Education is the key to success according to a young Philadelphia REALTOR®.

            Candis Pressley-Blackwood, ABR, ABM, of Trinity Real Estate was named one of the 30 Under 30 REALTORS® by the National Association of Realtors ® in 2008. The annual award recognizes young professionals who exhibit business success, community and professional leadership and who offer compelling stories such as interesting business strategies or overcoming obstacles.

            A REALTOR® for 10 years, Pressley-Blackwood attended Temple University full time, while working at a real estate office part time. She was studying to be an engineer but an internship made her choose another career path. An architect who mentored her encouraged her to pursue a real estate license and she found she enjoyed the business.

            "I like helping people find a home," she says. "I like the flexibility of the real estate business and the different situations clients present. There's a real satisfaction in helping people."

            She worked to earn her broker's license and opened her own business, where she has 12 agents. "When you first start your business, the most challenging part is getting your name out because people don't know about your company," she says.

            She's found that education is not only key to her success but to her clients as well. Her real estate office recently began offering help to clients who are working toward owning a home.

            "We just started ‘Project Home Quest'," she says. "The goal is to help nurture people who aren't quite ready for homeownership, working with people who couldn't be approved for a loan. We put together a six- to 12-month plan to help them prepare for owning a home. The plan deals with credit issues, money management and savings. We've received referrals from people who are in the program. People appreciate our help and in this market, education is the key. We need to educate our consumers about the real estate market so they can make informed decisions."

            Past president of the Philadelphia Metropolitan Board of Realtists, Pressley-Blackwood encourages others to speak at career days in the local schools. Their local chapter has been given a grant to develop a financial literacy class for young people. "Our group's mission is to serve the underserved," she says. "The local chapter attracted me because the members are so involved in the community. We conduct foreclosure prevention classes and we offer a scholarship program."

            Pressley-Blackwood is a member of the LeadershipPAR Class of 2008. "LeadershipPAR is a phenomenal program," she says. "The retreats prove you with great information and tools to use in your business.

            "Real estate is a very demanding profession. I think people need to be passionate and aggressive about the business and learn to balance family with work," she adds. "Real estate is a cycle and many people have been in the business for a long time. This is a great time to educate yourself and learn how to reinvent yourself to meet the demands of a new market."