A phenomenal real estate career isn't just about closing transactions; it's about building lasting relationships and providing unending support to clients.

This is a truth that Jessica States-Thiele, a dedicated REALTORⓇ with Keller Williams Lincoln, embodies on a daily basis. While Jessica has racked up plenty of professional accolades including Keller Williams’ Top Producer Award for the last two years, the extraordinary attention and appreciation she showers upon her clients to create bonds that endure long after a deal closes is perhaps the most impressive of all.

“I am a very loyal person and I’m building a loyal client base,” Jessica notes. “I try to go above and beyond, helping clients in any capacity, even if it’s years after a sale. It actually sounds strange to even call them my clients because they truly are lifelong friends.”

Jessica's path to real estate was paved with determination and a passion for both business and entrepreneurship. Armed with a bachelor's degree in business administration and communication from Nebraska Wesleyan University, as well as a master's in management from Doane University, Jessica's educational foundation laid the groundwork for her future success. 

"I love business and entrepreneurship, and real estate is the perfect field to run a woman-owned business with the flexibility of being a mom," she shares. 

After six years in the nonprofit sector, where she excelled in fundraising, planning events, board management, and marketing, Jessica decided to seize the opportunity to fulfill her long-standing passion for real estate. But she admits it still wasn’t an easy decision.

“I left a salaried job with great benefits to strictly commission, before I was married. I was totally independent, but I believed in myself and had faith that this was the path God wanted me to take — and I was so blessed to have people in my life who believed in me,” Jessica recalls.

“My business mentor, Karalyn Hoefer, sat down with me and I told her I wanted flexibility and a solid career. She was very encouraging and believed in me. I also knew that the relationships I had made through my involvement in the community and various organizations would help catapult me since I wasn’t originally from Lincoln,” Jessica continued. “And I already had marketing plans in my head!” 

With her extensive network and community involvement propelling her towards future success, Jessica made the leap into full-time real estate in 2017 and never looked back. Thus far in 2023,  Jessica had closed 45 transactions for over $15 million and is on track for another record year. 

Jessica's dedication to her clients goes beyond the confines of real estate transactions. She is driven by a genuine desire to serve and support her clients throughout their life journeys. 

"It's a big decision to purchase a home, and I love being with homebuyers through the process—the whole gamut," she affirms. “New homebuyers to empty nesters, it’s emotional and it’s so much more than a literal transaction for me. I’m helping them for a lifetime, anything my client needs.” 

Jessica shares her distinctive client tradition: "I deliver pies to every client I've ever had, every year! … they get to pick if it's for Christmas or Thanksgiving, and they also get to choose between a few different flavors. It's pies for life!”

Her exceptional commitment extends to giving back to the community she holds dear. Jessica and her husband have a giving fund, where they match a portion of each closing to donate to nonprofits every Give to Lincoln Day. Nonprofits are nominated by clients and drawn by Jessica’s children. This spirit of generosity and genuine care underscores her approach to business, something she hopes to instill in her children as well. 

Jessica’s husband, Nick, played a pivotal role in her decision to embrace real estate full-time. She says Nick’s unwavering support, combined with her own faith, determination, and the wisdom of her family, fortified her belief in her abilities. 

“My parents always believed in me and I feel so lucky to have had supportive parents,” Jessica asserts. 

“Nick was also very encouraging and assured me I was not crazy to jump full-on into real estate and that I would succeed,” she adds. “The whole transition was much less scary because of the incredible support from my friends and family.” 

Outside of work, Jessica keeps busy and cherishes the time spent with her young family. The couple have two sons, Kasen, (4), and Kristian (2), and their daughter Kenedi is just turning 1. 

With three children under the age of 5 and a beloved Maltese named Lacy, the States-Thiele household is a hub of activity! Whether it's engaging in sports, enjoying the great outdoors, or spending time with their extended families who live nearby, Jessica's life is a testament to her dedication to family, faith, and community. 

Jessica also manages to carve out ample time to volunteer as an advisor for the Delta Zeta Sorority at Nebraska Wesleyan University, as a founding board member of both 100s of Women Who Care and Corks for A Cause in Lincoln, as well as serving on the boards of both Ava’s Army for Pediatric Cancer and on the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Young Professional Group.

For those aspiring to follow in her footsteps, Jessica's advice is fairly simple.

"Relationships are the most important thing, and getting involved in the community — that's how people get to know you as a Realtor," she points out. 

“My philosophy is to always be happy and kind. If you’re not happy, change what you’re doing.  I cannot imagine being any happier than right now; I love my career, my family, my friendships and I’m so incredibly blessed. This career is much more than numbers and volume, they will always fluctuate – it’s about your happiness and how you can help others find theirs.”