Dana Caldwell
When an unexpected challenge pushed me to do something new, I embraced the opportunity to build momentum. Through leaving my career of 15 years for real estate, I pursued a long-time passion by drawing on a key lesson.
I woke up and the immense pain in my shoulder reminded me that I had to figure out what I was going to do next. After 15 years as a hairdresser and salon owner, I developed calcific tendonitis. The condition made it impossible to raise my arm, let alone blow dry a client’s hair.
I loved doing hair and had been the go-to for others throughout most of my life. As a teenager, I did everyone’s hair for prom, and after having my daughter, I decided to make a career out of my passion through becoming a licensed cosmetologist and salon owner. Over the course of my career, I owned two salons and enjoyed what I did.
Although it was not easy to build my business, I managed it all while raising my two children on my own. After finding success, the recession knocked me back, and I worked hard to rebuild. However, once I was physically unable to continue, I had to change course.
At the time, I had no savings or health insurance, and my daughter was starting college. I needed to quickly figure out what I was going to do next, and immediately I knew it would be real estate. When I was 19 years old, I bought my first home and have since then continued buying, remodeling and selling my homes while profiting over the years. I enjoy helping each property reach its full potential and seeing what I can accomplish with each one. I also have a family history in real estate through my father and grandfather. So, without hesitation, I eased out of salon ownership into full-time real estate.I finished my six-month course in under a month because the clock was ticking – if I did not get started, my son and I would lose the roof over our heads. After getting licensed in June 2017, I sold my first home in July and was later awarded Rookie of The Year.
While being a single mother lit a fire under me, I had initially found my drive at a very young age. My parents divorced when I was very young, and while I lived with my mother for most of my life, I briefly lived with my father while I was a teenager. I was a bit of a rebel back then until my father was diagnosed with cancer. Then I woke up to the world around me. The universe puts us in some crazy places, and holding my father’s hand during the last few months of his life forced me to realize how precious life is. I know I was meant to spend that last year of his life with him and am so thankful for the close family I still have today.
All those years ago, I realized life may push us more than we ever expect it to, but we can always use that first push to build a running start. Through becoming a REALTOR®, I discovered I was the determining factor of my own success, no matter my circumstances, and I showed my children that we can all accomplish whatever we set our minds to.
Whenever I am not working, I enjoy camping, going to music festivals with my husband, gardening, organizing community events, volunteering, and traveling. My favorite part of being a REALTOR® is seeing the happiness on my clients’ faces when I turn their dreams into realty.
I take on each client and their goals as I would my own. By putting myself in your shoes, I will keep your best interests consistently at the top of my mind. Considering the positives and negatives of every option, I will advise you of your best solutions. I take the trust my clients put in me seriously – a home is the largest investment most of us will ever make. It’s an opportunity with many potential outcomes. Real estate can be an avenue to create financial stability and change your family’s legacy.
I’ll always be up front with you about whether I believe a property to be good or not. With my background in flipping homes, I know how to spot potential problems and opportunities within any property. I will explain each step of this process and tell you everything you need to know. I have extensive experience in multi-family, residential and investment real estate. Once the transaction is over, I will continue to support your success as your lifelong REALTOR®.
