David Mount

I never planned on becoming a real estate agent. Most kids have ideas about what they want to be when they grow up... a fireman, a policeman, a doctor. Not me. I never felt a draw to any particular vocation as a child. As a teenager, I was always that guy who was a good listener. Someone who was there to support a friend, whether in need or striving toward a goal. I never liked being the center of attention. But I always found it fulfilling to be an empathetic friend and give people practical advice. Because of that, I thought maybe I'd become a therapist or a counselor of some sort. But growing up in Northern Virginia, I (naturally) started working for the federal government right after I graduated from James Madison University (JMU). A few years into my analyst position in the Department of Defense, I realized that sitting behind a computer screen analyzing data all day and writing reports wasn't as fulfilling as I had hoped. For a recent college graduate in my early to mid-20s, I was making a good salary with unbeatable benefits, but I didn't feel like I was in the right place long-term. I believe there's a vocational sweet spot at the intersection of what a person is good at, what the world needs, and what a person finds fulfilling. I yearned to impact people's lives in a more tangible way, but I never really knew how. In my free time, a few years into my government job, I picked up a book on real estate investing. It sounded amazing!! Find motivated sellers, buy apartment complexes at a discount, renovate them, refinance them, and earn a great return. Simple... well, not quite. I soon discovered that "mom-and-pop" apartment complexes in Northern Virginia don't really exist, so that real estate strategy wouldn't work for me. I had no idea what was involved in being a real estate agent until I actually started. I was part-time at first, which was nearly impossible for me at the time. I couldn't bring my phone into my secure office environment (SCIF), so I was limited to working after business hours and making occasional phone calls during my half-hour of lunch. During the six months that I was a part-time real estate agent, I was able to help two groups of tenants rent out a property. I enjoyed the process of helping people decide where to live, and through a series of providential signs, prayers, and conversations, decided to go all in, even though I hadn't yet helped anyone buy or sell real estate. I pulled the plug on my government job and jumped into real estate full-time with ZERO "backup" plan. I had extremely high confidence that this was the right move. Over a decade, 85+ online 5-star reviews, and 200+ clients later, I can say with absolute certainty that becoming a real estate agent has been one of the best decisions of my life. Not only have I gotten to work with hundreds of people buying and selling real estate, but I also get to see the real impact of my work on people's lives. Someone recently mentioned that I must "like houses" because I'm a real estate agent. As I reflected on that comment, I would actually disagree. I don't "like houses"; I like people. And as an agent, I get to help people make wise decisions about where they live and guide them through choppy waters. I get to be both a skilled negotiator/tactician and a therapist at times! As a follower of Jesus, I get a chance to live out my Christian faith through my work by praying for, and sometimes with, my clients. And with the skills I've acquired in this industry, I get to be a blessing to people who are making important decisions about their family and financial lives. Whether I'm working with a luxury seller, first-time or upsizing buyer, retiring or downsizing seller, or military relocation, I'm honored to walk alongside people in one of life's most important chapters. My accomplishments include being a Northern Virginia Association of Realtors (NVAR) Platinum Top Producer 2024, FastExpert 5-Star Agent, Zillow Premier Agent, and Christian Real Estate Network Member. When I'm not selling real estate, I volunteer with our local Christian church's prayer team, business community, and lead a small group. I'm a husband to an incredible wife and dad of 3 young boys. I'm passionate about personal growth and love following current events and learning new skills. To learn more about me, check out my website: https://davidmounthomes.com