I am on the phone with my coach and she says “What?! You can’t sell a home that doesn’t have A/C in Texas?!” We got an offer over list price just 2 days on the market.
CD: How quickly have you ever turned a house?
MN: I am still awaiting the amazing cash buyer! But my listings haven’t sat on the market more than a week on average without an offer
CD: How much did you sell last year?
MN: Enough to feed my family and pay my mortgage! Hallelujah! And by family I mean my husband and English Setter pup.
CD: What words of wisdom do you often share with clients?
MN: I usually tell my sellers that once the inspection report gets back, everything will be OK. There is still a deal to be made. Please do not act as if the roof is caving in (unless the inspection says the actual roof is caving in). We will take the items into account and negotiate a fair offer given any findings. All homes have their issues and it’s just a process that we have to work through!
CD: If you ever change careers for an encore you’ll…
MN: … be an interior designer! It’s part of the reason why I’m a Realtor in the first place. I enjoy touring homes and coming up with designs that I see fit for a space. And it’s great that I can use that passion to provide design inspiration to my clients. At times I have thought about having a small staging business, which would allow me to branch out a bit more. However, my plate is quite full as-is with the fast real estate market, so maybe I’ll hang on to that idea for awhile.
CD: Do you have a second home? If so, where?
MN: No. But I did just buy a second pair of jeans. So I’m getting there.
