Carmen Rajala’s journey into real estate is not just about changing careers, it's about reshaping her life. Carmen's path has been one of resilience, adaptation, and a relentless pursuit of a better life for herself and her daughter—values that she carries into helping others in real estate.

 

Carmen grew up in Michigan, where she became a mother at a young age. This pushed her to mature quickly and instilled in her a strong sense of responsibility and ambition. She also always looked up to her father as an example of determination.

 

Carmen’s dad is an entrepreneur in the construction industry. As Carmen grew up, she would go to work with him on occasion, where she was exposed to new construction and the residential real estate world. In fact, she learned to drywall at the age of five.

 

“My dad’s drive, ambition, determination, and success has always been very inspiring,” Carmen shares. “He’s been knocked down, but he always got right back up. Nothing gets in his way. I consider myself an ambitious person, and I have ‘that itch’ to always do more. My dad has shown me that if you put your mind to something, it will happen in time.”

 

Determined to provide for her daughter, Carmen entered the healthcare field, starting as a certified nursing assistant at a nursing home, shortly after graduating high school. Although she worked overtime, as a teenager raising a small child, she was living paycheck to paycheck. She knew she couldn’t live like that forever, so she decided to go back to school and get her degree.

 

“I initially wanted to get a nursing degree, but over the next few years, along with moving several times, I decided a career in respiratory therapy seemed more exciting than nursing,” Carmen explains.

 

Carmen continued to push through with school, picking up a second job along the way. While attending college in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, she met a friend who owned a real estate company. “I watched him grow his business from just him and an assistant to a large team that is still very successful,” Carmen notes. “I was intrigued and inspired. He had so much freedom with his schedule. A spark went off in my head and I knew that [that freedom] was what I wanted long-term.”

 

Upon graduation, Carmen took a stable job as a respiratory therapist (RT) at Duke University. Knowing she had to eventually step outside of her comfort zone, she opted to become a travel RT. Living in different states throughout her travel career gave her the ability to explore new regions and opened her mind to endless possibilities.

 

“I believed leaving my stable position was worth the risk to achieve my long-term goals,” Carmen explains. “My RT travels eventually brought me to Chicago, where I saw the greatest opportunity to fulfill my dream of getting into real estate. I haven’t looked back since.”

 

When Carmen dove into real estate in 2022, she wasn't just starting a new job, she was building a new life for herself and her daughter. Carmen’s real estate practice reflects that. She believes her job isn't just about selling homes, but also about helping people find their place in the world. She puts her heart into every deal, ensuring her clients receive the white-glove service that they deserve. 

 

In fact, one of Carmen’s early successes involved helping a first-time buyer renovate a fixer-upper into a dream home. “The home needed so much help—the basement was flooded, little of the electricity worked, the steps to the basement and second level were broken, and more—but my client had a vision. Now a year and a half later, it’s a masterpiece! My connection with this client has grown into a friendship and long-lasting relationship. Creating this type of relationship with my clients has been my goal since getting into the career,” Carmen says, smiling. 

 

In her free time, Carmen enjoys staying active in the gym, being outdoors, and exploring Chicago’s vibrant culinary scene. She has a passion for biking along the city’s scenic lakefront trails, which not only offers her a way to unwind, but also keeps her connected to its dynamic pulse. Additionally, she relishes the opportunity to discover new restaurants and cuisines. In fact, she’s halfway through her list of more than 100 restaurants to visit.

 

As Carmen continues to build her career, her passion for real estate, love for her daughter, and her determination to help her clients create new beginnings remains at the heart of everything she does. It will be exciting to see how far she goes.