When looking for a home or a piece of property, the phrase “location, location, location” often comes to mind. While this quote is attributed to Harold Samuel in 1944, its sentiment still holds true today. Briarhills resident, Thea McShay, moved to the Energy Corridor 22 years ago when she found the perfect home in her neighborhood. As an independent Realtor for 25 years, Thea knows a thing or two about location. The neighborhood is charming and has a lovely new clubhouse/community center says Thea. Terry Hershey Park is only steps away, and there are so many wonderful businesses and restaurants in close proximity. Plus, I’ve had the good fortune to call several neighbors my friends.
Thea grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, graduated from Fort Lauderdale High School and attended Broward Community College. Right
out of school, I worked as an assistant bookkeeper for Rainbow Communities, which was a land developer/builder, recalls Thea. She moved to Houston in 1978, and after a career in sales for Elizabeth Arden and fine jewelry, she decided to follow in her father footsteps, who had worked in Real Estate in Fort Lauderdale. always told me he thought this was my calling, Thea said. She jumped in with both feet, completed the required courses, received her license and started her Real Estate career in 1995 at A-Klaus Century 21 on Memorial. She quickly became the company’s top Overall Sales Producer for 1996 and was recognized in the Houston Chronicle’s Realtor of the Week section in 1997.
Today, Thea is a Realtor with Bernstein Realty, a small boutique-type firm with a tremendous support staff. “We’re not all business all the time though,” says Thea. “We also share a camaraderie and lots of laughs, from Thanksgiving potlucks to office “Positivity” challenges. After we complete a challenge, the agents are treated to something totally unique to our great city of Houston. My favorite was a Segway tour around downtown. What a hoot!”
Thea has been with Bernstein Realty for eight years, where she holds an Accredited Luxury Home Specialist designation. She has received a Shining Star award, the Listing Achievement Award Leases for 2019, and was the Houston Chronicle’s Realtor of the Week in 2018 and 2019. Most recently, she was recognized as one of the top agents for the first half of 2020.
Although her father passed away before he could see her excel at this career, he remains her biggest inspiration. “Growing up, he had always told me I could be and do anything I wanted to do in this life. He said if I had the passion for something, success would come easy. I can still hear his words to this day, which continue to resonate with me and bring a smile to my face.”
Thea is glad to be fulfilling her passion in life. She eats, sleeps and breathes Real Estate, and says it doesn’t feel like work at all. I know it may sound corny, but I get so much joy out of making dreams come true! Whether it is getting a home sold, assisting relocation clients coming in from out of state or the country, or locating that special property that has been on someone’s mind for years, it is an awesome feeling. To me it is the ultimate profession.”
Although her career is a great source of joy, Thea also finds time for other endeavors. She enjoys gardening and raising orchids, cooking/entertaining, scuba diving, and swimming. Around Houston, Thea can be found at Astros games, attending wine tastings/dinners, at the gym, and visiting museums, as well as supporting artists at local art galleries. She also loves to travel. “I have been to numerous islands and several countries, and have even ridden a camel!” she says, “but I also love spending time with my sister, nieces and nephews during the holidays.”
At home, Thea enjoys the companionship of her precious brindle Chihuahua named Dolci, walking the neighborhood or park, and occasional get-togethers with her Briarhills neighbors. “Years ago, before a lot of my closest neighbors moved out of the area, I started a monthly dinner club. We would have dinner in a rotation of homes each month. This was always such an enjoyable and memorable time. We shared recipes, first-hand knowledge of good bottles of wine, and, best of all lots of laughter!”
As Thea would tell you, it isn’t all about location, it is also about the people. “There are no words for all the wonderful assistance I received during Hurricane Harvey. I was one of the lucky ones whose home did not flood, but the outpouring of kindness and selfless acts from so many neighbors during that time of panic made me feel so blessed to live in this wonderful community that I call home”