As James Jensen walked away from work in the life insurance industry the day his son was born 12 years ago, he knew change was coming on multiple fronts.
“I was trying to find the right time to make my life change,” Jensen said. “It was a great job with good pay, but it just wasn’t me. I figured, life’s changing anyway — might as well do it all at once.”
At the time, Jensen was working in the marketing department for a brokerage that sold fixed life insurance and annuities. Soon after leaving, an opportunity arose that would set his course for the next decade.
“I knew the owner of a local real estate company, Lawn Realty, and they needed someone to take over so he could retire and work out a buyout,” Jensen said. “And here we are.”
That bold career move eventually led Jensen to affiliate his brokerage with RE/MAX in 2015, marking a new chapter for his growing RE/MAX Now team in Valley City, North Dakota.
It’s a balance that’s paid off.
According to the RealTrends Verified rankings, Jensen placed No. 5 among all North Dakota agents with 57 residential transaction sides in 2024. And that’s not counting his extensive commercial portfolio.
“Last year was nuts — one of those years where all the stars aligned,” he said. “I’m proud of the hard work I put in, but also very thankful for help from team members and getting to work with so many great clients.”
Including commercial, Jensen closed 85 transaction sides last year — with his commercial sales volume placing 26th nationally and 89th globally among all RE/MAX agents.
Why real estate felt right
For Jensen, the appeal of home sales wasn’t just business potential — it was the hands-on nature of the work.
“Coming from a financial advising background, the products I sold weren’t tangible,” he said. “It was really fun getting into real estate because it was a tangible item. People want to talk about it. Nobody ever wants to talk about life insurance.
“With real estate, it’s tangible, and people need a house. You’re not really selling anything — you’re figuring out people and their wants, and the house part will come.”
That focus on people-first service continues to guide how Jensen operates his brokerage.
“I truly feel like if you take care of the person in front of you to the best of your ability, everything else works itself out,” he said. “When it comes to listings, I feel clients hire me to market their property — that’s what they’re paying for. So I find any and all ways to get their home in front of the most eyes.”
Market rooted in affordability
Valley City, North Dakota, with a population of about 6,500, sits 45 minutes west of Fargo.
The town’s scenic river valley, historic downtown and access to outdoor recreation make it one of North Dakota’s most charming communities.
“Valley City is just a really pretty town,” Jensen said. “We have a neat little downtown area, the National Scenic River Trail and Lake Ashtabula to the north. You’re close to Fargo but far enough away that you don’t have to live in a big-city feel.”
He said the area has seen more out-of-state buyers recently, although not in overwhelming numbers.
“Over the last five years, I’ve been seeing more people moving here from outside the state,” he said. “Fargo is really getting big, so it’s pushing people west.”
Affordability remains Valley City’s strongest selling point.
“Our price points aren’t as high as other places,” Jensen said. “Around here, a top-end home is about $500,000. You don’t see million-dollar homes in Valley City. Our bread and butter is between $150,000 and $300,000 — those are the ones that sell all day.”
Maintaining focus
Even as his accolades grow, Jensen said he’s careful not to let his priorities change.
“My intention was always to take care of as many people as I can,” he said. “It wasn’t for the money part of it. So I think so many of these awards are based on volume and commission, but really, it’s not about that.”
He said that perspective is rooted in gratitude — both for the people who work alongside him and for the success that’s come from small-town North Dakota.
He’s also quick to share credit with his team.
“What’s even more impressive is that we have a number of agents in our office who are also top in the state,” he said. “My business partner, Beth Keller, is regularly right at the top, and so is Tim Perkins. It’s awesome.”
Keller placed just behind Jensen on the RealTrends Verified Rankings with 55 transaction sides totaling more than $15 million in volume in 2024.
Looking ahead
As for the next few years, Jensen believes today’s challenging housing market will separate the committed from the casual.
“Now is the time that agents can actually hone their skills,” he said. “For the ones willing to work, they’re going to shine. The ones who aren’t will probably fall away. You can’t just stick a sign in the yard anymore — you have to be doing all the things.”
For Jensen, the philosophy that guided him from a leap of faith 12 years ago still applies today.
“Take care of people, work hard, and everything else works itself out,” he said. “That’s really what this business is about.”
.jpg)
English (US) · 