Catherine Tucker

Broker Agent Magazine, Dec 06 –

 There are many memorable transactions Catherine Tucker has had over the course of her thriving career. The school teacher who became the first in her family to own a home in four generations. The 30-year old engineer who was able to retire due to his success in real estate investing.  Having one of her best clients become a REALTOR® and join her team.  When clients can pursue their own dreams, talents, and gifts by having the time, flexibility and income to do so as a result of their real estate investments, Tucker and her team at Foundations First Realty have succeeded. 

Tucker is the President and Designated Broker of Foundations First Realty, a division of Foundations Financial.  She has been a REALTOR® and broker since 1996 in a number of states including Arizona, North Carolina, Hawaii, and New Mexico.  In 2003, real estate investors became her primary client base and she was among the first business associates of the Arizona Real Estate Investors Association (AZREIA). Tucker was also one of the first Certified Residential Investment Representatives trained at the Commercial Real Estate Institute in Phoenix, where she now serves as faculty. 

Tucker knows her field and profession extensively, and it shows.  She is a Certified Land Sales Specialist and is completing her Certified Commercial Sales Specialist designation.  From her ability to articulate her firm’s value proposition to the way she peruses documents about to be sent to a client to her interactions with her team, it is clear after just a few minutes with Tucker that she brings complete competence and poise to any situation. 

“A primary focus for us is offering value to investors up front,” states Tucker.  “Our investment choices have built-in equity at the point of purchase.  That’s a key differentiator for us.  We personally consult with our clients to customize a portfolio that aligns with their goals.  We provide investment choices that focus on value, growth, income or a combination of all those elements.”

Tucker emphasizes there’s a broader mission in what she and her team do.  Her purpose is to enable her clients to pursue their dreams by breaking out of the week-to-week dependence on a paycheck.  “We facilitate hands-free investment choices,” she explains.  “We like to call it ‘mailbox money’ for our clients.”

With her distinctive combination of business savvy and personal commitment to her clients, Tucker has led her team to impressive accomplishments.  She increased her sales from 2004 to 2005 by 150%, and as of August 2006, year-to-date sales volume was $16 million, with another $8 million under contract and another $23 million in exclusive listings upon completion of construction.

When Tucker came to Arizona in 2000, she started in new home sales.  She then focused her attention on developing investment models and opportunities in land and new home construction for both new and seasoned investors.  Her strategic alliances with select builders, developers, lenders, and other real estate industry professionals have created great returns for her clients.  Her objective is to consistently deliver cutting-edge investment models custom-tailored to her clients.

With her continued growth and success in investment real estate, Tucker formed Property Performers Group, LLC in 2005 to serve investors’ needs, with Phoenician Properties Realty as acting brokerage.  “Investment realty requires a broad and deep knowledge of many specialty areas, and clients will be best served by the team approach.  I market my team, never myself.  It’s not about just me – it’s about what the overall team offers to the client.” 

As of September 2006, Tucker became the President and Designated Broker of Foundations First Realty, a division of Foundations Financial, whose primary focus is to offer clients the ability to grow their wealth from owning their first home to full asset planning through retirement, using asset backed investments, namely real estate. The different divisions include mortgage, private funding, asset planning and a non-profit organization.  Foundations First Realty consists of 15 people and growing, all of who are working agents.  The agents also have their Investment Advisor Representative Certification, setting them apart from most agents in the real estate industry.  

Amanda Turner who provides front-office support and transaction coordination admires Tucker’s communication style.  “Catherine understands the importance of keeping everyone within her organization well informed and up to speed.  I have also enjoyed her compassion for others and her exceptional treatment of people in general.  After working here just a short time, it is quite apparent to me why Catherine has experienced such great success, and I look forward to learning and growing with her for years to come.”

Tucker manages her team by focusing on delegation and communication.  She also emphasizes the importance of being adaptable, flexing to current needs in the moment.  “I plan the day with my assistant every morning first thing, and we debrief at the end.  We have a great staff here that always pitches in to assist each other.  

 It’s critical to be surrounded by strong, smart people and know when to ask for help.  I like to tell everyone to keep things broken down into small tasks and handle the one that’s in front of you, while keeping in mind the greater goal.  I also encourage everyone, including myself, to stretch beyond what you think you can do, because if you stay in your comfort zone, the most you’ll get is what you have right now.”

One key to her team’s success is a focus on investor education.  “We keep a clear separation between education and sales.  Anyone interested in real estate investment should begin by educating themselves, and we emphasize that to any potential client.  When I give workshops, it’s purely to inform.”  Tucker gives seminars on a variety of topics, such as building and diversifying a real estate portfolio, at numerous Valley locations.

When it comes to marketing, the team focuses on writing articles for various investor publications and speaking at conferences and local organizations.  They advertise as well in regional and national publications, such as Personal Real Estate Investor and Vertical Living.  Tucker was also a primary sponsor and advertiser of the recent book, Where to Live in Phoenix.  The company also has a substantial website under development. 

With so much going on, Tucker has some key strategies for staying on top of things.  At a high level, she follows the adage, “Ask to be blessed, Do your best and Pray for the rest.”  She consults current news and industry data regularly.  She reads the day’s headlines in the business journals and hones in on the pertinent articles.  She uses the e-newswire search services and checks ARMLS and National Association of REALTORS® statistics.  

Ultimate Information Systems provides a monthly real estate newsletter, In Depth Analysis, which Tucker considers a fabulous tool.  She also never misses the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce yearly real estate Economic Outlook event.  She finds Jay Butler of the Arizona Real Estate College a fountain of in-depth research, and, she is also an investor herself in the Arizona market.  Finally, she finds networking with peers and colleagues one of the best ways to stay on top of the market pulse.

Prior to her career in real estate, Tucker owned a residential and commercial interior design firm and showroom in Jackson, Tennessee.  During that time, she built valuable experience running her own business and working with clients that would prove to be helpful when she began career in real estate.  “I developed an ability to help people figure out what they wanted by asking key questions.  I’d help them determine the right path to accomplish their goals.”

Why switch to a career in real estate?  “It was the path to my bigger dreams,” explains Tucker.  The concept of building a thriving business while helping clients achieve their own success was a very attractive model.  “I knew how to brand my own company and, when I started in real estate, I knew I’d have a team one day.”  She realized she had the skills to succeed, and she knew the potential in the business.  “My family has always been great support.  My parents emphasized that if I worked hard, I could achieve what I wanted.  I learned from them how to work hard for my income.  Now, I’ve learned how to make that money work for me, and we teach these techniques and principles to our clients.” 

Tucker has found her participation with the Arizona Real Estate Investors Association (AZREIA) invaluable over the years.  She considers, Alan Langston, President and Founder of AZREIA, a key visionary in the industry and her career.  “My association with them has been wonderful.  When I first became focused on real estate investors, I said yes to every opportunity that AZREIA offered. I’ve been able to build my and my team’s knowledge extensively.” 

As a monthly columnist in the AZREIA newsletter for the past two years, she covers current market conditions and trend analyses and offers investment strategies.  She also gives lectures, seminars and training in building real estate portfolios for various groups and organizations.  Her team was one of the primary sponsors of the AZREIA Conference that was held in February at the Phoenix Civic Center and, in May, her team had a booth at the Recharge Your Retirement Conference at the Buttes.  Tucker speaks regularly to investment groups on topics such as building and diversifying your real estate portfolio, real estate asset allocation models, investment strategies and market trends.

 Mike Moloney, founder of the Commercial Real Estate Institute, has also been an important influence.  “Taking the CREI certification course with Mike Moloney was one of the best things I ever did.  It really got me going.”  Tucker learned a lot in the area of new construction real estate from Susan Targowski, owner of Model Home Center where she first worked when she moved to Phoenix.  Tucker’s brothers have been in real estate and development since the 1970s and have mentored her from time to time.

 Joe Scarp, broker of Phoenician Properties, Tucker’s most recent place of employment prior to joining Foundations First Realty, also influenced Tucker’s career development.  “He is an incredible broker and really inspired me to spread my wings.  He’s why I wanted to join Phoenician Properties.  He helps his agents build their business.  His creative approach and availability as a coach and friend were invaluable to me.”  Tucker also credits her former partner and dear friend Russell Wilson as an inspiration in her work and life. 

 From a strategic alliance perspective, Tucker admires Celeste Coe at Capital Title.  “Once she answered my plea for help at 3:00am regarding an international investor in another time zone.  Another time she went in on a Saturday to help on a transaction that wasn’t even hers.  She truly goes the extra mile and is a person of high integrity.”

 Her advice for a new REALTOR®?  Work with a proven REALTOR®, someone who will take the time to share their knowledge.  It will pay dividends in the long run.  “It’s critical to work with an agent who knows what they are doing.  By working with someone who is successful, you will quickly learn.  A percentage of something is better than 100% of nothing.  Plus, not everyone will enjoy working at a 100% office.” 

Tucker brings a passion to everything she does, and that doesn’t stop at facilitating real estate investments.  Currently, she owns and manages an Inn, Pousada Luz Divina, in Abadiania, Brazil, a healing community, and farm in a small village about 45 minutes southeast of the nation’s capitol of Brasilia.  She has construction plans for a second Inn, Pousada Fleur De Lis, in Eclectica, Brazil. 

On the personal side, she lives in Arrowhead and hikes often.  She loves to read and travel.  She’s been to every state but Nebraska, and all over the world too! She stays in close touch with her family.  Her parents have been married 62 years and are a continuing inspiration to her.  She is dedicated to personal growth and development, and someday, wants to pursue dance again.

As Tucker and her team work with clients, their priorities are to see clients’ goals fulfilled while providing excellent service.  “We are here to help people develop a financial plan that works for them.”  Tucker’s favorite part of the job is finding ways for everybody to win, make money and reach their dreams along with inspiring her team and her clients to reach their fullest potential. 

Catherine Tucker’s vision for the future is clear.  Continue creating financial freedom models and continue educating investors, REALTORS® and companies.  “I want to free their minds of fear,” she emphasizes.  There is no doubt her new venture will continue to thrive.  In regards to Foundations Financial, she states with a smile, “We don’t just think nationally. We think globally.”