Meet Ryan Nager | Realtor | Team Lead

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ryan Nager and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ryan, how do you think about risk?
I strongly believe, as the old saying goes, ‘without risk there is little reward’. Honestly I think that plays into every single aspect of someone’s life. Heading into a career like Real Estate in 2009-2010 was undoubtably a huge risk. The industry just went through the worst financial collapse and thousands of agents were leaving the business. I had no sales experience prior to this nor had any friends or relatives in the field.

Especially since my family had no knowledge of the industry, I was encapsulated with skepticism about how big of a risk it would be to go down this path. However, it turned out to be the PERFECT time to get started as I had few expenses and minimal responsibilities at just 22 years old. I really felt I could take my time to learn not only the basics, but how to work my way up to success.

I also know from personal experiences with relationships, if you don’t “risk” putting yourself out there then there is little to no chance of reciprocity. Not only business relationships, but also personal relationships. For instance, my wife and I were acquaintances in college but never really knew each other. I always had this thought of her in my mind. It wasn’t until I decided to message her over social media years after we were no longer students. At the time, she lived 2,000 miles away, had a life on the East Coast and we both decided to take a risk in pursuing a relationship. Here we are 6 years later, married with 2 beautiful children. That would have never happened without a little risk of failure. That one leap of faith has forever changed my life, just like jumping into Real Estate in arguably the worst market we have ever seen.

There are also times where I missed out by omitting the chance to take a risk. One instance in particular comes to mind where I was presented with a business opportunity to take a significant financial risk, but the risk at the time was much greater than what I was willing to take on. There are times where the risk might not be worth it. That investment would’ve profited me 20-50X my initial investment. While these opportunities are extremely rare, I would never recommend investing in something to that magnitude without being prepared to lose some, if not all of it.

My advice is that the younger you are, the riskier you can be. You should learn and experience as much as you can in your 20’s and early 30’s to give you the ability to invest smartly for the rest of your life.

What should our readers know about your business?
Working for yourself is not for the faint of heart. Many people, especially those entering the workforce, feel like going into business for yourself will make life that much easier. No one to monitor you nor needing to clock in and out. However, I feel like that is where most entrepreneurs fail. From the very beginning I treated working for myself as a 9-5. I actually put more hours in as 2009 wasn’t the best time for our industry. I found many mentors and offered to take them to lunch in order to pick their brain. I attended trainings, webinars and never stopped asking questions. Additionally, I am a huge advocate for personal development. I wanted to be the best version of myself in order to be a better resource for my clients. I knew if I could stand out by providing value, and cultivating those relationships for years down the line, the loyalty would remain.

When I first started my journey as a team lead, I was excited to provide a form of mentorship like I had when I was starting out. I knew I wanted team members who shared the same vision as I, but also treated this like a career, not a job.  At the end of the day, our goal is to help people achieve their real estate goals but also make sure we are consistently studying the market, modes of creative finance and continuously growing to be better advisors.

I think the most important factor behind my success stemmed from “always doing the right thing”.  You can always improve your sales skills, your marketing, your lead sources, but the one thing that will grow a successful business is by having happy clients. Every transaction is different; different motives, different obstacles, different goals. If you do right by not only your client, but also colleagues within the industry, those things matter. Clients will then trust you, stay loyal and refer you, which is the ultimate goal with building the longevity of a good book of business. Being professional and fair to fellow agents applies the same way. I have been given opportunities for myself, as well as for clients, by just having positive relationships with other agents and brokers I have worked with in the past. Most importantly, I know I can rest easy at night knowing I am building an ethical and strong brand because of it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First and foremost, if I had friends visiting the Valley, especially for their first time, our first stop would be a day on the golf course. There is nothing like stepping away from the office and having quality time playing a game I love. I am a member of a country club and love taking friends and clients with me. There are so many beautiful courses in Arizona, you can’t go wrong with the endless options. While there are so many recommendations I could give on where to eat, I would highly suggest making sure to have a meal at Steak 44 or Buck and Rider in Phoenix. I have celebrated many occasions at both and they never disappoint. Lastly, as a Tempe local, I would recommend going to see a Coyotes game at Mullett Arena. The size of the arena is much smaller, which means there isn’t a bad view no matter where you sit!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would not be where I am today without a lot of people that I have crossed paths with. Stemming from my parents who always supported me, no matter how risky some of my decisions were. I am utterly grateful for the foundation they created in order for me to not only be a successful business owner, but a better father. To my many mentors, specifically Steve Trang who took the time to collaborate and shape me into a better agent. Some of the major catalysts in my career happened while working alongside him. Last but not least, my wife Jessica who continuously supports me while also making sure she is the best mother to our two children. I couldn’t imagine being where I am personally and professionally without her.

Website: www.RyanNagerGroup.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryannagergroup

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-nager-8088681b/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RyanNagerGroup/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKwi5-5TiG3TIWWuY_GA8BA

Other: https://www.zillow.com/profile/Ryan%20Nager

Image Credits
Voss Visuals, KJBursey Photography, Dan Ryan Studio