My Final Day on Living Room Realty’s Broker Advisory Group

My Final Day on Living Room Realty’s Broker Advisory Group

Today is my final day serving on the Living Room Realty Broker Advisory Group, closing out a meaningful two-year term as Relevance Chair. This role gave me a seat at the table to help shape culture, policy, and communication between agents and leadership. More importantly, it allowed me to live out Living Room Realty’s values in real time.

For those unfamiliar, the Living Room Realty Broker Advisory Group functions as both a board-level role and an advisory position. In practice, it acts as an intermediary between the agent body and company leadership. Although there is no formal job description, each chair is expected to embody the value they represent. In my case, that value was Relevance.

Learn more about LRR values

What Relevance Meant to Me on the Living Room Realty Broker Advisory Group

Relevance, to me, means staying connected to the community, the industry, and the values that guide our work. As a result, I committed to showing up in spaces where mission-driven business, equity, and innovation intersect.

Over the past two years, I intentionally participated in:

• B Local PDX events, including B Bash at Wieden+Kennedy and BLD PNW (B Corp Leadership Development – Pacific Northwest)

• Joining and engaging with affinity organizations such as AREAA and Oregon Realtists (NAREB)

• Educating the Living Room Realty agent body about these groups and sending personal invitations to get involved

• Attending PMAR’s Summer Soirée at Porsche Studio, co-hosted with YPN and local affinity groups, which created space for meaningful and strategic connection

Through these experiences, I was able to bring fresh ideas, new relationships, and relevant opportunities back to the agent body. In turn, this helped keep Living Room Realty connected to the broader conversations shaping our industry.

Creating Internal Community Through the “Roommates Group”

At the same time, relevance also means building connection inside our own brokerage. Because of that, I co-created the Roommates Group with my colleague and friend Nicole Chavira (Connection Chair).

This monthly gathering created space for agents to:

• Talk shop

• Share challenges and wins

• Collaborate

• Build relationships beyond transactions

Although simple in structure, this group had a real impact. Most importantly, it strengthened community and reduced silos across the brokerage.

Why Serving on the Living Room Realty Broker Advisory Group Mattered

This position was an honor. It allowed me to contribute to meaningful conversations that shape how Living Room Realty shows up in the world. Moreover, it gave me the opportunity to advocate for agents while also supporting leadership with real-time feedback from the field.

Because of this role, I gained a deeper understanding of how values translate into policy, culture, and daily business practices. As a result, I’m walking away with stronger relationships, sharper perspective, and a renewed commitment to values-driven leadership in real estate.

Passing the Relevance Chair to the Next Leader

As I complete my term on the Living Room Realty Broker Advisory Group, I’m excited to nominate Jenson Sarr as the next Relevance Chair. Jenson brings thoughtfulness, integrity, and a grounded leadership style. Even more, I know they will make this role their own and embody relevance in a way that reflects their unique strengths.

Looking Ahead: Continuing to Lead With Relevance

Although my term has ended, my commitment to relevance has not. Moving forward, I will continue to:

• Show up in community spaces

• Build bridges across housing, equity, and industry leadership

• Represent Living Room Realty’s B Corp values in action

Finally, I’m grateful for the trust placed in me over the past two years. Serving on the Living Room Realty Broker Advisory Group was both grounding and energizing. I look forward to supporting the next generation of leadership while continuing to lead with relevance in my work and community.

Jessica Ward

Broker | ADU Specialist | OR & WA

She/Her

My life is fueled by a profound passion for serving others and making a positive impact on my community.

https://youtu.be/x1kSQm5UdQo?si=Wam5-ZRcj3VTRn_g I’m a Great NW native and— five years into this industry—a broker known for delivering results while making people feel genuinely taken care of. I grew up in Portland and Southwest Washington, and I know this market—its neighborhoods, culture, pricing nuances, and opportunities. That lived understanding informs every recommendation I make. I’m inclusive of all people, price points and committed to creating a space where clients feel safe, respected, and fully themselves. I’m a mother to my daughter, Wynter Katie, and a dog mom to a very cute Yorkshire terrier, which keeps me grounded in real life and real perspective.

When I’m not working, you’ll find me hiking in the Gorge, wine tasting in the Willamette Valley, dining at local restaurants, hosting social gatherings, perusing an art gallery, flowing through hot yoga, drinking a good hazy IPA at a brewery, listening to an audiobook or podcast, attending a networking event, chaperoning my daughters field trips. boating on the river, or unwinding at local spas and bathhouses.

I stay deeply connected to my community through volunteering and board participation. I’m especially passionate about children’s needs—particularly those involved in the foster care system—climate impact and sustainability, justice and equity for people of color, and mental health advocacy.

My clients consistently rate their experience with me five stars, whether they are buying selling or simply attending one of the first time home buying classes I host for free to educate and empower the community. I’ve been called the “queen of resources and connections,” and I take that seriously. I’m known for navigating down payment assistance programs, grants, ADUs, seller financing, and non-traditional paths to ownership with ease and clarity. Think polished expertise with a side of “I got you.” Access is power. Education is leverage. And I believe everyone deserves both. I’m also a real estate investor who manages my own properties, including an ADU, so my guidance is grounded in lived experience. I understand long-term value, cash flow, development potential, and creative strategy—not just on paper, but in practice. As a black woman in real estate, I lead with excellence and purpose in an industry where representation is still very rare. I’m honored to be the first African American broker in Oregon state history to close a transaction with a Black-owned title and escrow company, but my greatest accomplishment is impact—helping clients secure stability, build wealth, and step confidently into ownership. I run a tight ship—transparent, strategic, and supportive—but don’t get it twisted, we’ll laugh too. I bring luxury-level service without the stiffness. Professional polish with real and genuine personality. To me, real estate isn’t just about property—it’s about security, freedom, and community. And when you work with me, you’re not just closing a deal… you’re building something bigger. Follow along: @Jessica_TheHomeGirl

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What Clients Are Saying:

Clients consistently share that working with me feels:

• Supportive and steady, even in high-pressure moments

• Clear and transparent, with no unanswered questions

• Strategic and informed, particularly during negotiations

• Personal, never transactional

First-time buyers say they felt educated and empowered. Sellers value my pricing insight and communication. Investors trust my numbers, perspective, and long-term thinking. Five stars—because the experience is intentional!

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Affiliations and Accolades:

• ADU Specialist
• Earth Advantage Certified
• Portland NAACP (Member)
• LRR Diversity Chair Award Winner
• Lents Neighborhood Association (Former President)
• Youth Rights and Justice (Board Member & Sponsor)
• Asian Real Estate Association of America (Member)
• National Association of Real Estate Brokers (Member)
• Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors (Member)
• Broker Advisory Group at Living Room Realty (2024-2026)

 

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• T: 971-230-8164
• jessicaw@livingroomre.com