Porch and Parish The Podcast
Our mission is to make sure every Zachary resident feels heard and engaged! Host Mike Gennaro facilitates candid conversations with local leaders, influencers and innovators in Zachary, Louisiana and beyond with the help of producer Mike Holt. New episode every Monday at noon!
Porch and Parish The Podcast
From Rescue Dogs to Real Estate: Carrie Godbold’s Journey, Insights, and Humor
Ever considered dogs as your home security system? Join us for a vibrant chat with Carrie Godbold, a dynamic realtor and community enthusiast from Zachary, as she humorously shares her top home security tip: her rescue dogs. We'll take you on a journey from Akron, Ohio, to Baton Rouge, and finally to Zachary, highlighting Carrie's lively personality through her passion for travel, live music, and an unusual workout routine as a gym hopper. You'll even get a sneak peek into her synchronized swimming days and her excitement for an upcoming Justin Timberlake concert.
Carrie also opens up about her fascinating transition from IT and government work to real estate, a move driven by the need for childcare. She candidly discusses the resilience required in the industry, tackling roles from counselor to mediator. With recent changes affecting buyer's agency agreements due to a major lawsuit, Carrie stresses the importance of clear communication. She offers her take on interest rates too, explaining their influence on buying and selling decisions in today's market, and providing insights for those considering a property move.
As we wrap up, prepare for some amusing real estate tales and practical advice on holiday home decoration. Carrie shares valuable tips on keeping motivated in a challenging market, emphasizing creativity, client relationships, and community involvement. Dive into the significance of community partners like the City of Zachary and the East Baton Rouge Parish Library System, who play a crucial role in enhancing local quality of life. This episode is packed with inspiration for aspiring realtors and community members alike, encouraging authentic networking and active local participation.
Interviews with experts and business leaders focused on ways to inspire employees.
I'm Carrie Godbold. Keep listening to Fortune Parish the podcast.
Jen Gennaro:What's up, zachary? We are back with another exciting episode broadcasting from our headquarters right here in downtown Zachary. Our team is working hard on the winter print issue of Fortune Parish and the ad commitment is the end of this week, friday the 22nd. If you are interested in placing an ad, reach out to editor at fortuneparishcom or call 225-324-9515. Today we're joined by Carrie Godbold, realtor entrepreneur, wife, mom to three teenagers.
Jen Gennaro:Carrie is known not only for her work in the real estate industry, but also as one of the founding members of the Zachary Charity League, host of the American Dream TV show, former co-owner of Whimsical Alley and a big supporter of Must Love Dogs, zachary Schools and the YMCA, among other things. We're going to get into all that and more, as well as address the current state of the real estate market here in Zachary and what industry experts are saying. I'm Jen Gennaro, founder and editor of Fortune Parish and your host for today. We bring you the best of Zachary and the Development North region through candid conversations every Monday from our headquarters right here on Virginia Street. This is Porch and Parish the podcast. Stay tuned, we'll be right back with the lightning round.
Speaker 3:At Porch and Parish we're gearing up for our highly anticipated winter issue, hitting mailboxes and stands in mid-January. If you've been looking for a way to reach the Zachary community, now is the time to secure your spot. Ad space is available and this issue is going to be a must-read. Just email editor at porchandparishcom for our media kit and pricing details. Whether you're a local business organization or just have a message to share, we've got the perfect placement for you and, as always, we want to hear from you. Have a feature story idea or know someone with an inspiring tale? Send it our way. Help us shine a light on what makes our community so special. Porch and Parish Zachary's community magazine and podcast Excellent, living, engaging stories.
Jen Gennaro:We are back with our lightning round. Carrie, as a realtor, you probably get asked a lot about your personal recommendations, so here's one for you. Who do you use for home security?
Carrie Godbold:Oh, I love this one. With all the technology available nowadays cameras everywhere inside and outside of houses and alarms going off and going crazy, my favorite alarm system is a rescue dog, or three like me. What kinds do you have? What are their names? They're all mutts. I have rainbow, she's a Pomeranian Chihuahua. I have Texas, he is a standard poodle hound mix. And I have Winnie, who is a Catahoula shepherd mix of some sort. They're all rescue from the street or must love dogs, awesome.
Jen Gennaro:We are due for another dog, as you you heard.
Carrie Godbold:I did hear.
Jen Gennaro:I'm sorry, I know I know, okay, so what is your favorite hobby outside of work? Travel.
Carrie Godbold:We love to travel. We get in the car and go for random road trips. We get on planes. We love anything that has an adventure or a concert associated with it. Do you have any concerts coming up? We're going to Justin Timberlake, yeah, we went to. Billie Eilish, like two weeks ago, and right before that gosh, where was I? It's a lot. We love a concert.
Jen Gennaro:Did you notice that I'm kind of channeling Justin Timberlake at the 2000 Grammys?
Carrie Godbold:with my double denim today.
Jen Gennaro:I love it. Thank you so much. Okay, so when you have time to squeeze in some exercise, what is your workout of choice?
Carrie Godbold:Okay, this is um a very um funny story of me? Yeah, very loaded question. I'm a gym hopper. My hobby really is to hop gyms. I go from CrossFit Zachary personal training to cardio tennis, personal training to cardio tennis to my peloton to hot works in baton rouge, like literally once a week at all these places. Wow, you're doing great, though.
Jen Gennaro:Well, yes, my workout is carrying an oversized toddler up and down these stairs.
Carrie Godbold:That is actually the best workout, because I go to these gyms and talk more than I exercise right just to see if they'll notice, and they're like this is not therapy. Pay attention, carrie, yeah.
Jen Gennaro:Right, okay, so tell us about Vintage Carrie. What organizations were you involved with in high school?
Carrie Godbold:Oh, so this is a giveaway that I'm not from here. I was a synchronized swimmer in high school. I did not know that. Yeah, so who is it Eva? Eva is a swimmer, swimmer.
Jen Gennaro:Okay, I'm a synchronized, so like can't actually do a swim stroke properly, but I can float for days. Wow, when did you, when did you throw in the towel?
Carrie Godbold:Well, since really it's not offered very many places, when I graduated high school that ended. What a waste of talent. I know.
Jen Gennaro:So how did you end up in Zachary?
Carrie Godbold:I moved from Akron, ohio, to Baton Rouge to go to LSU when I graduated high school and while I was at LSU I worked at the Backpacker, met my husband there and we lived in Baton Rouge for the first few years while we started having babies, but then we knew we needed to find a community to raise them in. So we moved to Zachary. We did not know one person here and the community has just been so wonderful to us. So that was what 15? My oldest is 18 now. He was one when we moved here.
Jen Gennaro:Wow, yeah, okay, so that is it for the lightning round, but I'm going to segue into the interview with a little bit of background. So Carrie was one of the very first people I met when we moved to Zachary 14 years ago this month. Her daughter, ellie, and my oldest son, max, were babies together at Miss Jelly Tolentino's in-home nursery. I have no recollection of the conversation surrounding it, but Carrie was the one who encouraged me to become a realtor, and we worked together many times over the 12 plus years that I was in real estate. Our most recent transaction was when Michael and I bought the beautiful Victorian home where we now live, once known as Whimsical Alley Toy Store. So Carrie Whimsical was unlike anything this town or region had ever seen. How did the idea first come about?
Carrie Godbold:I was actually having coffee with a real estate friend and we were talking about he lived here in Zachary. We were talking about what we thought Zachary lacked and at the time my children were much smaller than they are now and he had a little one and we just needed a place to buy all those birthday party gifts and a place to have birthday parties and just a fun place to bring kids. And that's how Whimsical started. He connected me with his wife and she and I became partners and opened Whimsical Alley.
Jen Gennaro:And you guys launched right before COVID right, we did, we did.
Carrie Godbold:We actually were at the International Toy Fair in New York City when COVID broke in the news. The Javits Center, where the Toy Fair was held, became the first hospital. Oh my gosh, so we couldn't get out of there fast enough.
Jen Gennaro:Yeah, I bet, yeah, yeah. So tell us about some of your favorite memories and the fun that you had while owning the store.
Carrie Godbold:We had so much fun we did some goat yoga, which we quickly switched over to rescue puppy yoga. So, we incorporated mussel of dogs in that we had the Batner symphony orchestra host their holiday pops show in our backyard, which brought me to tears every year. It was truly magical. We just had so much fun. We love seeing the kids come. I still have kids come up to me in public and tell me they miss it, they miss the unicorns. It was just such a happy place.
Jen Gennaro:I still find glitter in all of the floorboards and corners, Like there's just it will live forever.
Carrie Godbold:I hope you find it there forever. Everyone needs glitter in their life, I guess so.
Jen Gennaro:What were the events surrounding the decision to move on from it?
Carrie Godbold:It was actually super successful. We did not close for a lack of business or success. We actually closed because there are a lot of reasons. But my partner moved to Baton Rouge. She has a very successful career as an attorney. My real estate career has been super successful, thank goodness. So we both just needed to focus on our careers and our families a little more. It also was affected by the fact that our children grew. When we began, our kids were really into it. They were proud of it. They wanted to come to everything and help us shop. But as they aged, it was just another thing that pulled us away from our kids. Oh, that makes sense.
Jen Gennaro:Yeah, yeah, I get that Okay. So your dedication to community engagement is evident. Can you tell us about the causes you're most passionate about and why? Sure.
Carrie Godbold:My most passionate venture has to be the Zachary Charity League, which we founded. A group of us ladies founded it. I think it's been almost nine, ten years now. We all worked together at the American Cancer Society, um, previously and then decided we wanted to do something that stayed and benefited Zachary residents as much as possible. So, um, we love what we do there. We put a lot of heart and soul into all of our projects. Um, I also love Must Love Dogs. It is.
Carrie Godbold:You didn't mention that yet, yes, it is run by the most amazing set of women who have hearts of gold. They try not to ever turn a dog down. If, if at all possible, if the funds are there and the foster space is available, they will take in any dog. Um, they love these animals and they're just. They're the nicest people in the world. So if you ever do need a dog, please, please, please, check them out. Also, I spent years on the board of Zachary Early PTO, zachary Elementary PTO, zepto, until I aged out.
Carrie Godbold:I retired my children aged out, but I do miss that. It was just a lot of fun, a good way to network with the teachers and the staff and the administration and to see your kids in action at the schools. It really made me have a positive view of the schools. You know you hear things but um, that aren't always positive, but you, if you actually go in the school and volunteer and look at these kids, even up through the high school working at the snack shack, these kids are amazing, the high school's amazing. The schools are all amazing. The middle school, the snack doing the snacks they're just a great way to spend any free time that that parents have. Um. And then the yCA I've sat on the board of directors there in the food pantry. All very, very important, worthy causes that help our community Awesome.
Jen Gennaro:So you have been a realtor for what? 15 years now? Probably so, yes, Something like that. Okay, so I'm just guessing here about the most common question. You probably get asked how's the?
Carrie Godbold:market. So our market right now is not amazing. It's definitely one of the slowest markets I've seen in Zachary. I've always said that in Zachary I think we're in a little bit of a real estate bubble because it is a place where people want to move to put their kids in the school district. So we've always, I think, had a little bit better of a market than our greater Baton Rouge area. But right now we're about the same as the greater Baton Rouge area. The interest rates are hosing us up a little bit. They're not really projected to get too much better in the upcoming season, but we can always just keep hoping and praying and, like realtors, always say date the right marry the house.
Carrie Godbold:So it is a great opportunity to get a house that in a normal market in Zachary you'd be in a bidding war and you wouldn't have a chance to have and you would be upside down in it because you have to outbid everybody to win this gorgeous house. Right now we have some of the best houses in Zachary for sale and you could actually get one. The interest rate might be a little higher, but you refinance when time is right, and it's nothing compared to our parents.
Jen Gennaro:That's what I was just going to say.
Carrie Godbold:My mom keeps reminding me when she and my dad bought their first house, it was 17% interest. It is still better to buy a house at six 7% interest than to pay rent. Yep, all right, it's a time to buy.
Jen Gennaro:So what price points are selling? I mean, is there any trend that you've noticed?
Carrie Godbold:I've personally noticed that a lot more of my inventory under the $350,000 mark is moving. I think those are the folks that probably were in a rental situation and they're deciding you know, I'm going to go ahead and buy instead of continuing to rent, because the landlords are also increasing rent because their insurance costs are going up and so they're passing that expense down to their tenants. I do think it's slower in the higher price point because what I'm seeing is, you know, if somebody is locked in at a 3% interest rate on a house, that's fine. They may want a change. It takes a lot to get someone to sell a house at a 3% interest rate to turn around and buy a house at 6%, 7% interest. So, unless there's a family need a family change, some reason to move. Those are the folks that are having a harder time right now. Yeah, I totally get that, I know, but I am very optimistic that people have stayed in houses that they don't love now for almost a year. They're going to start making moves.
Jen Gennaro:Right, I mean it's the new normal. There's nothing abnormal about this market. It's just that everybody is so conditioned about these 2% and 3% and 4% interest rates.
Carrie Godbold:I am excited at this point. We are trying our hardest to not drop our prices in Zachary. Our values I really think are holding out. So as long as we see the movement increase, we're not going to see a decrease in the values.
Jen Gennaro:Let's, let's say that again and like really hone in on it, because dropping the price is not the answer.
Carrie Godbold:It's not the answer. It affects you. It affects your neighbors. That's not going to get you the sale either.
Jen Gennaro:Dropping five or $10,000 does not affect a potential buyer's price. You know, monthly mortgage, what like 10 bucks?
Carrie Godbold:maybe or something crazy, yeah. So, zachary as a whole, please stop reducing your prices. You're going to ruin our market values?
Jen Gennaro:Yeah, exactly, so what were you doing before you got your real estate license?
Carrie Godbold:I was an IT geek. Actually, when you and I first met, I think I was still in my government job, possibly had just gotten my real estate license. I did wireless internet deployment for the state of Louisiana downtown and I also worked as a data engineer for AT&T Business Systems.
Jen Gennaro:Wow, a synchronized swimmer who knows. Wi-fi stuff. Did you ever think you'd go full-time into real estate?
Carrie Godbold:It was definitely not a plan. It happened because of our dear Miss Jelly. Lack of child care kind of stumbled upon us at one point and I had nothing to know where to put my three children. So I had to take the leap and it has been wonderful.
Jen Gennaro:Yeah, any any plans for retirement? No girl, all right. So what are some of the misconceptions that people have about the real estate industry?
Carrie Godbold:You know, I think and I see a lot of this a lot of my clients become realtors. A lot of them send their kids to become realtors. Everybody thinks they want to be a realtor and I would encourage anybody who wants to give it a try. But it really is not for the faint of heart. You have to have a super thick skin. You have to be very honest, very ethical. It just it can be tough. I mean, there are some deals that are amazing and joyous and, you know, wonderful and we just want all of our deals to be that way, but sometimes it is not and you have to just be there to support your clients.
Jen Gennaro:And usually I would say it's not.
Carrie Godbold:I agree.
Jen Gennaro:Every now and then you just get like a chip shot and you're like I really needed that encouragement.
Carrie Godbold:I also think one thing that people need to know I often feel like and I bet you do too, I feel like a counselor. People come to us usually in times of life changes, good and bad and we're there to hear all about it and help them navigate the next step.
Jen Gennaro:Mediator, contractor, sometimes a housekeeper yes, dog walker, right. Okay, so explain the recent changes in the real estate industry with the big lawsuit and the effects on the way that business is conducted now.
Carrie Godbold:Okay. So we are now, as realtors, required to have buyers sign a buyer's agency agreement before we show them houses. This is something that a lot of realtors actually have done in the past, but it wasn't mandated. It is mandated now, and this buyer's agent agreement outlines that a buyer may have to pay our commission if the house they want the seller on that house is not willing to pay it. I haven't had that happen yet and I'm really hoping that we continue. As a listing agent, very often my sellers are still willing to pay a buyer's agent commission. I'm trying to keep going the way we've always gone, but with more communication. I really think the lawsuit stemmed from agents not communicating clearly that sellers were actually paying the buyer's agent commission. Sellers knew how much commission they were paying, but I guess they thought that their agent got all of it.
Carrie Godbold:I wish so I just think this lawsuit to me is actually just culminating in more communication, but I haven't seen a change in the way we're doing things yet.
Jen Gennaro:Okay, well, that's good news. Do we want to talk more about interest rates? Because everybody kept saying, oh, just wait till after the election, they're going to go down. So we did that sponsored content article together a few months ago when the Fed dropped the rate. Right, yes, let's kind of talk about that for a second and just reiterate that the Fed dropping interest rates has little to no bearing on mortgage interest rates.
Carrie Godbold:Yes, yeah. But of course we want to say interest rates are dropping, because it gets people thinking about making a move. And even if interest rates in general are dropping, that does not mean mortgage interest rates are dropping. And everything I'm reading right now is showing that we are going to see a decline in mortgage rates, but it is going to be a very slow decline. The feds meet again in December, so hopefully they'll reduce the basis again. But even if they reduce the basis I think they're talking about 25 or 50 points that's not going to amount to much in a mortgage. They will never be at 2.8 again, guys. No, they won't. So you all need to start to much in a mortgage, they will never be at 2.8 again, guys. No, they won't. So you all need to start buying and selling right now. That's right.
Jen Gennaro:Yeah, okay, so I know, as a recovering realtor, I have seen some stuff, so can you share a funny or an odd story?
Carrie Godbold:This is one we can all learn from. So I sold this house and everything was fine. Everybody was happy. My buyers move in and few days go by and they realize the mailbox is missing. And a mailbox is not something that we look for on an inspection.
Jen Gennaro:It's not something you don't even have to specify. No, not like mailbox to remain. No.
Carrie Godbold:Well, the seller apparently had just replaced their mailbox and it was one of those neighborhoods that required the $600 matching iron mailbox. He had not finished paying for the mailbox, so he decided to take it.
Jen Gennaro:Okay, I had a seller, like 10 years ago, angrily snatch the logs out of the gas fireplace and not tell me and then, like a few days later I get a text and they're like where are the logs? And the seller's like those were an upgrade. I took them with me and I'm like you don't even have a gas fireplace at your new house. Like what are?
Carrie Godbold:you doing. People can get really strange in these moments. It's very stressful sometimes for these clients and I guess that's that's what they do.
Jen Gennaro:I don't know, crazy. Okay, so what is your opinion on decorating the house for Christmas, if the house is listed for sale?
Carrie Godbold:Okay, so I, if you are thinking about listing about right about now it's, you know, mid November Be in the house for the holidays. Yes, you could be in the house for the holidays, but I would prefer, as your listing agent, to go ahead and take the pictures pre decorations only because they do not offend me. I love how I actually am fully decorated at home right now. Um, but if your house doesn't sell quickly, your pictures now are going to be very evident that you've been on the market since right before the holidays.
Carrie Godbold:They're going to. They're going to date the picture, so you might have to take new pictures, Um, but once the pictures are taken without decorations, go for it. I think anything that makes your house a comfy home will make a buyer enjoy the space too, as long as it's tasteful.
Jen Gennaro:As long as it's tasteful. Yeah, I don't know. Okay, so how do you stay motivated during this market, or?
Carrie Godbold:tough deals. I think you know I've been generally busy Personally. I think there are a few agents that are still decently busy, so I just try to stay creative with marketing tactics, stay in touch with my clients. I also find that my gym hopping hobby helps me a lot. It helps me with my happy endorphins. It also helps me see a lot of different people, so that's part of it too. I really really, really like to keep my happy mindset and the business will come.
Jen Gennaro:So so what advice would you give to aspiring realtors? I mean, so many people come into this like thinking that it's easy, right, and you know the deals are just going to come to them. But so much of it is about networking, right, and I think that's probably a lot to do with your success as well. So kind of give some pointers on how to get involved in the community in an authentic way.
Carrie Godbold:Yes, and I think the authentic way is the key because we see, you know, see some things that sometimes don't look so authentic and it turns people off, so it does exactly the opposite. I do think you know. I remember this from my very first sales job at AT&T. They said if you're in your office, you're not working, and same if you work from home. If you're home, you're not. I am working. When I'm home I'm doing marketing stuff or whatever phone calls.
Carrie Godbold:But you need to be a person who is comfortable being out, talking to people, meeting people. I would not become a realtor if you're not socially comfortable. It's about that. And two, I tell the agents that I talk to that are looking to become an agent or looking to increase their business find something that you're actually passionate about, because that authentic part comes back into play here. If I were working with puppy dogs and I did not like a dog and did not have a dog of my own, I think that would be obvious. If I were doing Zachary Charity League and I didn't care about feeding the hungry children, I think that would be obvious and I just think you need to find something that is going to make your heart happy, whether it actually improves your networking in your business. That's really what I tell people. Do it for you first of all, the things that you're doing for marketing, and that way, if it doesn't work in your business, it still made you happy.
Jen Gennaro:Good point, okay, so how can?
Carrie Godbold:people get in touch with you. The best way is to call or text me 225-936-4898, or email me or go to my webpage, and you can find all my contact information on my webpage as well.
Jen Gennaro:Perfect, all right. Well, that is it for this week's episode of Fortune Pairs, the Podcast with Keri Godbold. It has been a pleasure to have you here today. If you would like to get in touch with Keri about buying or selling real estate, you can find her on Facebook or the internet. Huge shout out to our community partners like the City of Zachary, the East Baton Rouge Parish Library System and Breck Parks, who stand with us in our mission to make Zachary a place where every resident feels heard and engaged. Thanks to the generosity and support of our community partners, the magazine, podcasts and everything you see online is possible and free because of them. Remember the three T's that make up quality of life Pick up trash when you see it, foster technology at any expense and embrace an attitude of tolerance for diverse voices to begin to engage everyone's talents in our community. Those diverse voices are the creative engines that will drive the future success of our economy. Have a great Monday, everybody.
