Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendy Gant
Hi Wendy, 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?
I was born and raised in very small town in West Virginia. Hailing from Elizabeth, WV I grew up on a working farm, I was a small town girl with great big dreams. Being from a small rural community, I knew I wanted to move there was a big world out there, but didn’t know where to go or how to get there. After graduation, I couldn’t afford to attend college full time so I began working. I knew I needed an education, so I started taking evening classes at West Virginia University-Parkersburg in the evenings. It got to a point that I needed more money to attend college so I entered my first county fair pageant where they gave a scholarship prize for college. I competed and and won in area pageants which advanced me in my interview skills as well as my onstage presence, and helped me advance in the corporate world. A few years went by and I longed for the pageant world again, by then I was married. So I decided to compete for the title of Mrs. West Virginia America 1998, and I won! I travelled all over the state and nation representing West Virginia! I loved the eye opening experience of how the pageant world operates and competing at the national level on live television in Las Vegas at the MGM Grande really is a story that I will be able to tell to my grandchildren!
A couple years passed and I still enjoyed pageants, but decided to be involved in other ways such as director, emcee and judge, travelling throughout the state, all the while trying different jobs and still going to college. After 9/11 I knew I needed to make a change, so I got out a map, closed my eyes and my finger pointed to Charleston, SC. Thankfully, I had friends that had just moved to Charleston and started a mortgage company, and they offered me a 100% commission job in doing mortgage lending. I accepted, sold all of my things in WV and moved to Mount Pleasant in 2002. I started as a mortgage loan originator and quickly became one of the top loan officers in the company. I then was promoted to a team leader and assistant vice president for the company. I have always loved a challenge, so I went to the owners and asked to start an outside sales division that made sales calls to realtors in the local area. I spearheaded that program and found out quickly that as I was calling on Realtors, I wanted to possibly try it out for myself. So I went through the training and testing for both state and national to gain my license. From 2005-2009, I worked for both big box and boutique companies. I had my first born son, Cole in 2006 and my sweet baby girl, Callie in 2008. They went with me to every showing, every listing appointment, they met every client, they were in tow! That was just how things were and they became used to it. My Tahoe was my office, and they had their own spaces in “the office” complete with snacks and tv screens for road traveling! In 2009, I decided to start my own real estate company. My husband at the time had just started his own mortgage business and I thought, “how can this fail? It will be an amazing combination for my clients!” (Yes this was the year of the financial meltdown!)
If it were not by the grace of God, I would not have made it. But I took every opportunity that God brought to me even if that area were an hour away, I just did what I had to do as most people often do in desperate times. God supplied all of our needs and saw us through some very difficult times. In 2015 I decided to expand my boutique company and hire more agents. The agency grew to a total of 27 agents, including myself. It was wonderful being so busy, but not so much for the mom in and and for my children. I then decided that I didn’t want all of the headache. I didn’t want to become a big box real estate office, so I scaled back the office, went back to being a small, boutique agency, spent more time with my family and enjoyed life a bit more.
Fastforward to March 2023, I filed for divorce, went through the most grueling divorce mediation that ultimately ended with a 7 day trial scheduled. Tons of money spent on attorneys, forensic doctors, accountants, appraisers, etc. I was fighting for custody of my 14 year old daughter at the time, as my son wanted to live with his father. In order to go down the custody route when it is contested, you have to meet with a guardian ad litem and then you are scheduled for drug and alcohol tests, done by a forensic doctor. They have to take samples of your hair, so three huge chunks came from each side of my head, and was poked and prodded for multiple blood samples, etc. After this, I went through countless hours of depositions and ultimately went to trial and the trial ended on day 5 when an agreement between the parties was reached. It was the worst experience of my entire life, but again, if it were not for my faith and the grace of God, I would not have been able to be strong through this entire horrible experience. Each day for four months, I would wake up, most times in the middle of the night, grab my journal and my bible and just sit and pray and cry, and pray. All I wanted was God to help me through this and to be my strength as I was very weak. He showed up each and every morning, giving me the grace, the strength and the words that I needed for each of those days.
After the trial ended, I dissolved my then real estate company, and just prayed to God asking that He show me the way that I was supposed to go. After all, I had spent the last 18 years in real estate and I ended up with no company, children that I could only see a few times a month and no idea what or where I was to go from here. How in the world did I get here? I honestly felt like I was at the lowest of my low, I had reached the bottom, you know, the bottom of where people only just talk about. I was truly there, at the bottom of the pit, and the only way to go from there was up! I sought the Lord and I prayed, “Lord, if I went through all of this and I know what I’m doing in real estate with real property and I still had this much trouble and difficulty, how in the world does someone who doesn’t know anything regarding real estate or who to call, or where to turn if they should have to experience a separation or divorce?” From there, I was prompted to Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, “For everything there is a season….”
And it came to me! I started researching divorce real estate, and all the things about divorce and real estate and realized there was very little to be found about it or on it. I mean, there were some people and agents that say they specialize in the field, but did they really? In searching, I found a company out of California, The Ilumni Institute, which specializes in divorce real estate. There was a fire in me when I started learning more and more about the company and it became so overwhelming and so strong, that I knew I had found my new calling!! I was going to start a new real estate company and call it “A New Beginning Realty Group”! I would still do my traditional real estate business but my specialization would be in divorce listings and become a Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert.
I called the Ilumni Institute and inquired about the credentials that I needed to be enrolled in this new, amazing program. It was more than just being on a webinar for a day or so, or going to a classroom just to punch in the hours that you needed to get a designation or certification…it was full on!
I went through a screening interview, had to submit my real estate transaction sales that I had done for the last three years, submit references, a go through a very thorough background check. I passed the inital screening and then had my first interview with Ilumni to see if I was a good fit for them and they wanted to make sure that I understood the time, attention and honestly financial responsibility it would be to take on this designation.
After multiple interviews, I was accepted and started in March 2024. It was a weekly program full of new education that I had no idea about when it comes to divorce and real property. I was taught by attorneys and judges from all over the country in how to be an expert in this field and industry. Classes that taught me the voir dire process, how to take the stand in an actual trial if that was the end result, how to build my curriculum vitae (CV) to send to attorneys, and how to work with both counsel to get the property sold and for the highest price possible for both parties.
But what exactly is a Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert (CDRE) and what do they do? Why are they so rare and special? A CDRE is a neutral, unbiased third party who facilitates the sale of real property when it comes to divorce. They make sure that court orders are followed, works with both husband and wife in a neutral zone and works with the parties attorneys as well to get the property to the closing table.
I took classes on how to deal with couples from low to high conflict and how to deflect them to get then on a neutral zone helping them get to their ultimate goal of selling likely the largest asset the couple share, which is their home. I also learned that less than 1% of all real estate agents have earned the CDRE credential!
I went through an oral exam conducted by a California attorney via zoom and a written exam. I had to go through the voir dire process and testify as a CDRE regarding the case study that was presented. I was so nervous but all ended well with a passing with a 98% in both written and oral exams! This 8 week course had finally paid off and I was now a CDRE. But becoming a CDRE didn’t end with passing the exams, once you get over the hurdle of passing the exams, you have the ability to advance to Ilumni’s Master Club, where we get together via zoom weekly and review case studies. We host Raising the Bar continuing education zoom meetings for attorneys and we are just a wealth of knowledge for our family law community when it comes to divorce and real estate.
During this past year, as more and more people found out about this special designation through my social media and sphere of influence, my phone would ring from people wanting to know which direction they should go, who to call, what next step to take, etc. I knew then that I had to get a “triage team” of professionals pulled together! From attorneys, churches, counselors, financial planners, to CPA’s, lenders and insurance agents, I have the ability to network and send my clients to this “triage” when anyone facing a separation or divorce. I truly believe that this is what I was created to do and this is why I went through what I did…it was to help others and to put them on a path where they can get their life back after going through such tragedy. No one ever expects when they get married and have kids that they are going to be divorced…but what happens when it does? I just want to be a vessel and a light to show others that with God’s help, they will get through it. It may be ugly and hurt, a lot, but they will eventually see the light again.
In my last 20 years in real estate, 2024 was by far my best year to date and I was able to do my first divorce listing. Being a CDRE in South Carolina is truly special because currently, there are only two of us Realtors who are designated and trained at this level. I get call on and visit family law attorneys and mediators to help assist and ease the burden for them when it comes to their clients real property and having to sell that said property.
I am looking forward to see what 2025 has in store for me! I know I am just getting started with A New Beginning no matter if it’s someone’s first, second or last home, a divorcing situation or starting that new family, I will be right here, helping them all along the way!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about A New Beginning Realty Group?
Less than 1% of all realtors are CDRE’s.
There are only 2 Realtors that have the CDRE designation in South Carolina.
I believe my long story tells why I am different. What do I have to offer to the market and to people in general.
I can do anything from listing a divorce home, issuing fair market values, giving a broker pricing opinion, testifying on the stand for trial or mediation when it divorce and real property intersect as well as knowing what to do when conflict between those parties arise.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
With numerous credentials, I pride myself on intense continuing education, which allows me to help you!
CDRE (Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert)
CRS (Certified Residential Specialist)
CNE(Certified Negotiation Expert)
SFR (Short Sales and Foreclosure Specialist)
ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative)
NABPO (National Association of Broker Pricing Opinions)
-These designations represent hundreds of hours of continuing education in real estate.
I have become inspired to add to my 20 years of experience and certifications by becoming a Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert (CDRE).
In three weeks and over 40 hours, I learned the importance of being an unbiased, neutral third party during the home sale & divorce process. I completed the following courses with the Ilumni Institute:
The Anatomy of Divorce
The Landscape of Divorce Finance
Divorce Court 101
Ethics of CDREs
Communicate with Power
How to Sell a House in Conflict
Divorce can cause some difficult and dark times. In many cases, the home is the most significant asset that needs to be divided, creating around 70% of divorces to have property issues. Navigating these trying times can be made easier when an agent prioritizes remaining an unbiased third party by advancing their knowledge, experience, and skills in this area.
I want to raise the standard of ethics and neutrality for divorce home sales.
These classes, along with my traditional real estate knowledge, experience, and services, allow for advancing negotiation skills for all types of property transactions.
I believe handling these transactions with expertise, neutrality, consistent communication, and empathy profoundly affects our clients’ ability to start their next chapter and unlock their new normal.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.anewbeginningrealestate.com
- Instagram: @soldbyWendy7
- Facebook: A New Beginning Realty Group, LLC
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-gant-a457b92a9
