Yost Group Properties came to life through the vision of Missy Yost. But, the business would not be successful without the help of her husband Darren who is also a partner in the Yost Group.
Missy grew up in Mason, Ohio and lived most of her life in or near the Greater Cincinnati area. After graduating high school, she attended the University of Cincinnati where she graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor degree in business and a post-baccalaureate certificate in paralegal studies. She started her career as a paralegal in a personal injury law office but soon realized her passion was in real estate. She began working as a real estate litigation paralegal where she represented big banks in the corporate world and learned more about real estate and big business than she ever wanted to know.
Through life, challenges arise and doors open and close. She explains “Like many, I was deeply affected by the crash of 2008. I went through the personal struggle of divorce, became a single parent with a single income, was forced to file Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, and took a pay cut”. But, also like many, when life through curves, she learned to swing and was able to learn valuable lessons along the way. “Because of my situation, I had to think outside of the box to keep what I still had. I learned about alternative mortgage options, recovery after filing bankruptcy, and how to overcome credit challenges to name a few. I am lucky that I can now share that knowledge with others in similar situations”.
In 2014, Missy married Darren Yost. Darren was also a Mason alumnus, graduated with his undergraduate degree from Miami of Ohio and went on to earn his Masters at Xavier University. The two had been friends since they were ten years old and found that even though 30-years had passed, they still had that strong connection of friendship and similar interests.
They married on Hilton Head Island. It was the first time either of them had visited the Island, and they both fell in love with the Lowcountry. Soon after they were married, they quit their jobs and moved to Bluffton. They both say it was the best and scariest decision they ever made. But with the slower pace of life, warm temperatures and natural beauty of the marshlands they found peace. “We both felt like for the first time in our lives; we were home.”
In 2015, Missy and Darren earned their salesman license in real estate. It was then that Yost Group Properties came to fruition. Missy was able to transfer all of the valuable lessons she learned in the corporate world and real estate law, as well as lessons from the personal struggles she endured, and share that knowledge with new clients, customers, and friends. She was able to marry that knowledge and make a career out of serving others.
Missy also worked at mastering her artistic ability. “All work and no play is not what life is about. And with a passion for photography and oil painting, it seemed sacrilegious not to utilize that God-given talent while living in such a unique and awe-inspiring place”. Most of the photography found on her websites are her originals. She also operates Statement Made Real Estate Photography, a division of Yost Group Properties, where she offers her services to other Realtors in the area.
Yost Group Properties specializes in first-time and credit challenged homebuyers, but their scope of knowledge goes way beyond that. Missy earned certifications in Relocation, Seller Representation, and has extensive expertise in Commercial Real Estate.
