Hidden Gems: Meet Ileana Tavarez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ileana Tavarez.

Hi Ileana, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in the Midwest, Minnesota to be exact. My passion for real estate began while I was a sophomore in high school. My mother was a Realtor and I did a business project based on her career. For about a week, I followed her every day after school and I fell in love with the good, bad, and ugly of the business. My goal was to become a Realtor at 18 years old.  However, life had different plans. Although I knew I loved real estate from a young age, I allowed life, doubt, and circumstances to get in my way. I say that with the intention of highlighting that I ended up starting later than I had planned, and that’s okay. Anyway, I relocated across the country from MN to TX 8.5 years ago (in my early 20’s) and took it upon myself to learn the city and its surrounding areas really well. I obtained my real estate license within a few years. It was trial and error, but I did this in a brand new state as a single mother to a one-year-old at the time (I am now happily married and we have 2 beautiful children). My first year was rough as I was working another full-time job as well. In my 2nd year, I became pregnant with my daughter and experienced several health complications along the way. It was tempting to just give up on the sales aspect of real estate, but I’ve never been a quitter. I went back to work three weeks post-partum and gave it my all. Years 3 and 4 have been my best years yet, and I am beyond grateful that I had the grit and self-belief to help me move forward with making my dream a reality. I’m looking forward to helping many more people achieve their goals and build wealth through real estate! I’m here to help break generational curses and to help others see that the American dream is in fact obtainable with proper preparation and guidance.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was definitely not smooth sailing. I have overcome many hurdles along the way. Some of my struggles have included: Lack of guidance from the brokerage I started with, meeting new people in a new state, doubt, working two jobs, finding a work/life balance, other REALTORS that had zero interest in helping the newer agents succeed, and lack of loyalty from some clients early on in my career. The main thing that helps me get back up quickly is taking every fall as an opportunity to grow and learn. I never make the same mistake twice and I understand that I will never know it all, as no one ever will. The key in my opinion is to believe in yourself and be prepared for any opportunity to be the best in anything that you choose to do in life.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am a residential Realtor that services Austin and its surrounding areas. I help others build generational wealth through real estate by helping them to properly prepare to purchase or sell property. I conduct the proper research so my clients can make the best decision for themselves. My passion is helping others in general, and I find satisfaction in doing the right thing. I operate from a place of integrity, and I won’t compromise my morals. I include as many helpful tools as I can for my clients in order to help guide them through this process as seamlessly as possible. I also try to make it fun! Prior to the pandemic, I was hosting free first-time homebuyer seminars at corporations to help educate the community on the home buying process as well as the Austin market. I also utilize my experience from my previous career helping small businesses form business entities to help mentor other agents and investors specifically in the state of TX. I donate to many different causes, and I love to give back in any way that I am able. I believe what sets me apart the most is that I show up authentically, and I strive to make lifetime relationships. My clients mean the world to me, and most of them become my friends if they weren’t already.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memories are taking trips to the Dominican Republic with my entire family. I have fond memories of arriving at the airport hours early and playing card games with my four siblings in the meantime. The excitement of landing in the DR and hearing all the passengers clap and celebrate is unlike any other. The air even smells different, and the positive energy is everything!

Contact Info:

• Email: ileanatavarez@kw.com
• Website: ileanatavarez.kw.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ileanatavarezrealtor
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IleanaTavarezRealtor

Texas law requires all licensees to provide the information in these links:

Texas Real Estate Commission Information About Brokerage Services
Texas Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection Notice

Image Credits:
Most photos by pkimphotography