Check Out Tara Polley’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Polley. 

Hi Tara, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m originally from San Diego, CA, but as a child, my mother had an adventurous spirit, and would often open a map, close her eyes, and put her finger down, moving the family to whichever location in the country was randomly selected. We ended up settling in Northern California, Sonoma County, where I finished out high school and college, went on to get married, raise 4 children, and become a successful Realtor with Sotheby’s International Realty. I’m now divorced, and my children are grown, so I started traveling. Several years ago, I visited a friend in Raleigh and fell in love with the area, the hockey team (Go Canes!), and the people, and I just knew I needed to live here. Interestingly, Raleigh has similar characteristics to Sonoma; it’s only a couple hours to the mountains and beaches, and it offers a thriving downtown. Now that I’ve obtained my Real Estate Broker’s license in North Carolina, I’m running successful real estate teams on both coasts. 

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 don’t think it’s possible to get through life without challenges, but I feel like I’ve been able to use my challenges to motivate me, serve others, and turn them into blessings. For example, I’ve been a Realtor for 23 years, and I’ve seen many market shifts. The most difficult challenge was the 2008 housing crash, but when I saw how many people were struggling, I decided to partner my real estate business with a housing counseling non-profit to help homeowners work with the banks and avoid foreclosure. We literally saved thousands of homeowners across the country from losing their homes, and it’s one of the things I’m most proud of in my career. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I feel really blessed to work as a Realtor. It’s all about people for me and being a matchmaker to what they love. Helping people transition into the next chapter of their lives and often guiding people through a complicated process to achieve a dream they’ve had of owning a home is so fulfilling and positive. I hardly ever feel like I’m actually working, and I love staying busy. I love the North Hills and Midtown areas of Raleigh the most, and even though I’ve sold real estate for 23 years, I still feel like I’m constantly learning something new, so it keeps me really engaged and interested on a daily basis. I’ve also recently been selected to host a nationally syndicated, Emmy-nominated television show centered around lifestyle and real estate, and that’s been a real challenge for me. I seem very outgoing, but I am actually a bit shy, and being in front of a camera is uncomfortable for me, but doing something that scares me has helped me a lot with personal growth, so I’m starting to really have fun with it. 

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I’m currently reading “The Dealmaker” by Mauricio Umansky, CEO of The Agency real estate brokerage and creator of the Netflix show “Buying Beverly Hills.” I was recently networking with Mauricio and found that we share a similar philosophy of focusing on the client’s needs and connecting with people rather than focusing on a single transaction, so I’m enjoying reading about his relatable real estate experiences. 

Contact Info:

• Website: LivePlayRaleigh.com
• Instagram: LivePlayRaleigh
• Facebook: facebook.com/liveplayraleigh