Jennifer Samuelson

INSPIRATIONAL AGENT

WRITTEN BY ZACH COHEN | PHOTOS BY JJHOMES PHOTOGRAPHY

Jennifer Samuelson was born and raised in Riverton, a small town in central Wyoming. She grew up surrounded by the beauty of the west coast; hunting and fishing were regular past times, as were dance and athletics. Jen eventually headed to Tulsa to study education at Oral Roberts University. Post-graduation, she became a teacher at Eugene Field Elementary School.

Jen spent 11 years in the classroom, teaching underprivileged students and guiding them toward a path of success. She was deeply passionate about her work with students and their families. She led her classroom with love, applying the principle that if students' basic needs aren’t met, they cannot learn.

Meanwhile, she developed a passion for real estate by helping friends with their rentals.

“Real estate was something I just loved naturally. When my friends needed rentals, I’d set up appointments, call property managers, seek out the best locations, and coordinate a day of showings. Then I thought, ‘Why don't I turn this into a career?’”

Jen got her real estate license in 2013, and for the next three years, she sold real estate part-time around her full-time teaching position. In 2017, she dove into real estate full-time. It was one of the most difficult decisions she has ever made.

“I always wanted to be a teacher where I was most needed and could make the most impact, so after finding my love for real estate, I blended the two careers for about three years. At the end of that third year, it became obvious that I had to pick one over the other. I knew I wanted to start my own family and have children, and real estate gave me the best of both worlds. The flexibility in my schedule to be my own boss, start my own family, but I also still get to help families and work with people in meaningful and purposeful ways,” she explains.

“It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. I remember writing my letter of resignation and crying my eyes out at my desk. I loved my students, my school, and my fellow amazing teachers, and I struggled with feeling like I was abandoning them.”

From Teaching to Real Estate

Jen is grateful she devoted herself entirely to real estate. While she misses her days in the classroom, selling real estate is now her full-time passion. The skills she learned as an educator continue to serve her — and her clients — in real estate.

“I taught in a low-income, poverty area; this has enabled me to effectively communicate with diverse populations and manage complex situations … Being a teacher for 11 years at a Title 1 school really taught me how to multitask and problem-solve in any situation. Not only was I a teacher, but I sometimes played [the role of] mother, counselor, or friend. I feel the skills I acquired with teaching really helped me become a top producing agent,” Jen explains.

As a REALTOR®, Jen brings warmth, care, and patience alongside a well-developed toolbox of organizational skills. The combination has allowed her to steadily grow her business into one of Tulsa’s best.

A Jack of All Trades

Jen has expanded her business beyond helping families buy and sell homes. She’s also a real estate investor, a designer, and a stager. She runs three ancillary companies, Samuelson Investment Group, Jen Samuelson Designs, and Simply Sold Staging, offering remodeling, design, and staging services for her sellers and investors.

As an investor, Jen has acquired over 30 rental investment properties and fixed and flipped several homes. The experience she’s gained as an investor has helped her form a niche in assisting others to do the same.

“I have acquired real experience in flipping, handling contractors, and knowing the ins and outs of basic home essentials. These tools have become a vital pipeline into my career,” she says.

The Heart of Giving

Outside work, Jen’s life is centered around her family. She and her husband, Dain, have two children, Judah (4) and Max (2). She spends many of her weekends enjoying Tulsa’s family-friendly activities, like the Gathering Place, the Discovery Lab, the Tulsa Zoo, the Jenks Aquarium, and the Oxley Nature Center.

While she’s no longer teaching, Jen continues to be driven to serve those in need. She hopes to one day found a nonprofit shelter for women and children.

“My intent is to create a safe place for women and children to go to at any hour, any time to find shelter and safety. I want to help them through their journey by providing a safe place and resources to help them get back on their feet,” she explains.

Whether she’s teaching, selling real estate, or running a shelter for those in need, Jen’s primary goals in life remain the same.

“I want to be remembered for being a good mother and making people's lives better because they knew me.”