You may already know Pearl Nelson as the driving force behind the hip-hop trio Champagne Champagne, a staple of the music scene in Seattle and beyond, or through his punk band White Tears. After a decade of hectic schedules – in one period of only six months Champagne Champagne recorded an album while on the road for that year’s Warped Tour, then went to Europe for a month – Nelson took a few years off. The well-deserved break gave him the opportunity to indulge in his other passions: coffee and home.
He’s making music again, with an album likely to be released around the end of December. But it is clear that real estate has become more than a profession. Nelson takes every educational opportunity that comes his way, making it a growing encyclopedia of options for first-time buyers, especially those taking more offbeat routes to homeownership, like getting a loan. rehab for a repairman, opt for rent-to-own, or buy a duplex with a friend. His background as a musician, Nelson says, gives him the “stickiness” to be motivated and shape his career in his own way.
“I want to help musicians, artists, I want to help punk rockers, rappers,” he says. “I want to help the technician, I want to help everyone. The POC community, the LGBTQ community. I want to help and be part of this fabric.
We sat down, of course, at KEXP’s Caffe Vita to talk about ambitions, pandemic pups, and building a network that can make homeownership dreams come true.
(Interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.)
Broker Details
Which: Pearl Nelson of Pearl Nelson Real Estate and Skyline Properties
Years in the business: 3
Summary in seconds: If you are looking to buy or sell your home in Seattle and area and need someone trustworthy, hardworking, dedicated, focused, creative and positive to help you reach and achieve your goals, Pearl Nelson is your man.
When he found his way to real estate
It begins and ends with music. I decided I was kind of done making music by then and decided I needed to get sober, get off the road and stop touring. I started out doing sales for Vita so I got into the world of sales which I ended up really enjoying…then I decided to get my real estate license and that’s it that I got there. I always wanted to do it, I think even while I was making music.
It took me a while to get there and find that path because I really liked making sales, but I didn’t like being salespeople. So through this process I found a way to be helpful. Instead of feeling commercial, I just feel like I’m helping the people I work with.
When he stopped trying to look like “a real estate agent”
The idea of what I thought of a real estate agent [needed] to be accepted – I don’t know if other people have dealt with this, people of color have dealt with this…strange dynamic. I don’t know how to describe it. It’s just something internal. I had a lot of hair. I had a big afro for a long time and I think it’s beautiful and I love it. At some point, I thought to myself, fuck it. I push my hair back. I want my crown back.
I always wear jeans and t-shirts. I dress up once in a while, but I always wear my Converse. I still want to hold on to that punk rock philosophy that I’ve always had. When I walked into it, I turned into a box I thought I needed. But now, after years, I’ve figured out that I don’t need to fit into that box and that it’s better to be myself because people appreciate it, and I appreciate it. I can be my authentic self.
On building a network that can make it happen
I work with good lenders, I work with good title companies. I built my ecosystem of people. A good credit person might say, “Hey, you might not be able to do this now, but you know, let’s come back in a year, let’s do this to make it happen.” And it happened. It happens for a friend at the moment who is a great musician.
And there are lenders who can do that. There are different programs like [the] Washington State Home Ownership Program. There’s CoBuy, which is a great program – you might not be able to buy it yourself, but you and your friend are like having a roommate.
Direct people where they can go to get the process [done], like finding a good lender who’s worked with musicians and saying, “Hey, that’s not traditional, but that’s what we need to make it work.”
On today’s redlining
I’ll just say it: I feel like there’s a new-age red line, so if you can’t qualify for a conventional program [loan], you might not even be able to make an offer on this house because they only accept conventional ones.
We see it all the time, people being overpriced. You see it happening in the Central District, and you can sort of see it happening in Tacoma’s Hilltop [neighborhood]— so I’ll say to my friends, Hilltop, even though it has that reputation, it’s like the new CD…it might be a good place to look and invest.
I left real estate a few months ago and was doing business development because I wanted to learn that aspect of the real estate world…but now I get the information myself because I think it what they do in the central district with Africatown It’s incredible. Development is, I think, the next frontier… the work of community land trusts, that kind of stuff, that’s how you stop this new era, it’s learning those skills… I think that’s will be key for our communities.
When he had a pandemic puppy
Atlas is the cutest little miniature schnauzer. She is so cute. Active, you know? It’s really good for my mental health. We got a pandemic pup because we needed one. It gives you a reason to get out and walk, and they love you so much.
The only problem is when I’m on a Zoom or something, she wants my full attention. She’s been barking lately and it’s so embarrassing because it’s my turn to talk or say something. and I’m like, “Augh, wait!”
On his dreams for Seattle’s future
My hope and dream is that artists and creatives have the opportunity to come back to the city and have places to flourish, grow and be able to create. Especially when you’re talking about Capitol Hill – which was an art hub – and even Belltown at one time. Artists move to where it’s affordable. So finding affordable places to eventually be able to live in Seattle again, whether it’s through programs where it’s a multi-generational household or friendships that can acquire property and hopefully build a capital, this could be the way… I really want to see the artists, musicians and creatives find their place here. That’s it. I hope we can have places to be.