by Rick Mauch
daltxrealestate.com Contributor
As a receptionist, Kali Polk welcomed a career in real estate with open arms — and open houses.
During a career change, Polk became a receptionist at a title company. She thought it would be a temporary position, but soon found she loved the work.
“After three months of working as a receptionist, I fell in love with the fast-paced, problem-solving industry the title business provided,” she said. “I felt God’s call to serve in an area that requires customer service, attention to detail, and patience during stressful seasons of people’s lives.”
Polk is an escrow officer in Granbury. Originally from Fort Worth, she moved there in 2014 when she met her husband.
She has a master’s degree in sports management and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. However, she just wasn’t passionate about either of those choices, she said.
“Before coming to the title industry, I was a high school teacher. Since I am a people person, the switch to an escrow office was a perfect fit,” she said.
An escrow officer helps facilitate the closing process of a real estate purchase. From clearing up titles to facilitating signatures to distributing funds, an escrow officer is an instrumental third party for a smooth transaction for the seller, buyer, and lender.
Polk said she believes the biggest challenge in the industry today is inventory versus consumers.
“In today’s economy, the houses that were affordable five to 10 years ago now have mortgage payments out of reach for middle-class individuals/families looking to purchase,” she said. “Therefore, there is a shortage of affordable houses when comparing debt-to-income ratio.”
She does believe Granbury has an advantage in the real estate market, however.
“While it is a great place to raise a family, we also see a lot of people investing in short-term and long-term rentals, or purchasing their second homes. Most purchasers are established and can keep up with the industry’s financial demands,” she said.
Polk noted the processes done in her line of work can come with many different emotions from the clients. For example, sometimes, it’s an exciting time for young first-time home buyers, and other times it’s reluctance to let go of a house or property that has been in a family for years.
“No matter the circumstance, we are called to give others mercy as God gives us, even during difficulty. I enjoy being someone people can trust, someone people feel comfortable coming to with questions and being able to offer solutions to problems that are within our control,” she said. “I love serving my community in all seasons of life and strive to make every transaction as smooth and enjoyable as possible.”
And when she’s not working, her hobbies include riding dirt bikes, playing softball, and attending car shows with her beloved 1982 El Camino.
