Washington REALTOR® Profile: Steve Chung
Service, Growth & Steady Leadership
From early hustle to seasoned broker, Steve Chung highlights the value of service, steady learning and leadership in a changing industry.
Ask Steve Chung how he got into real estate and his immediate response is that he “tripped and fell into it.” Dig a little deeper and it’s clear that even as a young man he already understood work, money and momentum long before stepping foot in a real estate brokerage. Now designated broker, sales trainer and office leader at John L. Scott Talent Group, Chung grew up working every job he could find, from factory shifts to warehouse construction. He started earning paychecks at 16 and spent his early years selling whatever he could or playing cards with neighborhood kids, always looking for ways to move forward.
One late night after work in 1993, 20-year-old Chung came home exhausted, turned on the television and watched a short real estate infomercial that promised quick money. Most viewers would ignore it, but the short clip caught his attention. By the time the segment wrapped up at 2 a.m., he had decided to give it a try. And if the industry whispered to him that night, the siren’s call only grew louder the next morning.
The next day, Chung opened the newspaper and spotted a small ad for a real estate licensing class. He called, enrolled and started studying. Chung earned his license later that year and stepped into the industry with no plan other than to learn. In those early days, he absorbed everything he could from anyone willing to teach him and made a clear decision at a crossroads that set the foundation for the career he would build from the ground up. So where Chung may see his move into real estate as a happy accident of sorts, the reality is that he had been preparing for it all his young life.
Steady Guidance + Ambition = Success
Chung’s early years in the business were shaped by a combination of steady guidance and his own ambition. When he hung his first license with Century 21, Chung joined a brokerage that knew how to support someone young, new and willing to work. The firm gave him structure and tools, and he stayed for years even as the brokerage’s ownership changed.
Loyalty mattered to Chung, so he followed the company through each transition rather than chase the next opportunity. “I feel like I got lucky because I started with a brokerage that really nurtured me and gave me the tools,” Chung says. “Plus, I wasn’t the type to jump around.”
That approach carried Chung into his long tenure with John L. Scott, where he’s spent more than 20 years sharpening his skills and growing into leadership and training roles. That kind of lengthy tenure isn’t as common as it once was, but the dedication helped shape Chung’s understanding of how new brokers gain traction (and where some may stumble). It also laid the groundwork for the training and office leadership work that Chung now manages.
Chung’s move into the training side of the business was unplanned but he says it’s been extremely rewarding. As his production grew, newer brokers began approaching him with questions about how to generate business and what systems kept his work steady. Those early conversations were informal, but the interest was consistent. Agents wanted straightforward guidance, and Chung was willing to walk them through the steps that worked for him.
“What started as sharing what I was doing turned into mentoring several brokers,” Chung says. “From there it just made sense to start training on the systems and tools that help brokers thrive.”
The mentoring effort soon expanded. Quick chats in the office shifted into structured training sessions and ongoing support. Chung immediately noticed that agents encountered many of the same early hurdles he worked through and that consistent habits and repeatable systems helped them gain traction in a competitive industry. That understanding shaped his approach, which is rooted in practical systems, daily routines and the discipline required to build steady business.
Over time, the work evolved into a formal leadership role at John L. Scott. New agents look to Chung for direction during their first transactions, and experienced brokers turn to him when they want a clear look at their business and help refining their approach. What started as a few informal conversations eventually became a core part of Chung’s role, and helping brokers move forward is now built into his day-to-day responsibilities.
Always Trying to Learn Something New
Over three decades in real estate, Chung has learned that relationships drive nearly every part of the business. His business has always grown through people, not shortcuts, and that approach continues to drive his success. Long-term clients, local brokers and community partners know him as someone who shows up, follows through and stays connected.
“My tenure and the relationships I’ve built over the years make the difference,” Chung says. “A lot of our success comes from the connections we make and the way we reach out and work with people.”
That relationship-first style has been a constant throughout his career. Chung leans on his sphere, treats collaboration with other brokers as part of the job and stays close to the community he serves. He also never stops learning. “I’m always trying to learn something new,” says Chung, who is currently focused on learning everything he can about artificial intelligence (AI). “There’s always something to learn in our business.”
That lifelong learner mindset has served Chung well, whether he’s studying changes to state law, exploring new business practices or adapting to evolving technology. And his commitment to education extends beyond his own desk: Chung trains brokers in his office, supports several John L. Scott franchise locations and teaches classes through the local association. He also serves on the board at the Thurston County REALTORS®, where he helps set training topics and develop courses for members.
“This work keeps me connected to the issues brokers are facing on the ground,” says Chung, “and gives me multiple avenues for sharing the systems and practices that agents need to be able to build stronger businesses for themselves.”
A Strong Service Mindset
For all of his tenure and training experience, Chung says the real measure of success comes from the people who stay with him and send others his way. “My biggest award is referrals from clients,” he says. “Real estate is a service business, and that’s how I approach it every day.”
That lens shapes how he sees his role. Chung may carry the title of designated broker, but he doesn’t frame his job in terms of hierarchy. He prefers to think of himself as a service professional whose work is rooted in responsiveness and support. “People say I’m the designated broker, the top of the office,” he says. “I’m more like your concierge, helping you with whatever you need.” That mindset shows up across his office, where the focus is on meeting people where they are and easing the stress that comes with a real estate transaction.
Sometimes the work takes an unexpected turn. One longtime client in his 90s recently reached out with a listing that came with a story all its own. The man jokingly called himself “the oldest drug dealer you’ve ever seen,” a line Chung still laughs about, but the reality was far more nuanced. The client owned a licensed cannabis grow facility and needed help selling the business and the land attached to it.
Chung approached it the same way he approaches any complicated listing, taking the time to understand the details and the challenges behind it. The client (who had never used cannabis himself), walked him through the regulatory and operational issues tied to the industry and offered an education neither expected but both appreciated.
“When I come in each day, I never know what the work will bring,” says Chung, who is still working that particular sale. “That variety is what keeps this business so interesting.”
— Bridget McCrea, RE Magazine
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RE Magazine Winter 2026 Issue
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