Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheryl Santee.
Hi Sheryl, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey into real estate started in a very personal way—as a homebuyer myself. In 2019, my husband Nate and I purchased our first home. We worked with a great REALTOR® who was incredibly knowledgeable, but I remember being sent homes that didn’t quite fit what we were looking for. Eventually, I started searching on my own and sending properties to our agent that fit what we were looking for.
What really intrigued me during that experience was the negotiation side of real estate. Our agent negotiated a great deal for us, and we walked into our home with instant equity. I remember thinking how powerful that was and how impactful a good real estate agent could truly be in someone’s life.
At the time, Nate was doing very well in luxury car sales and was actually the top salesperson at Land Rover, while I was working as a school counselor and pursuing my doctoral degree. Sales was never an area I had explored professionally before, but watching Nate excel in relationship-building, communication, and client service gave me a different perspective on what sales could look like. He played a huge role in helping me become more confident in stepping into a sales-driven industry and encouraged me to believe that I could succeed in it too. I still remember him attending my first open house with me and coaching me through what to do and say when people walked in—the things they really should be teaching in real estate school.
During winter break of December of 2020, I found myself with more free time than usual and casually mentioned that I thought I wanted to get my real estate license. He immediately encouraged me and even paid for my courses. I spent all of my free time studying and completing my coursework. I was fully committed. I finished the courses within a couple of months and enrolled in a crash course to prepare for the licensing exam.
Ironically, just as I was ready to test, COVID hit. Testing centers shut down, and I had to wait several months before I could finally take my exam in May of 2020. I became licensed at the end of that month.
Around that same time, Nate happened to meet a woman named Dory Gordon while assisting her with a vehicle purchase at Land Rover. She worked for eXp Realty and had experience as a growth coach. After hearing about me and my goals, she reached out and recruited me to join eXp. Looking back, that connection was really life changing.
In my very first year in real estate, I completed over 17 transactions between sales and leases. Things moved quickly, and I realized how passionate I was about the business. Eventually, I made the difficult decision to step away from my doctoral program so I could focus more on growing my real estate career, though I continued working full-time as a school counselor. To this day, I’m still a dual-career professional, and I believe both careers complement each other in many ways. Counseling taught me patience, communication, empathy, and how to guide people through major life decisions — all skills that translate directly into real estate.
As my business grew, I started consistently posting on social media, and that completely changed everything for me. Today, about 80% of my business comes directly from social media platforms. I began sharing homes, market education, behind-the-scenes moments, client journeys, and relocation content, and people connected with it in a very authentic way.
The past sux years, I’ve built a strong niche working with clients relocating to the Greater Houston area as well as buyers purchasing new construction homes. I genuinely love helping people navigate major transitions and find a place that truly feels like home.
Today, I’m proud to be a part of Braden Real Estate Group, a brokerage that has been incredibly supportive of my growth and vision. The leadership, collaboration, and culture there have allowed me to continue elevating my business while serving clients at a high level.
I have plans to eventually move into building and development in the future. Real estate has opened so many doors for me, and I’m excited about continuing to grow not only as agent, but also as long-term investor and future developer.
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?
It definitely has not been a completely smooth road, but I think that’s what makes the journey meaningful. One of the biggest challenges early on was simply entering an industry where I had no prior background in sales. I came from education and counseling, which is very relationship-driven, but real estate still required me to develop confidence in marketing myself, negotiating, networking, and consistently putting myself out there. Thankfully, my husband helped me tremendously in that area because he had years of success in luxury car sales. Watching how naturally he built relationships and served clients helped me become more confident in my own abilities.
Another challenge was starting my career during COVID. I was literally studying for my licensing exam while the world was shutting down. Testing centers closed, there was uncertainty everywhere, and once I became licensed, I was entering a market that felt unpredictable. At the same time, I was balancing a full-time career as a school counselor while trying to build a real estate business from scratch. There were many late nights, weekends, and moments of exhaustion trying to successfully manage both careers.
I also had to learn that real estate is not just about selling homes, it’s about resilience. There are deals that fall apart unexpectedly, clients who change plans, difficult negotiations, market shifts, and seasons where you question yourself. Social media, which is now where most of my business comes from, was also intimidating at first. Putting yourself online consistently can feel vulnerable, especially in the beginning when you are building confidence and figuring out your brand.
One of the hardest personal decisions I had to make was stepping away from my doctoral program. Education has always been important to me, so that was not an easy choice. However, I realized that real estate was creating opportunities and impacting my life in ways I hadn’t imagined, and I wanted to fully lean into that growth.
Overall, I think every challenge taught me something valuable. Being a dual-career professional taught me discipline and time management. Starting during COVID taught me adaptability. Social media taught me consistency and authenticity. And balancing it all has taught me the importance of faith, perseverance, and staying committed to your vision even when the path is uncertain.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a REALTOR® based in Houston, Texas, and I primarily specialize in new construction, relocation, and helping buyers navigate the Greater Houston market. A large portion of my business comes from clients relocating from out of state or different parts of Texas who are looking not just for a house, but for guidance, education, and someone they can genuinely trust throughout the process.
Over the years, I’ve become known for my social media presence and the relationships I build with my clients. About 80% of my business comes from social media, which has allowed me to connect with people in a very authentic way. I share everything from home tours and market education to behind-the-scenes moments and real client experiences. I think people appreciate that I show up as myself and focus on educating rather than just selling.
I’m also known for being hands-on and highly involved with my clients throughout the process, especially when it comes to new construction. I really enjoy helping clients understand contracts, builder incentives, timelines, negotiations, and the overall strategy behind making a smart purchase. I never want my clients to feel like they are navigating such a major decision alone.
Interestingly, although I didn’t initially enter real estate because of family influence, I later realized that real estate, construction, and development have always been woven into my background in different ways. My mother worked in real estate at one point before later becoming a professor, and my father has owned a commercial construction company for many years as well as my brother. My grandfather was also the developer behind Brentwood Homes in Kansas City, which was recognized as the first residential home subdivision west of the Mississippi built by a Black contractor. The subdivision consisted of over 100 homes, and learning more about that legacy has made my own journey into real estate feel even more meaningful and full circle. It’s one of the reasons my husband Nate and I eventually hope to transition into building and development ourselves.
What I’m most proud of is the fact that I’ve built a successful business while still maintaining a full-time career as a school counselor. Both careers are deeply rooted in helping people, and I believe my counseling background gives me a unique advantage in real estate. It has taught me how to communicate effectively, advocate for others, remain calm under pressure, and guide people through emotional or high-stress situations with empathy and patience.
I’m also proud that much of my business has been built organically through referrals, repeat clients, and social media. That means a lot to me because it tells me people trust me and value the experience I provide.
What sets me apart is that I truly lead with relationships first. Of course, real estate is about contracts, negotiations, and transactions, but at the core of it, it’s about people and major life transitions. I never want clients to feel like “just another deal.” I strive to create an experience where clients feel informed, supported, and genuinely cared for.
I also think my journey itself makes me relatable to many people. I didn’t come from a traditional sales background, and I built this business while balancing another career, learning the industry from the ground up, and consistently showing up even when things felt uncertain. I think that authenticity resonates with people.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue growing within the industry, expanding my presence in new construction and relocation, and eventually stepping into building and development alongside my husband.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was extremely active and involved in just about everything. My parents did a great job of keeping me busy and exposed to different experiences, so I was definitely never a bored child. I played t-ball, soccer, and did gymnastics when I was younger, and later went on to play basketball and run track. I also took sewing classes and culinary classes although I’ll admit the cooking skills didn’t exactly stick the way my parents may have hoped!
Beyond sports and activities, my family also traveled quite a bit, which gave me opportunities to experience things outside of my everyday environment. I learned how to ski at a young age and even skied black diamond slopes, which probably says a lot about my personality because I’ve always been someone willing to challenge myself and try new things.
Athletics eventually became a huge part of my life, especially track and field. Though I was originally zoned to another school, I was recruited to attend Westbury High School because of their well recognized track program. Track quickly became my primary focus. I competed year-round, including summer track, and traveled across the country for regional and national meets. I was a hurdler, long jumper, triple jumper, and also competed in multi-events. The discipline, consistency, and work ethic I developed through track shaped me tremendously and ultimately led to me earning a scholarship to Jackson State University.
Interestingly enough, I was also offered a scholarship for choral music, which surprises a lot of people when I tell them that. Music was another big part of my upbringing, but ultimately I chose to pursue track in college.
Personality-wise, I’m always told that I’m funny —usually without trying to be. I love to laugh and make others laugh. I think people are often surprised once they get to know me because I probably come across more quiet or reserved initially, but in reality, I’m very outgoing depending on the environment and who I’m around. I do observe people a lot, though, so if I’m quiet, I’m usually just taking everything in. I’ve always been very aware of people’s personalities, energy, and dynamics, which honestly probably explains why I eventually became both a counselor and a REALTOR®. Both careers require you to really understand and connect with people.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sherylsanteehtx.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sherylsantee_realtor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourhoustonhomegirl
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sherylsantee_realtor
- TikTok: @Sherylsantee_realtor_htx
