William Raveis Real Estate welcomes Tammy Felenstein as the new Strategic Growth and Sales and Manager of the Southport, Conn., office where she will be responsible for the support and development of more than 150 agents. An active realtor since 1997 and a manager for nearly 10 years, Tammy brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the flagship office and the William Raveis business family. Tammy is also the president-elect of the Connecticut Association of Realtors, so she has her finger on the pulse of the market. Find out what attracted her to WRRE, the qualities that make her a successful manager, and key advice for new agents:
What do you love most about the real estate industry?
I love that each day brings new challenges, new situations and working with all different types of people. No matter how long you have been in this business each transaction is different.
What attracted you to William Raveis Real Estate?
l love the culture here. It’s a massive company that focuses on individual growth — all while creating a team effort. When you couple that with their innovative and state-of-the-art tools, you have a company poised for the future.
What are the qualities that make you a successful manager?
There were two themes that were consistent in Bill Raveis’ book: trust and connection. Both of those qualities are very important to me. I like to think that I connect well with people because I really care about them. And no relationship in business (or otherwise) will survive without trust.
What’s your best advice for new sales associates?
My best advice is to become a credible source of information. Once your SOI or potential clients knows you are in real estate, you need to know your facts. Have a good answer for the never-ending question, “How’s the market?”
Have you received any impactful advice that has stuck with you in your career?
When I first started in this business my mentor/broker June Rosenthal told me: “Don’t just do this for the commission. What we do is important. We are helping people with the single largest purchase or sale of their lives. You have to really care!!” That stuck with me consistently over the last 24 years.
What stands out about your local market?
It’s amazing to me how quickly the market can change on a dime. Having the ability to work remotely has changed everything. Before COVID, millennials especially wanted convenience, low maintenance and walkability. Now land, pools, offices, and privacy are back in fashion. I think going forward, quality of life will continue to be an important factor in homeownership and the work force.
What has been your greatest accomplishment?
My two children are definitely my greatest accomplishments. I made them from scratch!
What do you do when you’re not selling real estate?
I usually say that I love to play golf, but the truth is I haven’t actually played in a couple of years. At some point I would like to change that. I also love clearing my head with long walks, usually at Waveny Park in New Canaan. I really don’t cook, but I LOVE to entertain, so when you come to my house you can expect to get the best take-out and have s’mores while sitting around my fire pit.