My time in the NFL began soon after I graduated college. It ended a couple of years later. I needed to find a new path for the future. When I found myself in the middle of a business opportunity, I knew I could not squander it.

When you have spent your whole life working to achieve a goal and you get it, what happens next?

This was the situation I found myself in. Since I was a kid, I wanted to be a professional football player. I made that dream a reality, playing all through high school, college, and into the NFL. I played for the 49ers from 1986 to 1987. That was all it took for my body to tell me it had enough. I have undergone 15 surgeries over the course of my life, thanks to my time in football, but I would not change it for the world. I had the time of my life.
My time in the NFL began soon after I graduated college. It ended a couple of years later. I needed to find a new path for the future. When I found myself in the middle of a business opportunity, I knew I could not squander it.

When you have spent your whole life working to achieve a goal and you get it, what happens next?

This was the situation I found myself in. Since I was a kid, I wanted to be a professional football player. I made that dream a reality, playing all through high school, college, and into the NFL. I played for the 49ers from 1986 to 1987. That was all it took for my body to tell me it had enough. I have undergone 15 surgeries over the course of my life, thanks to my time in football, but I would not change it for the world. I had the time of my life.

But it is a strange feeling, achieving your goal and wondering what comes next. Especially when it will drastically change your career path. Luckily, I was still young, hungry, and anxious to prove myself in another field.

I quickly got into sales, having a background in it from my college years. I went to work for a title company, a company that handled the legal document for properties. I was immediately drawn to the work the realtors were doing. I had a new goal—to become a real estate agent. 

On my last day working for the title business, I had passed my real estate exam and was waiting for my license to arrive. I said good-bye to all the people I worked with, many of them agents, letting them know that I was moving onto bigger and better things. They were all incredibly encouraging.

One of the last people I saw that day was the president of a bank, Tom. I told him the news, and he seemed excited for me.

As we talked, I said, “You wouldn’t happen to know anyone who’s looking to buy or sell their home, would you?”

“As a matter of fact, I do,” Tom laughed. “Me!”

Tom had meant it as a gentle encouragement for a new realtor just getting into the business, not expecting anything to come of it. But young and hungry John Faylor took him at his word!

As soon as I got home, I started printing out listings. I found one particularly interesting one. It was a little unusual, but I could see some real potential if it was fixed up.

I called the homeowner. “Hi, I’m looking at a home for a client and came across your listing. I was wondering if I could see the house in person?”

“That would be great. When were you thinking?”

“...Tonight?”

That same night I looked at the house for myself. As I suspected, it was a fixer upper, but a beautiful piece of architecture.

 The next morning, I called Tom, telling him I found him a house. At this point, he tried to let me down easy, saying he was impressed by my attitude, but he’d looked at dozens of houses from realtors with a lot more experience than me, and he doubted I’d be much help.

“You haven’t seen this house,” I told him. “It wouldn’t hurt to take a look.”

Tom heard the determination in my voice and agreed to see the house. Then he agreed to buy it. All before my license arrived in the mail!

I tell this story not to suggest the job is easy. It requires a lot of time and effort and care. I tell it because I never lost that drive and determination. Spending more time in the industry and gaining more knowledge has made me an even better realtor. If I could do that for Tom in two days, just imagine what I could do for you.

I also recognize the importance of having a place for your family. I am married with five kids. My kids range in age from 9 to 29 with a grandchild on the way. I have had children living in the house for a good long while and still have a couple of them living in the house now. We have grown in the community as a family, and they have even gone to the same school I went to. My hope is for each one of my clients to grow into the home and community that is meant for them, as I’ve been able to do for myself.

I have put in the work to learn this industry from relationships with fantastic brokers and mentors. They taught me the right way to approach the business: keep the client as your #1 priority. It is an important rule and one that I always stand by. To me, it does not matter the price, I treat every client with the same level of service. I am my own greatest critic, and that high standard ensures that I will find a client whatever they need. Perhaps the most important thing I provide my clients with is education. Most people are never educated on the ins and outs of buying or selling a home. I provide that. I also lay out the process, let them know what to expect and when to expect it. Beyond that, I am a constant guide and advisor. I am respectful, kind, ethical, and trustworthy. I work with construction crews, vendors, and repairmen. If you need a repair done, I will even cover the cost up front, allowing you extra time to pay it back. I look forward to the opportunity of working with you!

With gratitude, 
 
John Faylor
REALTOR®