This May marks Inman’s sixth annual Agent Appreciation Month. Look for profiles of top producers, opinions on the current state of the industry and tangible takeaways you can implement in your career today. Plus, the prestigious Future Leaders of Real Estate return this month, too.
This post was updated May 5, 2025.
Of all the honors in real estate, the Rookie of the Year Award might be the most inspiring because it takes us all back to those early days when we were just starting out.
I don’t think it matters if you’ve been in the business one year or 40 years, we always have something to learn from each other. That’s why I sat down with Tyson Hansen, our brokerage’s 2024 Rookie of the Year, to learn more about his success playbook.
Check out our conversation below.
Vidal: You caught the real estate bug when you bought your first home and started buying, fixing, selling and managing properties. What ignited your passion?
Hansen: Every time I met someone who had achieved true financial freedom — working because they wanted to, not because they had to — I noticed a common thread: They all owned real estate. That really stuck with me.
Real estate is one of the most time-tested, reliable ways to build wealth, and I knew I wanted to be part of that. I became obsessed with learning everything I could and owning as much of it as possible.
Vidal: You had a successful career in finance — close to 17 years. How did that help your transition to a career in real estate? What was it like to leave a steady paycheck behind?
Hansen: Growing up, I was always told, like so many of us, “Get a good education, find a secure job with benefits and a retirement plan.” And I did that. I had a great job in government finance, and while there were parts I enjoyed, deep down I knew it wasn’t where I belonged.
I’d go to conferences and look around the room thinking, this just isn’t my crowd. Eventually, I had to face the truth: I wasn’t doing what God put me on this earth to do. Once I realized that, I knew it was time to make a change — and I went all in. Burn the boats.
Vidal: What was pivotal to your success in your first year in real estate?
Hansen: Fear can be a powerful motivator — especially when you’ve got a wife and four kids depending on you and you’ve just walked away from your steady paycheck. About a month after leaving my job, I partnered up with my investment buddy, Donavan. We already owned several properties together and had flipped homes, so we knew we worked well as a team.
We figured instead of competing against each other, we’d team up and make 1+1=3. That partnership was huge for me. Having someone to grind with, hold you accountable, and push you to be better every day? That kind of energy is contagious, and it definitely helped shape my first year.
Vidal: What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Hansen: One of my biggest strengths is that I have a hard time sitting still. I struggle to even watch a full movie or game because I feel like I should be doing something productive. That drive keeps me moving forward and makes it hard to end a day feeling like I didn’t accomplish anything.
On the flip side, I wrestle with time management. I get distracted easily — classic shiny object syndrome — and I’m a master of creative avoidance. If I have a big task I don’t want to tackle, suddenly I have to sweep the porch or take my truck to the carwash.
It’s also hard for me to delegate, which isn’t ideal when you’re trying to grow and scale.
Vidal: What is something you are passionate about outside of real estate?
Hansen: My wife and I love to travel and experience new things together. We’ve got a trip planned this year to Paris and Rome — can’t wait! It’s something we both really look forward to and prioritize.
Vidal: What’s on your vision board?
Hansen: I don’t use a traditional vision “board,” but I’m big on visualization. I actually write my goals out in a letter to myself — as a story. I include what life looks like if I reach them, but I also describe what life might be like if I don’t. It’s a powerful motivator.
I read it at least once a week to keep myself focused. When I look in the mirror I want to see someone I’m proud of — strong, driven and dialed in. In my visualization, I don’t just show up – I own the moment. I win.
Vidal: What advice do you have for people just starting out in this business?
Hansen: Find someone — or a group — that will hold you accountable. Whether it’s a teammate, a coach, a mastermind group or a mentor, that accountability can make all the difference.
And treat it like a real job. Show up at your desk every day, ready to work, just like you would anywhere else.
The biggest secret? Be consistent. It’s the small, repeated actions that compound into something amazing over time.
Tyson Hansen of ERA Brokers Consolidated in Richfield, Utah purchased his first townhome in 2009, a pivotal moment that ignited his love of real estate. After years of buying, fixing, selling and managing properties, in 2024 Tyson took a leap of faith, leaving his position as Richfield City’s finance director to pursue real estate full-time.
Alex Vidal is the president of ERA Real Estate.
