Maui real estate leader Marilyn Griffin becomes Island Sotheby's newest broker

Posted by Mapuana Andrade on Thursday, December 12th, 2019 at 8:23am

Marilyn Griffin R(B) has become the latest real estate professional to join Island Sotheby's International Realty's growing team, drawn to the firm's focus on giving back to the community and raising the bar for industry as a whole.

In her short time with the firm, Griffin has already become part of the Island Sotheby's 'Ohana, spending a day in earlier this month volunteering with other Realtors to help feed families experiencing homelessness at Ka Hale A Ke Ola.

Griffin is a retired emergency room nurse who found her calling in real estate, eventually leading her to advocate for the industry on a local, state and national level. Most importantly, however, she is passionate about serving her clients and the greater island community. We sat down with Griffin to talk about why she chose Island Sotheby's International Realty:

What's your favorite part about living on Maui?  

MG: There are a lot of favorite parts! But if I can only say one, it is the spirit of Aloha that's embedded in the culture anywhere you go on Maui.  

Why did you join the Island Sotheby's International Realty team?  

MG: I started looking at Island Sotheby's International Realty because the firm is where some of the agents I most respect work. I also took note of how long they stay there. I met with Ryan McLaughlin and Ron Silva, and immediately, knew I found a home that fits my values and philosophies for both my clients and myself. I love the culture of this brokerage and the 'Ohana spirit within it. It exudes from the front door and beyond with the agents and the professionalism in their practice. I also love the focus on community involvement and giving back that ISIR embraces.   

What inspired you to work in Maui real estate? 

MG: It was an accident! I took a course to learn about real estate in case I could use it for possible investment knowledge. At the end of the class, the broker invited me to join her brokerage once I would pass my state exam.

I explained, "Oh, no, I’m an ER nurse and a mom; I know nothing about selling anything." But she began to list all the reasons she thought I would succeed in sales  and how everyone I worked with at the hospital would know that. Still, I thought to myself, “She obviously doesn’t know what she’s talking about, who would trust me with hundreds of thousands of dollars?"

I hadn't planned to accept that offer, but then my first grandchild was born. I decided if I sold one house a year, it would allow me to help my daughter financially.

Well, the broker did know what she was talking about. By the end of that year, even as I kept working full-time as an ER nurse, I rose to No. 3 in productivity among a brokerage of 65 agents!

To this day, I thank her and we joke about that. Eventually, I became involved at the Realtors Association of Maui; I joined committees and focused on learning how to best serve my clients. But even then, I wanted to do more — I went on to become the president of RAM and got involved with the state-wide organization, the Hawai'i Association of Realtors. I began to attend National Association of Realtor conventions, which led to me lobby on Capitol Hill for three years to advocate for homeowner rights and industry issues. All the while, I still worked as a nurse, though now I'm solely focused on real estate. My passion is serving my client’s interests and working to raise the bar of professional standards for both my clients and colleagues.

What is your favorite part about being a real estate professional?

MG: Being able to help someone acheive their goals and dreams. I enjoy helping clients of all price points, but really like helping young families and first-time buyers purchase their first Maui home. 

What should clients know about you?

MG: I am here to serve them and their best interests! I strive to work with the highest ethics to earn their trust and faith in me. I work hard and smart. Life is precious and too short. I want them to be happy. And, as I always joke as a retired ER nurse, if Maui's prices shock them in to cardiac arrest, I know CPR!     

 

 

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