Meet Theresa Braswell, the new face at McKenzie Ridge

Baker Residential is excited to welcome Theresa Braswell, the new face at McKenzie Ridge. Theresa is our Community Sales Manager at this growing Apex neighborhood of new construction homes. While she’s new to McKenzie Ridge, Theresa is familiar to homebuyers throughout the Raleigh area, having been in new home sales since 1998! 

The petite powerhouse is frequently seen around town in her signature high heels. Her friends have remarked that Theresa is the only person they know who wears heels to the beach! In her defense, she says, they are wedges, not heels.

“You can never be overdressed,” says the woman who is accessorized, whether she’s heading to the grocery store, cheering on her Ohio State Buckeyes, or meeting with a homebuyer.

It’s in her DNA!

Theresa’s energy and heart come together to help her customers explore their many options and then narrow the focus to the best fit. Her passion for real estate comes naturally. Her father owned an agency in Ohio since Theresa was four years old. She grew up and chose not to go into the family business. 

But the road led back to homes. After a few years as a stay-at-home mom caring for her two children, her marriage broke up. Her two children were very young when she got divorced. She saw an ad for a homebuilder in North Carolina and took a job as an on-site salesperson for a custom homebuilder. Eight years later, the manager who initially hired her reached out when he was working for another builder. She turned down his offer to switch jobs, but Jim kept trying.

“I was on my way to a Hurricanes game,” says the self-proclaimed hockey fanatic. “I was just about at the exit for the arena when Jim called again. He said the neighborhood where he wanted me to sell new homes was very close to where I was.”

Custom building had slowed down because quality land became less available so desirable lots were more expensive. Jim asked her to stop and take a look at the neighborhood where hoped she would sell new homes. Then he made an offer she couldn’t refuse.

“He said the Hurricanes goalie, Cam Ward, was looking for a new home here and I could be his salesperson.”

She took the job and sold Cam a home.

Keeping up with homebuyers

Theresa’s kids—Kaylee and Hayden—were active in cheer and sports in high school while she worked as an onsite salesperson. When they went off to college, she moved up into sales management. With her experience, she also took part in a mentoring program with the Triangle Sales and Marketing Council. Using her knowledge to guide others sparked a new passion in Theresa. She’s currently enrolled in an intensive program to become a certified Tony Robbins Mastermind Coach. With changes in the market, she sees growing demand for service-oriented sales professionals.

“When the market is hot, like it was in 2015 and 2016, you’re basically taking orders. That has changed. You actually have to sell now, to be an expert in your field and help people find the home that is going to meet their needs. Unless you’re in some amazing location where it doesn’t matter, you must be interested in people and what they’re going through.”

What family is all about

Theresa has been working in the Raleigh market for more than ten years. A few months before joining Baker Residential, she was faced with a personal challenge. Her son, Hayden, who is living in Florida, was diagnosed with a brain injury. She had to leave her job to help him through the difficult treatment and healing. Although his condition has improved, Hayden’s full recovery could take a year or more. But the improvement allowed her to return to the work she loved, and with a company that excites her.

She says that Baker Residential achieves the ideal balance between a custom homebuilder and a production builder. “These homes showcase the quality of finishes that a custom builder chooses but can offer the more affordable solution of a production builder.”

At McKenzie Ridge, Theresa has a lot of choices to offer, with homes from 2,885 square feet to almost 6,000. The homesites are much larger than typical lots in Apex and the surrounding area: .20 and .35 acre with some basement sites still available in the remaining 36 lots. Theresa says the McKenzie Ridge properties also back up to a field or wooded area, which affords more privacy. Floor plans like The Edmonton provide homebuyers a beautiful home with Baker Residential’s many standard features, but at a price point starting at just $444,990.

“McKenzie Ridge is a unique boutique neighborhood,” explains Theresa. “This location near Jordan Lake feels like you’re in the country but you’re just a few miles from downtown Apex.”

With just 70 homesites, Theresa describes the community as “big enough so you have privacy but small enough so you get to know your neighbors. A community where neighbors can become friends.” She adds that the common area with the fire pit, gathering place, and a spacious play lawn provides a wonderful socializing spot.

Hallmark moments

With the holidays fast approaching, Theresa is getting ready for her favorite time of the year. Yes, she’s one of those sentimental fans who thrive on the Hallmark Channel’s feast of Christmas movies. She also loves decorating her home. Theresa used to put up eight Christmas trees but says she has “downsized” to just four—including a ten-foot angel-themed tree, an eight-footer adorned with sentimental ornaments, a beachy tree, and one that has her fiance’s mementoes. She admits that there just might be one more Christmas tree this year on her porch.

“I think I’m the only one who takes pictures off the wall and replaces them with holiday artwork for the season.”

All of us at Baker Residential are so happy that Theresa Braswell is part of our family . We encourage you to visit her at the McKenzie Ridge sales center at 2925 Kenna Creek Bend in Apex. The model is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can also contact Theresa at (919) 446-1075 to schedule an appointment to explore the peak of good living and homes for sale at McKenzie Ridge.