E8: Real Estate Changed Her Life, Now She's Helping Others Do the Same

Ever wondered if real estate could be a game-changer in your financial journey? Theresa Robin of Kelly Warren and Associates proves it can be through her own remarkable story shared on the Good Neighbor Podcast.

What started as a college student's practical decision to purchase a duplex—living on one side while renting the other—blossomed into a strategic wealth-building approach that completely transformed Theresa's life trajectory. Through smart property management, understanding equity growth, and leveraging tax advantages, she discovered firsthand how real estate could create opportunities that traditional career paths might not offer.

Now a seasoned realtor, Theresa channels her passion into demystifying homeownership for others. She particularly loves working with first-time homebuyers, guiding them through what many consider an intimidating process with education and hands-on support. "Homeownership is closer than you think," she emphasizes, countering the common misconception that buying property is impractical or financially out of reach. Her approach resonates so strongly with clients that her business thrives primarily on referrals and word-of-mouth.

Theresa's journey wasn't without challenges. She candidly discusses battling imposter syndrome as she established herself as a community professional—questioning whether she was truly qualified to guide others through major financial decisions. By recognizing the unique value of her combined academic knowledge (with a master's degree in business) and real-world investment experience, she overcame those doubts to become a trusted advisor in her community.

Whether you're curious about buying your first home, considering real estate as an investment strategy, or simply interested in how property ownership might change your financial future, Theresa's story offers practical insights and inspiration. Reach out directly to Theresa at 330-774-5684 or visit buysellohiohouses.com to start a conversation about your real estate journey today.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Stacey Willis.

Speaker 2 (00:16):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Are you in need of a realtor?
Well, one may be closer thanyou think.
Today, I have the pleasure ofintroducing your good neighbor,
teresa Robbins.
Teresa, how are you doing?
Hey?

Speaker 3 (00:30):
Stacey, I'm great.
How are you?

Speaker 2 (00:33):
I'm doing very well, thank you.
Well, we're excited to learnall about you and your business,
so let's just jump right in andtell us all about it.

Speaker 3 (00:41):
Absolutely Well.
Thanks, first off, for havingme.
I appreciate you guys takingthe time to speak with me and
have me on your podcast on GoodNeighbor.
So really, what we do is wepretty much do it all.
We represent buyers and sellersand also investors.
So whether you're looking toget into real estate as your
first time home buyer or you'relooking to sell a piece of real

(01:03):
estate whether it's land,commercial, residential maybe
you're looking at real estate asanother egg to host your
retirement on and you want tostart investing.
So, whatever it may be, I meanwe're well rounded in the real
estate industry and wellconnected so we can help with
all of the above.

Speaker 2 (01:23):
And I did.
I did not mention which.
I apologize to the listeners.
Kelly Warren is who you arewith, correct?

Speaker 3 (01:32):
Yes, that's correct.
Yep Kelly, Warren andAssociates.

Speaker 2 (01:35):
Okay, and how did you get into this business?

Speaker 3 (01:39):
Well, that's a great question.
So I'm born and raised inBoston, massachusetts.
I moved to the Youngstown Ohioarea when I was about 19, 20
years old and essentially acouple of years in.
So I started.
I transferred school so let meback up here Transferred to YSU
doing my undergrad degree inbusiness and I met somebody that

(02:03):
was selling their home and theysaid this would be a good
opportunity for you.
It's a duplex.
You can live in one side, rentfree, and rent out the other
side, because essentially thatrent will be paying the cost of
your mortgage and utilities.
So you'll live for free whileyou're going to college.
And I thought, well, that's agreat idea.
I just agreed to move to Ohio.
So what could go wrong here,you know?

(02:24):
So essentially, after I agreedto do that, I did exactly what
the gentleman had recommendedand it worked out well.
I guess at the time I didn'trealize to what extent what I
really had done for myself andhow I set myself up.
So, being a landlord and owningthat home, over the years I've
learned a lot about houses,things that can go wrong, how to

(02:55):
fix things, just really problemsolving and the beauty of
equity.
So essentially, after a fewyears of doing that, I ended up
renting out both sides andbuying another piece of property
and that the rental income fromthe both sides at that time
paid for that property and forme to have another house.
Um, and then I realized thatthere was the section 121 code
in the tax code which allows youto sell your house after living

(03:15):
in it for two of the last fiveyears and not pay any uh taxes
or capital gains up to twohundred and fifty thousand
dollars, because at the time Iwas unmarried and, um, I started
selling my house after twoyears and sell my house and then
I'd go and find another one andbuy another one.
So essentially all that, thoseproceeds were all tax free and
it really just snowballed intothis journey with real estate.

(03:38):
So then I got licensed so thatI can represent buyers and
sellers and help them on theirjourney.
So it really just unlocked alot of potential and what there
is in real estate, what you cando with real estate.
And now you know, 16 yearslater, I'm able to say that I
really understand what realestate has done for me in the
position that it's put me in,just by making those small steps

(03:59):
and that first decision to buythat duplex.

Speaker 2 (04:03):
So I think you answered this a little bit, but
I'm sure you can build off of it.
What are some myths ormisconceptions about the real
estate industry?

Speaker 3 (04:13):
what are some myths or misconceptions about the real
estate industry.
Well, that's a good question.
So I mean, really, there's alot of them.
I think one of the biggestthings is people think that
owning a home is just notpractical, not within the realm
of reality.
They don't realize howaffordable and how, really, how

(04:35):
easy it can be if you have theright team on your side.
And I think that's really thebiggest thing and I think that's
really what I enjoy most aboutmy job is showing people that
you know this dream ofhomeownership is is closer than
you think.

Speaker 2 (04:50):
Who are your target customers and how are you
currently attracting them?

Speaker 3 (04:56):
Also another great question, stacey, thanks for
asking.
So really, like I said, we'rewell-versed in the real estate
industry.
What I love most is myfirst-time homebuyers, because I
love educating them and I lovehow life-changing it is for them
by getting them into theirfirst home.
Also, investors, because, again, I shared with you the piece of

(05:20):
investment that I was able totake advantage of in investing
in real estate and what that'sdone for me and how that set me
up for my business today.
So, between first-timehomebuyers and investors, and
really the way that I attractmost of my clientele is
referrals word of mouth, again,because I do a lot of that
education piece and I like tohold the buyer's hand quote,

(05:44):
unquote the first time buyers oreven investors, and help walk
them through what we're doingand why we're doing it and
encourage any questions.
I really get a lot of referrals, word of mouth and then a lot
of networking events really.
So just meeting otherlike-minded people or people
that don't know where to startand helping them there.

Speaker 2 (06:04):
Outside of work.
What do you do for fun?

Speaker 3 (06:08):
a star in helping them there.
Outside of work, what do you dofor fun?
Oh, I love to golf.
Anything outdoors is great, butreally I love to golf.
Not to say I'm good at it oranything.
I'm not going to be in themasters anytime soon, but I do
love to golf.
I love to spend time with myfamily and travel.

Speaker 2 (06:24):
All right, let's switch gears just a little bit.
Can you describe a hardship orchallenge you overcame and how
it made you stronger?
What comes to mind?

Speaker 3 (06:36):
Oh, that's a good question.
I think really just theprobably something a lot of
people face is the impostersyndrome.
You know, when you start to gointo things and I'd like to
consider myself, of course, amember of the community, but

(06:57):
also a professional within thecommunity and a public figure,
if you will there's a lot ofself doubt.
That happens when you get intothese types of fields.
So you go out there and youmarket yourself as this
professional and as this trustedindividual that will help you
with one of the most importantdecisions of your life, one of

(07:20):
the most major investments ofyour life.
And I think really justsometimes when you go to bed at
night, you think to yourself canI really do this?
Is this really, am I doing this?
And fortunately I've received agreat response from the
community.
So there's no doubt in my mindnow.
But I think initially justgetting over that self-doubt I

(07:42):
think probably was the hardestpart of it and just saying you
know what I am doing this, I cando this, I'm well qualified to
do this.
I have not only the textbookwith my master's degree in
business from YSU now, but Ialso have the smarts of actually
going through this.
So I remember what it was likeand how I got started and what
it's done for me.

Speaker 2 (08:02):
So really just getting over, I think, that that
self-doubt and overcoming that,Teresa, tell our listeners one
thing that they should rememberabout Kelly Warren and
associates.

Speaker 3 (08:17):
Well, there's many things, but the one thing that I
would say is that you knowwe're reliable, we're on your
side, we're family to you.
You know we, we are going toguide you through this process
as if it was us.
You know, and and being thatperson that we may have needed
at the time that we were goingthrough this same scenario.

(08:38):
So, um, we're, we're trusted,we're reliable, um, reputable
Robin.

Speaker 2 (08:45):
I like that.
How can our listeners learnmore about you?

Speaker 3 (08:50):
So they can either call or text 330-774-5684.
You can find me on social mediaTeresa Robin, realtor with
Kelly Warren and Associates.
You can also visitbuysellohiohousescom and you can
check out our website and seeyou know what listings there are
available if you'd like tostart there.
But I always encourage peoplecall and text me.

(09:13):
I love talking to people, Ilove talking about real estate.
So the best way would bedefinitely to call or text me
and let's have a conversation,let's meet for some coffee, and
I'm just a regular person likeeverybody else, with a little
more knowledge in the industrythan the average.

Speaker 2 (09:29):
All right, Teresa.
Well, I really appreciate youbeing on our show.
We wish you and your businessthe very best of luck moving
forward.

Speaker 3 (09:38):
Thank you so much again, Stacey.
Thanks for having us.

Speaker 1 (09:44):
Thanks for listening to the good neighbor podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnpyoungstowncom.
That's gnp youngstowncom, orcall 330-355-3122.