Today we’d like to introduce you to Rochelle Rolle.
Hi Rochelle, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Rochelle Ramsay Rolle and I proudly wear many hats and fulfill many roles in my life. I’m a Christian, Wife, Mother, Attorney, Real Estate Broker, and Real Estate Investor. Born to Jamaican parents, I am a South Florida native. I have lived in South Florida for my entire life, with the exception of attending college in Gainesville, Florida. As a multifaceted person, I live my life under the motto of striving to live a full “L.I.F.E.”. Broken down, that means striving to live a life of “L.ove, I.mpact, F.aith, and E.mpowerment”. I hope to love others in a profound way; make an impact on those around me; have a deep faith in God, and empower others to live out their full purpose and calling.
In 2008, I decided to fully commit my life to living for Jesus and be baptized. That was the beginning of a new mindset, outlook on life, and perspective. This was a new shift because as my thinking changed; so did my lifestyle. I wanted to be a person who didn’t just exist but who lived with purpose and meaning. I wanted to give others hope, show people grace, live with integrity, and constantly work on myself to become the best version of me.
When I think about my story, I think that I am no different than anyone else. I am just someone who is living life and trying to figure it all out. I have had many successes and many failures. I sometimes wish that it wouldn’t have taken me so long to learn some life lessons, but I am nonetheless grateful for every experience that I have encountered.
From a young age, I always thought that I wanted to become a doctor. I had the utmost respect for my childhood Pediatrician and admired the care and concern she had for her patients. I had a true admiration for the profession and thought this would be a suitable career path. Thus, I attended the medical magnet programs at William Dandy Middle School and Stranahan High School to start the pursuit of my dream to become a doctor. At Stranahan, I had the unique opportunity to do some hands-on work in a local hospital as a part of the curriculum. It was then that I knew that being a doctor entailed much more than I had originally thought and this route really didn’t fit me. So, while I enjoyed learning about the medical profession, I knew that a career in medicine would not be my destiny.
After graduating from the University of Florida, I started law school at Nova Southeastern University to pursue Sports Law. As an aside, from the age of six until the age of eighteen; I was a track and field athlete that participated in numerous competitions from the local to state level. Thus, I had always had a passion for sports and thought that perhaps working with sports would be the route that I would take. However, it was in law school that I discovered classes and programs involving trial techniques and skills that really intrigued me. I took a trial advocacy class and fell in love with the art of cross-examinations and closing arguments. I then joined the school’s Trial Team, where I competed in numerous local competitions and a competition in New York. After that, I joined the Moot Court team, where I also competed and advanced as a semi-finalist in a closing argument competition. These experiences sparked my interest in the area of litigation.
I later graduated law school and passed the bar exam, becoming the first person in my family to become an Attorney. This was huge because I knew the hard work and sacrifice that it took for my family to come to this country, so having this professional degree was truly an honor.
My first legal job as an Attorney was in a litigation role as an Assistant State Attorney for the 17th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office (SAO) in Broward County. It was there that I had the opportunity to work on misdemeanor and felony cases and handle numerous bench and jury trials. It literally was a training ground and honed my skills as a young attorney. Though, while I loved litigating, over time I learned that I no longer wanted to be in a courtroom every day.
After I left the SAO, I started to pursue another area of interest that I always wanted to explore, which was in real estate. For many years, I was always interested in real estate but never really thought about it as a career path. So, I eventually decided that I wanted to at least have it as a side gig. Hence, in 2015, I finally got my real estate license and began selling real estate. Shortly thereafter, I also started a solo law practice that included real estate, landlord-tenant issues, and probate. However, not long after starting my practice, my husband and I found out were expecting our first child – my daughter. My entire pregnancy and post-partum experience were challenging and that caused me to slow down in my career and focus on my health and my baby. Consequently, I was limited in how much I could do for my own practice and ended up later working for an organization that would accommodate my new lifestyle with a young child.
Even though I’ve accomplished a lot professionally, I have always known that entrepreneurship was a route that I would be destined to take.
At the onset of 2021, I knew that this year would be the year that I “jumped”. I would leave the comfort of a normal job to pursue my own aspirations in real estate. In April 2021, I decided to start that journey and I got my real estate broker’s license. This is a step above the general real estate sales associate license that enables you to manage or own your own real estate practice.
Currently, even though I am still practicing as an attorney, I am proud to say that in June 2021, I just launched my own real estate brokerage called Priority One Realty, Inc. The brokerage works with investors, sellers, and buyers to help them achieve their real estate goals. It is a place where our clients are our #1 priority. It is my goal to help everyone in my circle own at least one piece of property in their lifetime. As a homeowner, I know the importance of owning real estate and the opportunities that it provides. Also, real estate is not just for homeownership, but it is a means for many families to create generational wealth.
Beyond running my own brokerage, my ultimate goal is to become a full-time real estate investor by fixing and flipping distressed homes and managing multi-family units. My husband and I have invested in the past, which was very rewarding and hope to continue on that path in the future. I literally love real estate and will talk about it all of the time with my family and friends. I know that this is the path that I am supposed to take because God has made it clear to me.
What I want to encourage others with is that no matter your age, past, or life experiences, don’t be afraid to follow your dreams. There are different seasons in our lives where we may blossom in one area and then transition into another area. For me, the season of being a full-time practicing attorney is slowly winding down as I am now the current broker and owner of Priority One Realty, Inc and will be venturing into real estate investing later this year.
My journey started with me wanting to pursue medicine, to wanting to pursue sports law, to now pursuing real estate. Those fields are all on different sides of the spectrum, but I embrace the journey that got me where I am today. I believe that every experience is purposed and that no opportunity is a wasted one. Ultimately, each experience we encounter prepares us for the next step. What I love about my life is that as I learn and grow, I am willing to make changes. My hope for other entrepreneurs is that they will always be flexible and not married to the idea that there is only one correct path. There was a long journey to get where I am today; to be fully confident as an entrepreneur pursuing real estate full-time. Many people would think that becoming an attorney would be the “ultimate prize” for me; however, I believe that “ultimate prize” is doing what God put on your heart to do and fulfilling that calling in that particular season of your life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As an attorney, I think some of the challenges that I’ve had in my career were being undervalued as a woman and as a person of color. The legal profession is a predominantly white male profession. There have been times when I have been overlooked for certain job positions, even though I was more than qualified for those positions. Additionally, I have had to take lower-paying positions in government and non-profit work because the opportunities in big firms are scarce for people who look like me. However, I don’t say to fault anyone or to get sympathy. I am just stating the reality of the profession that I have been in for almost ten years. Many of my colleagues who are African-American and women have experienced these same challenges as well. If anything, being rejected by certain employers has also propelled me to want to pursue entrepreneurship even more. I enjoy being able to manage my hours, pay, and potential for growth. I also want to create opportunities for others to succeed as well.
We’ve been impressed with Priority One Realty, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Priority One Realty, Inc. is a full-service real estate brokerage that serves the South Florida real estate market. The brokerage is a place where “every client is a priority”. We ensure that the client’s needs are well understood so that we can execute a plan to meet their expectations. We work with investors, sellers, and buyers by helping them navigate the process with listing and sales, distressed properties, auction properties, multi-family unit properties, and more. For sellers, we specifically strive to get them the most amount for their home with the least amount of contingencies. For buyers, we help them put together strong offers so they can get their offers accepted in a very competitive market. Finally, for investors, we help them locate off-market deals, foreclosure properties, and tax-deed sale properties.
What sets us apart is that we operate with integrity, professionalism, and consistency. We are knowledgeable, responsive, client-focused, and have many connections in the local community. Our owner has a legal background which helps in understanding contracts, negotiating, and researching properties. We also make ourselves readily available to answer client questions in a timely manner whether by phone, text, or e-mail. For buyers, we also strive to bring you to properties within 48 hours of a listing, so you have one of the first chances to put in an offer. At Priority One Realty, we don’t just want to make a sale or get a commission. We value our clients and want every client to be satisfied with their real estate decision whether that means to make a purchase, sale, or to wait for another opportunity.
Clients should know that we offer free consultations at no charge to the client. We also offer a referral program where clients may receive a bonus for referrals to our brokerage.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Since we’ve just launched, people can support me by referring new clients to my new brokerage, Priority One Realty, Inc. The brokerage can be contacted by:
Phone: 954-824-2600 (Call or Text)
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.priorityonerealtyfl.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/priorityonerealtyfl
Facebook: www.facebook.com/priorityonerealtyfl
Additionally, people are more than welcome to contact me personally at:
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: www.instagram.com/realestate_with_rochelle
Facebook: www.facebook.com/realestatebyrochelle
Image Credits
Louis Lens Photography
