Today we’d like to introduce you to Ca’ren Hudson.
Hi Ca’ren, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was sitting in my bedroom working from the bed right in the middle of the pandemic. At this time, I was just entering into my second year of my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy program and I was absolutely loving it. I was learning so much and I was eager to apply this knowledge to my own relationships. During the beginning of the pandemic, I began learning more about creating generational wealth and breaking the cycle of debt, and I was so interested in the emotional aspects of our finances. I was in the process of observing my own spending habits and setting goals for where I wanted to be in life. After having a frustrating phone call with my supervisor that particular day, a voice came to me clear as ever saying “get your real estate license”. I do consider myself very spiritual and always deepening my connection with the Universe, so I wasn’t scared or intimidated by this voice – I was just very confused. I am NOT a salesperson, nor do I enjoy the idea or aspect of “selling myself” to others. So I was very caught off guard by this suggestion, nevertheless, I did my research. Having a background in Psychology (and being a naturally curious Gemini), research is second nature to me. After doing the research about what the requirements are for getting a RE license in NC, I evaluated my bank account and saw I could take my classes and still be financially stable. So, I took the leap and signed up for classes.
Mind you, I was working a full 40 hour time job, in Grad school full time, and now I decided to take on RE school which would be 9-5 on Saturday and Sunday for six weeks. I welcomed the controlled chaos and thrived in it. I studied and passed my school exam AND licensure exam on the 1st try. Little known fact is that the NC RE test is one of, if not THE hardest RE exam in the country. After passing, I knew this was a part of my universal purpose. I immediately knew I was put her to integrate my therapeutic skills when working with my clients. Empathy, advocacy, gentle persistence, I could go on and on about how these skills come in handy when working in the RE world, especially this market. I knew from the jump I needed to find a firm that would encourage me and just let me be me. This meant not forcing me to be super sales-y or pushy and focused on my growth and not the money I was bringing in. When I met Mona and Darnell at Southern Belle Realty, it was like meeting with family I hadn’t seen in a while and I knew this would be perfect for me. Fast forward to today, I’m still a relatively new agent – and I’ve just been enjoying the process. I stay authentic in who I am and I encourage my clients to believe that everything will fall into FAITH!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I found this process to be as smooth as it could be, given that I worked full time, went to school full time, and was in RE school for six weeks from 9-5 on the weekends. There were definitely sleepless nights & doubts about if this was the right choice for me. Admittedly, I still have a ping of doubt every now and then about what my purpose in this market is – however through self-reflection and guidance from my mentor Mona, I always get back on track. After I passed both of my exams, I knew this was meant for me – universally ordained.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have found recently that I have been specializing in rental assistance! With the market running crazy, it’s been nice to help those who just need a little more time before taking that homeownership journey or who have just relocated to Raleigh.
I would say that I’m most proud of just getting my license – being the Gemini that I am, I get intensely passionate about a lot of small things and end up with a million and one irons in the fire at the same time. I really had to push myself and have a level of self-discipline to accomplish studying and passing the NC exam.
I would say what sets me apart from others are my therapeutic qualities that I bring to the RE world. I tell my clients upfront, “I am not a shark, I’m not going to push you to do anything you don’t want to do”. To be honest, it was never about the money for me. I just really enjoy servant-leadership, in which I think by serving others I can be a leader in how it looks to lead with compassion and empathy.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was always a very curious child growing up, however at the same time I always found myself to enjoy problem-solving. I would say that at times I was a little too focused on problem-solving, I was a tomboy, I loved sports and still to this day am a hardcore Baltimore Raven fan. I was also a daddy’s girl whereas my brother was always closer to my mom and I could sense that small subtle tension even as a child. I always fell into the role of problem-solver and mutual ground – anyone could come to me and know their secrets would be kept safe with me. This goes for my friendships as well. When I was 13 and my brother was 8, my mother passed away from a rare auto-immune disease called sarcoidosis. It was absolutely devastating. However, through it all, I found myself naturally falling into the role of that Gemini communicator, the problem-solver, the glue. As I got older and also started the process of therapy school, I realized how much I sacrificed in that period of time, but I also know it was necessary and it got me to where I am today. I find great pleasure in always being able to play “Devils Advocate”, seeing both sides of the situation. This is why I believe I thoroughly enjoy couples therapy, it’s finding a balance in the communication and interaction of two (or more) people and I find that to be absolutely thrilling. I love taking those concepts and applying it to the real estate process as well – it’s all about communication and holding space for the unknown.
Contact Info:
- Email: caren@southernbelle-realty.com
- Website: southernbelle-realty.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/homes_by_hudson
- Facebook: Facebook.com/carenhudsonrealestate
Image Credits
Naria Turner
