Maria Jacobs named 2024 REALTOR® of the Year

Jennifer Much

Contributor

February 10, 2025

FISH CREEK – Before becoming a realtor, Maria Jacobs – a Brazil native and the 2024 REALTOR® of the Year – said she thought she’d have a career in the legal field.

However, a by-chance visit to Wisconsin, she said, would inspire a shift in her work plans.

“I moved to Door County in 2007 after graduating from law school in Brazil,” she said. “I had traveled to Door County during a gap year and fell in love with the energy of the peninsula.”

Jacobs said there is no place like Door County – enjoying the influx of people during the busy season but also embracing the calming quietness of winter.

“I feel at home here, knowing it was the right move for me,” she said.

Four years after moving to Wisconsin’s peninsula, Jacobs said she found herself making another big change, this time with her career.

She said she had been working as a legal assistant in a real estate office when she began looking into becoming a realtor herself.

“It was honestly one of those light bulb moments,” she said. “I suddenly had the realization that real estate was the path for me, and I never looked back.”

Having worked in a real estate environment already as a legal assistant, Jacobs said she was familiar with the ever-changing demands of the field and knew the importance of pursuing formal training.

“I signed up for classes at the Wisconsin Realtors Association and got my license,” she said. “That was the easy part. As agents, we learn through experience and constant continuing education.”

Today, Jacobs said she has been granted the Graduate REALTOR® Institute symbol and holds the Accredited Buyer’s Representative designation, the Pricing Strategy Advisor certification and the Seller Representative Specialist designation.

Jacobs said she joined True North Real Estate, a locally owned and operated brokerage located in Fish Creek, as a sales associate in 2021.

“I am truly blessed to have joined such an incredible firm led by a thoughtful group of realtors,” she said.

Jacobs said she was first introduced to True North in 2012 when she purchased her own home in the area.

She said her positive experience with them as a buyer made her appreciate them even more as an employer.

Recognition

Each year, the Door County Board of REALTORS® presents the REALTOR® of the Year Award to a member who has been instrumental in upholding high standards in the real estate profession.

According to its website (dcbr.org), the award aims to recognize the hard work of agents in the region.

Further, criteria for the award revolves around the recipient’s involvement with both the association and their own community – an aspect that Jacobs said she is most proud of.

“This past year, I served as a director for the Board of Realtors, as chair of the Marketing Committee and as a member of the Education, Advocacy and Professional Standards Committees,” she said. “I also serve as a member of the Wisconsin Realtors Association Legal Action Committee, besides helping as a treasurer for a Girl Scout troop. I now also serve as a Board Member for the Door County Habitat for Humanity.”

Jacobs said she believes her passion for her community, clients and profession led her to win the award.

“I was surprised when I realized I was being honored with the award, as I only found out when the award was presented,” she said.

When she was named the 2024 recipient, Jacobs said she felt so many emotions and was so nervous and excited that her heart was racing.

“I was also so grateful and thrilled,” she said. “My colleagues were there cheering me on – it was indeed a special moment.”

Jacobs said the award is an incredible honor and accentuates her integrity in her job.

“To me, it solidified my belief that doing the right thing and being kind always wins,” she said.

Though having goals and striving to be a top producer are important in the industry, Jacobs said to her, the people matter the most.

“I want to make a living doing something I love, feeling that I am helping others and doing my best with kindness, ethics and professionalism,” she said.

Jacobs said she hopes to inspire other agents and encourage them to volunteer, too.

“I wholeheartedly recommend that realtors get involved with their association as it can improve their knowledge and professionalism and provide social opportunities with fellow agents,” she said. “It is a wonderful way to contribute to the profession.”

Serves as a reminder 

Jacobs said to her, the award is about more than just winning – instead, it has served as a reminder that she is making a difference in the industry and her community, even on hard days.

“The real estate career is 24/7,” she said. “I value the relationships I build with my customers, clients and colleagues. Real estate can be an emotional ride, and it’s important to understand other people’s needs.”

Jacobs said her job duties change each day but typically include corresponding with prospects, clients, other agents and lenders, along with showing properties, drafting contracts and staying on top of real estate news.

“As weird as this may sound, I have found great joy in drafting contracts,” she said. “It is one of my favorite things.”

Since agents are responsible for managing their business, including maintaining their own list of properties, Jacobs said finding the perfect work/life balance can be challenging.

“My first few years were difficult,” she said. “I allowed stress to take over and learned big lessons.”

The job, Jacobs said, is not about perfectionism but rather highlights the value of hard work, the benefits of crafting a reliable plan and the importance of having a supportive team.

“Learning boundaries and self-care have been instrumental in my life and have allowed me to find balance and stay true to myself,” she said. “I also care deeply about the people I work with.”

Jacobs said the award plaque is a visual reminder of her journey and offers an opportunity for her to reminisce.

“I have so many wonderful memories,” she said.

Now as the award sits on her desk, Jacobs said it brings her back to day one.

“I think about the day that I sat at my desk at True North Real Estate for the first time,” she said. “I was so eager and so fresh.”

As she looks to the future, Jacobs said this year, “I want to find my social media voice.”

As an essential networking platform, she said she hopes to utilize the tool to connect with others and to further share her diverse knowledge of the industry.