EP #74 From Classroom to Closings: Antoinette Tyner’s Path to Serving Buyers, Sellers, and Military Families with Excellence

Real stories land best when they’re anchored in service, and that’s exactly why this conversation with Antoinette Tyner stands out. A former early childhood educator and veteran, Antoinette brings a teacher’s patience and a strategist’s focus to real estate, leading the Elegance Home Team with a spirit of excellence that shows up in every call, showing, and signature. We dig into what buyers and sellers actually need to know right now—beyond headlines—and how expert negotiation, clear education, and realistic expectations can turn a stressful process into a confident move.

We trace Antoinette’s path from classrooms in Richmond to contracts across the DC Metro Region, exploring the skills that transfer: breaking down complex steps, setting honest expectations, and advocating through pressure. She challenges the biggest myths surrounding commissions and FSBOs, explaining why strong representation often nets better results. For first-time buyers and VA borrowers, she offers practical guidance on pre-approvals, appraisal nuances, and using today’s dip in rates alongside motivated sellers to secure real value. Sellers get the straight talk too: price to the market, stage with intention, and move early on feedback to avoid the stigma of extended days on market.

What brings it all together is Antoinette’s resilience and values. She shares how working through a tough divorce sharpened her empathy and resolve, and why client education from contract to close is non-negotiable. If you want a grounded take on timing your purchase, preparing your listing, or launching a career in real estate with a sustainable plan, this conversation gives you clarity and a roadmap you can use today.

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Antoinette Tyner

United Real Estate DC Metro Region

antoinettetyner.com

[e-mail]

[phone]

Fairfax, VA · Fredericksburg, VA · Arlington, VA · Woodbridge, VA · Alexandria, VA · Stafford, VA

Episode Transcript

Speaker (00:01):
This is the Fredericksburg Neighbors
Podcast, the place where localbusinesses and neighbors come
together.
Here's your host, Dori Stewart.

Speaker 1 (00:13):
Welcome back to another episode of the FXBG
Neighbors Podcast, where weshare the stories of our
favorite local brands.
I'm excited to introduce you tomy guest today.
We are fortunate to have a realestate agent on the podcast
with us, Antoinette Tyner.
Welcome to the podcast.

Speaker 2 (00:34):
Thank you so much for having me.
I think this is amazing.
You are giving a great platformto people that would not
normally have access toplatforms.
So thank you, Dori.

Speaker 1 (00:45):
Oh, you're welcome.
It's what I love to do.
And I'm looking forward togetting to know you and learning
more about your business.
So let's start there.
Share with us about yourbusiness.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
Sure.
So I am Antoinette Tyner withUnited Real Estate DC Metro
Region.
I am the Elegance Home Team.
The reason why I say eleganceis because I feel like I have a
spirit of excellence ineverything I do.
If I deal with buyers, sellers,people who are upgrading,
downgrading, grading, I want tohave a spirit of excellence.

(01:18):
I love, I love people, I lovereal estate.
And so we are the elegance hometeam.

Speaker 1 (01:32):
And it's wonderful to just put that out there and
lead with that.
So that is so smart.
I love it.
So, Antoinette, tell us aboutyour journey.
How did you get into realestate?
I need to know.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
Absolutely.
Funny thing, I did not start inreal estate.
I actually started ineducation.
I was an early childhoodeducator.
I actually owned it, um, Iactually owned a daycare center
in the Richmond area.
And when my business got alittle slow, I went to, I was a
Title I tutor in the publicschool system.

(02:09):
I was at um Patrick CopelandElementary School and different
elementary schools in theRichmond area.
I enjoyed that time.
Um, but went through a messydivorce.
And during that time frame withmy husband, my my now husband,
um, around 2024, there was anincident with a sweet um

(02:32):
principal, I believe she was inTexas, where um she lost her
eye.
I'm pretty pretty sure youremember that story.
And it was shocking, you know,um just hearing about the
horrible things in the educationsystem.
So my husband and I, we justdecided it was time for me to
move away from education andmake a switch.

(02:53):
And so I decided to go uh intoreal estate.

Speaker 1 (02:57):
That's amazing.
That's amazing.
And so I also come from publiceducation.
So I understand that uh, youknow, you take with you a set of
skills uh from education, youcarry that into your your new
career.
So um we're a little kindredspirits there.

(03:18):
So I imagine you are workingreally hard in your business.
So I need to know what are youdoing for fun when you're not
working?

Speaker 2 (03:31):
Oh my goodness.
I I don't know if this soundscheesy, but I am a thrifter.
I love everything consignment,goodwill, habitat, uh, habitat
for humanity restore.
Um, I just love I lovethrifting.

Speaker 1 (03:48):
I love that.

Speaker 2 (03:49):
Yes, or just spending time with my family or YouTube.

Speaker 1 (03:52):
Or YouTube.
Amazing, amazing.
So I wonder being in realestate, you know, we hear a lot
of things.
There's a lot, it's it's alwaysin the news, you know, are
things up, are things down, allof that.
And so I wonder, are youfinding that there are any myths
or misconceptions about theindustry?

Speaker 2 (04:12):
Yes.
Um, I would say a myth is realestate agents just want the
commission that we're all herefor the money.
We're not.
Um, me personally, I loveworking with people.
I love working with first-timehome buyers.
I actually love working withall buyers, but especially
first-time home buyers when theythey see that they can qualify

(04:34):
and to actually own versus rent.
Um, so the majority of us outthere, we we really just want to
help people.
Um, another misconception isthe FISBOs, uh, the for sale by
owners.
Nothing wrong with them.
I understand they want to savetheir commission, but um it's
when you actually have an expertnegotiator on your side, you're

(04:56):
gonna get a lot, um, you'retypically gonna get a lot higher
sales price.
And we are experts on thepaperwork in these um advanced
contracts.
So I those are misconceptions.

Speaker 1 (05:10):
Yeah, yeah.
Maybe you're not actuallysaving all that money.
If you've got someonenegotiating for you that can
help get more, then you know youmight not actually be saving
any money.
So that's um, thank you forsharing that.

Speaker 2 (05:24):
Absolutely.

Speaker 1 (05:25):
And how cool that you get to be a part of someone's
life.
You know, a first-time homebuyer, that is such a big
milestone and you get to be apart of it.
That's so cool.

Speaker 2 (05:36):
Yes, it is really special.
Um, my my uh most recent buyershave all been military.
I love all buyers, butespecially the military, because
I am a veteran and I thank themfor their service.
They they sacrifice so much forour great country.
And if I get to serve them togive them their home dreams, you

(05:56):
know, it just makes my jobextra special.

Speaker 1 (06:00):
I love that.
I love that.
So tell me, is there achallenge or a hardship that you
have gone through that now thatyou've been through it and
you're on the other side of it,you feel like you're stronger
for it?
Absolutely.

Speaker 2 (06:18):
Oh my goodness, I have so many.
Um, but I think the the biggestone for me was my divorce.
Um, going through that divorce,it was very painful, very
messy.
But I feel like coming coming,uh, being on the other side,
it's just made me a strongerperson.
And when you find your personand you find true love, it's

(06:41):
just a it's an amazing thing.
But I feel like my divorce, umjust you know, that was that was
tough.

Speaker 1 (06:50):
And and kind of makes you appreciate uh the good
things even more.

Speaker 2 (06:56):
Yes, absolutely.

Speaker 1 (06:59):
Yeah, I love that.
So if someone came to you andthey were thinking about being a
real estate agent, what advicewould you give them?

Speaker 2 (07:08):
I would I would definitely say go for it.
It is a wonderful industry.
Um, but I would tell them, justcount the cost.
Uh luckily I am married and myhusband has a great salary.
I am obviously commissioned.
So if it if it's a single youngwoman, I would say consider
that.
If you're the only income,don't quit your don't quit your

(07:32):
full-time job.
Just do real estate on the sideuntil you can replace your
income.

Speaker 1 (07:37):
That's really good advice.
Yeah.
So what is something that youwish home buyers knew?

Speaker 2 (07:47):
Oh my goodness.
I would say this.
The interest rates uh justlowered on September the 17th.
That's exciting.
Yes, it is.
It's it's great for us realtorsand for buyers.
What this means is that um wehad an unprecedented amount of
listings on the market becauseum the interest rates were

(08:09):
previously really, really high.
But now that the interest rateshave gone down, um, we have
motivated sellers and we havelower interest rates.
So if you are looking topurchase a home first time, um,
first-time buyers or anythinglike that, this is the best time
because the interest rates arelower and um we have motivated

(08:29):
sellers.

Speaker 1 (08:30):
Nice.
And on the flip side, what issomething that you wish home
sellers knew, or or what issomething that um share with
you, uh share with me about theexperience that a seller would
have working with you?

Speaker 2 (08:46):
Sure, absolutely.
I would say what some advicethat I would give sellers be
realistic with yourexpectations.
We all love our home.
We have all done amazing thingsto it, but we it's important to
know the market and know thatthere are a lot of beautiful
homes on the market just likeyours.
So just be flexible, just beopen-minded and be willing to

(09:11):
give, you know, um, because wedefinitely want to get your home
sold.
Just be realistic.

Speaker 1 (09:17):
Yeah, yeah.
I imagine that's difficult.
Uh if you if you get someonewho has uh unrealistic
expectations, that's gotta be uhhard on on you.

Speaker 2 (09:29):
It it can be because you know, I I feel like we as
realtors, we don't want, youknow, for us when a home is on
the market for a certain amountof time, extended amount of
time, it's it's stigmatized, ourworst nightmare.
So we definitely want oursellers to be open-minded and
listen to us.

Speaker 1 (09:48):
Yeah, listen to the experts.
They're there for you.
Yes, absolutely.
Right.
So, one last question.
What is something that you wishthe listeners knew about you or
United Real Estate?

Speaker 2 (10:04):
Um, that is, oh my goodness, that is a great
question.
Um, I would say my faith meanseverything to me.
Um, I am super, super friendly.
I love working with everyone.
My ideal client is everyone.

(10:25):
I would say just be respectful,open-minded, willing to,
willing to learn.
We can learn each other, go onthis journey.
Um, and the key for me iseducating my clients.
I want my clients to knoweverything from start to finish,
from contract to close.
So I'm here, I'm in yourcorner.

(10:46):
Um, I'm here to educate you andto help you and help you to
build wealth.
So important.

Speaker 1 (10:52):
So important.
Antoinette, uh, can you sharewith the listeners if if you've
got a buyer or a sellerlistening and they want to work
with you, share with us how theycan get in touch with you.

Speaker 2 (11:05):
Absolutely.
You can reach out to me atAntoinettetyner.com on Facebook.
I'm Antoinette the Realtor, oryou can actually just give me a
call.
I will answer.
My number is 703 596-5183.
Amazing.

Speaker 1 (11:20):
Antoinette, thank you so much for joining me on the
podcast today and sharing yourreal estate with us.
Thank you for having me, Dori.
You're welcome.

Speaker (11:31):
Thank you for listening to the Fredericksburg Neighbors
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to FXBGNeighborsPodcast.com.