Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennyffer Kurz.
Hi jennyffer, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started as a stay-at-home mom who didn’t accomplish becoming a doctor, and that had just finished her associates degree in business administration. I would watch HGTV all the time and was then inspired by the process of buying my own home. This opened the door to my interest in the real estate field. I began studying real estate in Oregon and didn’t finish it because my family was moved to Miami (through my ex-husband’s job). Miami has always been my hometown, so I was excited. My family was there, I graduated from high school in Miami, and I was looking forward to a new beginning. So I then started my real estate education in Miami. During this time, my marriage took a wrong turn. I guess maybe because I had support nearby, it was easier to break off my failing marriage and work on myself, my success, and accomplish something my girls would be proud of. So I did. With $0 money, only some child support income, and a few pending transactions, I managed to find a place for me to live with my girls, and I figured out real estate while under the pressure of keeping a roof over our heads. It was not an easy task at the beginning, but they say “pressure makes diamonds”. I worked really hard, bounced around a couple of brokerages until I ended up at Douglas Elliman with the Kurz Team, where I grew to manage the team. At the time (2015), we ranked #3 for our Brickell office.
David Kurz, the team leader, and I then started dating, and we decided to open up a brokerage in 2016. We opened up Kurz Real Estate. I helped with operations until we hired staff while at the same time running a real estate team. This did not happen without failures. Had teams that I started and fell apart right away, and then finally had a team that was functional and producing. I started a podcast/show during these times. This helped with exposure. The brokerage, on the other hand, was nominated by Inman to be one of the most innovative brokerages in 2017, and we were also one of the fastest-growing brokerages during our time, going from 6 agents to nearly 200 in less than 3 years.
In 2019, we were then absorbed by EXP, and in 2020, we faced a frivolous lawsuit against us by our Kurz Real Estate partner, who made false claims about his knowledge of the EXP absorption. We learned a lot about business and litigation during these times. This definitely created a very stressful financial situation, which was worsened by COVID times and court limitations. Fortunately, and coincidentally, I had already started my transition to become a mortgage loan officer at the tail end of 2019, so I had already been establishing a business outside of Kurz Real Estate. I grew to be one of the top-producing loan officers in my office at the time. This also helped us at home because, since my husband was unable to work in real estate for almost a year, I was able to keep the household afloat. In 2023 we were then presented with a great opportunity at a different brokerage, LPT realty, and this has been a game changer for us and our lives. Since then, I’ve continued my journey in the mortgage industry while my husband, David Kurz, continues to grow our network with LPT Realty. In the interim, I’ve had some great successes in my mortgage business and also hit some hurdles along the way with the industry and management, which led me to be disinterested in the industry and try to explore old childhood dreams of becoming a healthcare provider, which then led me to realize that some old dreams do not match the current person you are. During this time, I learned to earn an income without having to be 100% involved but still be able to help others with their mortgage and home purchase. I have now decided to put 100% of my efforts to growing my mortgage business while viewing it through a different lens and aiming at new dreams that fit the new goals the person I am today is more interested in pursuing.
Lastly, I started a podcast with my cohost Jennifer Arganaraz. This one has gained quite a bit of attention organically, and we are looking to continue to grow this venture and create more entertaining and educational content for our viewers. I’ve realized that I really love doing the podcast because it’s fun, stress free, informational, and we help people by giving them a good laugh or providing them with some great information and outlook on life.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been so many hurdles. Lawsuits, bankruptcy, falling out of love for the industry, rebuilding other businesses, then rebuilding again to focusing on what’s ahead vs what took us down, and finding love in the industry again. So much goes through someone’s mind when stress is prevalent in the moves you make. But quitting was never a true option or focus.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a mortgage loan officer/mortgage lender. I empower people with the ability to obtain a mortgage – use other people’s money – to build their empire. I truly believe in helping people build their empire one mortgage at a time. 70% of my business is veteran buyers. I understand them and what they need and how to help them use their VA benefits. They served our country, so it is an honor to help them own a piece of the country they have risked their lives to protect. I also work with first time buyers, hometown heroes (doctors, military, nurses, teachers, police officers). We have programs for investors and for everyone looking to begin their investment in real estate. These programs make the process easier for them and can be used multiple times.
I am also a realtor by trade, and a damn good one so my expertise goes beyond the numbers and enters a negotiation space that helps give my customers the advantage in every transaction.
Lastly, I know what they are experiencing. I have owned and sold a home; I have had bad credit and have had to improve it, I have purchased luxury homes, and I have also used a VA loan (my husband is a veteran). I have owned businesses, have worked as an independent contractor, and have also been employed. I not only help them through my business experience, but also through personal experience. I feel like my customers feel safe and understood.
I am most proud of my ability to take someone through the purchase process in the least stressful way possible. Give them the gift of ownership without the pain of the mortgage process.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was always very determined and far beyond my years. I was very responsible and studious but I was also very creative and artistic. As a child I was pretty introverted but was very funny. In my teenage years I built more confidence and was a bit more open and friendly with others around me but too conscious of what they though of me so maybe also a little uptight. I wanted to be a pediatrician but I also wanted to be a singer and an actress. I loved sports too. My favorite was volleyball. I was pretty well-rounded, so I played sports and was a fast runner. I just never pursued being in a team because I was afraid of the tryout process. Was a bit intimidated, and my parents were not familiar with the process, so there was no encouragement.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jennyfferkurz.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennyffer_kurz/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennyffer.kurz/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyffer-kurz-17185778/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JennsOnTheReal
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jennsonthereal?lang=en
