Carla Salazar Holmes

Born in the charming town of Trujillo in northern Peru, raised by my mother alongside my older brother, I had a childhood dream of constructing houses. Little did I know that fate would lead me to the real estate industry, a path I never envisioned. After earning an industrial engineering degree with honors from the prestigious National University of Trujillo, I embraced the philosophy that hard work is the key to achieving one's goals. This belief guided me through various roles, from the production department at a bus factory to a sales supervisor in local and international banks in Trujillo. In April 2000, during a vacation in Virginia, USA, a new chapter began. Despite the twists and turns, my determination to excel in each career phase remained unwavering. Married in April 2001, I welcomed my first child in July 2002, prompting me to resign from my banking career in the Inter- American Development Bank (IADB) to care for my baby. Transitioning to real estate in March 2003 provided the flexibility needed for my growing family and financial aspirations. Joining a local company in Montclair, I quickly rose to become the Rookie of the Year and the top bilingual agent, earning recognition as a Top Producer and member of the Million Dollar Club of the Prince William County Association of Realtors. Real estate investment and property remodeling became my new passion. I was very blessed to meet great people in the Real Estate Industry; one of them was Mr. Lee Odems, the Owner-Broker of a company that I joined in 2010. Guided by him, as a mentor, friend, and father figure, I pursued excellence in my field. His emphasis on training, self-improvement, and being the best version of oneself propelled me to become an associate broker in 2014 and attain various designations in the following years including CDPE (Certified Distressed Properties Expert), ABR (Accredited Buyer's Representative), SFR (short sale and Foreclosure Resource), CNE (Certified Negotiator Expert), PSA (Pricing Strategy Advisor), MRP (Military Relocation Professional) and Practitioner in NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming). Besides, attending numerous classes and seminars throughout my career introduced me to exceptional individuals; like Fred Malek my current supervising broker and member of the NVAR Ethics Committee, and invaluable lessons from renowned coaches such as Tom Ferry and Joe Stumpf. Today, after over 20 years, real estate is not just a profession; it has transformed into a passion and an exhilarating life journey. Expanding my service area from Northern Virginia to Virginia Beach reflects my commitment to providing top-tier service to a wider client base. With expertise, negotiation skills, and unwavering dedication, I take immense pride in helping clients achieve their real estate goals and strive to be more than just their agent, a lifelong FRIEND FOREVER!