We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shanita Perdomo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shanita, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My childhood upbringing was emotionally difficult. My mother was a full-time drug addict and a per diem parent. I’m fairly certain she married my stepfather because he was able to financially support her and her drug habit. But once he found out she was pregnant, he made a decision: he stopped using drugs and became a family man. My mother, however, continued using while my stepfather worked two jobs to provide for my siblings and me.

My stepfather, who I’ll call Daddy, was an avid reader who took the time to teach me how to read and write before I entered kindergarten. He noticed my love for learning and nurtured it. Unable to fully rely on my mother to care for us during the day, he gave up his night classes to make sure we weren’t left alone for too long.

I had four siblings, and while my mother was out on the streets, I was often responsible for caring for them. I don’t think Daddy wanted me to trade my girlhood for parental responsibilities, but that’s how life turned out. Even so, he did everything he could to give us pieces of a normal childhood. He took us to the movies, carnivals, festivals, and of course the library. While he couldn’t shield us from the pain of having an absent mother, he maintained a standard of growth and stability that I will always appreciate and honor him for.

Daddy wasn’t my biological father, but his love for education and his dedication to growth instilled in me both a lifelong love of learning and a desire to live a meaningful, fulfilling life. That quiet empowerment shaped me. Watching him work on his community college homework and lose himself in novels the size of bricks gave me a living example of discipline and curiosity, an example I credit for earning a full-ride scholarship to UC Berkeley.

After college, I moved to the East Coast and started my career as a case worker for families living in NYC shelters. That evolved into providing direct services to young people in foster homes, to eventually supervising a maternity home. Helping families and young adults navigate homelessness and the stresses that come with it inspired me to learn more about real estate, so I could help people find long-term stability beyond shelters, couch surfing, or renting without hope of home ownership.

My stepfather never had the chance to achieve homeownership himself. My mother’s drug habit made it impossible for him to trust her with money. Rent was often left unpaid and instead went to feed her addiction or cover her debts. As a result, we were evicted multiple times and even lived in shelters and motels. And yet, despite all of that dysfunction, Daddy’s example of hard work and his commitment to education gave me a different path. He kept me from falling into the cycle of drug use and chaos, and instead set me on a journey defined by purpose, growth, and service.

I know every real estate agent has their own why. My why is that every family deserves a home, a place to call their own that can shelter them from the storms of life.

Shanita, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Before transitioning into real estate, I dedicated my time to supporting at-risk youth and young mothers facing homelessness, connecting them to resources, opportunities, and the right people to help them thrive.

In addition to real estate, I run a growing nonprofit that introduces young women in New Jersey to higher-earning careers, empowering them with the knowledge and connections to build successful futures. Now, I bring that same passion for service, problem-solving, and relationship-building to real estate.

I grew up living in apartments, watching my parents struggle to make ends meet. I never saw the landlord, and I didn’t understand the math that this person was making passive income without coming to work every day. This inspired my interest in multifamily real estate. I want to help the people who lived apartment life make investments in apartment life and create generational wealth. I want to help others change their mindsets from renters and borrowers to owners. I provide one-on-one conversations with people hoping to build generational wealth and become real estate owners. I also assist first-time home buyers with finding, searching, and purchasing their first home.

What sets me apart from other real estate agents is that I know where these clients come from. I know how it feels to live in affordable housing, paycheck to paycheck, Section 8 housing, and the lived experience of homelessness. The buyers I assist need someone to understand the struggle and discipline that is necessary to fight through poverty and become a homeowner. For me, the result is not about the commission. It is about the blood, sweat, and tears it takes to change the trajectory of a bloodline. It is about building a legacy that was never shown to you. I get that.

I am an agent who understands the landscape of first-time home buyer requirements as well as the return on investment for multifamily investments. If you are looking to work with an agent who understands how important this transaction is for your family and future generations, then I am the agent for you. I serve Northern New Jersey.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

After working as a social worker for 12 years, I realized I needed to make more income for my family and begin creating a legacy of generational wealth. I had always served people who, like me, were underserved. But on my own journey to ownership, I knew I had to pivot if I wanted more than mediocrity.

That moment came when I was laid off from a nonprofit job I loved. I had been making progress, even received a promotion, but when the company downsized, I was let go. It was the first time this had ever happened to me, and I was living paycheck to paycheck. That experience pushed me to step out of the nonprofit field and into a more lucrative, yet still purposeful career.

I had always been curious about real estate, dabbling in wholesaling and researching land bank properties, but never truly executing. So, I took half of my unemployment check and invested in an online real estate school. In two and a half months, I completed the course and passed the New Jersey exam on my very first try. That pivot gave me the chance to build a career that helps families like mine while creating wealth for my own.

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

Honestly, my sphere of influence has been the biggest factor. People already knew me as the founder and executive director of Yes M.I.S.S. Inc., a college and career readiness nonprofit for young women — one of the only ones of its kind here in Northern New Jersey. Because of the respectable reputation I built there, people naturally trust me and feel comfortable working with me as their realtor.

I’ve also built my reputation by being raw and vulnerable on social media. I openly share my story — from humble and dark beginnings to how I’ve grown into a motivated business owner today. That authenticity connects with people, and it’s helped me stand out in the market.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shanita.kw.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanita_therealtor/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanitaperdomo/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sperdomonj

Image Credits

https://digitalsbydemi.com/
Demi Dawn