In such a competitive business, it’s refreshing to meet a REALTORⓇ like Jess Hustad. As a powerhouse agent with BancWise, Jess could genuinely care less about her MLS ranking — she’s more concerned about keeping in touch with her clients.

“It’s often bittersweet when we get to the closing table,” Jess explains. “People mean everything to me and it can be emotional after working with someone so closely for months; but I’m so thankful for the friendships I have formed with my clients.”

 

Originally from the Black Hills of South Dakota, Jess met her husband Erik while attending UNL for her bachelor’s in communication. The couple moved to the Pacific Northwest for several years so her husband could attend culinary school and Jess became well-versed in organization and detail as an operations manager with the Department of Clinical Psychology at Seattle Pacific University.

After returning to Lincoln, Jess continued in operations for six more years in the Department of Teaching at UNL while studying for her master’s degree in administration. Eventually though, she notes the long hours started to take their toll and she decided she would rather be at home raising children than working overtime.

“I loved my job at the university, but not the hours. I honestly never once thought I would get into real estate though,” Jess says frankly with a laugh. “But my sister-in-law Ashley is a successful Realtor and, apparently, she’s also a successful headhunter. Somehow she convinced me to study and take my real estate exam.”

Lured by the appeal of a flexible schedule and yearning to be more present for her family, Jess took her real estate exam in 2016 and passed.

"I think my sister-in-law saw the admin side of me and that I love helping people dream big,” Jess acknowledges gratefully. “The irony was not lost on me though — I got my master’s degree and then left a job in higher education.”

 

 

Since her start eight years ago, Jess has truly found her niche as a consistent top producer, combining her operational savvy with a natural flair for connecting with people. Undaunted by the nitty-gritty details of real estate transactions, Jess hit the ground running on day one and quickly shared her organizational, admin magic with appreciative peers.

"My first year in real estate felt like part-time after working 60 hours a week in higher ed," Jess recalls. “ But I drank from the firehose and was grateful to have an extensive network from my higher ed and church families. I was thankful everyone trusted me right out of the gate — it really was fast and furious for me.”

In 2022, Jess was honored with the BancWise Founders Award, a recognition that resonates deeply with her values. This prestigious award is given annually to an agent who embodies the brokerage's ethos, reflecting the heart and character BancWise strives to uphold across four categories: peer vote, production, community service, and team building.

“We’re a small brokerage of 30 agents and even though I’m a solo agent, I work at an amazing place full of wonderful colleagues with integrity who are all unofficially on my team,” Jess notes. “So it was humbling and I was truly honored to be given that award.”

Jess also credits her brokerage’s terrific mentor/mentee training program for her rapid rise when she was just starting out. Her advice to newer agents echoes her own experience.

“Create relationships with people everywhere you go,” she counsels.  “Be intentionally kind and learn to communicate effectively with your clients and industry colleagues. Most importantly, have fun and ask for help when you need it.”

 

Lessons from Home
Jess describes her approach to real estate as a mirror reflecting her upbringing, deeply influenced by her parents' commitment to servitude.

“It’s not lost on me that I have an absolutely amazing family,” Jess affirms. “My parents are the epitome of servant leaders. My dad is a retired Methodist pastor and spent his adult life meeting people right where they were at, even in the ugly.

“My mom is the most selfless person you will ever meet,” she continues. “I’m so proud to be their daughter. Their faith, love of people, and servant leadership fueled those same desires within my heart.”

Jess notes she treats each client relationship as if they were relatives, prioritizing empathy, compassion, and understanding over a commission.

“We have a little tagline that we are people over production always at BancWise,” Jess emphasizes. “Sometimes we have to talk people out of things. If it doesn’t feel like the right fit to people, we want them to trust us — we treat them like family.”

 

Outside of work, Jess revels in the joy of family with her hard-working husband Erik and their lively brood of four children. Jess notes they are a tribe that thrives on togetherness, whether they're exploring the magic of Disney World or simply enjoying each other's company. Erik's culinary ventures, including the beloved local hot spots Honest Abe’s & Vic's Pizza, keeps him busy as well.

“Do any parents of young children have hobbies?” Jess laughs when asked how she fills her down time. “Erik and I basically chase four kiddos and two doodles, Lola and Remi, around our house.

“I just love watching my kids do all the things they love,” she continues. “Between the four of them, we run all over the place — and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Jess is also a proud supporter of two local organizations, Atlas and Jacob’s Well, as she readily points out both nonprofits are serving the Lincoln community in “big and beautiful ways.”

Looking ahead, Jess says she envisions a long, fruitful career combining her passion for real estate with her deep-rooted values of service and connection, but her priorities will always align with her loved ones.

“My faith and my family are my stronghold,” Jess concludes. “I just want to continue to love my people fully and whole-heartedly and see my family thrive in this season of chaos and crazy.

“I also want to be a leader among my peers and a friend to those I meet, and I hope to continue building relationships with my clients based on trust, integrity, and compassion.”