Tina Caul’s first day in real estate was September 11th, 2001. She was driving to the office when the towers were hit. “I was so excited to begin my new life at the exact moment when so many had lost theirs. It was a very, very emotional start,” she says.

Tina was 21 years old, studying psychology and social work at Oakland University in Michigan, and had just purchased her first home with her husband when their real estate agent convinced her to get her real estate license. “She was impressed with my knowledge of the area and my ability to find houses before she could,” says Tina. “She even paid for the classes, so I could join her brokerage.”

Although Tina’s parents were disappointed when she dropped out of college, they sensed her excitement and drive to excel and supported her decision. As first-generation immigrants from Greece and Italy, Tina’s parents came to America to live the American Dream. Tina’s father was an entrepreneur, owned many businesses, and had always bought and flipped homes. “I always admired him for never having fear in starting new ventures. He always reminded me that falling is okay as long as you are falling forward and learning from each experience,” she says.

It seems Tina has never cowered away from a new venture. Despite her tumultuous beginnings, Tina sold 30 houses her first year and was named Rookie of the Year. She sold real estate for nine years in Michigan before deciding to move to North Carolina. It was always their dream to move from Michigan, and after hearing good things about the Triangle, they took a trip, fell in love with the area, and moved six months later.

When they arrived in Raleigh, they started their business by cold calling five hours a day, knocking on doors, and passing out flyers in neighborhoods. “We were relentless, knowing that we needed to build something fast or we were not going to have enough money to survive,” says Tina. They did this for five straight years and finally had enough repeat and referral business to grow without hunting each day.

In her 17 years as a real estate agent, Tina has sold a career volume of $270 million. Last year, she sold $64 million. She has won numerous awards including Triangle Business Journal’s 2017 Residential Real Estate Award and Diamond Award Club.

Tina has a quote from Earl Nightingale hanging in her bathroom to remind her daily of her goals and dreams. It says, "Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal.“ Tina believes success is waking up each day and feeling excited to be able to go to work and help others achieve their goals and to be able to give back to people in need.

Right now, Tina is passionate about changing the lives of her teammates one person at a time. “It’s so exciting to me to watch my employees and team members achieve their goals, have more opportunities, and start to dream big,” she says.

Tina met her husband when she was 16 years old. They have been inseparable ever since. “He is my best friend, my biggest cheerleader, and the best father to my adorable 12-year-old boy, Michael,” says Tina. They love to travel on the weekends to their lake house, visit with friends and family, and play basketball and golf together. They also have a three-year-old cockapoo named Tico that goes with them everywhere.