When Grit Meets Grace: A Three-Year Journey to Make One Dream Come True

There are moments in this business that stretch you in ways you never quite expect. Moments that push you outside of your comfort zone, challenge your patience, and remind you that sometimes the most rewarding transactions are the ones that require the most grit.

This is one of those stories.

Who We Are

If you don't know us already, we're Ashley Cook and Josie Parsons—Gallatin natives, longtime friends, and real estate partners with Selling Sumner Homes + Land, brokered by LOCAL 615. Having grown up here and built our lives and families in this community, we care deeply about the people and places that make Sumner County home.

My business partner, Ashley, and I have spent years building our careers in residential real estate. It's what we know. It's what we do every day. Like many agents, we've dabbled in commercial deals here and there, mostly with personal investments or smaller opportunities, but it has never been our primary lane.

And then this opportunity came along.

The Beginning

This client wasn't a stranger. In fact, we had known her for years through childcare and our kids' friendships. Over the course of nearly three years, she would occasionally reach out, asking questions and sharing her dream of opening a daycare in our community. Each time she came to us, we did our best to help—offering guidance, brainstorming possibilities, and connecting dots where we could.

But after a while, I began to feel like she needed someone whose daily expertise lived squarely in the commercial space. Wanting the very best for her, I made the decision to refer her to a commercial agent who could hopefully move things forward more efficiently.

They explored a few options together, but ultimately nothing materialized. Somewhere along the way, we lost touch.

Until one day she reached back out.

She knew commercial real estate wasn't my primary focus, but she also knew something else: I care deeply about my clients, and when I commit to something, I give it everything I've got. She told me she trusted that we would work hard and figure it out together.

And truthfully, I love a good challenge.

The Search for the Right Place

We started where most commercial searches begin—looking at lease options. Then we explored potential properties for sale. We toured buildings that almost worked, buildings that didn't work at all, and buildings that required more imagination than practicality.

Over and over again, we kept circling back to one particular location.

On paper, it seemed perfect. The location made sense. The layout had potential. The vision was there.

But it needed a lot of work.

After weighing the pros and cons, she decided this was the place she wanted to bring her dream to life. The next step was figuring out how to make it financially possible.

We explored every financing path we could think of—traditional conventional loans, private lending, and several creative options in between. Eventually, everything pointed us toward an SBA loan.

That decision felt like a breakthrough.

We had found the building. We had a financing path. We were officially moving forward.

But that was really just the beginning.

The Six-Month Marathon

If you've ever navigated an SBA loan process, you know it's not for the faint of heart.

For the next six months, we worked through a maze of details that felt endless at times. Architectural plans had to be drawn. Civil plans had to be developed. We met with the city to ensure the project complied with codes and zoning requirements. Construction quotes were gathered and revised. Plans were submitted for approval—only to be sent back with revisions required.

So we adjusted them.

Then submitted them again.

Then adjusted them again.

Every step forward seemed to uncover another layer that needed attention.

There were moments where the finish line felt close, only for another hurdle to appear. But little by little, we pushed forward.

Eventually, we reached the point where we thought we were finally through the thick of it. The appraisal was ordered. The environmental inspection was scheduled.

The appraisal came back strong, which was a huge relief.

But the environmental report introduced yet another unexpected twist.

The Environmental Curveball

The report revealed issues that needed to be addressed, and the SBA loan guidelines required that the repairs be covered with funds placed into escrow.

Not just the repair amount.

One hundred and fifty percent of the repair quote.

For a moment, it felt like everything might come to a halt. After months of work, this requirement could have easily stopped the project in its tracks.

But instead of giving up, we went back to the drawing board.

Through determination, creativity, and a lot of problem solving, we worked through solutions. There were conversations, negotiations, and more than a few sleepless nights thinking through possibilities.

One step at a time, we found ways to keep the deal moving forward.

Multiple contract extensions later, we finally reached the moment we had been working toward for months.

Closing Day

Walking into that closing felt different than most.

This wasn't just another transaction. This was the result of persistence, collaboration, and a shared belief in a dream that refused to give up.

My clients were incredibly grateful for the support and guidance along the way, but the truth is, I was equally grateful for the opportunity. This deal pushed me outside of my comfort zone and reminded me how much there is to learn when you're willing to lean in and grow.

It reinforced something I've always believed about this business: sometimes the hardest transactions end up being the most meaningful.

What's Next

The building is officially theirs, and the work of bringing their vision to life is underway.

For families in the Gallatin area looking for phenomenal childcare, stay tuned. Premier Academy will be opening its doors this fall, and I couldn't be more excited to see this dream become a reality.

Because sometimes real estate isn't just about property.

Sometimes it's about perseverance, partnership, and helping someone build something that will serve an entire community for years to come.

-for the love of houses,
Josie Parsons