From Telecom to Top Realtor: Kimberly’s Real Estate Journey

Starting a new career can seem scary. Imagine working 25 years in telecommunications and then switching to real estate. That’s what Kimberly Faines did. Now, she’s shining as a rising star at Dream Select Realty on Long Island.

In this story, you’ll learn how Kimberly made the jump, what helped her succeed, and why her fresh outlook is a big asset. You'll see clear, real-world lessons you can use—whether you're thinking about a career change, buying a home, or starting a real estate business.

A Hidden Passion from Television

Like many of us, Kimberly loved watching HGTV shows about home buying and flips. She saw married couples working on renovations and thought, “That could be us someday.”
Her husband is a builder, and they talked about combining his skills with real estate investing. But at first, Kimberly kept her day job. She wasn’t sure if she belonged in real estate, so she stayed behind the scenes.

A Growing Real Estate Role

Everything changed when she joined Dream Select Realty. Her boss, Lavar, knew her from meeting through their shared love of dogs. They bonded over a passion for bulldogs and started talking about real estate.

Kimberly brought deep project-management skills from her telecom career—planning, organizing, and following through. In Lavar’s office, she discovered she’d learned more about real estate on the job and through podcasts than she did during class.

🛠️ Key lesson: Real estate isn’t just what you study—all the real learning happens when you’re doing it.

Beyond the Class: Learning as You Go

Before taking the license test, Kimberly did self-paced, online classes. But it was slow going, and she kept putting them off.

It took a push from Lavar—“get your license, now”—to make real progress. Once she did, everything changed. Listening to attorneys, lenders, and investors on podcasts gave her loads of useful info for the field.

📌 Key lesson: Keep learning, especially from people already doing it, and don’t wait for everything to be perfect before you begin.

Expect the Pace—and the Reality

Real estate moves fast. It’s not like TV. There’s no instant fame after getting your license. Kimberly learned firsthand:

• First listing came through a team flip in Shirley.

• She built her business from open houses and networking.

• Real growth meant connecting with buyers and sellers over time.

📈 Key lesson: Success in real estate takes time, hustle, and patience.

Mastering Open Houses

Open houses are tour time—but only a tour guide can truly sell a home.

Kimberly takes extra steps:

• Learn the roof age, furnace model, water heater, and panel specs.

• Discover neighborhood perks and HOA details.

• Offer personalized tours—even for agents.

That information builds trust. And if today’s house isn’t right, she can recommend others the buyer may love.

🗝️ Key lesson: Know every detail of a home so you can serve clients well.

Helping Buyers: Ask the Right Questions

“How do we match buyers to homes?” Kimberly asks.

She finds out what buyers truly want—but they don’t always know themselves at first. By asking thoughtful questions during tours, she helps them say what matters. Sometimes the “nice-to-have” stuff isn’t essential.

💬 Example
Instead of just selling a pen, ask:
“What do you look for in a pen?”
That same mindset works in real estate.

🗝️ Key lesson: Listening and thoughtful questions lead to smarter matches and trust.

Building Trust as a Realtor

Anyone can list homes. But building relationships comes from honesty, consistency, and preparation. Kimberly says:

• Be upfront with information—even if it's not what the client wants to hear.

• Follow up leads properly.

• Show you care more than you’re selling.

That’s how she earns repeat clients and referrals.

🗝️ Key lesson: Your reputation is based on how well you serve—not just what you sell.

Growing as an Investor

Kimberly and her husband are getting their feet wet in small investment projects. They recently flipped a house and have gone through closing. Their next step is using that money to invest again.

This helps them:

• Build equity.

• Learn renovation and pricing.

• Grow as local business leaders.

🌱 Key lesson: Real estate investing is a powerful way to build wealth.

Looking Ahead: Broker License & Leadership

Kimberly isn’t just focused on sales—she’s planning for the future.

Goals:

• Get her associate broker license in 1–2 years.

• Step into a leadership role at Dream Select.

• Continue growing her personal business and team.

She wants her achievements to matter—not just her title—so timing is key.

🗝️ Key lesson: Combine ambition with proof—credentials and results build credibility.

Why Work with Kimberly?

You’ll choose Kimberly because she brings three promises to the table:

• Determination: You’ll see consistent effort and follow-up.

• Honesty: She tells it like it is to build trust.

• Results: She sets goals and works to hit them—for buyers and sellers alike.

These traits make her stand out in Long Island’s competitive market.

Stay Connected

Looking for a partner in real estate?

Reach out!

Kim Faines
📞 516‑805‑5716
📧 kim@dreamselectrealty.com
📸 @DreamHomeWithKim

Dream Select Realty
☎️ 631‑623‑7117
📧 hometeam@dreamselectrealty.com
📸 @dreamselectrealty
🌐 dreamselectrealty.com

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Final Thoughts

Kimberly Faines teaches us that a career change is possible with passion, hard work, and smart learning. She mixes tech smarts, people skills, and honest service. If you’re buying, selling, or dreaming of real estate success, Kim and Dream Select Realty have the roadmap.

👉 Want to read more blog posts on real estate? Visit dreamselectrealty.com and explore our latest news, homes for sale, and expert tips.