Connect
To Top

Exploring Life & Business with Celine Crestin of Realty Reimagined Group

Today we’d like to introduce you to Celine Crestin

Hi Celine, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in New York, but my life has taken me all over the U.S., from Maryland and Florida to various parts of California before I eventually settled in Central Texas in 2008. My background is rooted in customer service and management, and I hold a BA in Communications with a minor in Business Administration and Advertising from the University of Tampa. Houses and interior decor have always been a passion of mine, so much so that I earned my real estate license while living in California.

When I moved to Texas after the birth of my son, it was driven by rising costs in California and the desire for a fresh start. But as exciting as real estate was to me, starting a new career in an unfamiliar state with no connections felt daunting. Instead, I returned to the “safe” path of management, taking on roles in a variety of industries. For years, I settled into that comfort zone, but deep down, I wasn’t happy. I felt unfulfilled and knew the time had come to bet on myself.

Taking that leap wasn’t easy. As a single mother, I juggled a management position while working in real estate for 2.5 years before transitioning into real estate full-time. Once I made the switch, it felt like everything clicked. Helping people achieve the dream of homeownership turned out to be one of the most rewarding parts of my life. It’s an honor to play such a crucial role in someone’s story, and the bonds I’ve formed with clients are invaluable. First-time homebuyers hold a special place in my heart because they allow me to educate, guide, and really make a lasting impact on their lives.

Since going full-time in real estate, my career has grown in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I started my own real estate team, earned my broker’s license, and eventually launched my own brokerage. One of my proudest moments was being nominated as one of three finalists for Broker of the Year by the Austin Board of Realtors. More recently, I transitioned my brokerage into a team under Compass, leveraging their incredible resources as the top brokerage in the area and across the U.S.

What started as a reluctant leap of faith has become an incredibly fulfilling career. Looking back, every step of the journey—even the challenges along the way—has shaped the person and professional I am today. Helping others achieve their dreams continues to inspire me, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

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?
The road has been anything but smooth! Balancing two full-time jobs—real estate and my management role—while being a single mom to a young elementary schooler was one of the toughest chapters of my life. My son was often by my side during home showings, and I had to turn every spare moment into work time. Lunch breaks, evenings after bedtime, weekends—I was constantly juggling responsibilities. There was no “free time,” only determination, focus, and a relentless drive to push forward.

Real estate isn’t a quick-results career. They say the work you put in today shows results 90 days later, so in the beginning, it felt like I was putting in endless effort without immediate payoff. But I learned to keep my focus on the bigger picture, to follow the plan rather than dwell on the challenges. With consistent action and staying true to the mindset of contributing value, the results eventually came.

Time and finances were some of the hardest parts to manage. There was always this delicate balance of doing enough to move my career forward while not feeling like I was missing out on precious moments with my son. It was a constant, emotional tug-of-war.

Starting my real estate team and later my brokerage brought a whole new set of challenges. I pour my heart, energy, and resources into the people I work with, so it was painful when I invested heavily in team members who didn’t match that same commitment or decided to leave. Those moments tested my resilience, but they also taught me valuable lessons about boundaries, trust, and perseverance.

Despite the bumps along the way, every challenge has shaped me into the person and professional I am today. It hasn’t been an easy road, but it’s been one worth traveling.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Realty Reimagined Group?
I lead a real estate team specializing in residential real estate, where we work passionately to guide our clients through buying, selling, renting, or investing in properties. Our expertise spans a wide range of needs, from helping primary homebuyers and sellers to assisting with single-family home rentals. We also have a strong focus on supporting investors, whether they’re looking at long-term rentals, short-term rentals, or multifamily purchases.

What truly sets us apart is our servant’s heart and unwavering commitment to both our clients and our community. Giving back is woven into our mission. We’ve had the privilege of contributing our time to build homes at Community First Village, supporting the HAYS CISD Angel Tree program, providing Christmas gifts for children in foster care through the Santa Cause nonprofit, fostering animals, and much more. Our clients’ trust enables us to pay it forward, and we’re deeply grateful for that.

Beyond our community efforts, what defines us is the care and dedication we bring to each client. We’ve assisted people who others might have overlooked. For example, a couple once came to me after being ghosted by other agents and turned down by multiple lenders. Taking the time to understand their challenges, I connected them with a trusted lender who provided a plan to improve their credit. They worked hard, raised their credit score by over 90 points in just 60 days, and qualified for a loan. While they focused on that, I located an off-market property for them so they could avoid the stress of bidding wars. Through persistence and care, we helped them purchase their first home, which they still cherish today.

For us, clients are never just transactions. They’re people we deeply care about, and many of them become like family to us. I’ve celebrated life milestones with clients, from attending weddings to baby showers and beyond. It’s a privilege to build these bonds, and it’s what motivates our team every day.

Above all, we want readers to know that our work is more than just real estate. It’s about changing lives, creating community, and making dreams come true with integrity, heart, and determination. Whether it’s finding the perfect family home or navigating the complexities of an investment property, we’re here to deliver results with care and excellence every step of the way.

What’s next?
The future is filled with exciting plans and opportunities! I’m working on expanding my second business, Restore & Revive TX, which focuses on flipping homes. My vision is to grow it into a full-fledged consulting firm where I can teach and empower others to successfully flip homes themselves. Watching others succeed through guidance and education has always been a passion of mine, and I’m thrilled about the possibilities ahead.

On the real estate team front, we’ve set a big goal for 2025—to help 200 clients achieve their real estate dreams. It’s an ambitious target, but one we’re laser-focused on achieving with dedication and teamwork. Every milestone we reach allows us to deepen the impact we have on the lives of those we serve.

Additionally, we’re committed to finding even more meaningful ways to give back to our community. Thanks to the continued trust and support of our clients, we hope to contribute on a larger scale than ever before, expanding our efforts and making a difference where it’s needed most.

I’m energized and excited about the road ahead, and I can’t wait to see how these goals unfold and create an even greater ripple effect of positive change.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: VoyageAustin is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in Local Stories