FXBG Neighbors Podcast
Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast
FXBG Neighbors Podcast
EP #74 From Classroom to Closings: Antoinette Tyner’s Path to Serving Buyers, Sellers, and Military Families with Excellence
Real stories land best when they’re anchored in service, and that’s exactly why this conversation with Antoinette Tyner stands out. A former early childhood educator and veteran, Antoinette brings a teacher’s patience and a strategist’s focus to real estate, leading the Elegance Home Team with a spirit of excellence that shows up in every call, showing, and signature. We dig into what buyers and sellers actually need to know right now—beyond headlines—and how expert negotiation, clear education, and realistic expectations can turn a stressful process into a confident move.
We trace Antoinette’s path from classrooms in Richmond to contracts across the DC Metro Region, exploring the skills that transfer: breaking down complex steps, setting honest expectations, and advocating through pressure. She challenges the biggest myths surrounding commissions and FSBOs, explaining why strong representation often nets better results. For first-time buyers and VA borrowers, she offers practical guidance on pre-approvals, appraisal nuances, and using today’s dip in rates alongside motivated sellers to secure real value. Sellers get the straight talk too: price to the market, stage with intention, and move early on feedback to avoid the stigma of extended days on market.
What brings it all together is Antoinette’s resilience and values. She shares how working through a tough divorce sharpened her empathy and resolve, and why client education from contract to close is non-negotiable. If you want a grounded take on timing your purchase, preparing your listing, or launching a career in real estate with a sustainable plan, this conversation gives you clarity and a roadmap you can use today.
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Antoinette Tyner
United Real Estate DC Metro Region
antoinettetyner7@gmail.com
+1 703-596-5183
Fairfax, VA · Fredericksburg, VA · Arlington, VA · Woodbridge, VA · Alexandria, VA · Stafford, VA
This is the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Dori Stewart.
Speaker 1:Welcome back to another episode of the FXBG Neighbors Podcast, where we share the stories of our favorite local brands. I'm excited to introduce you to my guest today. We are fortunate to have a real estate agent on the podcast with us, Antoinette Tyner. Welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for having me. I think this is amazing. You are giving a great platform to people that would not normally have access to platforms. So thank you, Dori.
Speaker 1:Oh, you're welcome. It's what I love to do. And I'm looking forward to getting to know you and learning more about your business. So let's start there. Share with us about your business.
Speaker 2:Sure. So I am Antoinette Tyner with United Real Estate DC Metro Region. I am the Elegance Home Team. The reason why I say elegance is because I feel like I have a spirit of excellence in everything I do. If I deal with buyers, sellers, people who are upgrading, downgrading, grading, I want to have a spirit of excellence. I love, I love people, I love real estate. And so we are the elegance home team.
Speaker 1:And it's wonderful to just put that out there and lead with that. So that is so smart. I love it. So, Antoinette, tell us about your journey. How did you get into real estate? I need to know.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Funny thing, I did not start in real estate. I actually started in education. I was an early childhood educator. I actually owned it, um, I actually owned a daycare center in the Richmond area. And when my business got a little slow, I went to, I was a Title I tutor in the public school system. I was at um Patrick Copeland Elementary School and different elementary schools in the Richmond area. I enjoyed that time. Um, but went through a messy divorce. And during that time frame with my husband, my my now husband, um, around 2024, there was an incident with a sweet um principal, I believe she was in Texas, where um she lost her eye. I'm pretty pretty sure you remember that story. And it was shocking, you know, um just hearing about the horrible things in the education system. So my husband and I, we just decided it was time for me to move away from education and make a switch. And so I decided to go uh into real estate.
Speaker 1:That's amazing. That's amazing. And so I also come from public education. So I understand that uh, you know, you take with you a set of skills uh from education, you carry that into your your new career. So um we're a little kindred spirits there. So I imagine you are working really hard in your business. So I need to know what are you doing for fun when you're not working?
Speaker 2:Oh my goodness. I I don't know if this sounds cheesy, but I am a thrifter. I love everything consignment, goodwill, habitat, uh, habitat for humanity restore. Um, I just love I love thrifting.
Speaker 1:I love that.
Speaker 2:Yes, or just spending time with my family or YouTube.
Speaker 1:Or YouTube. Amazing, amazing. So I wonder being in real estate, you know, we hear a lot of things. There's a lot, it's it's always in the news, you know, are things up, are things down, all of that. And so I wonder, are you finding that there are any myths or misconceptions about the industry?
Speaker 2:Yes. Um, I would say a myth is real estate agents just want the commission that we're all here for the money. We're not. Um, me personally, I love working with people. I love working with first-time home buyers. I actually love working with all buyers, but especially first-time home buyers when they they see that they can qualify and to actually own versus rent. Um, so the majority of us out there, we we really just want to help people. Um, another misconception is the FISBOs, uh, the for sale by owners. Nothing wrong with them. I understand they want to save their commission, but um it's when you actually have an expert negotiator on your side, you're gonna get a lot, um, you're typically gonna get a lot higher sales price. And we are experts on the paperwork in these um advanced contracts. So I those are misconceptions.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah. Maybe you're not actually saving all that money. If you've got someone negotiating for you that can help get more, then you know you might not actually be saving any money. So that's um, thank you for sharing that.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:And how cool that you get to be a part of someone's life. You know, a first-time home buyer, that is such a big milestone and you get to be a part of it. That's so cool.
Speaker 2:Yes, it is really special. Um, my my uh most recent buyers have all been military. I love all buyers, but especially the military, because I am a veteran and I thank them for their service. They they sacrifice so much for our great country. And if I get to serve them to give them their home dreams, you know, it just makes my job extra special.
Speaker 1:I love that. I love that. So tell me, is there a challenge or a hardship that you have gone through that now that you've been through it and you're on the other side of it, you feel like you're stronger for it? Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Oh my goodness, I have so many. Um, but I think the the biggest one for me was my divorce. Um, going through that divorce, it was very painful, very messy. But I feel like coming coming, uh, being on the other side, it's just made me a stronger person. And when you find your person and you find true love, it's just a it's an amazing thing. But I feel like my divorce, um just you know, that was that was tough.
Speaker 1:And and kind of makes you appreciate uh the good things even more.
Speaker 2:Yes, absolutely.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I love that. So if someone came to you and they were thinking about being a real estate agent, what advice would you give them?
Speaker 2:I would I would definitely say go for it. It is a wonderful industry. Um, but I would tell them, just count the cost. Uh luckily I am married and my husband has a great salary. I am obviously commissioned. So if it if it's a single young woman, I would say consider that. If you're the only income, don't quit your don't quit your full-time job. Just do real estate on the side until you can replace your income.
Speaker 1:That's really good advice. Yeah. So what is something that you wish home buyers knew?
Speaker 2:Oh my goodness. I would say this. The interest rates uh just lowered on September the 17th. That's exciting. Yes, it is. It's it's great for us realtors and for buyers. What this means is that um we had an unprecedented amount of listings on the market because um the interest rates were previously really, really high. But now that the interest rates have gone down, um, we have motivated sellers and we have lower interest rates. So if you are looking to purchase a home first time, um, first-time buyers or anything like that, this is the best time because the interest rates are lower and um we have motivated sellers.
Speaker 1:Nice. And on the flip side, what is something that you wish home sellers knew, or or what is something that um share with you, uh share with me about the experience that a seller would have working with you?
Speaker 2:Sure, absolutely. I would say what some advice that I would give sellers be realistic with your expectations. We all love our home. We have all done amazing things to it, but we it's important to know the market and know that there are a lot of beautiful homes on the market just like yours. So just be flexible, just be open-minded and be willing to give, you know, um, because we definitely want to get your home sold. Just be realistic.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah. I imagine that's difficult. Uh if you if you get someone who has uh unrealistic expectations, that's gotta be uh hard on on you.
Speaker 2:It it can be because you know, I I feel like we as realtors, we don't want, you know, for us when a home is on the market for a certain amount of time, extended amount of time, it's it's stigmatized, our worst nightmare. So we definitely want our sellers to be open-minded and listen to us.
Speaker 1:Yeah, listen to the experts. They're there for you. Yes, absolutely. Right. So, one last question. What is something that you wish the listeners knew about you or United Real Estate?
Speaker 2:Um, that is, oh my goodness, that is a great question. Um, I would say my faith means everything to me. Um, I am super, super friendly. I love working with everyone. My ideal client is everyone. I would say just be respectful, open-minded, willing to, willing to learn. We can learn each other, go on this journey. Um, and the key for me is educating my clients. I want my clients to know everything from start to finish, from contract to close. So I'm here, I'm in your corner. Um, I'm here to educate you and to help you and help you to build wealth. So important.
Speaker 1:So important. Antoinette, uh, can you share with the listeners if if you've got a buyer or a seller listening and they want to work with you, share with us how they can get in touch with you.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. You can reach out to me at Antoinettetyner.com on Facebook. I'm Antoinette the Realtor, or you can actually just give me a call. I will answer. My number is 703 596-5183. Amazing.
Speaker 1:Antoinette, thank you so much for joining me on the podcast today and sharing your real estate with us. Thank you for having me, Dori. You're welcome.
Speaker:Thank you for listening to the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to FXBG NeighborsPodcast.com.