Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Kroeger.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ashley. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My initial pursuits in real estate wasn’t initially traditional, like everyone else I was a huge fan of the classics, “Flip or Flop”, “Property Brothers” and you cannot exclude “House Hunters”, “Love it or List It” as my go to television stations at 13 years old. At that time, the show was merely something I enjoyed watching because of the transformations, the ability to take a diamond in the rough and completely rejuvenate it.
Little did I know that opportunity would be coming full circle in a matter of years. I believe my background in sports, with an immense passion for basketball as my first love, stemmed and helped me transition into real estate. From a mere two years old playing on the Little Tike Children’s Basketball hoop to 5th grade Recreational League basketball, it began to become a large part of my life. Initially I wasn’t the most coordinated but with my height, and athletic ability soon grew into the sport and the dynamics and versatility it would result in me developing. From the friendships to the 3-hour practices, weekly weight lifting, AAU tournaments each summer, it not only was a sport, a passion but became part of my identity.
Through sports, I learned perseverance, persistence, poise, and discipline. As I grew older, basketball went from recreational to more of a recreational and leisure activity, to extreme competition and ultimately a possible way for me to fund college. From Little Tike’s streetball to playing for Buford High School on varsity, at a renowned athletic and academic institution the game of basketball switched. I transferred schools in pursuit of obtaining an academic scholarship to attend college, then pursuit a career in medicine. After three years of playing on varsity, understanding the demands that collegiate and high school sports required, on top of my academic career as a honors student became a lot to juggle. After my junior year, I decided to make a decision, to continue to play basketball for fun, and canceled the idea of athletic scholarships and collegiate sports. Initially, it was a shock to my coaches, and parents due to the amount of work, effort, and sacrifice we all had put in collectively to make that dream a reality. I ultimately knew at the end of the day, I had pursuits of other passions and wanted the ability to pursue medicine and enjoy an undergraduate career, and be able to be immersed in campus life.
Two years later as I completed my freshman year at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, my passion for real estate, HGTV, and creating impact was rekindled. My parent’s now Realtor’s themselves over the past two years, learned the in’s and outs of the business, being self-employed and the opportunities available through this industry. After working a few years with a large named broker, they made the decision to create their own company, and continue to build networks and communities with a greater home appeal, at that moment the brokerage Kroeger Properties was founded.
With a refreshed perspective on the industry, a desire to create positive impact within the community, and the discipline to be self- employed, I followed the path and received my Realtor License at the age of 19. As one of the youngest in my class, I valued and understood the opportunity to create a lasting impact and footprint within my community, and to also serve as an educator and inspiration for our youth and elders alike to pursue their passions no matter the obstacles or previous failed ideas. There was never a better time than the current moment for me to pursue this. During my undergraduate career, I interned with a real estate investment company based in Birmingham, AL by the name of Denmark Properties. This was a husband and wife dynamic duo! They built their company over 11 years okay as both were originally Florida Natives before moving to Alabama. This company was unique, because as an investment group that provided creative financing, credit restoration, and created avenues of opportunities for the surrounding community members to attain the American dream of homeownership.
I worked as an intern for two years until I graduated and became knowledgeable of the investment sector of real estate. From obtaining my realtor license, working with Keller Williams Vestavia, to writing offers, viewing properties, assisting in marketing, conducting open houses and the like I become a dual threat being able to service clients in Alabama and Georgia during my senior year of college. All the knowledge and insight gained from that insight I inturn brought back to Atlanta and was able to increase my business, now with insight in the investment sector, as the housing market continued to expand and be developed at a massive rate. From attending monthly investor meetups, Realtor continuing education classes, and networking events like The Real Estate Expo and Showcase hosted every year at the Cobb Galleria, new relationships and opportunities blossomed.
As a realtor, I gained insight on the housing market, new developments, built numerous relationships and was able to attain knowledge and access to information way ahead of my generation and time in wisdom from more experienced veterans. As initially working part-time, I closed four homes within my first year of business and continued to work part-time as a realtor throughout my undergraduate career. Real estate has served as the foundation for my future and afforded me the ability to gain light-years of knowledge and skills, in addition to creating a new love of mine. Since graduating college, now I have continued my pursuits in medicine and in real estate. I work full-time as a realtor and am currently applying to medical school. My passion for service, legacy building, and to create and sustain generational wealth for my clients and myself has pushed me to begin to found my own personal brand.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The path of real estate is never smooth, its truly like riding roller coaster. At night. Backwards… This industry filled with twists, turns, expectations, surprises, sometimes freights but mostly excitement. The beauty of real estate like a rollercoaster is that you truly don’t know what the final journey will surmount to, but understanding that through this journey is the greatest periods of self-growth, influence, and opportunity to create communities in every home, city, and family regardless of where you work. A major struggle for myself in this industry was consistency, reliability, and being in a constant stage of building longevity. When I say that I mean the ability to give consistent value and service day in and out. Reliability, in that your clients, co-workers, and self-accountability is such that you can be relied upon, people will continue to refer business to you and that you are a person of integrity.
Another major struggle is understanding that as an entrepreneur, you will gain more respect, insight, and support from strangers. The hardest thing to come to terms within real estate is that there is a likelihood that your close friends and even family will not utilize your services, insight, or even support you like a fresh person will. Some of my greatest clients, repeat customers, and smoothest transactions have been with complete strangers. The second struggle is identifying your traits, abilities, and being able to separate yourself from the masses. In real estate longevity is huge, as to current date over 80% of real estate agents quit of go out of business within the first two years. Often due to lack of drive, knowledge to build longevity during unpredictable markets or environments, and lacking the ability to be adaptable.
Additionally for me, a huge factor in my growth and ability to sustain from being part-time to full time was the support of my parents, coupled with their knowledge, a few friends, and close family in your circle, and a mentor. I cannot stress the importance of having these people, and if not a mentor then a role model to model you company, service, and expectations too. In this industry their is a great opportunity of individuals whom are willing to share knowledge with you, provide you with market insight, and just tips on building authentic connections. A major struggle for me was continue to push myself out of my own constraints. The Navy Seals had a saying, “Get Comfortable with being Uncomfortable. If you can be comfortable being uncomfortable, you’ll be prepared to handle whatever situation comes along in your own life.” That statement was one of the hardest things to not hear but apply on a daily basis because you learn that in that discomfort you are able to gain the most value and that it is something that’s temporary. For the most part we fear not because we are timid or reserved, it’s because we are too afraid to let our uniqueness and charisma shine bright for others to see. From this industry, and the constant pulls I have had outside of my comfortable sphere of thought is that no one gains anything by myself or anyone playing small. In the words of Marianne Williamson, “When we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Kroeger Properties – what should we know?
My business Ashley Kroeger Realty, and brokerage Kroeger Properties is a residential real estate and small commercial real estate company that focuses on building community throughout the Metro Atlanta Area. As a real estate company we service, home buyers, sellers, and investors. As a realtor I specialize in first-time home buyers, residential home-sales, and investments. My business motto is “Help Build Community… One Home at a Time.” Through this my goals are to service clients as an educational resource, coordinator, and consultant in real estate investing, homeownership, in addition to credit repair and restoration. I strive to be a prime resource and one-stop shop to help assist in all my previous, current, and future clients needs as homeowners.
I pride myself on my desire to attain continuous knowledge, connections, and resources through networking, to provide the greatest amount of opportunity for my clients to succeed but also leave as educated residents after the process. Through my desire to build community within in-home, I also pride myself in the ability to forge genuine and long-lasting connections with all of my clients. In my business I strive to service and simplify real estate education and providing it in a technologically advanced and seamless manner. Thus equipping my clients with the knowledge and insight to start creating their own financial fortitude and begin the cycle of generational wealth building.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My major supporter in my business have been my parents, as they were the initial spark, to create an interest and in their pursuit by default show me the opportunity within real estate, not only for others but in the ability to utilize this tool to help many others. They are the pillars of what I even attributed the notion of entrepreneurs, go-getters, and investors all in one. Through their experience, investing in rental property and property management, in addition to them working subsequently at their full-time careers which have no parallels in real estate. They instilled the passion of self-sufficiency, reliability, and really challenged and modeled to me what it means to push boundaries, pursue your passions, and not let fear take front seat to your dreams. They have brought me into this opportunity and introduced me to a whirlwind of possibilities, that upon which I am eternally grateful, and have always pushed me to continue to challenge myself, despite other’s doubts and limitations or reservations others may have.
Another major influence in my real estate knowledge was Denmark Properties, and more so the owners, Ashley and Antonio Denmark. They truly provided me with the knowledge first-hand of how to truly begin to set up your business, the important and distinctions of business credit, and how to get financing in areas where financing is usually non-existent. Their experience in investing, and ability to work with them side by side on projects heightened my skills, and began to pave a clearing for the foundation of my future career in how I can be of an asset to other investors, in addition to begin to pursue my own investing adventures.
Lastly, I want to thank my good friends, Briauna, Clarke, Mike, Destiny, Laysha, Sharice, Devante, Eddie, Bennie, Lindsey and Dustin amidst a few others dear friends whom have always supported my endeavors, through recommendations of connections, referrals, providing value, and continuing to be pillars of support in my business and life. The importance of having a strong, knowledgeable, and multi-faceted circle is extremely priceless. The tribe old, seasoned, and the new connections that have been fostered that will continue to elevate me from this point forward.
Pricing:
- Home Buyer Consultations ( 0-30 minutes free)
- Rental Home, Condo, or Apartment Consultations and Showings ( $350+)
Contact Info:
- Address: 101 Colony Park Drive Suite 300
Cumming, GA 30040 - Website: www.ashleykroeger.com
- Phone: 678-943-3507
- Email: ashley@
kroegerproperties.com - Instagram: @kroegerproperties
- Facebook: @AshleyKroegerRealty
Image Credit:
Darryl G., Veronica Rodriguez, Brian Tracy
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
