It would be easy to gloss over all that Julie Mansfield Smith has accomplished in her 30-plus years as a land broker. Smith doesn’t do her job for honors or awards — she does it or her clients that end up becoming more like family — and has built her reputation as Eastern Oregon’s best land broker around honesty and a servant’s heart.

Smith, owner of Mossy Oak Properties Cupper Creek Land Company in Kimberly, was recently recognized as part of The Land Report’s 2024 America’s Best Brokerages in the Pacific Region, one of two in the Mossy Oak network.

“I have gotten it every year since 2017,” she said. “It is based on ethics and integrity with most of the awards going to the top land sale brokers in the United States.”

Repeat clients

A portion of Smith’s business comes from repeat clients who buy property from her before looking to sell decades later. Trust and satisfaction play a significant role in that cycle playing out year after year.

“Referrals is how I get my repeat business,” she said. “You can’t put a price on your reputation or your integrity.”

Smith also has developed the reputation of a realtor who will work tirelessly for clients to find the right piece of Eastern Oregon property. It is not lost on her that she must do it while working in a male-dominated field and impress clients who often are looking for “the best man for the job.”

Her own experiences make her a natural advocate for anyone who may be overlooked in any profession. It can be hard work, but that has never scared Smith. She can market properties worldwide and works to find the right buyer whether that person is down the street, a few counties over of on the other side of the country.

“My biggest challenge will always be that most sellers are men who usually pick men to represent them,” she said. “I have gotten a little friskier with my attitude and marketing because I have done this and shown how successful I can be.”

Smith believes people respond to a person and the positive vibes they bring with them which has helped her develop some of her best friendships with former and current clients.

Mossy Oak Properties partnership

Smith obtained the first Mossy Oak Properties franchise in Oregon nine years ago and knows her success would not be possible without its worldwide reach.

“The marketing is so powerful and the reach they have allows me to take my listings well past the local area and showcase then nationally and globally.”

Smith said because Mossy Oak Properties is just a piece of the entire Mossy Oak brand that includes things like outdoor clothing, wildlife seed and an online source for ordering specialized game meat. Even the quarterly Game Keepers Hunting glossy magazine allows her to sell a lifestyle to many of her clients that are eager to return to their roots. It helps set a first impression that goes together with Smith’s style for people who know what they want.

“They provide direct, targeted marketing to the people most likely to buy land,” she said. “When combined with my local knowledge and level of service, it is truly the best option for sellers in Eastern Oregon.”