All in the family: In step with real estate

Century 21 MoneyWorld's J.C. Melvin is known by many people in the real estate industry, but his biggest fan is his daughter, Julie. The 19-year-old says her father inspired her to pursue a career in real estate.

Julie Melvin saw her father advance from a sales agent in a small office to his current post as regulatory compliance manager for MoneyWorld and head of the firm's Henderson office. In between, Melvin served as director and regional vice president of the Nevada Association of Realtors, worked with state officials to revise real estate agency laws, helped facilitate changes to Nevada's homeowners association laws, and addressed groups nationwide about legal issues pertaining to real estate.

As compliance manager, Melvin is charged with keeping as many as 360 agents up to date about industry issues. He also oversees the MoneyWorld School of Real Estate, from which Julie Melvin recently graduated. She will soon test for her real estate license.

"Growing up with (real estate), I knew Dad worked a lot," Julie Melvin said. "He's up at 4 a.m. a lot of days, and not home until 6 at night. But I didn't know it took so much in those 12- to 14-hour days because he made it look easy.

"But there's a lot to know and a lot to learn. Every transaction is different and learning comes with school, but also with experience. Of course, I can go and ask Dad anything about the business, and he knows the answer. He's a big resource for me."

After graduating in 1999 from Chaparral High School, Julie Melvin enrolled at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

"I want to finish at UNLV because I want to get my degree in international business. My minor is in Spanish, because I think that would help me a lot in this industry," she said.

"I'm looking forward to knowing more about real estate. My dad has always said ... it needs to be about helping people realize their dream. My ultimate dream and goal is to teach alongside my dad some day -- for us to be a father-daughter team teaching all over the world.

"If Dad had not been involved in real estate, the thought to do it wouldn't have crossed my mind. But he has been an inspiration to me in every way, shape and form. He's everything to me."

The family's interest in real estate does not end there. J.C. Melvin's wife, Min Keenan-Melvin, is an agent at MoneyWorld's Flamingo Road office and president of the Nevada Women's Council of Realtors.

"It's good to have the ... family involved, that way they know how demanding the hours can be, but at the same time they can take advantage of the flexibility when it's there," J.C. Melvin said.

"My youngest daughter, Randi, who's 18 and just graduated from Chaparral High School, (is) a track runner, and for the last four years she has participated in the Realtor Walk-a-thon. Last year she brought 10 kids out to walk."

MoneyWorld has five offices in the Las Vegas Valley.

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