Marissa Lightsey is 24 years old. That alone is of no great significance -- until, of course, when you consider her accomplishments. A few years ago she owned Wild Child, a popular children's clothing boutique.

Two years ago she joined Century 21 Peak, Marking & Associates as a real estate agent. Earlier this summer, she purchased the 43 year old agency from Donna Peak and Don Marking. Lightsey moved to Mexico with her family from Riverside, California when she was eight. She graduated from MHS in 2014 and attended William Woods until starting on the whirlwind journey that would make her a realtor and business owner.

1. Does it feel strange to own a successful agency at such a young age?

It's funny, because I was the youngest agent in Mexico until just recently. I just brought on my first agent. She's 22, so finally. But I never felt like my age stopped me from doing anything. And I have an office manager -- it's a well oiled machine.

2. So an owner just sits back?

[Laughs] Aside from my real estate sales, I've been working on improving our marketing and social media. And I'm seeking out things that will make the culture of our office even more inviting and fun.

3. It has been a wild few years in real estate.

When I first got my license I experienced a normal market for a few months. Then it rapidly changed. We are seeing an increase in listings.

4. Do agents handle their own searches?

Yeah, we do. I bought some investment property and acted as my own agent.

5. What's the most common question you hear?

For buyers it's 'where do I start?' That's speaking to a lender, finding out what you can afford. For sellers it's 'what price can I get for my house?'

6. When you first walk into a house, how do you maintain a poker face?

If it's a listing I'm going to take on, I owe my clients honesty. I politely point things out. People are looking for constructive criticism from their agent.

7. Is staging really all that important?

I have done light staging. Most people, when they begin their search they are looking online. We've been doing virtual staging. It's phenomenal.

8. So the industry is changing.

It's changing. It's a new age. I was speaking to Donna the other day and she told me how they used to do their own closing. Now we have title companies. They would have to hire an attorney for title searches. I didn't realize how lucky we are.

9. Do real estate agents watch TV shows like House Hunters?

Oh gosh, yes. I'm such a glutton for shows like Selling Sunset. It's cool to see the different trends.

10. Are you going to be able to sit still, keep Century 21 going for another 43 years?

I think I've found my niche. This is what I was born to do. I get to help my community and make a living doing it.