From Music Business to Real Estate: A Nashville Success Story
In 2005, I graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with dreams as big as Nashville itself. My first stop was a small niche record label and then onto Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI). It was an exciting start to my career, but even then, I had a spark for something more. Alongside my full-time job, I began rehabbing houses with a couple of different partners—a side hustle that quietly planted the seeds for my future in real estate.
In 2008, encouraged by a colleague also pursuing real estate, I decided to get my license. But just as I was gearing up to enter the market, the national economy collapsed, forcing me to put those plans on hold. Life moved forward, and by 2014, I was a stay-at-home mom with three kids—twin boys who were 3 and my youngest, just 1 year old. That’s when a friend who was a real estate broker suggested I revisit the dream I had put on pause.
Thankfully, I had held onto my pre-licensing course certificate from 2008, even though the school itself had closed due to the economic fallout. The Tennessee Real Estate Commission honored that piece of paper, allowing me to take a weekend refresher course and sit for the licensing exam. In September 2014, I passed the test on my first attempt and officially became a licensed Real Estate Agent.
I started showing homes, hosting open houses, and building my confidence. By October, I secured my first listing and was ready to close my first deal by December. But life threw a curveball, and the closing was delayed until January. At that moment, I didn’t even have the funds to pay my dues to the real estate association. That’s when divine intervention stepped in—my mom remembered an old life insurance policy she had forgotten about, cashed it out, and gave me exactly what I needed to pay those dues plus some savings, almost dollar to dollar matched on what my first closing would have been that month.
It’s worth noting that during this time, I was also on government assistance. I was broke, raising small babies, and starting from scratch. But those challenges became my motivation. I hope my story inspires other women to know they can rise from the lowest of places and achieve great success.
With that first deal under my belt, I was on my way. In 2015, I was honored to be named Rookie of the Year by the Greater Nashville Association of REALTORS®, a title that reflected not just my hard work but the unwavering support I received from my family and community.
After starting with a small boutique brokerage firm (now closed), I moved my license to Benchmark Realty in 2016, and I’ve been here ever since. Over the past five years, I’ve been proud to rank among the top-tier producers at Benchmark Realty, a testament to the relationships I’ve built and the passion I have for helping clients.
A few years into real estate, I reignited my passion for investing and began renovating homes again. This grew into designing floor plans and building houses. Today, I work with multiple General Contractors, helping clients bring their dream homes to life, while also building and selling homes I’ve personally designed.
While my work has expanded to include builders and developers, my heart remains in helping everyday buyers and sellers navigate residential real estate. Each client, whether they’re building a custom home or purchasing their first house, represents a chance to make dreams a reality—just as I did for myself.
From starting with no money and small children to building a thriving business, my journey has been about perseverance, faith, and a relentless drive to succeed. If I can do it, so can you.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road to where I am today has been anything but smooth. Real estate, like life, is full of twists, turns, and unexpected challenges. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is to never close a deal on a Friday unless you know for certain the funds will be at the title company that morning. I learned this the hard way when a delay meant I had to personally pay for a hotel for a family of 11 who couldn’t move into their home as planned.
Moments like these tested me, but they also shaped me. Each setback taught me resilience, problem-solving, and the importance of going the extra mile for my clients. Whether it’s navigating tricky negotiations, managing construction delays, or helping families through difficult transitions, these challenges are part of what makes the victories so rewarding. They’ve also given me plenty of “war stories” to share and lessons to pass on to others just starting in this business.
What do you do, and what sets you apart?
Real estate has always been more than a job for me—it’s a calling that blends my creative spirit with my drive for functionality and design. My parents were entrepreneurs, and my grandfather was a builder, so you could say this passion runs in my blood. As a child, I studied house plans and even built dollhouses, laying the foundation for my love of creating spaces that are as beautiful as they are practical.
I believe what truly sets me apart is my ability to combine deep market expertise with a genuine understanding of my clients’ needs. I treat every transaction as if it were my own, going above and beyond to ensure each client feels supported, informed, and valued. It’s not just about closing deals; it’s about building relationships and making a lasting impact.
How do you define success?
For me, success is about freedom and happiness. It’s being able to make my own schedule so I can go to my kids’ football games without guilt or hesitation. It’s enjoying a vacation whenever I want, fueled by the flexibility that this career provides. As someone who loves to travel, that freedom means everything to me.
Success is also about passion. I wake up every morning excited to do what I love, ready to tackle the day with energy and purpose. My kids used to say I worked with my friends, so they didn’t even think I had a job. That’s how much I enjoy what I do!
But above all, success isn’t just about how much money you make; it’s about the joy you find in life. It’s about feeling fulfilled, proud, and inspired by the work you do and the life you’ve created. But also, it’s about being inspired by the people that I work with. It makes me so happy and proud to see people succeed and build wealth and change their family legacies through real estate.
