We recently connected with Tenneisha Brown and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tenneisha, thanks for joining us today. The first dollar your firm earns is always special. We’d love to hear about how you got your first client that wasn’t a friend or family.

I’ll never forget how I landed my first client—it all started at an open house! I was brand new to real estate, full of enthusiasm, and still figuring things out.
Experienced agents always emphasis the importance of adding value when meeting someone new and I keep that at the center of everything I do. During my client’s and I initial conversation at the open house, I told her about a fantastic program for first-time homebuyers and she absolutely loved it! On the outside, I appeared to be calm and confident, but on the inside I nervous! There were so many thoughts going through my head- making sure I was delivering the information correctly, sounding like the expert , and adding value to the conversation.

After the open house, I followed up by sending her a thank-you text and emailing her a list of properties similiar to the one she attended at my open house. I also added more value by emailing her free homebuying resources and information on the first time home-buyer program she was interested in. For the next few weeks, I checked in regularly with my client and nurtured the relationship. She was in the process of relocating and waiting on a job offer so when she finally got the offer, I celebrated her win! I emailed her a Starbucks gift card— a small gesture to show I cared but really meant a lot in the long run.

Since I was new agent still learning the field, I knew my greatest strength would be showing up as my authentic and genuine self. In this business, people want to work with someone they can trust and connect with regardless of their years of experience. That experience taught me just how powerful a connection can be and that if you can be a resource to others and add value to their life you will succeed.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I found my way into real estate through a friend who was already a successful Realtor. At that time, I’d recently left education and was determined to pivot into the corporate world. I left my job fully confident I would have a new career within a month and finally be able to work from home. However, as each month flew by with no offers, I began to feel stuck as I watched my savings dwindle.

One day, I was helping my friend with his real estate Instagram profile and something clicked- I was actually really good at creating and marketing content. In that moment, I thought to myself, if no one will hire me — I will create my own opportunity!
The following month I was enrolled in a real estate program and studying for my Texas exam.

Now, I have the privilege of helping clients find their dream homes, helping them secure leases, and assisting sellers get their homes sold. As a realtor, I get to tackle challenges that arise before, during, and after a transaction to ensure the process is as smooth as possible for my clients.

What sets me apart is my ability to communicate and provide personalized hands-on support. I understand that every client’s situation is unique and their needs will also vary so I adjust to meet them where they are. My clients are informed and involved every step of the way and we work together as a team. As I embark on month 9 of being a realtor, I’m most proud of thriving in an industry where many realtors struggle or quit in their first year. 2024 was one of the toughest years in real estate history, but I’m proud to have sold three homes and get 10+ clients into leases after only being full-time for 6 months. Sometimes I am hard on myself and when I feel like I haven’t accomplished enough those milestones are reminders of how far I’ve come in a short period and to show myself grace.

One thing I want my future clients to know is I will always advocate for them. Everything I do is to their best interest and ultimately their real estate goals are my goals because purchasing or selling a home is one of the biggest transaction a person will make in their life.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

What has helped me to build my reputation is being a wealth of knowledge for homebuyers. I utilize social media to educate others on the home buying process and answer questions to common issues that arises when purchasing a home. People connect with my content because it’s simple, relatable, and aligns with their desires to create generational wealth—something often overlooked in minority communities.

I always joke that I became a teacher by default because when it was time to pick a major for college, majority of the degree-holding professionals I saw regularly were educators. So I naturally went that route. Looking back, I realized how much our environments and upbringing shape who we become as adults. That realization drives me to educate others about how attainable, achievable, and life-changing real estate can be. In many ways, I’m still a teacher—just on a new platform and with a new message. Instead of classroom lessons, I’m now teaching people how to achieve their dreams of homeownership and build wealth for generations to come.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele is to provide a solution to a problem they have. Recently, I worked with several clients who were preapproved for mortgages, but their approval amounts were on the lower side due to factors like credit, income, or a desire to stay within a specific budget. This was a challenge as there weren’t many homes on the market within their desired price range and the ones available needed a lot of TLC. Determined to find a solution, I explored new-build communities because they often offer greater incentives and price flexibility. However, all of the homes were too far from where my clients wanted to live. I didn’t know how I was going to help them find homes within their price range but I take pride in finding programs and resources to help the clients I serve—and this situation was no different.

I came across a program through the city of Houston offering $50,000 in down payment assistance and some properties even $100,00! I immediately reached out to my clients and we were touring that same day and submitting applications to get into those homes.

For me, making homeownership accessible means staying informed about available resources, programs, and partnering with the right professionals. By doing this, I can address my clients’ needs and help them achieve their homeownership dreams despite challenges & hiccups that may arise .

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tenneishabrown.jpar.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tenneishasells_tx/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558658529130

Image Credits

Gaskin Hieroglyphics