Meet TOMEKIA CARTER | Associate Real Estate Broker

We had the good fortune of connecting with TOMEKIA CARTER and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi TOMEKIA, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was born and raised here in Atlanta buy a single mother with 3 older brothers & 1 younger sister. I grew up in the projects of what was then called East Lake Meadows until I reached the age of 10 years old. We were very poor, but I never realized how poor we were until I reached the age where I could truly understand my mothers struggle and why she worked 3 jobs at times! My mother lost her mother when she was only 9 months old and was left with her grandmother to raise she and her siblings until her grandmother passed away at the age of 15 years old. At that point my mother was left alone to figure life out on her own with minimum assistance from her older siblings as they too where trying to work through how to move on with life. My mother is truly the very reason that I am the women that I’ve become today! She didn’t have much and she had to learn a lot by many many trials and errors. The most important values that she instilled in her children were to pray, to believe, to look after one another ,and to have faith in god. She taught us to love and no matter how bad it may be. She stressed that you must forgive for your own healing and growth. She exposed us to different cultures and things outside of the environment that we were brought up in. I am so truly blessed, and grateful to my mother for all the many sacrifices. I’m my greatest self when I’m giving unto others. It’s very rewarding to have a career where you can genuinely be your authentic self.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets me apart from others is very simple. I genuinely treat every home as if it were my own. If I can’t see myself living in it, I would never advise my client to sell or purchase a home just to move on for my own personal gain! I want my clients to love their homes for years to come. So, I focus on the initial consultation in terms of what the clients wants and needs are and, I take those key notes from all of the feedback from my listings and buyer showing appointments. When my clients get overwhelmed with trying to making a decision, I refer them back to the original plan. This helps keep my clients on track with what they truly desire…

I am most proud of the relationships that I’ve built with my client’s that are now my friends. Real estate is a relationship built business and I am grateful to all of my clients both near and far, for trusting me to represent them with one of the single most hardest decisions they’ll ever make in their lives. Without those clients’ ( friends), I never would’ve achieved the top producer real estate professional award 3 years in a row…

Prior to real estate, I was a personal assistant for sixteen and a half years for one of the top health care lawyers here in Atlanta and, around year 9 I started to feel a shift in my desire to make career move. However, I wasn’t quite sure what that looked like for me. Hence why it took me 5 more years to figure it out. Interior designing had always been a long time passion for me since I was a young girl and, it is still my true love. However, My life wasn’t in a position to return back to college again to study interior designing for several more years. So, I turned my attention to the thought of becoming a Realtor. For me, real estate and interior design is a perfect match. You can’t have one without the other and, interior designing is something that I’ve always had a knack for. Not all realtors has the eye to help their clients understand what to do to get the home show ready as a seller and, also to help buyers understand what they could do with the space that they have. I knew that this was an extra benefit that I could add to my resume and I was beyond ready. The certainty that this was the right fit for me was there and I was excited about the next chapter in my life.

I had a full-time job that was very demanding being that I worked for an attorney but, I was determined! I would get off work at 5:30pm and classes where from 6:00-10:00pm, 3 days a week for 7 weeks straight. I was eager and excited to learn all that there was to know about the world of real estate. Little did I know, real estate school only taught you how to pass a test, and stay out of jail, lol. The real work began once I signed up with a brokerage firm.

I interviewed with serval brokerages and decided that Coldwell Banker was the home for me. When I initially received my license, I still had a full-time job. After about 6 months or so, I realized that I couldn’t become the agent that I aspired to be if I was a part-time agent. I was extremely afraid to let go of the security of a job that I could do in my sleep but, I let those fears thrust me forward as oppose to holding me back and I left my job of 16 years to become a full-time realtor. When I decided to become a realtor, I made a commitment to educate myself and to be the absolute best realtor for my clients in the most honorable manner with integrity to safeguard my career for years to come. The first year consisted of a lot of training, cold calls, open houses, accountability meetings, and boots on the ground trying to build my business. Dedication, hard work, support from my partner (Reisha Bullock), family, friends and other agents in the real estate community, where all very instrumental in my growth and success. And two years later I became one of the top producing agents in the company in Ga. and I’ve maintained my position as one of the top producers every year since. In March of 2020 I decided to go back to school to get my broker license and I am now officially a broker. According to the Atlanta Association of Realtors, I ranked in the top 15% of realtors in 2020. I am truly blessed to have a career that brings me sheer joy!

Real Estate is never going to be a smooth ( ease on down the road scroll ) when you’re a new sales associate! There isn’t just a lot of training involved that an agent has to signup for immediately after joining a brokerage. But, you’re also trying to grow your business through your sphere of influence, cold-calling, marketing, door-knocking etc. All of this and there’s absolutely no money coming in because you haven’t closed that first deal yet. Being financially prepared to take on a commission based career, is definitely the biggest struggle starting out. Every seasoned agent has an opinion on what you should be doing and how it should be done. So, you take bits and pieces of the advise that you’ve been given and apply it to what works to represent your best self and, you grind it out! In fact, you’re constantly grinding, trying to convince anyone that you know and don’t know, to simply set an appointment with you; in hopes that you can get in front of them and, present that listing presentation that you’ve practiced over and over and over again in your head. So much that you dreamt about it the night before, lol… Praying that they’ll hirer you to represent them as their agent.

The lesson that I’ve learned in real estate is to stay in your own lane. Don’t get distracted by what other realtors are doing, it will certainly throw you off course. There are a lot of moving parts behind the scenes of being a realtor! But, you keep moving forward and continue to believe that you can and you will!

What I want people to know about Carter Inspired Homes is that we are a full serviced concierge.

My experience as a professional Broker Associate Realtor is very unique and personal with assisting buyers and sellers with an extraordinary experience unlike no other. Carter Inspired Homes knows the importance of having an agent with knowledgeable skills and care. With the ability to multitask and problem solve, that’s also flexible with regards to time and unforeseen circumstances. These key elements are very essential when choosing a Realtor to guide you through your home buying or selling experience.

Brokers are real estate agents who have completed additional training and licensing requirements. They can work independently and hire other real estate agents to work for them.

Brokers also learn about real estate legal issues and how the law applies to operating a brokerage, real estate investments, construction, and property management. As a result, “brokers have in-depth knowledge of the real estate business,

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friends were visiting Atlanta, and I wanted to really show them an amazing time here in my city; our itinerary would go a little something like this. Each morning, we’d start our day off with a little mental and physical self care to set the tone for the rest of our day. I like biking, so I’d start-off with taking them to the silver comets trail to enjoy the fresh clean air and beautiful scenery. The second day we’d take in a yoga class at Bring It Om yoga studio, and for hump day Wednesday we’ll take it to Roswell Mill Waterfall for a nice scenic view of the waterfall as we walk the trail. Thursday, I’d slow the pace a little, and take a scroll through my lovely neighborhood of GrantLanta, because we’re going out with a bang on Friday by exploring the Atlanta Belt-line.

Now I’m a huge foodie, and I love a beautifully designed restaurant with just the right amount of ambiance. But, I also love a great local restaurant that we can drop into for a quick bite to eat and you know that the foods going to be good. I love the Virginia Highlands area and have for decades. First stop, I’d take them to my favorite local restaurant; Surin of Thailand thats been serving Atlanta since 1990. You’re guaranteed to have a great time with strangers, good drink and food. Next up, Taco Tuesdays at Taqueria Del Sol on Howell Mill. The line will immediately intimidate you, but hang in there. You can grab their delicious signature magaritas from the bar while you wait, they move fast, and the food is definitely worth the wait! We’d gather at our home over the next couple of days and bond while sharing recipes & cooking our favorite meals, because we’re going to hit it come Friday for a little grown & sexy night on the town… Le Colonial is one of our Realtor favorites! It’s chic, but very cool & sexy chic not stuffy. Whether you’d like to dine over a nice meal & conversation or hangout in the back bar lounging area. You’re guaranteed to have a night remember.

We have so many amazing places in Atlanta to get our shopping on, and I love supporting small business locals whether they’re hosting a pop-up shop or in a small boutique. So I’d probably start at Ponce City Market, as it is a must see if you’re visiting Atlanta. Then I’d make my way to historic Little 5 Points, or Decatur Square before we take it to the Shops of Buckhead where you can find more high-end fashion if that’s what you’re into. Phipps Plaza is one to visit as well.

Sunday Funday would consist of a nice hot breakfast with coffee & tea. Being in our stillness with one another. Filled with so much love and gratitude until next time…

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am truly thankful to all of my family and friends for your support when getting into real estate was just a thought! To my mother for always being right by my side until I passed that state exam 🙂

Special shout out to one of my best friend (Erin James) for the hard to hear, but very honest pep talks when I was slacking on my studies! Those talks still linger in my head friend. lol… I can’t thank you enough!

To my beautiful late cousin ( Minister Patsy Denise Perkins) Who cheered me on over & over again! Day after day, night after night! I love & miss you so very much, but I know that you’re right here with me! I felt your spirit when I passed that broker exam cousin as I drove home with a smile on my face, and I said to you ” I did it again Pat”!

To my beautiful finance Reisha Bullock. You my love came into my life during my transition into my new career of real estate when I thought the hard part was over… Silly me, lol… And though you didn’t quite know me then as well as you do now. The love and endless support came the same then as it continues to hold deep within your beautiful soul for me now. Thank you thank you hunnie for always helping me see the forrest beyond the trees… My light through the tunnel, and simply having patience with my life as a real estate professional and your partner. I greatly appreciate you journeying through this with me! I love you dearly…

Website: tomekiacarter.cbintouch.com

Instagram: www.in/cartertherealtor/stagram.com

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/tomekia-carter-454299215/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CARTERDA1RE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tomekia.carter1

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvV1HoM9R9RbFQPAytYCBuA

Image Credits
Jaxon Photogroup & Wilde Photography