I am a Lady Boss entrepreneur, running my own business, but the stress was taking a toll on my health and my life. I had to choose between staying the course as an appraiser or pivoting into selling real estate.

 

I remember when REALTORS® started coming to me for advice—but I wasn’t a REALTOR® myself. They wanted help determining the value of homes. That’s when it hit me: there was a need for people who truly understood how to evaluate a home and price it accurately. There was a need for someone like me and I needed to reactivate my real estate license.

 

I never thought I had the personality to be a REALTOR®. In my mind, real estate agents were extroverted—the life of the party. Me? I was more of a nerd. I liked to keep to myself and study the market. But maybe that nerdy quality was exactly what Bobbi saw in me. She was my mentor and first introduced me to real estate.

 

We met in the Twin Cities when I was 17. Bobbi owned a horse and I helped train it. When Bobbi, who ran her own appraisal company, offered to pay for me to attend appraisal school so I could help her, I said yes. It seemed like the perfect way to fund my passion for riding.

 

What started out as a side hustle to support my love for horses ended up becoming a career. I began doing appraisals full-time, and it was a family friend—who happened to be a developer—who encouraged me to get my real estate license. That’s also the time when I married Darren, at 21, and I was doing both real estate and appraisals. It was awesome. 

 

Bobbi was my hero––a total Boss Lady who ran her own company, managed a team, and empowered others. I wanted to be like her, so in 2004, I started my own appraisal company. I thrived on being responsible for a team—it made me want to show up as my best self. Meanwhile, Darren and I started to have children: Sarida, Sieayla, and Cruz.

 

As amazing as it was to be a business owner, a mother, and an appraiser, I got totally burned out. I was working 60 to 80 hours a week while raising my kids. I kept grinding through, but the stress started to affect my relationship with Darren—and my health. Something had to give. But what did I need to let go of? 

 

The answer came in 2012 when I was consulting with REALTOR® and helping them price properties. I might not have seen myself as a salesperson, but I was definitely a market nerd who could offer sound advice. People needed my expertise and I needed connection. 

 

Appraisal work is not very social. Real estate, on the other hand, allowed me to connect with clients and see the positive impact I was making. Slowly, I began shifting away from appraisals and toward selling real estate full-time.

 

Nevertheless, I’m grateful for the knowledge I gained as an appraiser. All those years evaluating homes gave me the foundation I needed to serve my clients well. I’m thankful for the way the dots eventually connected, even though I never planned it this way.

 

Today, I’m a full-time REALTOR®, and it’s incredible. I stay active in church, donating to missionaries and volunteering at events. My kids are older now—my oldest is 21 and my youngest is 16—and I love spending time with them. My daughters ride horses, so I get to help them train and ride, just like I used to. My kids are absolutely amazing.  

 

I’m truly thankful for this beautiful life where I’ve found balance: doing meaningful work I love, spending time with my family, and still having room for the things that bring me joy.

 

I love being an advisor—someone who’s an expert in market research, educates clients, and offers thoughtful, well-informed recommendations. My goal isn't to persuade but to guide people through one of the biggest purchases of their lives. I take my role seriously and ensure my clients are well taken care of.

 

With deep expertise in property evaluation, I don’t just understand individual homes—I understand the market as a whole. I help clients discover neighborhoods that match their desired lifestyle but offer better price, so they don’t spend more money than necessary. I know what adds worth to a home and what detracts from it, and I offer strategic advice to help maximize that value.

 

In recent years, I’ve invested heavily in marketing education—learning from coaches and gaining knowledge I consider equivalent to a master’s degree. I don’t just list homes on the MLS. I use a wide range of tools—social media, printed materials, and a mix of online and offline strategies—to maximize exposure and reach the right buyers. My mission is to serve, protect, and advise my clients with the highest level of care and professionalism.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Maisa Olson

REALTOR®

612.237.6655

maisa@redcarpetagents.com

maisaolson.com