Copyright Top Agent Magazine AMPARO USREY How did Amparo Usrey become one of the most beloved names in real estate in New Mexico? Before finding her way to real estate, Amparo Usrey was a bar manager and a food and beverage director at a hotel. her 80 hour work week made her realize she wanted to find a new career. A Realtor she knew reached out to her to ask if she might be interested in becoming an agent. “I enrolled and went to the classes and found out quickly I had a knack for it! I internalized it! I loved it!” she says. “I hit the ground running. I got my license on June 1 and had my first house under contract June 3. By June 9 I had five houses under contract and I haven’t slowed down since!” she says. Now with three years in the business and 117 homes sold, Amparo is with RE/MAX Combined Invest- ments and is the top agent in her market. She serves Gallup and McKinley counties. Amparo has a high rate of repeat and referral busi- ness and often serves FBI employees, teachers, and employees of the local hospitals. “For me, a real estate transaction is about developing friendships and long lasting relationships. My hashtag is #myclientsbe- comefamily,” she explains. Amparo genuinely cares about her clients and takes the time to find out their wants, needs, and goals. She’s straightforward with her clients, and they appreciate it! “I try to be real with my clients. I share with them the very human side of what it is we are doing,” she says. Amparo has a past as a stand-up comedian, and she likes to make sure her clients are smiling and laughing throughout the process. Because Amparo lives in a small commu- nity, she runs into past clients frequently and enjoys to stopping to chat and catch up. “Everywhere I go there’s somebody I’ve sold a house to, or talked to, or touched in some way through this process. I just really try to maintain those relationships. That’s a genuine thing,” she explains Amparo understands that in today’s market, most buyers begin their search for a home online. So she always hires a professional photographer to take high quality photos that highlight the property’s best features, and she advises clients on staging. Each listing has its own website that she promotes online and through social media, she’s a premiere agent on Zillow and Realtor.com, and she markets properties on Google listings as well. “I’ve been trying to do things just a little bit outside the box,” she says.