Tristina Harshaw
AUGUST 2023 COVER STORY
STORY BY ZACHARY COHEN | PHOTOS BY SHAWNA McDUFFIE, PEAK RES
WORK HARD. BE KIND.
The last time we sat down with Tristina Harshaw, she was featured as an OKC Real Producers Rising Star. Just over a year later, Tristina has taken another big step in her business, launching herself in Oklahoma City’s top 100 agents and earning the honor of being featured once again — this time, on the cover.
A few changes to Tristina’s business have been instrumental to her success, namely, the addition of her husband, Lyle, to the team and her corresponding move to Real Broker. But, what’s truly made the difference for Tristina has been her approach to the business. She takes Real Broker’s motto, Work hard. Be kind., to heart, achieving a balance between dedication to her profession and commitment to kindness.
A FRESH START
An Oklahoma City native, Tristina launched her real estate career in 2019. After nearly three years at eXp, where she rose to become a top agent and reached eXp's ICON status, Tristina transitioned to Real Broker in early 2022, becoming just the sixth agent in the state to join the up-and-coming brokerage. She soon became the first agent in Oklahoma to reach Real's ELITE agent status.
“When I moved to Real, it was super new and super small in Oklahoma with only five agents before me. eXp was great, and I had a great group of agents that I worked closely with, some of [whom] made the move to Real as well. It was when I was introduced to Real, what they have to offer, the technology, and the people that make up the culture within the brokerage, that I quickly recognized the opportunity and made the move. I wasn’t looking for a change, but I knew that if I ever made a move, I didn’t want to get away from the cloud-based brokerage model. I believe this [model] is the way of the future. Our lives and our businesses are being run more and more electronically each day.
“The best part of being at Real is the collaboration and training that is available from top producers across the country,” Tristina’s husband and business partner, Lyle, adds. “These agents and team leaders are easily accessible and willing to share what’s working in their business with anyone. This collaboration has been a big win for us.”
Tristina especially resonates with the culture at Real Broker. The company’s two mottos, Work hard. Be kind. and No Agent Left Behind, represent Tristina’s approach well. The brokerage has now grown to over 80 agents in Oklahoma and over 11,000 agents across the US and Canada.
JOINING FAMILY AND BUSINESS
Tristina closed an impressive 44 transactions for $18 million in 2022, nearly doubling her 2021 sales. That wouldn’t have been possible without the addition of her husband, Lyle, to the team. Lyle was officially licensed in December 2021 and became a full-time agent shortly after.
Lyle brings over two decades of experience in residential construction. In fact, he’s been supporting Tristina’s business since the start. Now, he’s officially a part of the team.
“We work together for each client,” Lyle explains. “Tristina is great at communicating with the clients and negotiating with the agents on the other side of the transaction. I use my construction experience to go check out properties with the clients and help them ensure it's a good fit. During the property tours, I also answer any questions or concerns they may have about the homes.”
“Lyle working with me is a huge asset,” Tristina says proudly. “You can see it as a plus or minus that we literally spend 24 hours a day together, 7 days a week, but he's my best friend. There are not many moves I make without communication with him.”
EYE ON THE FUTURE
When they’re not selling real estate, you’ll find Tristina and Lyle with their kids. Their children, Asher, Shiloh, Raelyn, and Graceyn, are now 12, 10, 8, and 6, respectively.
“We are hockey, hockey, hockey, dance, dance, dance,” Tristina laughs. “We are all about our kids and our family.”
Tristina and Lyle hope that one day, their kids might choose to join them in real estate and, eventually, take over the business. But with their oldest still just 12 years old, that dream is still many years from being a possibility. For now, they are focused on growing their business and sharing kindness with everyone they meet.
“Our clients love us because they know they can call us any time of day for anything — and they do. We are here to be a resource, to be the ones you never think twice about picking up the phone to call, to be the ones you think of for anything real estate or anything to do with your home.”
