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NAR's 30 Under 30 — Washington's Runner-Ups: Olivia Statham and Kyle Maple

NAR's 30 Under 30 — Washington's Runner-Ups

By Bridget McCrea

Olivia Statham
The “Accidental” Real Estate Broker

Olivia Statham had just wrapped up several months of working for a summer camp and was looking for her next job in the Bellingham area. One serendipitous Facebook post would point her in the direction of a career she’d been searching for. Just 19 at the time, she learned about a local real estate office that was looking for an assistant and thought, “Great, I need a job so I think I’ll apply.”

The office was Hansen Group Real Estate and its founder, Jon Hansen, was the person who was searching for his next assistant. He hired Statham and the rest, as they say, is history. Early on she was handling data entry and other administrative tasks that didn’t require a license. When Hansen needed a listing coordinator, Statham got her real estate license and began managing that aspect of the business.

“That’s where I got the hands-on experience without the responsibility of having to work with my own clients,” she says. In 2020, the company’s transaction coordinator (and its current designated broker), sat Statham down and “fired” her from the listing coordination activities. “She said I was on my own,” she recalls, “and with that, I was officially a real estate agent.”

Statham jokingly says that her foray into real estate was purely “accidental,” but in reality the five or so years she spent progressing from assistant to full-fledged broker have really paid off. Not all REALTORS® get this hands-on experience before making their way out into the field, and that’s something Statham doesn’t take lightly.

“I have the experience of someone who's been in the industry much longer, but the nuance of also being a Millennial who is trying to figure out how to exist in this economy,” says Statham, who plans to get her managing broker’s license in the near future.

With the different changes taking place in the real estate industry over the last couple of years, Statham is thankful for WAR’s diligence and proactive approach. “I feel more confident when I can say to clients, ‘Yes, this litigation's taking place, but WAR is on top of it and took early steps to get out in front of things (e.g., requiring buyer’s agency agreements),” says Statham. “Washington's ahead of things and I appreciate that.”

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Kyle Maple
Putting Listings in The Best Possible Light

Growing up in a real estate-centric household, Kyle Maple was no stranger to the industry. His father owned a real estate office in Snohomish County, where Maple learned some valuable insights and gained experience at a young age.

Prior to becoming a real estate agent in 2017, Maple worked in stadium sales for the two stadiums in downtown Seattle. His success in this commission-based role—where he sold drinks and snacks—fostered a strong work ethic and a passion for working with people that he brings to his real estate career today.

A real estate broker in John L. Scott’s Mill Creek Town Center office, Maple focuses on the Mill Creek Community Association (MCCA) neighborhoods, which comprise 25 single-family home communities plus 15 condo, six townhouse and five apartment complexes. He also works with investors and handles multifamily property transactions.

Maple credits some of his early successes to an experienced mentor who taught him the ins and outs of the industry. The lessons he learned during this time were invaluable, he says, and have helped Maple provide better service to his clients and “create a more positive home buying and selling experience.”

Outside of real estate, Maple is actively involved in the Mill Creek community and enjoys giving back through various charitable endeavors. He continually seeks out ways to contribute to the growth and prosperity of the community, but also loves the outdoors, trying new restaurants, and spending time with his family and friends.

To stand out in the marketplace, Maple puts extra effort into the property-marketing process and has developed what he calls a “comprehensive marketing strategy that utilizes a variety of techniques to showcase my listings in the best possible light.”

To achieve this goal, Maple creates high-quality listing materials like professional photographs and detailed property descriptions, and uses social media and real estate websites to reach a wide audience. “I also believe in the power of word-of-mouth marketing,” he explains, “and keeping in touch with my past clients and networking with other industry professionals to spread the word about my listings.”