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Really good things can come out of
really bad circumstances.”
This is not a positive affirmation taken from the pages of the latest self-help manual. Nor is it a hopeful sentiment designed to help us find the silver lining to our collective socioeconomic black cloud. It is simply the soulful assertion of a woman who knows what she is talking about and who courageously puts her money where her heart is. Meet Laurie Loew, founder of Give Realty, an Austin real estate company that gives 25% of the commission from the sale or purchase of a home to the charity of the buyer or seller’s choice. And that’s just the beginning.
The conception of Give Realty occurred in late spring of 2007, just as Loew was spinning in the midst of her own “bad circumstances.” “I was going through a divorce and my husband and I were fighting about money,” Loew explained. “I was also working as a realtor, building my own business and trying to figure out how to be unique so that I could make a living, without being a discount realtor, because I didn’t want to do that.” Even in her malcontent state, Loew felt that she needed to realize the ways in which she was fortunate. “My mom taught me to count my blessings, so when my Catholic guilt kicked in I decided to do something to help others, instead of being so focused on myself. I wanted to volunteer consistently,” she recalls. While volunteerism has its own rewards, Loew still required an income to support herself. It was the combination of passion and necessity that nurtured Loew’s idea and helped bring it to fruition.
At first, Loew kept her brainchild close to the vest, sharing her budding business plan with family and close friends exclusively. “Whenever I did tell anyone about it, they gave really positive feedback, which encouraged me to go with it.” In the beginning, Loew looked into getting a patent for her idea, to protect its uniqueness, but she found that the process would be expensive and uncertain. She discussed her concerns with a realtor friend in Austin, who asked Loew a poignant question. “She asked me, ‘What’s the worst thing that could happen?’ I thought about it and said, ‘The worst thing that could happen is that a bunch of realtors could copy my idea and a lot of money would go to charity.’” Loew added with a grin, “If that’s failure, I’ll sign up. I’d happily fail like that every day.”
Failure, however, is not on the horizon for Give Realty. Since its inception in July of 2008, Loew and her team have donated $12,868.00 in their clients’ names, and those funds have benefited six 501(c) 3 nonprofit organizations here in Austin. Lowe and Give Realty are making a difference in the Austin community. “People have said I’ve inspired them to rethink their business models.” Shared Loew, “I’ve been told that I’m on the forefront of social entrepreneurialism, which is not something I expected.” Loew feels that hers is a business model that can be replicated. “One of my clients told me that the best part of the sale of his home was writing out the check to the charity he chose.”
Lowe said, “If every realtor in Austin was doing this, over $60 million would have been donated in 2008, based on the $5.4 billion in real estate business that year.” She added, “The impact is astronomical. How would the world be different?”
Loew is experiencing the “ripple effect” of her work. “Part of my job is to introduce my clients to nonprofits so that they can make an educated choice; I’m setting up volunteerism. I encourage the clients to volunteer their time while getting to know more about the organization.” Loew said. “Clients are becoming philanthropists who become more active in the community.”
Loew herself has become more immersed in the Austin community. “I’m an ‘I Live Here, I Give Here’ groupie,” said Loew, referring to the Central Texas Campaign for Philanthropy. Currently, Austin is ranked 48th out of the 50 largest cities in the nation in per capita giving. Give Realty is out to change that, and Loew believes that more people will get on board. “I think that people are looking at their lives differently right now. They realize that they’ve been working hard to buy stuff, but it’s just stuff; it has no value.” Loew said. “I think that people are asking themselves ‘How do I create a life that has more meaning?’ ”
For Loew, creating that meaningful life requires a commitment to invest in her beliefs. “My entire 401K is at risk because I believe so much in this. That money is put to better use helping others than it is if I keep it.” This commitment also carries into her marketing strategy. “I would rather give money back to the community than have my face on a billboard.” Loew said. She also enjoys the harmonic quality of Give Realty. “When I help clients find their home, a safe place that meets their needs – an investment – we are also giving to those who don’t have that.” Loew has big plans for the future of Give Realty, including possible franchises and the forming of a foundation to invest in real estate, which would then be leased to nonprofits at the lowest possible cost. While it may seem that Loew already has her ideal job, it falls just slightly short of her “dream job.” She said, “I would love to drive a Prius, wrapped with a gift logo, delivering checks all day. That would be my dream job.”
Give Realty’s Donation Recipients
• Helping Hand Home for Children
• Hill Country Conservancy
• Downs Syndrome Association of Central Texas
• Mobile Loaves and Fishes
• Church of Glad Tidings
• Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education
MORE INFO
www.giverealtyaustin.com