Meet Kourtney Murray: Discovering The Next Chapter

Fresh out of college, Kourtney Murray’s first job was working as an administrative assistant for a boutique brokerage in Ukrainian Village. Even though her start in real estate wasn’t chasing any specific dream or vision, she quickly grew to become the brokerage’s content and marketing manager while doing rentals on the side.

A few years had gone by, and Kourtney picked up a 30 Under 30 magazine. “I was looking through the pages, and I knew I was ready to move on.”

“Funny thing, I was showing a property, and I got stuck in an elevator. The listing broker was stuck too, and we connected!” Her connection led her to a new brokerage and the next opportunity.

The Next Chapter

As a morning person, Kourtney liked to come into the office and start her day at 7 AM. One morning, she connected with a top producing broker who was also in the office early. This introduction turned into a major mentorship for Kourtney over the years, and she’s never looked back.

“I’m two years into working on my own, and it’s so hard!” she said. “Growing your business is hard work, especially knowing how it affects your life. You don’t realize how difficult it will be to find that work-life balance. It can suck up so much of your day and your week.”

But, she finds motivation in the hustle. “It’s difficult to keep up with the demands of the business, but you learn ‘I can do anything!’ You really watch yourself grow.”

Kourtney’s average workday is best-described as ever-changing. “Every single day is a workday!” She laughs. “I’m up at 3 AM, then I’m up at 5 AM, and I’m always doing something.” This is what makes real estate so great. From that first admin job to now, she’s beginning to hone her expertise in staging and renovating.

“I never imagined this, honestly. It’s not about the title anymore. It’s about my clients; I care as much as they do.”

The Next (Next) Chapter

“To succeed in real estate, you need to know the bottom up,” Kourtney said. She credits her start in an administrative position as instrumental to building a solid foundation for processes, systems, and organization. She’s been able to build on that knowledge and grow.

“You learn to manage, then you learn to market and you keep going. Keep learning that next step.” When asked what strengths she brought with her and what she picked up along the way, Kourtney owns the drive and talent she’d had all along. “I had a lot of it in me, but I really benefitted from taking the time to learn each facet.”

In the next five years, she isn’t sure where she’ll be. “Looking back, I’ve been in the business about six years now, and each year has been different.” She’d love to grow a team, and she’s enjoying investing and doing fix-and-flips, so she’ll continue to learn more.

“I don’t really focus on the written story as long as I’m doing this to the best of my ability.”

Her advice to new brokers? Just stick with it! “Not everyone is going to, so if you can, you’re already ahead. Really, it’s the hardest part.”