If the name Holly Buss sounds familiar, you may have read about her claim to fame in the local paper: Selling the first condo in Lincoln for over $1 million two years ago.

 

A powerhouse REALTORⓇ with Woods Bros Realty, Holly’s path from social worker to real estate dynamo and expert house flipper is rooted in her love for helping others and discovering bargains.

 

“I love getting my clients a good deal,” Holly explains. “Helping them accomplish their goal — whether it's buying a bigger home for a growing family, downsizing for retirement, or buying a property for an investment — keeps me motivated.”

When Holly was a young girl, she dreamed of being a teacher someday and working with children. Armed with her teaching degree from Union College, it didn’t take long for her to realize that dream no longer suited her. She pivoted to social work for the next five years and says that experience played a crucial role in shaping her approach to real estate.

 

"I spent a lot of time working with families to regain custody of their children, teaching life and parenting skills. I learned a lot about active listening and family dynamics,” Holly reflects.

 

Holly officially entered the real estate arena in 2015, bringing with her a wealth of experience from flipping houses with her husband since 2011. The flexibility of the real estate profession appealed to Holly, especially with three young children at home at the time.

 

"Renovating homes definitely sparked my interest in home design, and eventually it led me into helping buyers navigate buying pre-existing homes or a new construction build," she explains.

 

Her career at Woods Bros Realty has been nothing short of impressive. Last year alone, Holly sold almost $10.3 million with 33 transactions and was accepted into the Chairman's top 10 percent of her company for 2023.  She credits her start to her mentor and broker, Judy Sasek, for helping her get over the initial industry hurdles.

 

“Judy encouraged me and made me feel confident in what I was doing, since most of what you need to know about real estate is not taught in class. She really hand-held for me when I struggled at first,” Holly acknowledges. “I didn’t know anyone else when I started out in the business, and frankly I don’t think I would’ve made it without her.”

 

Beyond the sales numbers, Holly's ability to transform spaces earned her a spot on the Home Builders Association of Lincoln's Tour of Remodeled Homes in 2023.

 

“I renovated a home in 2023 that was featured on the tour and we ended up falling in love with it and moving in afterwards,” she shares. “It is such a unique and fun home — I especially love renovating older homes, they have so much charm and character!”

 

Holly notes her secret sauce in the industry is her multifaceted expertise to ensure clients get top value for their dollar whether they are buying or selling.

 

"Something that sets me apart is my knowledge of proper staging to sell a property,” Holly affirms. “I also know what upgrades or repairs should be done to get a home sold and get clients the best ‘bang for their buck.’

 

“I helped one of my former students buy his first home last year, and he only had to bring four cents to closing — what a great deal for him!” she laughs.

 

Beyond real estate, Holly cherishes time with her loved ones. Married to Nate, the couple has three wonderful children: Keaton (17), Brinley (14), and Tycen (11). The Buss family enjoys an array of activities together, from traveling and skiing to exploring the mountains and swimming.

 

“We have three cats — Frisky, Leo, and Chloe — and a Papillon named Tazo who lost an eye a few months ago after a bad infection,” Holly adds. “I adopted Tazo from a colleague’s client that was moving; and when I saw that email with his photo, he was literally the cutest thing I had ever seen. He’s my little partner now, he goes everywhere with me.”

 

With a soft spot for animals, Holly is a proud foster parent for the Capital Humane Society and her family often opens up their home to temporarily care for abandoned kittens. Additionally, her involvement on the Foundation for Giving board at her brokerage reflects her commitment to making a positive impact in the community by donating to local charities.

 

Looking ahead, Holly envisions a long and prosperous career in real estate. Alongside her husband, who works for Sampson Construction, they aspire to eventually venture into land development, new construction, and continue their success and love for home renovations together.

 

For those agents breaking into what can often be a tough business, Holly offers some great parting advice.

“Just hang in there, the first years are sometimes the most difficult as you build your business — but it is worth it,” Holly concludes. “Real estate is so much fun, no two days are ever the same and I love that about it!”