Tristina Harshaw

RISING STAR

PHOTOS BY NESTED TOURS | STORY BY ZACH COHEN

“You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”

— Steve Jobs

Sometimes, one moment can change the course of a life. In 2019, Tristina was having a beer and playing cornhole with a friend who acted as her REALTOR®. As the pair talked about life and real estate, Tristina had an epiphany: she was going to get her real estate license.

“He said, ‘No, you won’t.’ I said, ‘Yes, I'm going to get my license.’ I just did it, and the world changed for me.”

Up until that point, Tristina had been studying to become a nurse. But when real estate caught her attention, she felt an immediate sense of purpose that was never present during her time working for the hospital or studying.

“As soon as I started, I realized this is what I needed to be doing my whole life. This is my destiny.”

Rewind

Tristina grew up splitting time between living with her parents in Oklahoma City and her grandparents in Lawton. She married her husband, Lyle, at a fairly young age, and the couple moved to Palm Springs, California. There, they owned and operated a luxury window and door company that installed custom glass for some of the most desirable homes in the area. Tristina recalls attending home builder shows in Las Vegas, which proved an early spark for her eventual career in real estate.

“This is what started my never-ending desire to tour homes until well past sundown,” Tristina says. “Most women can shop until they drop in department stores, but I can shop until I drop for perfect homes.”

By 2010, however, Tristina’s life had shifted. She was about to give birth to her first son, and the market crashed in California. So, the following year, she picked up her family and returned home to Oklahoma.

Leading With Patience

It would take Tristina another eight years to find her way into the real estate business, and her patience continues to serve her today.

“What makes my business different, I would have to say, is my patience. I am never in a rush. The relationships I have with clients are friendships that I pray will last a lifetime. We tour, chat, have breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Yes, my job is work, but for the most part, it rarely feels like it because I’m never in a hurry,” Tristina says. “I'm in no rush, and I don't rush anybody.”

In the past two years, Tristina’s business has grown tremendously, and in 2021, she closed over $11 million. Most importantly, she’s had the pleasure of helping dozens of families find a new home.

“I believe I will be remembered by how I treat people. I have never met a stranger. If you need me, I am there, even if it's just to lend an ear.”

Looking Ahead

Tristina’s children, Asher, Shiloh, Raelyn, and Graceyn, are now 11, 9, 7, and 5, respectively. When Tristina’s not out showing homes, she’s guaranteed to be spending time with her family. It’s the simple things that bring their family the most pleasure — living in the moment, dance parties, and games.

When asked about her future, Tristina declines to offer a concrete vision and instead offers a potent reminder.

“As far as what the future holds for me, I don’t know… If we live each moment of our lives to our fullest potential, we will have only great things to look forward to. That is what I choose to do, each and every day.”