Caleb: Okay, welcome to Real Estate Insights, where I sit down with top Real Estate pros across Utah and Idaho. I'm Caleb Adams. My guest today is Lyssa Eggettt with Shadow Mountain Realty here in Logan. Lyssa works with a lot of first-time buyers and sellers across the valley, and she's also the 2026 president of the Women's Council of Realtors here in Cache Valley. We actually got connected through a mutual friend at the Women's Council golf tournament. Lyssa, welcome. Did I miss anything? Lyssa: I think that's great. You can introduce me anytime. Caleb: I'm thrilled to have you here. to get started, I'd love to hear a little bit about you and what drove you to want to work in real estate. Lyssa: Sure. Well, I did not have a typical start in real estate. Normally people know that they want to become a realtor, but I did not actually. I got hired as the office mom, actually. Not just the office manager, but the owners of Shadow Mountain really wanted their realtors to feel cared for. And just to be there for them like the home feel And I thought, yeah, I can do that. I love taking care of people. but I did have to get my real estate license in order to audit paperwork, make sure that if there was an addendum that needed to be written while a realtor was out and about, I needed help with that. and actually at first I thought realtors were just used car salesmen type deal. Caleb: Ha ha. Lyssa: But Because I just saw from TV, right? And I did buy a house before, but it was such a whirlwind I honestly don't remember the realtor. So I'm no, I had no idea. Caleb: Yeah, so you didn't really know what the license even meant to you. Lyssa: But the problem is that the schooling was so extremely interesting to me. And I would go home and I would, just talk all about it. There was such weird stuff too. it was kind of an adventure, and that is just where I fell in love with real estate to begin with, and then working in the office that I do, the people here just treat clients so incredibly well. There's no pushing, you know, you're selling without selling. Right? You want them to be in the best possible position. And I just thought Wow. So I still actually am the office manager, but I went to my boss and I said, Hey, I love helping the agents. I want to actually help other people get into homes as well. and he's like, I knew it, I knew it. He just you know Caleb: He was ready. He was waiting for ya. Lyssa: he was ready. he loves to have people grow into who they're meant to be. So that's kind of how I got started. pretty unorthodox, but But I tell you what, I cannot even imagine doing anything different. So yeah. Caleb: That's so awesome to see. You kind of got forced into the real estate licensing requirements and then it turned out to be a really great thing. Lyssa: Yeah, yes, super blessed. Yes. Caleb: That's awesome. So what do you feel like pushed you to go all in, go from, hey, this is really interesting, talking about it at home, to, I'm gonna make a career out of this? Lyssa: so I was very quite shy to start with. So I wasn't like, man, I'm gonna go out and I'm gonna promote myself and all the things. It was a slow process, right? And I really did want to help people get into homes, but I think the moment when I sold my first home, there's nothing like helping somebody find what they're really dreaming about. And the look on their face, when they find the one is incredible. There's nothing like it. And I think at that point I was All in. Like, give me more of that. Give me more of that. So, yeah. Caleb: That's awesome. So as soon as you saw the impact you were having on your clients' lives, you're like, this is a no-brainer. What am I doing? Lyssa: Yes. Yeah. Well, and it's a big it's a big deal. It's a big dream. It's a huge dream. Especially now when people don't think that they can actually get into homes and then when they can actually see a way to get that American dream It is so incredible. So, yeah. Caleb: That's awesome. I love that. And you know, I'm curious for new real estate agents that might be listening to this, do you have any advice or something you wish you would have known then when you were new? I know you mentioned you didn't know really what a realtor did at that time, but Lyssa: Mm-hmm. Caleb: yeah, what do you wish you would have known back then? Lyssa: The advice that I would have to give is make sure to talk to everybody you possibly can. Lenders, title people, resources, age factor, whoever you can learn from, go to every class. Learn, learn, learn, learn. And I was very blessed that I did have title people reach out to me, loan officers reach out to me to educate me, just soak it all in. I go to classes all the time and it's been, down the road a little bit, but I still have that thirst for knowledge because you never know enough. Not ever. There's always different circumstances. There's always things to learn. So at the top of the list, learn, learn, learn. And then also try and relay it in in a way that people who are not in this industry understand more. So take the knowledge that you're learning and make it easy for somebody that's not in this industry to understand. And the other Caleb: Yeah. Lyssa: thing I would say is I wish I would have not cared so much about what are my family and friends gonna think of me. People are are so worried about their own lives, they don't have time to worry about if you make a video and maybe you stutter. Just dive in. It's gonna be okay. Just live your life as best you can. Do the best job that you can and that's it. Caleb: That's awesome. And I loved what you said too, because truly you know, what's the old adage? You don't know something unless you can teach it. It's a it's a different muscle when you have Lyssa: True. Mm-hmm. Caleb: to explain it to someone for the first time what buying Lyssa: Mm-hmm. Caleb: a house looks like. It feels like a different language. Lyssa: Yes, yes. I practiced a lot with my husband, I would come home at night and he was so good at asking questions I never would have even thought. So that was really helpful. And I'm like, in this one paragraph there's like ten questions. Well, we really need to know those contracts really well. that was very, very helpful. Caleb: Yeah, that's a pro tip. Practice with your spouse. That's awesome. Lyssa: Yes. Yes. Caleb: well great. I'd love to move in and talk a little bit about the local market and your business. what type of clients do you find yourself working with? Lyssa: Generally first time homebuyers I really do have a passion for the first time home buyers. I do love working with them. I do find with selling homes, they're not first time home buyers. So people who are trying to downsize, people who are trying to move away. there's kind of an array, even fourplexes, Caleb: Okay, great. So some investment properties in there. Yeah, sounds like Lyssa: Kind of a variety. Yes, Yeah. Caleb: you have a good handle on various types. Do you feel like you stick to Cash Valley or do you branch out in other parts of Utah? Lyssa: I do branch out, right now I have a house for sale in Weber County. I've worked in Franklin County, so Cache County, so just surrounding areas, right? if we went too far south, I'd probably say, let's refer that out to the expert down there. each place is different for sure. Caleb: Yeah, that makes sense. Since you work a lot with first time home buyers, I'm curious, how do you view Cash Valley for a first time buyer? Is Cash Valley a good place for a first time buyer? Lyssa: It's a great place. there's a lot of condos, town homes that people can get into for a pretty good deal. You can get, a condo for under three hundred thousand dollars, which is, really great. And then people who are growing out of that can keep it as a rental, which if you can keep it, any real estate keep it. yeah, there's some really great opportunities, even homes you can find a home under four hundred thousand dollars. that's what we're here for to make sure that we can find them when they pop up. And a lot of times too if you're looking on the outskirts a little bit, Smithfield, Beyond, those can get a little bit cheaper too. So instead of like Logan proper. So Caleb: Yeah. I mean compared to Salt Lake County, finding a house for below Lyssa: Mm-hmm. Caleb: four hundred thousand, finding a townhouse for below two for that price in Salt Lake County is unheard of. So that's great. do you feel like are there any particular areas or neighborhoods in Cache Valley that have been good for first time buyers? Lyssa: Yeah, in Hiram there's a community right by Blacksmith Fort Canyon. and it is and I'm trying to think of the name. I'm sorry. Elkridge Caleb: Let's see, is it Elkridge? Is that yep? Lyssa: I love that place. Yes, it's a great little place and you're right by the canyon and you've got the community pool it's just nice walking around. they have some, Smithfield Kartchener homes. There's different areas that can really work, for the first time homebrew. Caleb: Yeah, it sounds like it's hard to go wrong in Cash Valley. we've been here, about ten years and we love everywhere in Cash Valley. Lyssa: Ha ha ha ha. Caleb: It's it's kinda hard to go wrong. Lyssa: Yeah. Caleb: what mistake do you feel like most buyers make? Lyssa: Waiting. Waiting. And Caleb: Waiting. Ooh. Lyssa: not just waiting to buy. if it's not a good move for you right now, it's not. and only the buyer knows when is a good time. But what I mean is waiting to even find out what it looks like. they hear the interest rate is high, they hear the prices are high, so they don't even want to talk to anybody. And knowledge is power, and you know this as a lender, A lot of lenders will say, Hey, just come talk to me. Let's see what it looks like. And a lot of times I've had people, talk to a lender they realized they were a lot. lot closer than they thought. It's right now and not five years down the road. They didn't realize because they were listening to everybody else say, it's too expensive. So I think waiting too long. Caleb: Yeah, I love that take. Yeah, I feel like I hear occasionally people say, waiting to buy, but I love how you reframe it to waiting to have a conversation. Too many times people could be qualified, they just don't talk about it. That is one of the reasons I got into the lending space was I remember our first home I thought, we'll have to wait and save up twenty percent and then we met with a lender Lyssa: Mm-hmm. Caleb: and I realized I should have bought a year ago. What was I doing? Lyssa: Yeah. And there's a lot of programs out there, right, that you don't have to do the twenty percent. So yeah. Caleb: So many programs and they come and go and so that's why it's good to have a pulse, you know, meet with somebody. So don't wait to have a conversation. Lyssa: Correct, yes. Don't wait to have the conversation. And don't suffer Caleb: That's awesome. Lyssa: if you're squished in there as a family and you need more space Just don't wait, don't suffer. Caleb: Yeah, it's a good point. This makes me think of I've always admired my wife is very good about asking for, something, whether we're at our restaurant or wherever it is. And sometimes I'll be a little embarrassed and like, I don't need to ask. But she usually gets it. So I'm like, it's the people who ask, like, hey, I don't know, this is a long shot, but I'm gonna see if I'm qualified. I'm gonna make an offer on this house, see if we can come to an agreement. Lyssa: Mm-hmm. Caleb: those are the people that end up getting what they want 'cause they actually take action. Lyssa: It's true. It's true. The answer's always no unless you ask. So, yeah. Caleb: That's true. I love that. Well let's talk a little bit about clients and a little with your leadership role. Could you tell me a little bit about women's council? You've been doing it for a couple of years. What does it do for the Valley? Lyssa: Yeah. Okay, so the Women's Council of Realtors, I'm pretty passionate about. the history of it is back in the day women couldn't get a part of their local associations. the women couldn't be part of the Cash Valley Association of Realtors, right? it's Caleb: Wow, I had no idea. Lyssa: true. It was a was a while ago. We're in the club now. Caleb: good. Lyssa: Yes. But women, if they're not let in, what do they do? They make it for themselves. And there was actually one man as well that started it. which is pretty incredible. And we actually do have men part of the women's council of Realtors. And we also have men Caleb: Very cool. Lyssa: sponsors as well. So men realtors, women realtors. stick around to be able to build women in leadership skills in the industry and in their communities the whole point is to build women into leaders. as long as the men support that that's great and we love to have them there. So it's kind of like a smaller scale. we get to build the relationships just a little bit easier in those smaller settings, which is great. It is invaluable to have those resources for our sponsors, having those resources for our clients of people we actually trust will get the job done for our clients is incredible. And then also building relationships. Anytime a realtor can build relationship with another realtor, it only helps in transactions. So the more that we can do that, the better it. is for our clients. So I'm passionate about the women's council. It's done so much for me. so any realtors thinking about it, it's worth it. I promise. It's worth it. Caleb: It's worth it. That's awesome. I'm only interacted here and there, but every time I've been impressed. what do you feel like Women's Council has taught you specifically about leadership? What are some of your takeaways? Lyssa: my heck. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable. my threshold for being uncomfortable has stretched. So even talking in front of people, Being able to say yes to being into a room. You know, I'm running for a director spot at the Cash Valley Association of Realtors, which I don't know that I would have had the guts to do a couple years ago. So even being on this podcast, there's no way, there's no way. Caleb: I was gonna say, having you here. Lyssa: I would have said heck no. So does it make Caleb: Ha ha ha. Lyssa: me nervous? Yes, it does, but I say yes. We say yes to things that make us grow. Caleb: That's awesome. How do you feel like that translates over to the experience you give your clients? Lyssa: along with having relationships with all of the vendors and the realtors, being more competent, you learn from each other. So being more competent in transactions as well. And if I don't know an answer, I know that I can call somebody to get that answer. And I have so many people I can draw from. Caleb: Yeah. I love that. Well I'm thinking about it from the perspective of a client. I wanna work with someone Lyssa: Mm-hmm. Caleb: who, like you said, is okay being uncomfortable. You know, if we have to go back to the seller and ask something Lyssa: Mm-hmm. yeah. Caleb: or knows people if something comes up. so it sounds like it makes you a very well rounded agent and brings a lot of value. That's Lyssa: Right. Mm-hmm. Yeah. I think so. Caleb: yeah. That's great. Do you have A particular story where you helped a client win or maybe a deal that got complicated, that you guys were able to find a solution? Lyssa: That is a great question. I think most deals have a little complication in them, right? I've had clients that we get an inspection and then let's say a water heater is their thing. Nothing else. There could be a list of things, but the water heater is their thing. I've I come to the other agent, say this is their thing, the for them it's it's a deal breaker. And so me and the other agent decide, could we cut our commission a little bit? Could we do this or could we do that? how do we help them actually feel good about going through the sale right? that's happened quite a bit where it might not be a big deal to a lot of people, but it's a big deal to them. So it's a big deal to us. Right? and setting expectation too. You're never gonna go into a transaction and the house is perfect. Never. It's never gonna happen. There's always gonna be a list of things. So having that expectation, especially with first-time homebuyers that are a little bit more scared to begin with, right? But having that expectation before things happen instead of dealing with it after it happens. That's super important. Caleb: Yeah, that's a great point. And I wanna dive a little bit deeper on that because we talked about earlier about waiting to have the conversation. do you feel like people then wait to make an offer on a house because they're looking for the perfect house? Have you ever run into that? Lyssa: Yes, And having the conversation before even shopping is a big, big deal. it's almost like giving them the green light, hey. We're going to look at the whole market so that they don't feel like they've missed anything. for me, I start wide instead of just putting every little thing down and narrowing it down so much. No, we start wide. We're looking at the whole market. There's nothing else out there that you have not seen. some things we're gonna see in person, some things we are not. but just so you know, if you feel like you're going to be really disappointed at this. goes under contract tomorrow, that's when you should pull pull the trigger. If it's like, I'm not sure if like it'll be okay, that's probably not the house for them. You want you want them to have the warm and fuzzies about it. So Caleb: Yeah, that's a great gauge of there's always FOMO, it seems like, or the fear of Lyssa: Mm-hmm. Caleb: losing a deal. But sometimes there's fear of losing a deal that you didn't even want. So I love that Lyssa: Yes. Yep. Yeah. Caleb: reframe. what's a good gauge or how do you help clients that are on the fence about making an offer on a house? Lyssa: Mm-hmm. Caleb: Are there any other things that you help clients with of knowing when to make an offer on something? Lyssa: Yes, there are times when let's say a certain price range, let's say it's a three hundred and seventy-five thousand dollar house, you know this sucker's gonna be gone in two seconds. And you can tell. Realtors can tell. So I say this house could be gone tomorrow, right? If you'd be sad about it, you probably want to pull pull the trigger, but we also, will make sure to do a comparative market analysis on things and make sure is it in a good price range? gotta be really, really careful. as an agent not to push something even though you know it's a good deal, even though you know it's gonna be gone tomorrow. As an agent, you cannot be pushing your client into something that they're not ready for. So you tell them everything about it, you give them the information, and then they're the ones that do need to actually make the decision for themselves. I never ever want people to feel like they were pushed into something and regret it. Caleb: Gotcha. it is a fine line of being consultative and Lyssa: that's one that's Caleb: progressing along this path toward home ownership, but also feeling like they're in the driver's seat. Lyssa: Right. Right. Caleb: on the financing side, sometimes I'll see people do so much analyzing before they ever make the offer and then the house is gone. the home buying process can feel long, but I do think there's wisdom to like, hey, maybe it's a seven out of ten right now, but you get under contract Lyssa: Mm. Caleb: and now with due diligence it becomes a nine out of ten. Lyssa: Mm-hmm. Yeah. A lot of it is the expectation before you even get to that point. So Caleb: Yeah, that's a great point. Well, this has been immensely valuable. I appreciate your expertise. what's a good way for people to get in contact with you when they want to work with you? Lyssa: So my phone number is the best. Call or text four three five nine nine nine. Four four four four. I know it sounds like a scam, but I picked it myself. I didn't know I'd be I didn't know I'd be a realtor. Caleb: What a great number. Easy to memorize. Lyssa: But easy to remember And then I'm on social media, Instagram, Facebook under Lyssa Eggett Realtor for Facebook or LyssaEgget for Instagram. Caleb: really appreciate you Lyssa for joining us today. thanks for being on. Lyssa: Thank you so much Caleb: That's a wrap on this episode of Real Estate Insights. A huge thank you to my guest for sharing their time and playbook. If you're a top agent in Utah or Idaho and you'd like to be featured on the show, I'd love to have you. Reach out anytime. I'm Caleb Adams, mortgage broker here in Utah and Idaho, who loves connecting great agents with great people who need them. We'll see you next time.