At 75, Still a Force in Her Community

By Karen M. Kroll
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It’s been more than three decades since Patricia Ferrell, CRB, CRS, GRI, better known as Mickey – her nickname stems from a childhood love of Mickey Mouse – first entered the real estate business.

Now at 75 she is still going strong. Her firm, Mickey Ferrell REALTORS®, boasts five offices across central Texas. Moreover, the company has thrived as an independent even as national firms have entered the market. “We do very well against the franchises,” she said. Ferrell was also a recent recipient of  Women’s Council’s Businesswoman of the Year award.

Ferrell became an agent in 1974, as her oldest daughter was heading off to college and she found herself with more time on her hands. Ferrell also wanted to earn some extra money to help cover the incidental expenses her daughter, and then her two sons, would encounter at school. Prior to that, Ferrell had been active in her children’s school and extracurricular activities.

So, she decided to head into the work force and thought real estate would be a good fit. Ferrell obtained her REALTORS®’ license and went to work for a local real estate brokerage, focusing on waterfront properties within Lake McQueeney, TX, which is about a half-hour from San Antonio. The post was a natural for her, Ferrell says, as her husband owned a boating business, and her family lived on the lake. “The kids grew up water-skiing, and I did a lot of boat driving,” she said.

Within a few years, Ferrell became a top seller in the office. In fact, she was doing so well that a local firm wanted her to take on the job of selling properties for a subdivision it was developing near Lake McQueeney. However, that meant Ferrell would have to open her own office. Less than 24 hours later, Ferrell made the decision to go it alone.

It was a fortuitous decision, as Ferrell’s sales skills helped her business take off. She began adding to her staff and offices – opening a location in the community of Seguin and purchasing offices in New Braunfels and Canyon Lake, where she later opened another office. Approximately 60 agents and brokers plus support staff currently do business as Mickey Ferrell REALTORS®.

Ferrell’s youngest son, Keith, joined the family firm as co-owner in 1991. Real estate appears to be in the family’s blood, as both sons held real estate licenses while they were in college. Her other son, Kevin, eventually took over her husband’s boating business. Ferrell’s daughter is a stay-at-home-mom. Between her children, Ferrell is grandmother to seven.

Even as her business grew, Ferrell has contributed to a number of professional organizations. She is past president of both the New Braunfels/Canyon Lake and Seguin Associations of REALTORS®. Ferrell is former director of the San Antonio Board of REALTORS®, as well as Region 7 Representative of the Texas Association of REALTORS®.

Along the way, Ferrell has held most other positions in these organizations, as well. In fact, she started her term as president of the Seguin Association of REALTORS® shortly after her husband died. Keeping busy, she says, helped her deal with her grief.

Ferrell’s enthusiasm for the real estate business has contributed to her success. “It’s a marvelous profession,” she said. “Real estate agents are unbelievable people.” Still, Ferrell recognizes the work required. “You just have to be willing to devote yourself to it.”

She adds that she views life as a ladder. According to Ferrell, that means you need to either keep moving forward or there’s no place to go but down. This is particularly true when the market tightens as dramatically as it has over the past few years.

Ferrell says her keys to success include keeping her spirits up and going back to basics. For starters, she doesn’t dwell on market forces she can’t control. “I don’t let myself focus on the negatives, and do my best to not let my agents focus on them, as well.”

At the same time, Ferrell says she’s also re-emphasizing the fundamental tactics REALTORS® learn when they enter the business, such as knocking on doors and making phone calls. “Now is not the time to sit back and wait for the phone to ring,” Ferrell said.  

Clearly, retirement isn’t on Ferrell’s agenda. Instead, she’s relying on the positive approach and hard work that have served her so well, as she and her associates have sold thousands of properties over the past 34 years. “God, family and real estate – those are my priorities,” Ferrell said. “I’m 75, and I don’t see myself doing anything else for the rest of my life.”

Karen M. Kroll is a freelance writer from Chanhassen, MN.

Posted November 2008