Today we’d like to introduce you to Yuliya Klyashtoforski.
Hi Yuliya, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born in Ukraine and moved to the United States with my family in 2005. Starting over in a new country was not easy. When I arrived, I barely spoke English, and adjusting to a new culture, language, and school system was challenging. However, those experiences taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of hard work from an early age.
Throughout school, I was determined to build a better future. I attended Wake Technical Community College, where I graduated with an Associate in Arts degree, earned a 3.5 GPA, and participated in the Honors Program. I later continued my education at North Carolina State University, where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Information Technology.
My professional career began in technology. In 2012, I completed a Quality Assurance Analyst internship with Tizbi Inc., where I gained valuable experience in software testing and problem-solving. From 2013 to 2016, I worked as an Assistant Manager at Celebration Nails, where I developed strong customer service, leadership, and communication skills. In 2017, after starting as an intern, I joined Omnico Group as a Quality Assurance Analyst and worked there until 2022.
From 2022 to 2025, I helped manage my husband’s business at1st in Flight Appraisal, serving as the Marketing and Operations Manager. In that role, I oversaw day-to-day operations, marketing initiatives, client communication, and business processes. Working in a family-owned business gave me valuable experience in entrepreneurship, problem-solving, customer service, and managing multiple responsibilities at once.
During those years, real estate became an increasingly important part of my life. My husband and I purchased our first home in 2017, and that experience sparked a passion for real estate investing. Over time, we expanded our portfolio by purchasing both long-term and short-term rental properties. Through those experiences, I gained firsthand knowledge of buying, selling, investing, property management, and navigating different market conditions.
Eventually, I decided to turn that passion into a career and became a REALTOR®. Today, I help buyers, sellers, investors, and families throughout North Carolina navigate their real estate journeys with confidence. Whether someone is purchasing their first home, investing in real estate, relocating, or searching for their next chapter, I enjoy helping clients understand the process and make informed decisions.
Outside of work, I am a wife, a mother of two, and someone who enjoys exploring everything North Carolina has to offer—from local coffee shops to mountain towns and hiking trails. My goal is simple: to help people achieve their real estate goals while building lasting relationships based on trust, communication, and genuine care.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it has not always been a smooth road.
One of my biggest challenges was learning independence and responsibility at a very young age. When my mom and I moved to the United States, it was just the two of us. I was only 10 years old, and I barely knew any English. In fact, the only words I knew were “mother,” “father,” “sister,” “brother,” and “family.” Starting school in a new country without understanding the language was extremely difficult. During my first few years, I often felt overwhelmed and wanted to go back home because I could not understand what was being said around me.
Things began to change when I attended Leesville Middle School. I was fortunate to have incredible English as a Second Language teachers, Ms. George and Ms. Auld, who were patient, encouraging, and dedicated to helping their students succeed. They took the time to explain concepts, teach the language, and build my confidence. Because of their support, I gradually became more comfortable speaking English and began to believe in myself.
While I was in high school and later in college, I worked cleaning stores to help support both myself and my mom. Because of that, I did not have the typical high school or college experience that many of my peers had. Instead, I learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and financial responsibility. I understood early on that if I wanted to achieve my goals, I would need to work for them and stay focused, even when things were difficult.
Years later, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, I decided to pursue a career in real estate for the first time. At the time, I was working full-time, was pregnant with my son Daniel, and had a lot on my plate. During my pregnancy, I became very sick and was hospitalized at 17 weeks. Between my health challenges, work responsibilities, and preparing to become a mom again, I was unable to pass the real estate class exam. I was disappointed, but I never completely gave up on the dream.
From 2022 to 2025, I focused much of my time on raising my two children while also helping my husband manage our family business. Although I was grateful for that season of life, there were times when I felt lost professionally. I knew I wanted to build something of my own and pursue a career that I was truly passionate about.
In 2025, my husband encouraged me to give real estate another chance. In August 2025, I enrolled in pre-licensing classes and committed myself fully to the process. I was nervous because I wanted this career so badly. My husband, my mom, and my mother-in-law can all tell you that I was studying almost nonstop—listening to lessons in the car, at home, and whenever I had a spare moment. At times, I even felt guilty because I worried that I wasn’t spending enough time with my children while preparing for the exams.
After passing the course exam, the next challenge was the North Carolina state licensing exam. I had heard from many people how difficult it was because it includes both the national and state portions. I studied relentlessly because I was determined to succeed. On September 5, 2025—my husband’s birthday—I took the exam. When I finished, I was terrified to open the results. I remember calling my husband from outside the testing center and telling him how scared I was to look. When I finally opened the letter and saw the word “Passed,” I couldn’t believe it. I burst into tears. It was one of the proudest moments of my life and felt like the best birthday gift I could have given both of us because it opened the door to a new future and new possibilities.
Later, transitioning from a career in quality assurance and business operations into real estate brought another set of challenges. It required me to step outside my comfort zone, build relationships, learn an entirely new industry, and create a business from the ground up.
Looking back, every challenge helped shape who I am today. They taught me resilience, determination, adaptability, and the importance of never giving up on your goals, even when the path takes longer than expected. I am especially grateful that I chose to try again in 2025 because becoming a REALTOR® has been one of the most rewarding decisions of my life.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a REALTOR® with eXp Realty serving buyers, sellers, investors, and families throughout Wake and Johnston Counties in North Carolina. I specialize in helping first-time homebuyers, clients relocating to the area, and those navigating both resale and new construction purchases.
Before becoming a REALTOR®, I worked as a Quality Assurance Analyst from 2017 to 2022, where I developed strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. From 2022 to 2025, I helped manage our family business, 1st in Flight Appraisal, serving as Marketing and Operations Manager while also overseeing accounting and financial processes. This experience strengthened my attention to detail, organizational skills, and understanding of business operations and client service.
My journey has been shaped by hard work and perseverance. After moving to the United States from Ukraine, I learned the value of responsibility at a young age. While many of my peers were focused on the traditional high school and college experience, I was working and helping support my family. Those experiences taught me discipline, resilience, and the importance of earning trust through consistency and dedication.
What I am most proud of is building a career that allows me to make a meaningful impact in people’s lives. Whether helping a first-time buyer achieve homeownership, guiding a family through a relocation, or assisting an investor with their next property, I take pride in being a trusted advisor throughout the process.
What sets me apart is my combination of technical expertise, business experience, and personal real estate knowledge. Having personally purchased, managed, and invested in multiple properties, including both long-term and short-term rentals, I understand the process from both the professional and client perspectives. As a bilingual agent fluent in English and Ukrainian, I am also able to help clients from diverse backgrounds feel comfortable and confident throughout their real estate journey.
I am known for being approachable, detail-oriented, and committed to educating my clients. My goal is not simply to help someone buy or sell a home, but to build long-term relationships and serve as a trusted resource for years to come.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
People can support me by following my journey, engaging with my content, and sharing it with others who may find it helpful. I enjoy collaborating with professionals, business owners, and members of the community to share valuable information, resources, and experiences. As a REALTOR®, I work closely with buyers, sellers, lenders, attorneys, inspectors, and other industry professionals to help clients achieve their goals.
You can also follow me on social media and on my YouTube channel, **@KeysCoffeeCarolina**, where I share my family’s personal journey, experiences, lessons learned, and insights about real estate, investing, and building a life in North Carolina. I am passionate about educating others and sharing the knowledge and experiences I have gained over the years to help make the real estate process as smooth and stress-free as possible.
In addition to helping clients with real estate, my husband and I own vacation rental properties in the North Carolina mountains, including **1st in Sugar in Sugar Mountain** and **Cherokee Cabin in Maggie Valley**. We self-manage 1st in Sugar, while Cherokee Cabin is professionally managed, giving us experience with both approaches to vacation rental ownership. These properties have provided valuable insight into real estate investing, property management, and hospitality, allowing me to better assist clients who are interested in investment opportunities.
Whether you’re looking to buy, sell, invest, relocate, collaborate on a project, or simply learn more about real estate, I am always happy to connect. Through referrals, networking, social media, or simply staying connected, I appreciate every opportunity to support others and grow together.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yuliya.klyashtoforski
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1XHSaNYiMC/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuliya-klyashtoforski
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@keyscoffeecarolina
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yuliya.nc.realtor
