Exploring Life & Business with Tonya Byrd of The Byrd Group

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tonya Byrd.

Hi Tonya, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I began my real estate career in 2008 in Texas, where I learned the fundamentals of guiding clients through one of life’s biggest decisions. In 2015, I moved to Georgia to be closer to family in nearby Tennessee and continued building my business in the South Metro Atlanta area, especially Peachtree City and the surrounding communities.

In 2019, my husband, Tom, left his corporate career, earned his real estate license, and joined me. Together, we formed The Byrd Group, a husband-and-wife team with Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners. By combining my passion for client care and strategy with Tom’s operational and financial strengths, we built a business rooted in trust, service, and long-term relationships.

As Keller Williams Real Estate Planners, we go beyond buying and selling homes. We help families build, protect, and transfer wealth through real estate. While we serve all types of buyers and sellers, we specialize in probate sales, helping seniors navigate aging in place versus downsizing, and guiding investors through 1031 exchanges and Delaware Statutory Trusts.

Education is central to our mission. We host two YouTube channels one focused on relocating to Peachtree City and the golf cart lifestyle, as well as communities like Newnan, Fayetteville, and surrounding areas, and another dedicated to educating families about the probate process in Georgia. Through this work, we connect with retirees, families, and those facing major life transitions.

Although our heart is in South Metro Atlanta, our probate work often takes us into the City of Atlanta as well, where we help families list and sell inherited properties with the same care and attention.

Being part of the Keller Williams Real Estate Planners community has shaped how we serve our clients. We believe this is what truly makes us real estate wealth advisors. We have conversations many agents never do about capital gains and how to reduce unnecessary tax burdens, about how title is held and how the right planning can help families avoid probate, and about helping seniors thoughtfully weigh every option, whether that means aging in place, moving to a retirement community, downsizing, or creating a multigenerational home with family.

At the end of the day, our purpose is simple: to simplify complex decisions and guide people through life’s real estate transitions with clarity, confidence, and care. A home is where memories are made but it’s also often a family’s largest asset and greatest wealth-building tool. That’s why we believe every move deserves thoughtful planning and guidance, so families can honor both what their home means today and what it can make possible for their future.

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?
Like most meaningful careers, the road hasn’t always been smooth, but every challenge helped shape how I serve clients today.

When I began my real estate career in Texas in 2008, I was new to the area and didn’t have an established network of friends or family. I learned early on how to build rapport and trust with people who didn’t already know me, working with clients who called into our office looking for help. That experience taught me that real estate is truly a relationship business, and that genuine connection can be built from the very first conversation.

Years later, when I moved to Georgia, I faced that same challenge again, starting over in a new market while our family was based in Tennessee. I briefly joined a team to gain momentum and worked closely with a builder, helping many buyers with new construction. I loved that season because it gave me a deep appreciation for how homes are built and strengthened my ability to guide clients through that process.

Another big transition came in 2019 when my husband, Tom, joined me in the business. Like many husband and wife teams, we had to learn how to blend different personalities and strengths. Tom is highly focused on operations and systems, while I thrive in the relational, client-facing role. It took time to find our rhythm, but once we did, it became one of our greatest advantages, allowing each of us to shine where we’re strongest.

Then, like everyone else, we were tested during the pandemic. With real estate as our primary income, we had to quickly adapt to a world of virtual showings, remote closings, and constant change. Because I had already started building our YouTube presence, we were well positioned to pivot into virtual walkthroughs and video communication, helping clients move forward even when in-person wasn’t possible. It wasn’t easy, but it pushed us to become more creative, flexible, and tech savvy in how we served people.

Looking back, those seasons of starting over, learning to work together, and navigating uncertainty strengthened our confidence and clarity. They shaped the resilient, client-focused business we run today and gave us a deeper appreciation for guiding others through change, because we’ve lived it ourselves.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Byrd Group?
The Byrd Group is known for approaching real estate through the lens of planning, education, and long-term impact. While we help clients with all types of moves, we are especially recognized for our work in probate real estate, senior downsizing and aging-in-place decisions, and helping investors navigate 1031 exchanges and Delaware Statutory Trusts.

In addition to serving clients locally, I am proud to be a Regional Ambassador for the Keller Williams Real Estate Planner Community, supporting agents across Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. Through this role, I collaborate with and network alongside Real Estate Planners across the country who have completed the same in-depth training. This allows me to connect families with trusted advisors nationwide when they have loved ones in other markets. It has also become a meaningful referral-based part of our business, built on relationships and shared standards of care.

Within the agent community, I am often known as someone who embraces technology and education. I regularly teach classes on probate, systems, and how to use AI thoughtfully and responsibly to better serve clients and grow a business. I enjoy helping other agents leverage tools that create efficiency while keeping the human side of real estate front and center.

Giving back is core to our brand. Tom and I volunteer as drivers for Fayette County Meals on Wheels because seniors are such an important part of the families we serve. We are also actively involved in our Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners’ Kares 4 Kids charity, helping raise funds to support children in need right here in our community. Through our church, we participate in local mission efforts as well. We believe deeply in giving where we live.

What we are most proud of, brand-wise, is the trust we have earned. Our clients often describe us as knowledgeable, patient, compassionate, and steady during stressful moments. They tell us we bring clarity to complex situations and make them feel cared for, not pressured. We encourage readers to explore our Google reviews to hear those stories in our clients’ own words.

Above all, we want Voyager readers to know that The Byrd Group stands for thoughtful guidance, strong relationships, and service that goes beyond a single transaction. Whether working with families, investors, or fellow agents across the country, our goal is to leave people better informed, better supported, and better positioned for the future.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My first piece of advice is this: congratulations, you are now a business owner. Real estate is an entrepreneurial career, and whether you realize it or not, you are the CEO of your own company. Learn early how to run your business like a business. That means understanding accounting, taxes, budgeting, and whether setting up as an LLC or S Corp makes sense for you. Study what it takes to operate professionally, not just how to sell homes.

I would also encourage new agents to choose a brokerage that truly teaches. This business comes with a steep learning curve, and being in an environment that provides training, coaching, and models for how to do the work matters. You should not have to figure everything out on your own.

At the same time, do not fall into the trap of thinking you have to learn everything before you start doing. You will feel like you are drinking from a fire hose in the beginning, and that is normal. Too many new agents get stuck in learning mode because they are afraid of making mistakes. The truth is, no one in this business knows everything, no matter how long they have been doing it. Progress comes from getting out there, having conversations, and learning as you go.

One of the most important lessons I learned is that it is okay to say, “I don’t know, but I will find out.” Clients do not expect you to have every answer. They expect you to guide them. Some of the best guidance you can give is to tap into the experience around you, whether that is your broker, other agents in your office, attorneys, lenders, inspectors, or trusted vendors like roofers, HVAC technicians, and electricians. There is a wealth of knowledge in this industry if you are willing to ask for it.

If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing, it would be this: lean into the community around you, take action before you feel ready, and focus on serving people well. The skills will come, the confidence will grow, and the business will follow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thebyrdgroup.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonya_byrd_realtor/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ByrdGroup
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyabyrd/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheByrdGroup
• Yelp: https://www.youtube.com/@GeorgiaProbate
• Other: https://share.google/Umv4YBjZ5Vw1Tt7k1