We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cece Carter. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cece below.

Cece, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I knew since I was 12 years old that I wanted to be a hairstylist. I loved to see my grandmother smile after fixing her hair Saturday night for Sunday morning church service. So I enrolled in my high school’s cosmetology program and when I graduated I had my cosmetology license as well. When I decided to live out my dream as a hairstylist and then an owner of my own salon with my own products, I was so happy. I felt I was fulfilling my purpose and I had reached the pinnacle of what my life consisted of. I’m telling you I was on cloud nine, life couldn’t get any better. I operated in this euphoric life for over 15 years. Then here comes 2020, and like so many people across the world, my small business was affected by the pandemic. Although I was maintaining, I felt the anxieties of what does the future of my business look like. My husband started mentioning to me that I should look into being a realtor because I enjoyed helping people search for homes when they were looking to buy or lease. In my mind that was absolute NO, lol. In one of many days of pandemic despair, I was praying searching for wisdom and direction and I heard so clearly, “close the salon, today is your last day.” WHOA….. that was a blow because that at all was not what I was hoping or expecting to receive. I cringed all day at the thought of not living my dream and the fear of what’s next. The beauty industry was all I knew. It was my identity. Never the less, I took the risk or what I like to call a leap of faith and closed my salon. A few months later, I was in real estate school and embarking on a new chapter in my life. The craziest part is that I’ve never been more happier. Becoming a realtor and operating in this industry opened up a whole new realm of not only relationships, but knowledge and expanded my ability to serve my community and that is so important to me. It has grown and developed me as an individual personally and professionally. It is one of the scariest yet best moves I could have made in my career. I risked an established, profitable and successful business (that I loved) in the middle of a global crisis to jump blindly head first into a career I knew NOTHING about and honestly frowned upon. I’m glad I did!!!

Cece, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Cece Carter with Carter Realty Group servicing Greater North Houston,Tx and surrounding areas. Like I stated before it really was a faith walk becoming a realtor. I give credit to God for seeing something in me that I didn’t see in myself. Then to my husband for recognizing my work ethic and encouraging me to entertain the idea. I help my clients sell, buy, lease and invest in residential properties and land. I’m big on education, so I make it a point to educate my clients about the real estate process along the way. I started this business in late 2020 and because of all the things that I have learned, I wanted to help my community, especially people who look like me to be knowledgeable about real estate as well. It can be intimidating but if they know what they’re doing, if they understand the verbiage and the market then they can feel comfortable making real estate decisions. I host a free first time home buyers seminar through out the year called Saturday Mortgage Brunch. The point of this seminar is to break down the process of home buying from the beginning to end. Offering the attendees an opportunity to ask questions to the speakers so that they can get a full understanding. The seminar is open to the public so, it’s not just to the benefit of people I personally help, but to anyone in the city who is needing this education.

This is also one of the main reason why I decided to partner my business with Keller Williams Realty of the Woodlands & Magnolia. Keller Williams is not only one of the largest real estate brokerages there is, but they are well know for the first class training and education that they offer. They have the best support system in place for me and my clients which also gives me the confidence to guarantee that I can give my clients the best experience. I operate with integrity and honesty, and work towards a win for my client’s.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

My parents raised me that whatever I do, do it 100%. Give it my all. To treat others the way I want to be treated and to be honest in my motives. I think the fact I was raised in church too, helped shape my morals and values. I think this mindset helped me a lot with how I operate in my business. I think that when my client’s work with me they can see my heart and passion for what I do and how I want them to be successful on their real estate journey. I am want to see everyone win!

We’d love to hear about you met your business partner.

So this person is not my business partner per say, but I did create a partnership with her. Her name is Kassie Simmons and she is the founder/owner of New Credit New You. Kassie and I actually went to high school together and ran in some of the same social circles. Years later our kids ended up going to school together and became really good friends which is what cause the reunion between the too. It was actually God’s timing. I was just starting my real estate career and was looking for a credit restoration business to partner with. I wanted someone I could trust and someone that I knew would treat my clients with the same level of care and service that I would. She has not only been of help to me professionally but personally as well. I have learned so much and been inspired through this partnership.

Contact Info:

• Website: cececarter.kw.com
• Instagram: @cececarter_realtor
• Facebook: facebook.com/carterrealtygroup
• Other: linktr.ee/carterrealtygroup