06
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
5 QUESTIONS WITH: DAVID SPECTER
APRIL/MAY
CONNECTING REAL ESTATE. BUILDING COMMUNITY
08
RECAPPING AGENT STC AND AGENT STL EVENTS
10 THE BLISS HOME TEAM
14
JULIE HAEFNER
Agent TEAM
THE PEOPLE BEHIND AGENT STL
A dedicated team of professionals building connections, creating opportunities, and elevating our community.
David Ames
David is the Founder of Agent STL |STC events and magazine He is also also a Sales Manager at New American Funding
Building a stronger community by creating a space for connection, growth, and impact ”
Lori Williams LENDING CORRESPONDENT STC Dan
MARKET DIRECTOR
Dan is Market Director for Agent STC. He is also an Insurance Broker, Author, and Podcast Host
Lori is the Lending Correspondent for Agent STC. She is also a Sr. Loan Consultant at New American Funding
Kathy Bradley
MEMBER EXPERIENCE LEAD
Kathy is Member Experience Lead for both Agent STL and STC She is also Team Lead for Keller Williams Realty West.
We’re here to support, connect, and elevate real estate professionals across the entire St. Louis region.
STRONGER TOGETHER
Letter From the Editor
A Different Kind of Growth
This issue reflects a theme that continues to show up in every room we build, every conversation we have, and every agent we highlight The agents who are growing in a meaningful, sustainable way are not chasing attention They are earning trust
That is exactly what stands out in this month’s cover story featuring Emily Bliss and Kara Harder of the Bliss Home Team Their business is not built on shortcuts or noise It is built on relationships that compound over time, a reputation that travels without them having to force it, and a client experience that still feels personal in a world that is increasingly automated. Their growth is a result of doing the right things consistently, even when no one is watching. It is a reminder that scale does not have to come at the expense of connection
That same energy carries into our Agent on Fire, Julie Haefner. Julie’s momentum is not accidental It is the product of clarity in how she operates, discipline in how she shows up, and a willingness to lean into the work even when it is not easy There is a difference between being busy and being effective, and Julie continues to prove she understands that difference at a high level.
ByDavidAmes
You will also find a recap of our most recent Agent STL event - Power Circles, which celebrated it’s 2 year as one of our most popular event themes Additionally, you will find information from the launch of our St Charles County event - Agent STC
As Agent STL continues to evolve, the goal remains the same Build rooms that matter. Create conversations that push people forward Highlight the agents who are doing this business the right way, not just the loudest way
This magazine plays a role in that It allows us to slow things down for a moment and recognize what is actually working. Not trends. Not noise. Real strategies, real people, and real results
f you are reading this, you are part of it
We are continuing to build something that values depth over hype, relationships over transactions, and long-term thinking over short-term wins.
See you at the next table.
David Ames is a mortgage lender since 2009, specializing in marketing strategy, business growth, and VIP client experiences. He is the founder of Agent STL and is focused on building strong, connected real estate communities
New American Funding NMLS 738479
636-614-9733
FIVE QUESTIONS WITH: DAVID SPECTER
1 What does being a trusted resource for REALTORS mean to you?
It means being someone agents and homeowners know they can genuinely rely on before, during, and after the transaction It’s not just about selling a policy…it’s about being available, communicating honestly, helping set proper expectations, and stepping in when stressful situations arise I take pride in making the home warranty side as smooth, transparent, and supportive as possible
2
What’s the most memorable way you’ve helped save a deal or ease a homeowner’s stress?
One of the most memorable situations I experienced was helping a police officer whose furnace failed shortly after buying his home in the middle of winter We were able to get the furnace replaced through the warranty, and he later called to thank me because it allowed his family to enjoy their new home without the financial stress of a major repair. Moments like that remind me this business is about more than homes. It’s about protecting peace of mind during stressful moments.
3 What’s something about real estate that surprised you when you first experienced it?
What surprised me most about the home warranty industry was how emotional home repairs can be for homeowners, especially right after closing. I quickly learned this business is about far more than coverage. It’s about communication, setting expectations, and helping people through stressful and expensive situations with peace of mind.
David is a husband and father of four boys who values family, relationships, and serving clients with genuine care.
4 Desert island album. One album for the rest of your life. What is it?
Johnny Cash- Folsom Prison, or AC/DC back in black!
5
What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you outside of real estate?
Outside of work, I’m very family-oriented, and most of my free time revolves around my wife and our four kids Life is definitely busy in our house, but I genuinely love it. Whether it’s school activities, sports, family outings, vacations, or just spending quality time together at home, my family is the center of everything I do. I think people are sometimes surprised to see how much I prioritize family time outside of work, especially in a career that can be so fast-paced and relationship-driven.
Building Momentum. Strengthening Community.
From the official launch of Agent STC to powerful conversations at our Agent STL Power Circles, the momentum is real.
AGENT STC OFFICIAL LAUNCH
AGENT STL LAUNCHES AGENT STC IN ST CHARLES COUNTY
The official launch of Agent STC marked a major milestone for the Agent STL community as the organization officially expanded into St. Charles County. Held at The Water’s Edge in St Peters, the event brought together agents, brokers, business leaders, and local officials for a morning centered around growth, collaboration, and the future of the regional real estate community.
AGENT STL POWER CIRCLES
POWER CIRCLES YEAR 2
Agent STL Power Circles returned for Year 2 with one of the organization’s most engaging and interactive formats to date Hosted at The Lodge Des Peres, the event featured ten rotating table leaders leading focused 10-minute discussions designed to deliver high-impact ideas agents could immediately apply to their businesses
More than just a ribbon-cutting, The Launch was designed to introduce a new chapter focused on elevating agents through education, relationships, and meaningful industry conversations Speakers and guests discussed leadership, development, business growth, and the importance of building stronger professional connections across both sides of the river
The event also reflected the larger vision behind Agent STL: creating spaces where agents can learn, collaborate, and sharpen their business together in a rapidly changing market With strong attendance and community support, Agent STC officially launched with significant momentum heading into the rest of the year.
Topics ranged from AI and geographic farming to lead conversion, relationship-based marketing, mindset, down payment assistance strategies, and time management The rotating format created constant movement, energy, and conversation throughout the room while allowing attendees to learn directly from a wide variety of industry perspectives
What continues to make Power Circles unique is its emphasis on practical collaboration over presentations. Rather than sitting through long speeches, agents actively engage, ask questions, exchange ideas, and walk away with actionable strategies and new relationships The event reinforced Agent STL’s commitment to creating educational environments that are fast-paced, community-driven, and built around helping agents continue growing in today’s market.
Thank you to our partners, speakes and everyone who shows up and invests in this community.
This is only the beginning.
BUILT ON TRUST
HOW EMILY BLISS AND KARA HARDER ARE GROWING BLISS HOME TEAM THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS, REPUTATION, AND A CLIENT EXPERIENCE THAT STILL FEELS PERSONAL
ByLoriWilliams
n a market where plenty of agents are chasing volume, Emily Bliss and Kara Harder have built their business a different way. The women behind Bliss Home Team have created real momentum through referrals, repeat clients, thoughtful marketing, and a level of service that makes people feel like they are more than just another transaction.
That approach helped fuel a standout 2025, and it has carried right into 2026 While many agents are still adjusting to a slower, more measured market, Bliss and Harder are staying in front of it by doubling down on what has always worked for them: communication, consistency, and trust.
For this Agent STL Spring Issue cover story, the two shared what is driving their growth, what they are seeing in the St Louis and St Charles markets, and why the personal side of this business still matters most
RELATIONSHIPS
FIRST, ALWAYS
Ask Bliss and Harder what truly set them apart in a competitive year, and neither points to flashy marketing or some magic lead source The answer is much simpler.
Most of their business comes from people they know, people who know them, and people who keep coming back
That foundation has created a business built less on chasing strangers and more on taking care of the people already in their world. Yes, they still pick up buyers through open houses, website traffic, and the occasional online lead But the engine behind the business is trust.
That trust, they say, starts with personality long before it ever becomes a contract
People feel comfortable with them They trust how they communicate, how they work, and how they show up Over time, that turns into repeat business, referrals, and something even more valuable: relationships that last well beyond closing day
That mindset has shaped the entire Bliss Home Team brand. Their clients do not feel handed off They feel known And in a business where so many people complain about poor communication and impersonal service, that difference still stands out
THE LISTING IS THE BRAND
For Bliss, presentation is not an extra. It is part of the job
With a background in design, staging, and sales, she sees every listing as a direct reflection of the team’s standards. A home does not go live until it is ready That means prep, staging, freshening up the details, and making sure the property actually looks market-ready before the first buyer ever sees it online
Once
you work with us, you’re part of our family She routinely meets sellers in advance, walks the home with them, and gives them a clear list of improvements that will make a difference Fresh paint Touched-up trim Cleaner presentation Better flow. Better photography. Better first impression
The reasoning is simple Buyers notice everything. And once they start spotting cosmetic neglect, they begin wondering what bigger things have been ignored too
That is why Bliss is firm on one of the team’s clearest non-negotiables: they do not put homes on the market before they are ready
Even an as-is property, she says, still deserves to be cleaned up and presented properly Professional photos still matter. The standard does not change just because the price point does
That philosophy runs deeper than marketing. It is about respect for the seller, the process, and the reputation attached to every sign in the yard.
STAYING AHEAD IN 2026
Even in a year that feels uneven to many agents, Bliss Home Team is ahead of where it was at this point last year, including by unit count.
What is driving that?
Part of it is simply coming into the year with momentum already in place But just as important is the fact that they are not waiting for business to come to them. They are staying in front of their database, staying active on social media, paying closer attention to platforms like LinkedIn and Google, and continuing to nurture the relationships that feed the business
They are also intentional about the experience they create outside the transaction itself A customer appreciation event last year helped set the tone for the kind of community they want to keep building around the brand
For them, a client relationship is not supposed to end at the closing table. It is supposed to continue
That is how you end up invited to a child’s birthday party a year after a move Or to a housewarming Or into the ordinary moments of someone’s life after the sale is done
Those moments are not side benefits of the business. They are the business.
For us, a client relationships isn’t supposed to end at the closing table. It’s supposed to continue.
A MORE NORMAL MARKET, AND BETTER ADVICE
Like most experienced agents, Bliss and Harder are spending plenty of time helping clients recalibrate their expectations
They are quick to point out that while a house can still move fast and even sell above list, the market is not what it was a few years ago. Buyers are more thoughtful Inspections are back Decision-making is slower. Panic over a home taking more than a few days to sell often says more about distorted expectations than actual market trouble
Bliss frames it in practical terms If a listing is not generating enough activity early, it is usually telling you something. The market is speaking, and pricing or presentation may need to change.
That kind of honesty is part of what clients value There is no fantasy version of the market here. There is just the real one, and a strategy built around it
For sellers, that means proper pricing and preparation For buyers, it means patience, realism, and understanding that thoughtful decisions are not a bad thing In many ways, this is simply a return to a more normal market.
And for agents who know how to navigate a normal market, that can actually be an advantage.
A TEAM MODEL THAT STILL FEELS PERSONAL
One of the things that makes Bliss Home Team stand out is how deliberately small and personal the operation still feels.
Clients are not bounced from one person to another depending on the stage of the transaction. They are working with Emily and Kara throughout. Even when there is backend support or paperwork being pushed along, the relationship stays with the people the client actually hired.
That consistency matters So does the way they think about team structure They are not trying to create a giant machine where volume replaces connection They are building something more hands-on, where each person keeps ownership of the relationships they create.
Harder may do more with buyers at times, and Bliss may handle more listings in certain situations, but they do not operate from the belief that the team lead should automatically take over simply because of hierarchy If a client hired Kara, they should get Kara If the relationship was built through Emily, that matters too
It is a team, but not one designed to dilute the personal side of the work.
And perhaps just as importantly, they believe every client deserves the same level of service regardless of price point
Whether someone is buying a modest starter home or selling a high-end property, the expectation inside the team is the same: good communication, strong representation, and no difference in care
Another major part of Bliss’s story is Flying Pigs, the charitable effort that grew out of a deeply personal connection to families impacted by neuromuscular disease.
What began as a neighborhood connection eventually became a much bigger mission. Today, the organization has grown into one of the top fundraising teams for MDA St. Louis, and its work continues to evolve
The goal is not only to support research, but also to help families in practical ways right here in the community Caregiving support Accessibility improvements. Things insurance often does not cover, but families still desperately need. For Bliss, it is another extension of the same instinct that drives her business. Help people Show up Do something real.
It also puts everyday real estate stress into perspective
When you carry those experiences with you, it changes how you define success
THE HARD PART NO ONE SEES
Like many high-performing agents, Bliss and Harder are candid about the part of the job that can wear people down.
The hours are not clean. The phone does not care what time it is Family dinners get interrupted. Calls come in from the car, from tournaments, from social events, from everywhere. Communication may be one of the biggest separators in this business, but constant availability has a cost
That is why boundaries have become a bigger focus
Not because they care less, but because sustainability matters too.
Bliss is especially honest about how much she is still learning there Not every text needs an immediate reply. Not every request at eleven at night is actually urgent. Not every moment has to be surrendered just because the phone buzzed
That tension is familiar to almost every serious agent The clients need you The timelines are real And yet if you never create guardrails, the business consumes everything around it For both women, balance is still a work in progress But awareness is part of progress too.
THE STORY THAT STAYED WITH HER
Every agent has deals they remember. Bliss has one that clearly sits above the rest.
She went to what she expected would be a routine listing appointment in O’Fallon Instead, she met a little girl named Evelyn who immediately pulled her into her world, asking her to color, do stickers, and watch PAW Patrol. To keep the appointment moving, Bliss asked Evelyn to show her where she slept The child ended up giving her a full tour of the house.
Later, Bliss learned Evelyn had been battling a serious form of stomach cancer and had already gone through chemo
What stayed with her was not just the diagnosis It was the little girl’s spirit The appointment became something much bigger than a listing opportunity
It became one of those moments that strips the business down to what matters and reminds you how small your own complaints can feel in comparison.
That family is still part of her life now. They came to the team’s customer appreciation event. They stayed connected What could have been just another appointment became one of the most meaningful experiences of her career.
It is the kind of story that explains a lot about how Bliss approaches this work Yes, there is the transaction But there is also the person standing in front of you And sometimes that is the part you remember forever.
What They Want to Be Known For
In an industry where reputation travels fast, Bliss knows exactly how she wants their team to be remembered.
Not as flashy. Not as difficult. Not as the people on the other side of the deal that everyone dreads
She wants Bliss Home Team to be known for honesty, integrity, and professionalism Easy to work with Responsive. Fair. The kind of agents whose names bring relief instead of stress when they show up on the other side of a transaction
That reputation matters not just with clients, but with fellow agents too. In a competitive environment, having other professionals say, “They’re great to work with,” still carries real weight
And that may be the clearest summary of what Emily Bliss and Kara Harder have built
Not just a productive team. Not just a recognizable brand A name that means something.
A business built on trust usually takes longer to build But it also tends to last longer once it is there.
.
Julie’s best year in real estate did not come from one magic lead source, one perfect system, or one lucky break
It came from relationships It came from open houses.
It came from showing up in person, staying visible online, and refusing to disappear when the market got quiet
In 2025, Julie closed 48 homes and finished the year at $27.8 million in volume, making it her strongest year yet. But when she talks about the numbers, she does not talk like someone who believes she has it all figured out
She talks like someone still studying the business.
“I’m always looking for the nugget,” she says “No matter what conference I go to or what podcast I listen to, I’m always trying to find one thing I can take and use ”
That willingness to keep learning may be one of the biggest reasons she keeps growing
RELATIONSHIPS, OPENS, AND SHOWING UP
Julie’s business is built around three main pillars: open houses, networking, and social media She is the first to admit she is not a natural phone caller. Her strength is being in rooms, talking to people, hosting opens, attending community events, and creating real face-to-face connection
Open houses, in particular, have become one of the clearest engines of her business When she looked back at her 2025 closings, she found that 20 of her 48 deals had originated from open house relationships, whether from that year, the year before, or even earlier
Recently, she added a new strategy Before an open house, she mails postcards to roughly 100 surrounding homes and invites neighbors to a private preview before the public open begins
At one recent open, only three neighbors came
One is now planning to list with her.
If I spend $100 on mailings and get one listing from it, that’s a pretty good return
That kind of thinking defines Julie’s approach She is not chasing every shiny object. She is paying attention to what works, testing new ideas, and then doubling down when the results make sense
VISIBLE. CONSISTENT. TOP OF MIND
Social media is another major part of her visibility, even if she is still deciding how directly it converts. She invests in video support each month, but the ideas, scripts, and content direction still come from her
Whether that creates a direct lead or simply keeps her top of mind, Julie understands that visibility matters in a crowded industry
“When there are so many agents, it’s hard to be the one chosen,” she says.
Her answer is not to be louder. It is to be more intentional
A SEASON OF STRENGTH
Julie went through 20 weeks of chemotherapy during what should have been her busiest work season. Treatment started in March and continued through the end of August. Instead of stepping fully away, she kept working.
And she kept walking.
Every day, no matter how she felt, Julie walked at least four miles
“I would get out of the chemo chair, come home, put on my sneakers, and walk four miles,” she says “It was non-negotiable ”
Those walks became more than exercise. They became a form of gratitude, a way to stay grounded, and a way to remind herself that she still had agency in the middle of something she could not fully control.
She never found herself asking, “Why me?”
Instead, she found herself asking, “Why not me?”
Work also became an anchor Listing appointments, clients, and responsibilities gave her a reason to get out of bed on days when it would have been easier not to
“For me, work and exercise were pivotal,” she says. “Work gave me purpose I’m so glad I had it ”
FAITH THROUGH FIRE
That experience has now become part of a larger calling Julie mentors women going through breast cancer, including through Faith Through Fire, an organization focused on the emotional and mental side of the diagnosis
She has also become more involved in cancer-related volunteer opportunities and events, looking for ways to support women beyond the medical side of treatment.
That mentoring instinct is also shaping what may come next in her business
INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF AGENTS
Julie has spent years as a highproducing individual agent, but she is now considering what growth looks like from here Not just more volume Not just more closings She is thinking about mentorship
At Keller Williams, she taught listing classes, buyer classes, and open house classes. She loved helping newer agents learn the business, even though it was not a paid part of her work.
“I personally love teaching,” she says. “If I had someone approach me when I was a new agent and offer to mentor me, I would have been ecstatic ”
She never had that person early in her career. No one invited her to shadow listing appointments No one pulled her aside and offered to help her grow
Now, she sees an opportunity to become that person for someone else.
“I would love to bring along someone newer, eager, and aggressive,” she says.
Buying a home is supposed to be one of the most exciting moments in someone’s life, and unexpected breakdowns can quickly turn that excitement in to stress and anxiety.
WHAT MATTERS MOST
For Julie, success is not about having everything perfectly balanced It is about knowing what matters most and building life around those priorities
God first
Family second
Work third
That does not mean work disappears when she is on vacation She wrote two offers while skiing last week and won them both. But for Julie, the ability to take her family on trips, create memories, and spend time together is part of why she works so hard
For now, Julie is still doing what she has always done.
Showing up.
Learning Testing Serving Walking
Mentoring
And building a business that reflects not only how she sells homes, but how she lives
“My husband and I grew up with no money,” she says “Vacations were not something we got to do. So being able to take my kids and be together as a family is worth every penny ”
Her husband has been one of her biggest supporters, helping with signs, handyman tasks, and anything else she needs As he looks toward the next chapter of his own career, the two have even talked about whether he may eventually support her business more formally behind the scenes.
Until then, they keep building, together.
She may have just had her best year ever, but Julie does not sound like
someone who is finished.
She sounds like someone still becoming.
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