Arizona School of Real Estate & Business alumni Courtney Bullock was recently named a RISMedia Rookie of the Year award finalist. Bullock, who left a corporate job in finance, pursued real estate because she enjoyed looking at houses and moving. Her passion for the industry and top-tier organizational skills have led to many referrals and early success as an agent.
The Rookie of the Year program aims to recognize real estate agents from across the country who are new to the field but have already made remarkable strides. Nominees for the Real Estate Rookie of the Year award were evaluated based on their 2023 sales volume and transaction data, commitment to professional education, technological skills, and community engagement. This marks the program's third year, and 25 regional finalists were announced.
Bullock loved her job in the financial industry, but she always had an interest in real estate. She and her husband love to look at homes and love to move. They had considered flipping homes but never pursued it.
“Then I woke up one day, and I said to him, ‘You know, I think I'm going to go into real estate and become a real estate agent.’ I think he was a little shocked,” Bullock said.
Bullock decided to “go for it.” She reached out to her real estate agent to learn more about the process.
“I do remember being nervous because it was a big change. I had a successful career in risk management in the financial industry, and I'd been with the same manager for 16 years. It really was a big decision to leave,” she said.
Bullock was already used to working independently from home, which was an advantage as she pivoted to a real estate career. She also credits her work ethic and organizational skills as critical to her success.
“I think a huge part of being an agent is organizational skills, which truly I've had all my life. I love to organize. I love lists. I love checklists, the whole nine yards,” Bullock said. “Real estate obviously has tons of paperwork and tons of deadlines and lots of things to make sure they get done when they need to, how they need to. So having those skills already has been a huge advantage.”
Bullock completed her Arizona pre-licensing coursework online through ASREB. The online courses were flexible, which she needed as she was still working full-time at her corporate job when she was completing the licensing process. Bullock said she enjoyed the experience.
“I have never done online school before, but, honestly, I enjoyed it,” she said.
She scheduled her state exam after completing her pre-licensing classes and course exam. She completed the test quickly – and passed.
“Apparently, the proctor was surprised when I finished so fast,” she said. “And when I walked out of the testing place, I cried. I had been pretty nervous, and it felt like a pretty big milestone to make this leap. It was happy tears, but I cried in my car.”
Bullock was excited to start her career and help family and friends with their real estate needs. She was pleasantly surprised to receive an email from RISMedia saying that she was a finalist for Rookie of the Year.
“I also earned the Rookie Agent of the Year Award for RE/MAX Arizona. It’s been a good year for me,” Bullock said. “I love to celebrate everything, usually with Mexican food and a margarita.”
Bullock is currently a REALTOR® with RE/MAX Cornerstone.
She hopes to continue her success by receiving referrals from family, friends, and clients. She also loves real estate education and has earned additional designations. She completed 60 hours of continuing education in her first two years.
Bullock has recommended ASREB to several people who are interested in becoming a real estate agent in Arizona.
“I thought the material was easy to understand,” she said. The way it was laid out and the way they talked through the courses made a lot of sense to me.”
Start your real estate career in Arizona with ASREB’s pre-licensing courses. We’ve been a leading choice of aspiring real estate agents, including Bullock, since 1969 and can help you earn your Arizona real estate license in just a few months.
