November 21, 2024 • 26 mins
Ever considered dogs as your home security system? Join us for a vibrant chat with Carrie Godbold, a dynamic realtor and community enthusiast from Zachary, as she humorously shares her top home security tip: her rescue dogs. We'll take you on a journey from Akron, Ohio, to Baton Rouge, and finally to Zachary, highlighting Carrie's lively personality through her passion for travel, live music, and an unusual workout routine as a gym hopper. You'll even get a sneak peek into her synchronized swimming days and her excitement for an upcoming Justin Timberlake concert.
Carrie also opens up about her fascinating transition from IT and government work to real estate, a move driven by the need for childcare. She candidly discusses the resilience required in the industry, tackling roles from counselor to mediator. With recent changes affecting buyer's agency agreements due to a major lawsuit, Carrie stresses the importance of clear communication. She offers her take on interest rates too, explaining their influence on buying and selling decisions in today's market, and providing insights for those considering a property move.
As we wrap up, prepare for some amusing real estate tales and practical advice on holiday home decoration. Carrie shares valuable tips on keeping motivated in a challenging market, emphasizing creativity, client relationships, and community involvement. Dive into the significance of community partners like the City of Zachary and the East Baton Rouge Parish Library System, who play a crucial role in enhancing local quality of life. This episode is packed with inspiration for aspiring realtors and community members alike, encouraging authentic networking and active local participation.
God, doubt, and proof walk into a podcast... it goes better than you’d expect!
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Carrie Godbold (00:05):
I'm Carrie Godbold.
Keep listening to FortuneParish the podcast.
Jen Gennaro (00:10):
What's up, zachary?
We are back with anotherexciting episode broadcasting
from our headquarters right herein downtown Zachary.
Our team is working hard on thewinter print issue of Fortune
Parish and the ad commitment isthe end of this week, friday the
22nd.
If you are interested inplacing an ad, reach out to
(00:33):
editor at fortuneparishcom orcall 225-324-9515.
Today we're joined by CarrieGodbold, realtor entrepreneur,
wife, mom to three teenagers.
Carrie is known not only for herwork in the real estate
industry, but also as one of thefounding members of the Zachary
Charity League, host of theAmerican Dream TV show, former
co-owner of Whimsical Alley anda big supporter of Must Love
Dogs, zachary Schools and theYMCA, among other things.
We're going to get into allthat and more, as well as
(00:56):
address the current state of thereal estate market here in
Zachary and what industryexperts are saying.
I'm Jen Gennaro, founder andeditor of Fortune Parish and
your host for today.
We bring you the best ofZachary and the Development
North region through candidconversations every Monday from
our headquarters right here onVirginia Street.
This is Porch and Parish thepodcast.
Stay tuned, we'll be right backwith the lightning round.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
At Porch and Parish we're gearing up for our highly
anticipated winter issue,hitting mailboxes and stands in
mid-January.
If you've been looking for away to reach the Zachary
community, now is the time tosecure your spot.
Ad space is available and thisissue is going to be a must-read
.
Just email editor atporchandparishcom for our media
kit and pricing details.
(01:42):
Whether you're a local businessorganization or just have a
message to share, we've got theperfect placement for you and,
as always, we want to hear fromyou.
Have a feature story idea orknow someone with an inspiring
tale?
Send it our way.
Help us shine a light on whatmakes our community so special.
Porch and Parish Zachary'scommunity magazine and podcast
(02:03):
Excellent, living, engagingstories.
Jen Gennaro (02:15):
We are back with our lightning round.
Carrie, as a realtor, youprobably get asked a lot about
your personal recommendations,so here's one for you.
Who do you use for homesecurity?
Carrie Godbold (02:25):
Oh, I love this one.
With all the technologyavailable nowadays cameras
everywhere inside and outside ofhouses and alarms going off and
going crazy, my favorite alarmsystem is a rescue dog, or three
like me.
What kinds do you have?
What are their names?
They're all mutts.
I have rainbow, she's aPomeranian Chihuahua.
(02:46):
I have Texas, he is a standardpoodle hound mix.
And I have Winnie, who is aCatahoula shepherd mix of some
sort.
They're all rescue from thestreet or must love dogs,
awesome.
Jen Gennaro (03:01):
We are due for another dog, as you you heard.
Carrie Godbold (03:03):
I did hear.
Jen Gennaro (03:04):
I'm sorry, I know I know, okay, so what is your
favorite hobby outside of work?
Travel.
Carrie Godbold (03:12):
We love to travel.
We get in the car and go forrandom road trips.
We get on planes.
We love anything that has anadventure or a concert
associated with it.
Do you have any concerts comingup?
We're going to JustinTimberlake, yeah, we went to.
Billie Eilish, like two weeksago, and right before that gosh,
(03:33):
where was I?
It's a lot.
We love a concert.
Jen Gennaro (03:37):
Did you notice that I'm kind of channeling Justin
Timberlake at the 2000 Grammys?
Carrie Godbold (03:42):
with my double denim today.
Jen Gennaro (03:43):
I love it.
Thank you so much.
Okay, so when you have time tosqueeze in some exercise, what
is your workout of choice?
Carrie Godbold (03:49):
Okay, this is um a very um funny story of me?
Yeah, very loaded question.
I'm a gym hopper.
My hobby really is to hop gyms.
I go from CrossFit Zacharypersonal training to cardio
tennis, personal training tocardio tennis to my peloton to
(04:11):
hot works in baton rouge, likeliterally once a week at all
these places.
Wow, you're doing great, though.
Jen Gennaro (04:14):
Well, yes, my workout is carrying an oversized
toddler up and down thesestairs.
Carrie Godbold (04:18):
That is actually the best workout, because I go
to these gyms and talk more thanI exercise right just to see if
they'll notice, and they'relike this is not therapy.
Pay attention, carrie, yeah.
Jen Gennaro (04:28):
Right, okay, so tell us about Vintage Carrie.
What organizations were youinvolved with in high school?
Carrie Godbold (04:34):
Oh, so this is a giveaway that I'm not from here
.
I was a synchronized swimmer inhigh school.
I did not know that.
Yeah, so who is it Eva?
Eva is a swimmer, swimmer.
Jen Gennaro (04:55):
Okay, I'm a synchronized, so like can't
actually do a swim strokeproperly, but I can float for
days.
Wow, when did you, when did youthrow in the towel?
Carrie Godbold (05:01):
Well, since really it's not offered very
many places, when I graduatedhigh school that ended.
What a waste of talent.
I know.
Jen Gennaro (05:10):
So how did you end up in Zachary?
Carrie Godbold (05:13):
I moved from Akron, ohio, to Baton Rouge to
go to LSU when I graduated highschool and while I was at LSU I
worked at the Backpacker, met myhusband there and we lived in
Baton Rouge for the first fewyears while we started having
babies, but then we knew weneeded to find a community to
raise them in.
So we moved to Zachary.
(05:34):
We did not know one person hereand the community has just been
so wonderful to us.
So that was what 15?
My oldest is 18 now.
He was one when we moved here.
Jen Gennaro (05:47):
Wow, yeah, okay, so that is it for the lightning
round, but I'm going to segueinto the interview with a little
bit of background.
So Carrie was one of the veryfirst people I met when we moved
to Zachary 14 years ago thismonth.
Her daughter, ellie, and myoldest son, max, were babies
together at Miss JellyTolentino's in-home nursery.
I have no recollection of theconversation surrounding it, but
(06:09):
Carrie was the one whoencouraged me to become a
realtor, and we worked togethermany times over the 12 plus
years that I was in real estate.
Our most recent transaction waswhen Michael and I bought the
beautiful Victorian home wherewe now live, once known as
Whimsical Alley Toy Store.
So Carrie Whimsical was unlikeanything this town or region had
ever seen.
How did the idea first comeabout?
Carrie Godbold (06:32):
I was actually having coffee with a real estate
friend and we were talkingabout he lived here in Zachary.
We were talking about what wethought Zachary lacked and at
the time my children were muchsmaller than they are now and he
had a little one and we justneeded a place to buy all those
birthday party gifts and a placeto have birthday parties and
(06:52):
just a fun place to bring kids.
And that's how Whimsicalstarted.
He connected me with his wifeand she and I became partners
and opened Whimsical Alley.
Jen Gennaro (07:02):
And you guys launched right before COVID
right, we did, we did.
Carrie Godbold (07:07):
We actually were at the International Toy Fair
in New York City when COVIDbroke in the news.
The Javits Center, where theToy Fair was held, became the
first hospital.
Oh my gosh, so we couldn't getout of there fast enough.
Jen Gennaro (07:19):
Yeah, I bet, yeah, yeah.
So tell us about some of yourfavorite memories and the fun
that you had while owning thestore.
Carrie Godbold (07:27):
We had so much fun we did some goat yoga, which
we quickly switched over torescue puppy yoga.
So, we incorporated mussel ofdogs in that we had the Batner
symphony orchestra host theirholiday pops show in our
backyard, which brought me totears every year.
It was truly magical.
(07:47):
We just had so much fun.
We love seeing the kids come.
I still have kids come up to mein public and tell me they miss
it, they miss the unicorns.
It was just such a happy place.
Jen Gennaro (07:59):
I still find glitter in all of the
floorboards and corners, Likethere's just it will live
forever.
Carrie Godbold (08:07):
I hope you find it there forever.
Everyone needs glitter in theirlife, I guess so.
Jen Gennaro (08:12):
What were the events surrounding the decision
to move on from it?
Carrie Godbold (08:16):
It was actually super successful.
We did not close for a lack ofbusiness or success.
We actually closed becausethere are a lot of reasons.
But my partner moved to BatonRouge.
She has a very successfulcareer as an attorney.
My real estate career has beensuper successful, thank goodness
.
So we both just needed to focuson our careers and our families
(08:38):
a little more.
It also was affected by thefact that our children grew.
When we began, our kids werereally into it.
They were proud of it.
They wanted to come toeverything and help us shop.
But as they aged, it was justanother thing that pulled us
away from our kids.
Oh, that makes sense.
Jen Gennaro (08:55):
Yeah, yeah, I get that Okay.
So your dedication to communityengagement is evident.
Can you tell us about thecauses you're most passionate
about and why?
Sure.
Carrie Godbold (09:08):
My most passionate venture has to be the
Zachary Charity League, whichwe founded.
A group of us ladies founded it.
I think it's been almost nine,ten years now.
We all worked together at theAmerican Cancer Society, um,
previously and then decided wewanted to do something that
stayed and benefited Zacharyresidents as much as possible.
(09:31):
So, um, we love what we dothere.
We put a lot of heart and soulinto all of our projects.
Um, I also love Must Love Dogs.
It is.
You didn't mention that yet, yes, it is run by the most amazing
set of women who have hearts ofgold.
They try not to ever turn a dogdown.
(09:52):
If, if at all possible, if thefunds are there and the foster
space is available, they willtake in any dog.
Um, they love these animals andthey're just.
They're the nicest people inthe world.
So if you ever do need a dog,please, please, please, check
them out.
Also, I spent years on theboard of Zachary Early PTO,
(10:14):
zachary Elementary PTO, zepto,until I aged out.
I retired my children aged out,but I do miss that.
It was just a lot of fun, agood way to network with the
teachers and the staff and theadministration and to see your
kids in action at the schools.
It really made me have apositive view of the schools.
(10:35):
You know you hear things but um, that aren't always positive,
but you, if you actually go inthe school and volunteer and
look at these kids, even upthrough the high school working
at the snack shack, these kidsare amazing, the high school's
amazing.
The schools are all amazing.
The middle school, the snackdoing the snacks they're just a
great way to spend any free timethat that parents have.
(10:56):
Um.
And then the yCA I've sat onthe board of directors there in
the food pantry.
All very, very important,worthy causes that help our
community Awesome.
Jen Gennaro (11:07):
So you have been a realtor for what?
15 years now?
Probably so, yes, Somethinglike that.
Okay, so I'm just guessing hereabout the most common question.
You probably get asked how'sthe?
Carrie Godbold (11:20):
market.
So our market right now is notamazing.
It's definitely one of theslowest markets I've seen in
Zachary.
I've always said that inZachary I think we're in a
little bit of a real estatebubble because it is a place
where people want to move to puttheir kids in the school
district.
So we've always, I think, had alittle bit better of a market
(11:42):
than our greater Baton Rougearea.
But right now we're about thesame as the greater Baton Rouge
area.
The interest rates are hosingus up a little bit.
They're not really projected toget too much better in the
upcoming season, but we canalways just keep hoping and
praying and, like realtors,always say date the right marry
(12:04):
the house.
So it is a great opportunity toget a house that in a normal
market in Zachary you'd be in abidding war and you wouldn't
have a chance to have and youwould be upside down in it
because you have to outbideverybody to win this gorgeous
house.
Right now we have some of thebest houses in Zachary for sale
and you could actually get one.
(12:26):
The interest rate might be alittle higher, but you refinance
when time is right, and it'snothing compared to our parents.
Jen Gennaro (12:33):
That's what I was just going to say.
Carrie Godbold (12:33):
My mom keeps reminding me when she and my dad
bought their first house, itwas 17% interest.
It is still better to buy ahouse at six 7% interest than to
pay rent.
Yep, all right, it's a time tobuy.
Jen Gennaro (12:47):
So what price points are selling?
I mean, is there any trend thatyou've noticed?
Carrie Godbold (12:54):
I've personally noticed that a lot more of my
inventory under the $350,000mark is moving.
I think those are the folksthat probably were in a rental
situation and they're decidingyou know, I'm going to go ahead
and buy instead of continuing torent, because the landlords are
also increasing rent becausetheir insurance costs are going
up and so they're passing thatexpense down to their tenants.
(13:17):
I do think it's slower in thehigher price point because what
I'm seeing is, you know, ifsomebody is locked in at a 3%
interest rate on a house, that'sfine.
They may want a change.
It takes a lot to get someoneto sell a house at a 3% interest
rate to turn around and buy ahouse at 6%, 7% interest.
So, unless there's a familyneed a family change, some
(13:42):
reason to move.
Those are the folks that arehaving a harder time right now.
Yeah, I totally get that, Iknow, but I am very optimistic
that people have stayed inhouses that they don't love now
for almost a year.
They're going to start makingmoves.
Jen Gennaro (13:58):
Right, I mean it's the new normal.
There's nothing abnormal aboutthis market.
It's just that everybody is soconditioned about these 2% and
3% and 4% interest rates.
Carrie Godbold (14:09):
I am excited at this point.
We are trying our hardest tonot drop our prices in Zachary.
Our values I really think areholding out.
So as long as we see themovement increase, we're not
going to see a decrease in thevalues.
Jen Gennaro (14:23):
Let's, let's say that again and like really hone
in on it, because dropping theprice is not the answer.
Carrie Godbold (14:30):
It's not the answer.
It affects you.
It affects your neighbors.
That's not going to get you thesale either.
Jen Gennaro (14:36):
Dropping five or $10,000 does not affect a
potential buyer's price.
You know, monthly mortgage,what like 10 bucks?
Carrie Godbold (14:45):
maybe or something crazy, yeah.
So, zachary as a whole, pleasestop reducing your prices.
You're going to ruin our marketvalues?
Jen Gennaro (14:55):
Yeah, exactly, so what were you doing before you
got your real estate license?
Carrie Godbold (15:00):
I was an IT geek .
Actually, when you and I firstmet, I think I was still in my
government job, possibly hadjust gotten my real estate
license.
I did wireless internetdeployment for the state of
Louisiana downtown and I alsoworked as a data engineer for
AT&T Business Systems.
Jen Gennaro (15:20):
Wow, a synchronized swimmer who knows.
Wi-fi stuff.
Did you ever think you'd gofull-time into real estate?
Carrie Godbold (15:28):
It was definitely not a plan.
It happened because of our dearMiss Jelly.
Lack of child care kind ofstumbled upon us at one point
and I had nothing to know whereto put my three children.
So I had to take the leap andit has been wonderful.
Jen Gennaro (15:49):
Yeah, any any plans for retirement?
No girl, all right.
So what are some of themisconceptions that people have
about the real estate industry?
Carrie Godbold (16:00):
You know, I think and I see a lot of this a
lot of my clients becomerealtors.
A lot of them send their kidsto become realtors.
Everybody thinks they want tobe a realtor and I would
encourage anybody who wants togive it a try.
But it really is not for thefaint of heart.
You have to have a super thickskin.
You have to be very honest,very ethical.
(16:20):
It just it can be tough.
I mean, there are some dealsthat are amazing and joyous and,
you know, wonderful and we justwant all of our deals to be
that way, but sometimes it isnot and you have to just be
there to support your clients.
Jen Gennaro (16:36):
And usually I would say it's not.
Carrie Godbold (16:39):
I agree.
Jen Gennaro (16:40):
Every now and then you just get like a chip shot
and you're like I really neededthat encouragement.
Carrie Godbold (16:47):
I also think one thing that people need to know
I often feel like and I bet youdo too, I feel like a counselor.
People come to us usually intimes of life changes, good and
bad and we're there to hear allabout it and help them navigate
the next step.
Jen Gennaro (17:08):
Mediator, contractor, sometimes a
housekeeper yes, dog walker,right.
Okay, so explain the recentchanges in the real estate
industry with the big lawsuitand the effects on the way that
business is conducted now.
Carrie Godbold (17:25):
Okay.
So we are now, as realtors,required to have buyers sign a
buyer's agency agreement beforewe show them houses.
This is something that a lot ofrealtors actually have done in
the past, but it wasn't mandated.
It is mandated now, and thisbuyer's agent agreement outlines
that a buyer may have to payour commission if the house they
(17:47):
want the seller on that houseis not willing to pay it.
I haven't had that happen yetand I'm really hoping that we
continue.
As a listing agent, very oftenmy sellers are still willing to
pay a buyer's agent commission.
I'm trying to keep going theway we've always gone, but with
(18:13):
more communication.
I really think the lawsuitstemmed from agents not
communicating clearly thatsellers were actually paying the
buyer's agent commission.
Sellers knew how muchcommission they were paying, but
I guess they thought that theiragent got all of it.
I wish so I just think thislawsuit to me is actually just
(18:34):
culminating in morecommunication, but I haven't
seen a change in the way we'redoing things yet.
Jen Gennaro (18:40):
Okay, well, that's good news.
Do we want to talk more aboutinterest rates?
Because everybody kept saying,oh, just wait till after the
election, they're going to godown.
So we did that sponsoredcontent article together a few
months ago when the Fed droppedthe rate.
Right, yes, let's kind of talkabout that for a second and just
(19:02):
reiterate that the Fed droppinginterest rates has little to no
bearing on mortgage interestrates.
Carrie Godbold (19:11):
Yes, yeah.
But of course we want to sayinterest rates are dropping,
because it gets people thinkingabout making a move.
And even if interest rates ingeneral are dropping, that does
not mean mortgage interest ratesare dropping.
And everything I'm readingright now is showing that we are
going to see a decline inmortgage rates, but it is going
to be a very slow decline.
(19:33):
The feds meet again in December, so hopefully they'll reduce
the basis again.
But even if they reduce thebasis I think they're talking
about 25 or 50 points that's notgoing to amount to much in a
mortgage.
They will never be at 2.8 again, guys.
No, they won't.
So you all need to start tomuch in a mortgage, they will
never be at 2.8 again, guys.
No, they won't.
So you all need to start buyingand selling right now.
That's right.
Jen Gennaro (19:51):
Yeah, okay, so I know, as a recovering realtor, I
have seen some stuff, so canyou share a funny or an odd
story?
Carrie Godbold (20:01):
This is one we can all learn from.
So I sold this house andeverything was fine.
Everybody was happy.
My buyers move in and few daysgo by and they realize the
mailbox is missing.
And a mailbox is not somethingthat we look for on an
(20:22):
inspection.
Jen Gennaro (20:23):
It's not something you don't even have to specify.
No, not like mailbox to remain.
No.
Carrie Godbold (20:28):
Well, the seller apparently had just replaced
their mailbox and it was one ofthose neighborhoods that
required the $600 matching ironmailbox.
He had not finished paying forthe mailbox, so he decided to
take it.
Jen Gennaro (20:41):
Okay, I had a seller, like 10 years ago,
angrily snatch the logs out ofthe gas fireplace and not tell
me and then, like a few dayslater I get a text and they're
like where are the logs?
And the seller's like thosewere an upgrade.
I took them with me and I'mlike you don't even have a gas
fireplace at your new house.
Like what are?
Carrie Godbold (21:01):
you doing.
People can get really strangein these moments.
It's very stressful sometimesfor these clients and I guess
that's that's what they do.
Jen Gennaro (21:12):
I don't know, crazy .
Okay, so what is your opinionon decorating the house for
Christmas, if the house islisted for sale?
Carrie Godbold (21:19):
Okay, so I, if you are thinking about listing
about right about now it's, youknow, mid November Be in the
house for the holidays.
Yes, you could be in the housefor the holidays, but I would
prefer, as your listing agent,to go ahead and take the
pictures pre decorations onlybecause they do not offend me.
I love how I actually am fullydecorated at home right now.
Um, but if your house doesn'tsell quickly, your pictures now
(21:44):
are going to be very evidentthat you've been on the market
since right before the holidays.
They're going to.
They're going to date thepicture, so you might have to
take new pictures, Um, but oncethe pictures are taken without
decorations, go for it.
I think anything that makesyour house a comfy home will
make a buyer enjoy the space too, as long as it's tasteful.
Jen Gennaro (22:06):
As long as it's tasteful.
Yeah, I don't know.
Okay, so how do you staymotivated during this market, or
?
Carrie Godbold (22:14):
tough deals.
I think you know I've beengenerally busy Personally.
I think there are a few agentsthat are still decently busy, so
I just try to stay creativewith marketing tactics, stay in
touch with my clients.
I also find that my gym hoppinghobby helps me a lot.
(22:35):
It helps me with my happyendorphins.
It also helps me see a lot ofdifferent people, so that's part
of it too.
I really really, really like tokeep my happy mindset and the
business will come.
Jen Gennaro (22:48):
So so what advice would you give to aspiring
realtors?
I mean, so many people comeinto this like thinking that
it's easy, right, and you knowthe deals are just going to come
to them.
But so much of it is aboutnetworking, right, and I think
that's probably a lot to do withyour success as well.
So kind of give some pointerson how to get involved in the
(23:10):
community in an authentic way.
Carrie Godbold (23:11):
Yes, and I think the authentic way is the key
because we see, you know, seesome things that sometimes don't
look so authentic and it turnspeople off, so it does exactly
the opposite.
I do think you know.
I remember this from my veryfirst sales job at AT&T.
They said if you're in youroffice, you're not working, and
same if you work from home.
(23:33):
If you're home, you're not.
I am working.
When I'm home I'm doingmarketing stuff or whatever
phone calls.
But you need to be a person whois comfortable being out,
talking to people, meetingpeople.
I would not become a realtor ifyou're not socially comfortable
.
It's about that.
(23:53):
And two, I tell the agents thatI talk to that are looking to
become an agent or looking toincrease their business find
something that you're actuallypassionate about, because that
authentic part comes back intoplay here.
If I were working with puppydogs and I did not like a dog
and did not have a dog of my own, I think that would be obvious.
If I were doing Zachary CharityLeague and I didn't care about
(24:15):
feeding the hungry children, Ithink that would be obvious and
I just think you need to findsomething that is going to make
your heart happy, whether itactually improves your
networking in your business.
That's really what I tellpeople.
Do it for you first of all, thethings that you're doing for
marketing, and that way, if itdoesn't work in your business,
it still made you happy.
Jen Gennaro (24:38):
Good point, okay, so how can?
Carrie Godbold (24:40):
people get in touch with you.
The best way is to call or textme 225-936-4898, or email me or
go to my webpage, and you canfind all my contact information
on my webpage as well.
Jen Gennaro (24:55):
Perfect, all right.
Well, that is it for thisweek's episode of Fortune Pairs,
the Podcast with Keri Godbold.
It has been a pleasure to haveyou here today.
If you would like to get intouch with Keri about buying or
selling real estate, you canfind her on Facebook or the
internet.
Huge shout out to our communitypartners like the City of
Zachary, the East Baton RougeParish Library System and Breck
(25:16):
Parks, who stand with us in ourmission to make Zachary a place
where every resident feels heardand engaged.
Thanks to the generosity andsupport of our community
partners, the magazine, podcastsand everything you see online
is possible and free because ofthem.
Remember the three T's thatmake up quality of life Pick up
trash when you see it, fostertechnology at any expense and
(25:37):
embrace an attitude of tolerancefor diverse voices to begin to
engage everyone's talents in ourcommunity.
Those diverse voices are thecreative engines that will drive
the future success of oureconomy.
Have a great Monday, everybody.
I'm Carrie Godbold.
Keep listening to FortuneParish the podcast.
Jen Gennaro (00:10):
What's up, zachary?
We are back with anotherexciting episode broadcasting
from our headquarters right herein downtown Zachary.
Our team is working hard on thewinter print issue of Fortune
Parish and the ad commitment isthe end of this week, friday the
22nd.
If you are interested inplacing an ad, reach out to
(00:33):
editor at fortuneparishcom orcall 225-324-9515.
Today we're joined by CarrieGodbold, realtor entrepreneur,
wife, mom to three teenagers.
Carrie is known not only for herwork in the real estate
industry, but also as one of thefounding members of the Zachary
Charity League, host of theAmerican Dream TV show, former
co-owner of Whimsical Alley anda big supporter of Must Love
Dogs, zachary Schools and theYMCA, among other things.
We're going to get into allthat and more, as well as
(00:56):
address the current state of thereal estate market here in
Zachary and what industryexperts are saying.
I'm Jen Gennaro, founder andeditor of Fortune Parish and
your host for today.
We bring you the best ofZachary and the Development
North region through candidconversations every Monday from
our headquarters right here onVirginia Street.
This is Porch and Parish thepodcast.
Stay tuned, we'll be right backwith the lightning round.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
At Porch and Parish we're gearing up for our highly
anticipated winter issue,hitting mailboxes and stands in
mid-January.
If you've been looking for away to reach the Zachary
community, now is the time tosecure your spot.
Ad space is available and thisissue is going to be a must-read
.
Just email editor atporchandparishcom for our media
kit and pricing details.
(01:42):
Whether you're a local businessorganization or just have a
message to share, we've got theperfect placement for you and,
as always, we want to hear fromyou.
Have a feature story idea orknow someone with an inspiring
tale?
Send it our way.
Help us shine a light on whatmakes our community so special.
Porch and Parish Zachary'scommunity magazine and podcast
(02:03):
Excellent, living, engagingstories.
Jen Gennaro (02:15):
We are back with our lightning round.
Carrie, as a realtor, youprobably get asked a lot about
your personal recommendations,so here's one for you.
Who do you use for homesecurity?
Carrie Godbold (02:25):
Oh, I love this one.
With all the technologyavailable nowadays cameras
everywhere inside and outside ofhouses and alarms going off and
going crazy, my favorite alarmsystem is a rescue dog, or three
like me.
What kinds do you have?
What are their names?
They're all mutts.
I have rainbow, she's aPomeranian Chihuahua.
(02:46):
I have Texas, he is a standardpoodle hound mix.
And I have Winnie, who is aCatahoula shepherd mix of some
sort.
They're all rescue from thestreet or must love dogs,
awesome.
Jen Gennaro (03:01):
We are due for another dog, as you you heard.
Carrie Godbold (03:03):
I did hear.
Jen Gennaro (03:04):
I'm sorry, I know I know, okay, so what is your
favorite hobby outside of work?
Travel.
Carrie Godbold (03:12):
We love to travel.
We get in the car and go forrandom road trips.
We get on planes.
We love anything that has anadventure or a concert
associated with it.
Do you have any concerts comingup?
We're going to JustinTimberlake, yeah, we went to.
Billie Eilish, like two weeksago, and right before that gosh,
(03:33):
where was I?
It's a lot.
We love a concert.
Jen Gennaro (03:37):
Did you notice that I'm kind of channeling Justin
Timberlake at the 2000 Grammys?
Carrie Godbold (03:42):
with my double denim today.
Jen Gennaro (03:43):
I love it.
Thank you so much.
Okay, so when you have time tosqueeze in some exercise, what
is your workout of choice?
Carrie Godbold (03:49):
Okay, this is um a very um funny story of me?
Yeah, very loaded question.
I'm a gym hopper.
My hobby really is to hop gyms.
I go from CrossFit Zacharypersonal training to cardio
tennis, personal training tocardio tennis to my peloton to
(04:11):
hot works in baton rouge, likeliterally once a week at all
these places.
Wow, you're doing great, though.
Jen Gennaro (04:14):
Well, yes, my workout is carrying an oversized
toddler up and down thesestairs.
Carrie Godbold (04:18):
That is actually the best workout, because I go
to these gyms and talk more thanI exercise right just to see if
they'll notice, and they'relike this is not therapy.
Pay attention, carrie, yeah.
Jen Gennaro (04:28):
Right, okay, so tell us about Vintage Carrie.
What organizations were youinvolved with in high school?
Carrie Godbold (04:34):
Oh, so this is a giveaway that I'm not from here
.
I was a synchronized swimmer inhigh school.
I did not know that.
Yeah, so who is it Eva?
Eva is a swimmer, swimmer.
Jen Gennaro (04:55):
Okay, I'm a synchronized, so like can't
actually do a swim strokeproperly, but I can float for
days.
Wow, when did you, when did youthrow in the towel?
Carrie Godbold (05:01):
Well, since really it's not offered very
many places, when I graduatedhigh school that ended.
What a waste of talent.
I know.
Jen Gennaro (05:10):
So how did you end up in Zachary?
Carrie Godbold (05:13):
I moved from Akron, ohio, to Baton Rouge to
go to LSU when I graduated highschool and while I was at LSU I
worked at the Backpacker, met myhusband there and we lived in
Baton Rouge for the first fewyears while we started having
babies, but then we knew weneeded to find a community to
raise them in.
So we moved to Zachary.
(05:34):
We did not know one person hereand the community has just been
so wonderful to us.
So that was what 15?
My oldest is 18 now.
He was one when we moved here.
Jen Gennaro (05:47):
Wow, yeah, okay, so that is it for the lightning
round, but I'm going to segueinto the interview with a little
bit of background.
So Carrie was one of the veryfirst people I met when we moved
to Zachary 14 years ago thismonth.
Her daughter, ellie, and myoldest son, max, were babies
together at Miss JellyTolentino's in-home nursery.
I have no recollection of theconversation surrounding it, but
(06:09):
Carrie was the one whoencouraged me to become a
realtor, and we worked togethermany times over the 12 plus
years that I was in real estate.
Our most recent transaction waswhen Michael and I bought the
beautiful Victorian home wherewe now live, once known as
Whimsical Alley Toy Store.
So Carrie Whimsical was unlikeanything this town or region had
ever seen.
How did the idea first comeabout?
Carrie Godbold (06:32):
I was actually having coffee with a real estate
friend and we were talkingabout he lived here in Zachary.
We were talking about what wethought Zachary lacked and at
the time my children were muchsmaller than they are now and he
had a little one and we justneeded a place to buy all those
birthday party gifts and a placeto have birthday parties and
(06:52):
just a fun place to bring kids.
And that's how Whimsicalstarted.
He connected me with his wifeand she and I became partners
and opened Whimsical Alley.
Jen Gennaro (07:02):
And you guys launched right before COVID
right, we did, we did.
Carrie Godbold (07:07):
We actually were at the International Toy Fair
in New York City when COVIDbroke in the news.
The Javits Center, where theToy Fair was held, became the
first hospital.
Oh my gosh, so we couldn't getout of there fast enough.
Jen Gennaro (07:19):
Yeah, I bet, yeah, yeah.
So tell us about some of yourfavorite memories and the fun
that you had while owning thestore.
Carrie Godbold (07:27):
We had so much fun we did some goat yoga, which
we quickly switched over torescue puppy yoga.
So, we incorporated mussel ofdogs in that we had the Batner
symphony orchestra host theirholiday pops show in our
backyard, which brought me totears every year.
It was truly magical.
(07:47):
We just had so much fun.
We love seeing the kids come.
I still have kids come up to mein public and tell me they miss
it, they miss the unicorns.
It was just such a happy place.
Jen Gennaro (07:59):
I still find glitter in all of the
floorboards and corners, Likethere's just it will live
forever.
Carrie Godbold (08:07):
I hope you find it there forever.
Everyone needs glitter in theirlife, I guess so.
Jen Gennaro (08:12):
What were the events surrounding the decision
to move on from it?
Carrie Godbold (08:16):
It was actually super successful.
We did not close for a lack ofbusiness or success.
We actually closed becausethere are a lot of reasons.
But my partner moved to BatonRouge.
She has a very successfulcareer as an attorney.
My real estate career has beensuper successful, thank goodness
.
So we both just needed to focuson our careers and our families
(08:38):
a little more.
It also was affected by thefact that our children grew.
When we began, our kids werereally into it.
They were proud of it.
They wanted to come toeverything and help us shop.
But as they aged, it was justanother thing that pulled us
away from our kids.
Oh, that makes sense.
Jen Gennaro (08:55):
Yeah, yeah, I get that Okay.
So your dedication to communityengagement is evident.
Can you tell us about thecauses you're most passionate
about and why?
Sure.
Carrie Godbold (09:08):
My most passionate venture has to be the
Zachary Charity League, whichwe founded.
A group of us ladies founded it.
I think it's been almost nine,ten years now.
We all worked together at theAmerican Cancer Society, um,
previously and then decided wewanted to do something that
stayed and benefited Zacharyresidents as much as possible.
(09:31):
So, um, we love what we dothere.
We put a lot of heart and soulinto all of our projects.
Um, I also love Must Love Dogs.
It is.
You didn't mention that yet, yes, it is run by the most amazing
set of women who have hearts ofgold.
They try not to ever turn a dogdown.
(09:52):
If, if at all possible, if thefunds are there and the foster
space is available, they willtake in any dog.
Um, they love these animals andthey're just.
They're the nicest people inthe world.
So if you ever do need a dog,please, please, please, check
them out.
Also, I spent years on theboard of Zachary Early PTO,
(10:14):
zachary Elementary PTO, zepto,until I aged out.
I retired my children aged out,but I do miss that.
It was just a lot of fun, agood way to network with the
teachers and the staff and theadministration and to see your
kids in action at the schools.
It really made me have apositive view of the schools.
(10:35):
You know you hear things but um, that aren't always positive,
but you, if you actually go inthe school and volunteer and
look at these kids, even upthrough the high school working
at the snack shack, these kidsare amazing, the high school's
amazing.
The schools are all amazing.
The middle school, the snackdoing the snacks they're just a
great way to spend any free timethat that parents have.
(10:56):
Um.
And then the yCA I've sat onthe board of directors there in
the food pantry.
All very, very important,worthy causes that help our
community Awesome.
Jen Gennaro (11:07):
So you have been a realtor for what?
15 years now?
Probably so, yes, Somethinglike that.
Okay, so I'm just guessing hereabout the most common question.
You probably get asked how'sthe?
Carrie Godbold (11:20):
market.
So our market right now is notamazing.
It's definitely one of theslowest markets I've seen in
Zachary.
I've always said that inZachary I think we're in a
little bit of a real estatebubble because it is a place
where people want to move to puttheir kids in the school
district.
So we've always, I think, had alittle bit better of a market
(11:42):
than our greater Baton Rougearea.
But right now we're about thesame as the greater Baton Rouge
area.
The interest rates are hosingus up a little bit.
They're not really projected toget too much better in the
upcoming season, but we canalways just keep hoping and
praying and, like realtors,always say date the right marry
(12:04):
the house.
So it is a great opportunity toget a house that in a normal
market in Zachary you'd be in abidding war and you wouldn't
have a chance to have and youwould be upside down in it
because you have to outbideverybody to win this gorgeous
house.
Right now we have some of thebest houses in Zachary for sale
and you could actually get one.
(12:26):
The interest rate might be alittle higher, but you refinance
when time is right, and it'snothing compared to our parents.
Jen Gennaro (12:33):
That's what I was just going to say.
Carrie Godbold (12:33):
My mom keeps reminding me when she and my dad
bought their first house, itwas 17% interest.
It is still better to buy ahouse at six 7% interest than to
pay rent.
Yep, all right, it's a time tobuy.
Jen Gennaro (12:47):
So what price points are selling?
I mean, is there any trend thatyou've noticed?
Carrie Godbold (12:54):
I've personally noticed that a lot more of my
inventory under the $350,000mark is moving.
I think those are the folksthat probably were in a rental
situation and they're decidingyou know, I'm going to go ahead
and buy instead of continuing torent, because the landlords are
also increasing rent becausetheir insurance costs are going
up and so they're passing thatexpense down to their tenants.
(13:17):
I do think it's slower in thehigher price point because what
I'm seeing is, you know, ifsomebody is locked in at a 3%
interest rate on a house, that'sfine.
They may want a change.
It takes a lot to get someoneto sell a house at a 3% interest
rate to turn around and buy ahouse at 6%, 7% interest.
So, unless there's a familyneed a family change, some
(13:42):
reason to move.
Those are the folks that arehaving a harder time right now.
Yeah, I totally get that, Iknow, but I am very optimistic
that people have stayed inhouses that they don't love now
for almost a year.
They're going to start makingmoves.
Jen Gennaro (13:58):
Right, I mean it's the new normal.
There's nothing abnormal aboutthis market.
It's just that everybody is soconditioned about these 2% and
3% and 4% interest rates.
Carrie Godbold (14:09):
I am excited at this point.
We are trying our hardest tonot drop our prices in Zachary.
Our values I really think areholding out.
So as long as we see themovement increase, we're not
going to see a decrease in thevalues.
Jen Gennaro (14:23):
Let's, let's say that again and like really hone
in on it, because dropping theprice is not the answer.
Carrie Godbold (14:30):
It's not the answer.
It affects you.
It affects your neighbors.
That's not going to get you thesale either.
Jen Gennaro (14:36):
Dropping five or $10,000 does not affect a
potential buyer's price.
You know, monthly mortgage,what like 10 bucks?
Carrie Godbold (14:45):
maybe or something crazy, yeah.
So, zachary as a whole, pleasestop reducing your prices.
You're going to ruin our marketvalues?
Jen Gennaro (14:55):
Yeah, exactly, so what were you doing before you
got your real estate license?
Carrie Godbold (15:00):
I was an IT geek .
Actually, when you and I firstmet, I think I was still in my
government job, possibly hadjust gotten my real estate
license.
I did wireless internetdeployment for the state of
Louisiana downtown and I alsoworked as a data engineer for
AT&T Business Systems.
Jen Gennaro (15:20):
Wow, a synchronized swimmer who knows.
Wi-fi stuff.
Did you ever think you'd gofull-time into real estate?
Carrie Godbold (15:28):
It was definitely not a plan.
It happened because of our dearMiss Jelly.
Lack of child care kind ofstumbled upon us at one point
and I had nothing to know whereto put my three children.
So I had to take the leap andit has been wonderful.
Jen Gennaro (15:49):
Yeah, any any plans for retirement?
No girl, all right.
So what are some of themisconceptions that people have
about the real estate industry?
Carrie Godbold (16:00):
You know, I think and I see a lot of this a
lot of my clients becomerealtors.
A lot of them send their kidsto become realtors.
Everybody thinks they want tobe a realtor and I would
encourage anybody who wants togive it a try.
But it really is not for thefaint of heart.
You have to have a super thickskin.
You have to be very honest,very ethical.
(16:20):
It just it can be tough.
I mean, there are some dealsthat are amazing and joyous and,
you know, wonderful and we justwant all of our deals to be
that way, but sometimes it isnot and you have to just be
there to support your clients.
Jen Gennaro (16:36):
And usually I would say it's not.
Carrie Godbold (16:39):
I agree.
Jen Gennaro (16:40):
Every now and then you just get like a chip shot
and you're like I really neededthat encouragement.
Carrie Godbold (16:47):
I also think one thing that people need to know
I often feel like and I bet youdo too, I feel like a counselor.
People come to us usually intimes of life changes, good and
bad and we're there to hear allabout it and help them navigate
the next step.
Jen Gennaro (17:08):
Mediator, contractor, sometimes a
housekeeper yes, dog walker,right.
Okay, so explain the recentchanges in the real estate
industry with the big lawsuitand the effects on the way that
business is conducted now.
Carrie Godbold (17:25):
Okay.
So we are now, as realtors,required to have buyers sign a
buyer's agency agreement beforewe show them houses.
This is something that a lot ofrealtors actually have done in
the past, but it wasn't mandated.
It is mandated now, and thisbuyer's agent agreement outlines
that a buyer may have to payour commission if the house they
(17:47):
want the seller on that houseis not willing to pay it.
I haven't had that happen yetand I'm really hoping that we
continue.
As a listing agent, very oftenmy sellers are still willing to
pay a buyer's agent commission.
I'm trying to keep going theway we've always gone, but with
(18:13):
more communication.
I really think the lawsuitstemmed from agents not
communicating clearly thatsellers were actually paying the
buyer's agent commission.
Sellers knew how muchcommission they were paying, but
I guess they thought that theiragent got all of it.
I wish so I just think thislawsuit to me is actually just
(18:34):
culminating in morecommunication, but I haven't
seen a change in the way we'redoing things yet.
Jen Gennaro (18:40):
Okay, well, that's good news.
Do we want to talk more aboutinterest rates?
Because everybody kept saying,oh, just wait till after the
election, they're going to godown.
So we did that sponsoredcontent article together a few
months ago when the Fed droppedthe rate.
Right, yes, let's kind of talkabout that for a second and just
(19:02):
reiterate that the Fed droppinginterest rates has little to no
bearing on mortgage interestrates.
Carrie Godbold (19:11):
Yes, yeah.
But of course we want to sayinterest rates are dropping,
because it gets people thinkingabout making a move.
And even if interest rates ingeneral are dropping, that does
not mean mortgage interest ratesare dropping.
And everything I'm readingright now is showing that we are
going to see a decline inmortgage rates, but it is going
to be a very slow decline.
(19:33):
The feds meet again in December, so hopefully they'll reduce
the basis again.
But even if they reduce thebasis I think they're talking
about 25 or 50 points that's notgoing to amount to much in a
mortgage.
They will never be at 2.8 again, guys.
No, they won't.
So you all need to start tomuch in a mortgage, they will
never be at 2.8 again, guys.
No, they won't.
So you all need to start buyingand selling right now.
That's right.
Jen Gennaro (19:51):
Yeah, okay, so I know, as a recovering realtor, I
have seen some stuff, so canyou share a funny or an odd
story?
Carrie Godbold (20:01):
This is one we can all learn from.
So I sold this house andeverything was fine.
Everybody was happy.
My buyers move in and few daysgo by and they realize the
mailbox is missing.
And a mailbox is not somethingthat we look for on an
(20:22):
inspection.
Jen Gennaro (20:23):
It's not something you don't even have to specify.
No, not like mailbox to remain.
No.
Carrie Godbold (20:28):
Well, the seller apparently had just replaced
their mailbox and it was one ofthose neighborhoods that
required the $600 matching ironmailbox.
He had not finished paying forthe mailbox, so he decided to
take it.
Jen Gennaro (20:41):
Okay, I had a seller, like 10 years ago,
angrily snatch the logs out ofthe gas fireplace and not tell
me and then, like a few dayslater I get a text and they're
like where are the logs?
And the seller's like thosewere an upgrade.
I took them with me and I'mlike you don't even have a gas
fireplace at your new house.
Like what are?
Carrie Godbold (21:01):
you doing.
People can get really strangein these moments.
It's very stressful sometimesfor these clients and I guess
that's that's what they do.
Jen Gennaro (21:12):
I don't know, crazy .
Okay, so what is your opinionon decorating the house for
Christmas, if the house islisted for sale?
Carrie Godbold (21:19):
Okay, so I, if you are thinking about listing
about right about now it's, youknow, mid November Be in the
house for the holidays.
Yes, you could be in the housefor the holidays, but I would
prefer, as your listing agent,to go ahead and take the
pictures pre decorations onlybecause they do not offend me.
I love how I actually am fullydecorated at home right now.
Um, but if your house doesn'tsell quickly, your pictures now
(21:44):
are going to be very evidentthat you've been on the market
since right before the holidays.
They're going to.
They're going to date thepicture, so you might have to
take new pictures, Um, but oncethe pictures are taken without
decorations, go for it.
I think anything that makesyour house a comfy home will
make a buyer enjoy the space too, as long as it's tasteful.
Jen Gennaro (22:06):
As long as it's tasteful.
Yeah, I don't know.
Okay, so how do you staymotivated during this market, or
?
Carrie Godbold (22:14):
tough deals.
I think you know I've beengenerally busy Personally.
I think there are a few agentsthat are still decently busy, so
I just try to stay creativewith marketing tactics, stay in
touch with my clients.
I also find that my gym hoppinghobby helps me a lot.
(22:35):
It helps me with my happyendorphins.
It also helps me see a lot ofdifferent people, so that's part
of it too.
I really really, really like tokeep my happy mindset and the
business will come.
Jen Gennaro (22:48):
So so what advice would you give to aspiring
realtors?
I mean, so many people comeinto this like thinking that
it's easy, right, and you knowthe deals are just going to come
to them.
But so much of it is aboutnetworking, right, and I think
that's probably a lot to do withyour success as well.
So kind of give some pointerson how to get involved in the
(23:10):
community in an authentic way.
Carrie Godbold (23:11):
Yes, and I think the authentic way is the key
because we see, you know, seesome things that sometimes don't
look so authentic and it turnspeople off, so it does exactly
the opposite.
I do think you know.
I remember this from my veryfirst sales job at AT&T.
They said if you're in youroffice, you're not working, and
same if you work from home.
(23:33):
If you're home, you're not.
I am working.
When I'm home I'm doingmarketing stuff or whatever
phone calls.
But you need to be a person whois comfortable being out,
talking to people, meetingpeople.
I would not become a realtor ifyou're not socially comfortable
.
It's about that.
(23:53):
And two, I tell the agents thatI talk to that are looking to
become an agent or looking toincrease their business find
something that you're actuallypassionate about, because that
authentic part comes back intoplay here.
If I were working with puppydogs and I did not like a dog
and did not have a dog of my own, I think that would be obvious.
If I were doing Zachary CharityLeague and I didn't care about
(24:15):
feeding the hungry children, Ithink that would be obvious and
I just think you need to findsomething that is going to make
your heart happy, whether itactually improves your
networking in your business.
That's really what I tellpeople.
Do it for you first of all, thethings that you're doing for
marketing, and that way, if itdoesn't work in your business,
it still made you happy.
Jen Gennaro (24:38):
Good point, okay, so how can?
Carrie Godbold (24:40):
people get in touch with you.
The best way is to call or textme 225-936-4898, or email me or
go to my webpage, and you canfind all my contact information
on my webpage as well.
Jen Gennaro (24:55):
Perfect, all right.
Well, that is it for thisweek's episode of Fortune Pairs,
the Podcast with Keri Godbold.
It has been a pleasure to haveyou here today.
If you would like to get intouch with Keri about buying or
selling real estate, you canfind her on Facebook or the
internet.
Huge shout out to our communitypartners like the City of
Zachary, the East Baton RougeParish Library System and Breck
(25:16):
Parks, who stand with us in ourmission to make Zachary a place
where every resident feels heardand engaged.
Thanks to the generosity andsupport of our community
partners, the magazine, podcastsand everything you see online
is possible and free because ofthem.
Remember the three T's thatmake up quality of life Pick up
trash when you see it, fostertechnology at any expense and
(25:37):
embrace an attitude of tolerancefor diverse voices to begin to
engage everyone's talents in ourcommunity.
Those diverse voices are thecreative engines that will drive
the future success of oureconomy.
Have a great Monday, everybody.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!