Hidden Gems: Meet Joe Smith of JL Smith Properties and JL Smith Logistics

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Smith.

Hi Joe, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I was born and raised in West Baltimore. I grew up in two Heights Park Heights and then Yale Heights. I am my mother’s only child, my beautiful mom passed away from AIDS when I was fifteen years old. She raised me with love and to be independent.

She taught me to do for myself and do not depend on people, you can count on them but don’t depend on them. Moms knew she wasn’t going to be around when I grew up so she prepared me for her absence the best she could. I went to one of the worst high schools in Baltimore City, Southwestern High School.

From there, I like to say I looked at the campus at Catonsville Community College for two semesters may be one semester then I dropped out with no degree. I worked warehouse jobs, at temp agencies and did other odd jobs. I knew I needed to gain a skill to come out of this low-income cycle and take care of my young family. In 1998, I went to truck driving school to get my class A CDL.

My spirit has always been entrepreneurial so, while driving trucks I joined a company called Primerica where I learned to live a life of continued self-improvement and l learned to effectively communicate with people through face-to-face and group presentations. I didn’t have enough influence at that time to be successful in that business, so I decided to start my own trucking company, JL Smith Logistics, Inc. I bought a truck, eventually was able to obtain my own contracts with shippers and my business started to grow. I hired other owner-operators and company drivers.

My trucking business has been able to sustain itself for the past 12 years and I’m very proud of that. At the time, I started my trucking business it was not as easy as it is today for small trucking companies to stay in business, especially Black-owned companies. In 2010, my family and I moved from our first home, and my wife and I decided to rent this property vs. sell it. This venture piqued my interest in Real Estate investments. I then started JL Smith Properties, LLC.

I have a passion for real estate, the deed you get that shows ownership, the ability to turn something worn down into something beautiful, the passive income that allows you to have more time with your loved ones. This influenced me to obtain my real estate license in 2018, to have more control in my investing business by not having to depend on agents, have access, and manage properties on my own.

I also discovered a great by-product of helping families achieve homeownership. The excitement and smiles on their faces on closing day are priceless. My people need to own more, in most cases, it starts with homeownership. The homeownership rate for African Americans is lower now than it was in the 1980s so I feel great when I can help by improving the homeownership numbers.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not. First, I had to overcome the challenges of my own limiting beliefs, by embracing the scriptures that all things are possible. I then had to learn to have emotional intelligence, patience, and the ability to handle constant change. Those changes could be positive or negative, however, you will always have change, and your ability to be able to recognize this and be prepared for what’s next is necessary as an entrepreneur.

When I started my trucking business, I did not have a 9-5 job to fall back on, this was my only form of income, so I was going to sink or swim. The struggles of my business growing and income not being consistent was added stress and pressure when I need to take care of my family. However, this made me resilient, made me work harder, pushed me to think freely, and was what led me to start more than one business.

So, those obstacles and struggles were a blessing that kept allowing God to grow me and show me how much I could accomplish. Then through my interest in real estate, I became a realtor. The transition was not easy as it takes time to build a clientele and I was doing both for a few years, which was mentally and physically tasking, however, the passion I had to help people and leave a legacy for my family overcame any struggles I had.

My struggles and obstacles are going to take my family and my community to another level and that makes this worth it. Making it in business has been about risk and reward, when you have the entrepreneur spirit you truly cannot see yourself having it any other way. You must walk like, talk like, and live like a true entrepreneur Taking Risks for Gain.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about JL Smith Properties LLC and JL Smith Logistics Inc.?
I started my professional career working as a company driver. I did this for a few years before I decided to get my own truck. I went the traditional way leasing my truck with a company that will give you freight to haul. I did that for about two months with two different companies. It was tough as I felt like a company driver but with all the risk and bills. I decided to take a faith step and get my own authority which allows me complete, full ownership and responsibility for my business.

Overtime, I realize I needed more than one stream of income and it had to still be something that I can work for myself. Since I was doing some real estate investing becoming a realtor seemed like a good fit. I knew this would allow me to help people, learn more about the industry and get a chance to reinvent myself.

I enjoy helping my clients with the purchasing and selling process. I get to meet and interact with some great people professionally and personally who have added much to my life. I am an agent with a Black-owned franchise brokerage called United Real Estate Executives, this is more than a brokerage, we are a family, and this was the perfect place for me to land. What separates me from other Realtors is the educational approach that I take with my clients. 

I am known for my patience and negotiation skills. I want readers to know giving is the way to success, when I help my clients reach their goals and dreams, in essence I am blessed as well. I look forward to where life takes me through my business ventures, and I am always open and ready for the next big thing. 

What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I love about my city is it helped shape me into the man I am today. The old heads who worked in the industrial era showed a young man what hard work and taking care of your family looks like. The woman on your block that would correct you if you were out of line. I have also learned to enjoy my city in different ways like the bike parties where riders flood the streets and enjoy the scenery.

The picnics my wife and I have on Federal Hill, taking in the view of the city looking at the boats dreaming about when we are going get one. My city has great wealth and great poverty, but I like the strong will of hope in the city. What I like least about my city is the crime. Also, the lack of resources and access in the Black community, especially the schools. I don’t like the blight that plagues the predominately Black neighborhoods. I don’t like when I ride through the city and see the impact that drugs have on person’s lives.

I dislike the tale of two cities, the city is racially and economically divided. In one part of the city, you have people living in peace and harmony, restaurants on the corners, health, and wealth in the communities. Higher education levels and community activities such as movie nights, and businesses giving candy to children on Halloween. In the other city, you have a lack of education, health, and wealth. It is a food desert in most of these communities. In these parts of the city, you can find community activities such as ceasefire weekends and no-shoot zones.

Contact Info:

• Email: jlsmithpropertiesllc@gmail.com
• Website: jlsmithproperties.com
• Instagram: @joeysmithrealtor
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jlsmith01

Image Credits
Kai Steel