By Jimmy Robertson
When he graduated in 2004 with his degree in business marketing management, Jason Lallis wasn't quite sure what he wanted to do with his life.
The former Virginia Tech defensive lineman (2000-04) possessed all the smarts in the world to do basically whatever he wanted, and his football pedigree gave him an advantage in networking circles. Yet it took him a while to find his passion, and it took several different positions before he landed in a field that truly inspires him.
The way and the wait certainly was worth it, as today, Lallis ranks as one of the top real estate agents in the Washington, D.C., metro area. In fact, in 2018 and 2019, Washingtonian – a magazine devoted to all things Washington, D.C. – listed Lallis as one of the area's top producers in terms of highest volume of sales.
"I've done every job in the world," Lallis said in a recent phone interview. "I've found my passion in real estate."
Lallis was a solid contributor for the Hokies during his career, coming to Blacksburg after playing for legendary Bill McGregor at famed DeMatha Catholic High in Hyattsville, Maryland. He started his career at defensive end before moving to defensive tackle, and though undersized, he still made plays. In fact. Lallis scored three touchdowns in his career — he returned a fumble 59 yards for a touchdown against Arkansas State in 2002, he returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown against UCF in 2003, and he returned a fumble 28 yards for a touchdown against Western Michigan in 2004. During his final season, he helped the Hokies win the 2004 ACC title, citing Tech's win at Miami in the regular-season finale and the subsequent celebration at Cassell Coliseum as his fondest memories.
After graduating from Tech, he started a career in pharmaceutical sales. In 2008, he saw that the industry was starting to change – and not necessarily in a positive direction. So he made a life-altering decision. He enrolled in the University of Baltimore School of Law, wanting a fallback option in case he decided to get out of the pharmaceutical sales industry.
Little did he know the challenges that faced him.
"That was probably the toughest thing I've done by far," Lallis said. "I lived in D.C. and the law school was in Baltimore, so it would take me about an hour and a half to drive up there after work, go to class for three or four hours, and then drive 45 minutes back. I'd get home around 11.
"Then working, any time I had a break from sales, I had my books and my notes with me, and I'd squeeze in some studying. I was really thankful to have been a Virginia Tech athlete. Being an athlete was hard on the physical side, but also hard on the mental side, and that really prepared me for law school."
Lallis spent the next two-plus years working in sales during the day and attending law school at night. He graduated from law school in 2011, and later that summer, he took the bar exam. He found out that he passed the bar in November while driving to attend former teammate Jon Dunn's wedding.
"You can't fake it," Lallis said of attending law school and passing the bar exam. "You have to do the work. You have to buy in."
Also, in 2011, Lallis made another big move, changing career paths and joining The Madison Group – a lobbying firm in Washington, D.C. He lobbied political powerhouses on behalf of pharmaceutical companies.
That job led to another move – a jump into politics. He took a job working for New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, who served on the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; the Committee on Finance; and the Committee on Foreign Relations. Lallis was involved in housing and banking policy, working on the Dodd-Frank Bill that overhauled financial regulation, along with policies on education, youth sports and nutrition. Those things tied in well with Lallis' background as a former collegiate athlete.
But being in politics presents its challenges, as most probably can surmise. Many great ideas and policies go unacted upon because of political gridlock. Though he enjoyed the work, Lallis found himself not satisfied and not being able fully to make a difference.
That, and a conversation with a friend, led him toward a career in real estate in 2015.
"During my first job, I bought a condo, and that started the buzz," Lallis said. "I thought about it then, but the economy was challenging. I always kept my eye on it. I was always looking online. Then I had one of my friends get into real estate, and I decided to jump into it."
Today, Lallis works for RLAH (Real Living At Home) Real Estate, a firm in the metro area. He is licensed to sell in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
His "client-first" approach clearly has made him a success in the business, as the numbers attest.
"I didn't have the best experience when I was buying my first condo," he said. "I did not have the best guidance, and it was a stressful situation. My goal is to make my clients as comfortable as possible. I'm a consultant. I show them the pros and cons and then let them make the decision. I do everything I can for them to make buying a home as comfortable as possible.
"I love it. D.C. is one of the stronger markets out there, and there are opportunities to get it done. It's like getting a win after a big game – you feel good about completing something. If a client is looking to buy or sell, and you can help make it happen, it's a win, and it feels great to accomplish your goals. Real estate is really where I want to be."
With a wife, son and daughter, and a thriving career, Lallis doesn't get back to Virginia Tech as much as he would like. He came back for the spring game two or three years ago and reminisced with some of his former teammates about his senior season. Tech lost to USC to open that season and then fell to NC State on Sept. 25 – and then won out to close the regular season and secure a Sugar Bowl bid.
Lallis remembers all of it – and cherishes it, especially the games, and now that he's a successful profession, his scholarship.
"I had to pay law school all by myself," he said. "Looking back, it was nice to have that scholarship [while at Tech]. That probably left me with a $100,000, so that means a lot. But just overall, I had a great experience at Tech. I love it down there."
