Dec. 8, 2025

Exit One Stop Realty: Leadership, Mentorship, and Culture That Wins

Exit One Stop Realty: Leadership, Mentorship, and Culture That Wins

Exit One Stop Realty isn’t just a brokerage. It’s a leadership-driven culture where training, mentorship, and community come together to create winning agents in Jacksonville, Fernandina Beach, and across Northeast Florida. This article uses insights from the full episode transcript at tracyhayespodcast.com/70.

The Power Behind the Brand

Walter and Jan Collins, alongside Valerie Womble, have built Exit One Stop Realty into a Northeast Florida staple. What started as a personal reinvention after careers in education, corporate sales, and ministry evolved into a brokerage known for its trust-driven culture and agent-first support. As Jan said, "You own a business now. So let everybody know... post it, share it, tell people."

From day one, the Exit team put culture and mentorship at the center. Valerie recalls the early days, "I had agents giving me short sales they didn’t want just to help their clients... I figured it out, and that’s how I built my business."

Quotes That Define Their Approach

"The best investment I ever made was asking for a mentor and paying 50% on my first deal."

"Don’t be a secret agent. Post. Share. Tell people. You own a business."

"Having someone that you can call no matter what—even to open a lockbox—makes the transition smoother."

Local Knowledge, Real Support

Exit One Stop Realty operates with deep ties across Jacksonville, Fernandina Beach, and St. Johns County. The leadership team isn’t guessing what agents need—they’ve lived it. From navigating the 2008 collapse with grit and short-sale expertise, to staying sharp with Buffini training, roundtables, and real-world coaching, this is a brokerage built to adapt.

They've embedded their values in every part of their model: real mentorship for new agents, strong CRM usage, local training, and weekly real-world real estate sessions. Walter said it best: "We opened in 2007. The best year we ever had? 2010. Because we stayed in business when others shut the doors."

Real Stories, Real Grit

Valerie turned rejection into resilience by mastering short sales when others ran from them.
Walter invested in mentorship and turned a lack of training into an office-wide advantage.
Jan brought in lessons from Plexus and personal development to deepen relationships and empower her agents.

FAQs About Northeast Florida Real Estate

Q: What makes NE Florida so desirable?
A: Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Ponte Vedra attract buyers for their lifestyle, schools, job growth, and tax advantages.

Q: What should a new agent look for in a brokerage?
A: True mentorship, CRM systems, cultural fit, and support that goes beyond training videos.

Q: What’s the key to surviving a down market?
A: Specialize, stay connected, and get obsessed with your database.

Q: What makes Exit One Stop different?
A: Culture, mentorship, agent-first mindset, and a true support team.

Ready to Work With Agents Who Actually Pick Up the Phone?

Connect with Exit One Stop Realty today. Whether you're buying, selling, or launching your career, their team is ready.

Explore more top agents:

Follow Exit One Stop Realty:
Instagram - Jax Office
Instagram - Amelia Island
Facebook
LinkedIn

Watch the full episode: tracyhayespodcast.com/70
YouTube Channel

Also see: TopJacksonvilleAgents.com
Also see: TopStAugustineAgents.com

#RealEstateExcellencePodcast #RealEstateExcellence #TracyHayes #TopAgentsFlorida #NEFloridaRealEstate #JacksonvilleRealEstate #StAugustineRealEstate #PonteVedraRealtor #NocateeRealtor #StJohnsCountyRealEstate #NassauCountyRealEstate #RealEstateLeadership #RealEstateTraining #FloridaRealtor