Conversations with the Inspiring Talia Soto

Today we’d like to introduce you to Talia Soto.

Talia, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Growing up, I had always wanted to be in a position where I could help other people. I dreamed of being a registered nurse because I thought it was the only way that I would be able to serve people to the best of my ability. While attending medical assisting school, I stumbled upon a part-time evening job at a mortgage company. Here, I would work four hours every evening filling printers with paper and preparing boxes to be shipped. This very space is where I developed my love for all things real estate. I witnessed the people around me hustle tirelessly to make people’s dreams of home ownership come true. In my mind, I saw myself doing these very tasks, putting smiles on the faces of those in the world through loan funding.

Fast forward 16 years, I built a career in mortgage funding and have done it very well. However, the ambition in me was not yet satisfied. I wanted to take my love for helping others along with the mortgage knowledge I had gained a step further. I wanted to get from behind the scenes and hit the streets to actually see those smiles and give those congratulatory hugs. Being a realtor has given me that opportunity. I actually work with my clients, and stand by their side as they go through one of the most difficult processes in life. It’s my dream come true.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
One of the personal struggles that I have had to overcome was just believing in myself and my capabilities. For years, I wanted to build a real estate business for myself but was afraid to just do it. I had come up with every excuse why I would not be able to make it work out. I had been conditioned to just be happy with having a 9-5. That as long as I would abide by the best interest of the company that I was employed for, I would in turn be okay. It took me a long time and a ton of self searching to figure it out. I had to learn to abide by the best interest of myself, and to have confidence and get past the fear of failure.

My advice for young women who are just starting their journey would be to never forget what you are capable of doing. Follow your dreams, and always remember that there is absolutely no growth in fear. You have to allow yourself to fail a couple of times in order to figure it out and get it right. Without that, you’ll forever be stuck.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I believe I am known for having a passion for assisting people, and that is where I succeed in real estate. Having the 16+ years of a mortgage in my background is the difference from other realtors because not only can I assist in the finding of the home but I can help guide my clients in the financing aspect as well. I have the knowledge and ability to bring it all together.

I am mostly proud to have the opportunity to hang my license with Whitmore & Associates Realty. I wanted to work with a brokerage that is aligned with what I believe, which is that “the clients come first.” So many brokerages these days are so caught up in making the quick dollar, that they forget to take the time to provide the best service possible to their clients. I’d rather offer the quality service to people and make sure that each client is happy with their personal home buying/selling experience. Whitmore & Associates allows me to do just that.

Looking back on your childhood, what experiences do you feel played an important role in shaping the person you grew up to be?
Growing up, I watched my grandmother craft custom hats and sell them anywhere she could. She would travel across the country to different conventions so that she could sell her products. That was how she made her living, even still to this day. It was always so inspiring to see her create some of the most beautiful custom hats with her own two hands, and then sell them. One day she told me, “Talia, the only person that is stopping you from living your dreams is you…” and that always stuck with me.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 480-277-7595
• Email: Talia.soto@whitmoreandassociates.com
• Instagram: @TaliaTheRealtor
• Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/TaliaTheRealtor/

Image Credit:
Headshot – @jasminecoro, Elephant Shot Photo Credit – @jasminecoro

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