His home state of Mississippi and Ole Miss college football are deep in Rick Raanes’ heart. But it was 600 miles away in the southern end of Texas where this real estate professional found success.
“Growing up, it didn’t provide a lot of opportunities,” said Raanes of Mississippi. “The interesting thing is Miss is such a unique place when it comes to hospitality and the Southern way. I love sitting on the front porch looking out to the beach or the bay.”
His memories of Mississippi are warm, but the Longhorn State gave Raanes the prod he needed. It’s in Houston, alongside his wife, Vanessa, where Raanes leads a 10-person team that goes by a name that pays homage to his adopted home state. The Texas RockStar Group not only sounds like a winner. It exceeded $24 million in sales in 2019.
‘If You Wear Khakis, You’ll Make More Money’
He’s come a long way since his early days in Mississippi and Memphis, Tenn., where he tried to scale a remodeling business. He eventually moved to Houston and got his real estate license with a major brokerage, but he was still hustling at remodeling jobs when, one day, he pulled his Ford F-250 crew cab pickup into the parking lot to meet with his broker/manager.
The broker saw Raanes changing out of his work jeans into khakis and as he walked by, he tapped on the window and delivered a one-sentence incentive that stuck with Raanes from that day forward: “If you wear khakis, you’ll make more money.”
Khakis and real estate were his future.
While Raanes was completely happy at this brokerage, he said he ran into a “hiccup” on trying to grow his team. “I wanted to add an agent, but (the brokerage said) you need to increase production (first).”
He spoke with a former colleague who moved to eXp and realized eXp had a better fit and a winning package:
- More opportunity for growth
- A more flexible commission structure plus revenue sharing
- A stock plan
He was sold. Rick and Vanessa joined eXp in 2017.
“We looked at our past 24 months of income and discovered that we would have earned more than $24,000 had we been with eXp,” Raanes said. “That $24,000 today would be worth $100,000 if we had made the decision sooner.”
eXp Gave Raanes a Sense of Security When a Medical Issue Arose
The additional revenue benefits that eXp provides were also an epiphany for Raanes, providing a stable income flow in case of emergency. His sponsor was diagnosed with cancer and needed months of chemo and recovery time. And then Raanes dealt with his own medical issue in 2013, when he was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his right eye.
“It makes me cry to think about eXp and how people can endure with the revenue model,” said Raanes. “He (Raanes’ sponsor) was able to take off work completely to work on his health, meanwhile still able to pay his bills and take care of his medical challenges. There is a different confidence level without stress.”
Raanes is still working all levers of the business, seeing each year build on itself and become bigger than the previous year.
“I’m hustling listings, coaching, attracting — I’m doing it all,” said Raanes. “We’re doing online marketing for lead generation. I love Facebook. We tweet, do Instagram. My 11-year-old is trying to get me on TikTok.”
Raanes also commends the technology that is shared by eXp, which has helped his team create a “stay in touch” mindset that didn’t exist before.
“Working from just about anywhere, I have the opportunity to share fun things with our database, and in turn, they love doing business with us,” said Raanes.
Tweet
Raanes says that in just two and a half years since he and Vanessa have been with eXp, they have a financial plan to live life as they’ve never dreamed.
The Raanes’ Give Back With the Backstage Foundation
The Raanes’ success has translated into their ability to establish the non-profit Backstage Foundation. Run by Vanessa and their son, Holton, the foundation helps families in need in the greater Houston area.
In 2018, the foundation was able to sponsor 20 young adults that have passed through the foster care program by securing funds from real estate sales and clients to provide customized gifts for young adults. The foundation was also able to establish a college scholarship program to help fund tuition expenses for a community college.
Raanes totally believes that what you give, you get back. “If I help enough people, my finances will be taken care of. It’s not about the money, but about the support and service,’’ Raanes said.
10 Fun Things About Rick Raanes
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Watching Ole Miss or New Orleans Saints football games.
If you could add a tattoo, what would it be?
I actually have one. It is the Harley-Davidson logo with Elvis Presley’s TCB Band and lightning bolt running through it. TCB = Taking care of business!
One thing you can’t live without?
Cheeseburgers. My last meal will hopefully be a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with cheese!
One trait that has led to your success?
I love helping people. I have always felt like the more people I help, no matter what it is, the greater success God will share with me.
What celebrity would play you in a movie or TV show?
A young Robert Redford. I have always hoped that I would resemble him growing up!
Pet peeve?
People that throw cigarette butts out on the road at intersections.
Little known fact about yourself?
I was once an altar boy in elementary school. We used to eat the wafers for snacks before the service.
Song you never tire of?
“Trouble” by Elvis Presley.
Favorite meal?
It is definitely a cheeseburger and fries!
Your epitaph will say:
Once a Rebel, Always a Rebel.
