How I Found My Way Home in Real Estate

Long before I found my way into real estate, I learned how much a sense of home matters.

I grew up in a military family, which meant traveling all over the world and calling some truly extraordinary places home. During my childhood, I lived in France, Russia, Belgium, South America, Singapore, and Israel before finally landing in the United States during high school. After so much moving, my family settled in Leesburg, Virginia, and I went on to attend Radford University in Radford, where I studied marketing and advertising.

After graduation, I spent about four years working for an advertising firm in the Washington, D.C., area. That experience gave me a wonderful foundation in marketing, but even more importantly, it was also where I met my husband, Pat. We married in 1992, and in 1994, we welcomed our twins, Hagen and Connor.

With two babies and the high cost of living in the D.C. area, we began imagining a different kind of life for our family. Around that same time, Cary, North Carolina was being recognized as one of the best places to live in America. That sounded pretty wonderful to us, so we packed everything we owned—and two car seats—into the back of a U-Haul and headed south to North Carolina.

Once we arrived, I went to work for MCI. Yes, MCI—that dates me! I started in customer service and eventually became the manager of the calling card customer service department. When our youngest son, Kyle, was born, Pat and I made the decision that I would embark on what became one of the most important and meaningful journeys of my life: being a stay-at-home mom.

It was such a blessing to have those years with my children and to be able to raise them until they reached school age. When I was ready to return to the workforce, I wanted a position that would allow me to use my marketing background while still giving me the flexibility to be there when my children got home from school.

That search led me, in 2006, to the cutest little boutique real estate firm, where I began working as a transaction coordinator and marketing person. At the time, I had no idea that this job would be the beginning of a career I would come to love so deeply.

Working behind the scenes gave me an incredible education. I learned the ins and outs of the business, how a transaction comes together, how homes are marketed, and just how many details have to be managed to get everyone successfully to the closing table. I loved learning all of it.

But before long, I realized something was missing: the people.

I wanted more interaction with the clients because, quite simply, people are my favorite. I wanted to hear their stories, understand what mattered to them, help them work through their questions, and be part of the decisions that would shape their next chapter. So, in 2007, I decided to get my real estate license.

I spent about a year working as a buyer's agent with that small firm, and I truly enjoyed it. It confirmed that real estate was where I belonged. It also showed me how much more I wanted to learn.

The agent who owned the firm was working incredibly hard to support her family and run the business. I respected what she had built, but I also knew that such a small operation could not offer the level of training, tools, systems, and growth opportunities I was looking for. If I wanted to become the entrepreneur and real estate professional I knew I could be, I needed to put myself in a place designed to help people grow.

So, I made the decision to join the number-one real estate company in the country for training and development. I wanted to be surrounded by people who dreamed bigger, challenged themselves, shared what they knew, and believed there was always another level of growth ahead.

And I have been there ever since.

Over the years, I have grown from someone learning the business behind the scenes into an experienced REALTOR®, business owner, leader, and trusted advisor. But the reason I do this work has never changed: it is still all about the people.

For me, real estate is not about simply putting a sign in a yard, opening a door, or getting a contract signed. It is about helping people make confident decisions during some of life's biggest transitions. That means offering honest advice, even when it is not the easiest thing to hear. It means using experience, strategy, and strong systems to protect my clients' interests. It means helping sellers position their homes so buyers fall in love with them—and helping buyers look beyond the pretty finishes so they understand exactly what they are purchasing.

My mission is to provide honest, knowledgeable real estate guidance that empowers my clients to make confident decisions. Through exceptional service, expert advice, and genuine care, my goal is to build relationships that last far beyond the transaction.

I want to be the person my clients call not only when they are ready to buy or sell a home, but also when they need a trusted contractor, have a question about their home's value, are considering a renovation, or simply need an honest real estate opinion. I never want someone to feel pressured into making a move. I want them to feel informed, protected, and completely confident that the decision they make is the right one for them.

Looking back, I am incredibly grateful that my career began in that sweet little boutique office. Learning the business from the inside out gave me a foundation that still shapes how I serve my clients today. Choosing to move into a company that valued training, growth, leadership, and entrepreneurship gave me the tools to turn that foundation into a career.

Nearly two decades later, I still love learning. I still believe who you surround yourself with matters. I still believe great strategy can change an outcome. And most of all, I still believe people should always come before houses.

Real estate may be the business I am in, but helping people is the reason I am here.

Ready to start your next chapter or curious about your home's value? Get in touch with me today—I'd love to help you make your next move with confidence.