Selling the American Dream
Following a career change, Marilyn Dumpson has found her place educating real estate hopefuls on providing the American dream.
Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Justin Hunter
When Marilyn Dumpson lost her job in medical billing, she did not have the expected adverse reaction. Holding tight to an overwhelming peace, she knew God was at work. Confirmation of her beliefs soon came in the form of a magazine advertisement.
Marilyn says, "When God shuts one door, He will open another one. I was at home one day flipping through a magazine. I turned the page to a real estate ad, skipped over it, and then felt the urge to turn back. At that moment, the Lord literally said, 'I closed one door to open this one.'"
At 44, Marilyn began taking virtual classes to earn the proper real estate certifications. It took her seven tries to pass the real estate license exam, but what initially seemed like failure was God preparing her for the next phase of life.
Within six months of passing the exam and getting her first job, Marilyn made $70,000 in commission, became the Tuscaloosa Association of Realtors Rookie of the Year, and attended several homebuying seminars to learn more about the industry.
Further, she contacted several businesses to coach people on homebuying, putting numerous local individuals in homes within one year. This newfound success spurred her pursuit of a broker's license, after which she opened her brokerage, Premiere Avenue Real Estate, in Birmingham, Alabama.
Marilyn soon felt called to begin teaching and training new agents through EXIT Realty, where she taught the value of trusting the process.
"Real estate is not really overpopulated. We may have a lot of agents, but US statistics show that 84% of them are unwilling to do what it takes. You have to be committed to walk by faith, not by sight," says Marilyn. "A lot of people aren't willing to do that. But it's very rewarding, and I tell my students it's a service for the community because the American dream is to own a home. It's our job to do everything we can to help people achieve that."
This inspired Marilyn to develop her own real estate curriculum and school, Premiere Academy Career Center. With over nine years in real estate, Marilyn has been teaching in her academy for a year and a half. She also serves as a C2EX Ambassador for the State of Alabama through the National Association of Realtors, is an elected board member of the Alabama Real Estate Education Association, and has received the GRI "Gold Standard" Instructor Certification.
Marilyn's dream to educate upcoming real estate agents finally manifested itself for local college students. Bevill State Community College partnered with Premiere Academy Career Center to offer local students a real estate course providing real estate expertise, license exam prep, and one-on-one mentoring.
Dr. Joel Hagood, President of Bevill State Community College, emphasizes the college's commitment to workforce training. "Bevill State is committed to increasing opportunities for rapid workforce training. We currently offer many workforce, short-term, and long-term certification training programs. The College wants to assist individuals in earning industry-recognized credentials that improve their potential to obtain living-wage jobs. The world of real estate can offer incredible financial opportunities to someone with an entrepreneurial spirit," he says.
Bevill State's Dean of Workforce Solutions and Economic Development, Al Moore, highlights the promising future of real estate careers in Alabama. "Careers in real estate are projected to grow over the next decade. Alabama has a vibrant housing market and a lot of construction underway. Our state continues to attract people from around the United States. We have beautiful beaches, rivers, and mountains; an affordable cost of living; and careers available in a variety of industries, such as healthcare, technology, and manufacturing. That makes Alabama an attractive destination," says Moore.
Marilyn says that Bevill has opened many doors for its students and herself. Using her expertly developed curriculum, Marilyn prepares students to pass their real estate license exam on the first try.
"I want to make sure that everyone who has ever wanted to be in real estate knows it is not just selling and listing houses with buyers. There's more to it. Don't be afraid to go after it," says Marilyn. "It's not about the money, but if you want a career that can get you six figures and still allow you to work a purpose for God, this is it. There's nothing like sitting down at a closing table with a client and seeing them get their keys for the first time. So don't be afraid to take the class because it's the start of building a rewarding career. And Bevill is a great place to do so." 78