Tiana Cruz Santiago

Before you start looking at homes, get fully pre-approved with a lender so you know exactly what you can afford and what monthly payment you’re comfortable with. Do not just focus on the purchase price — look at taxes, insurance, interest rate, closing costs, and possible repairs. Also, be honest with your REALTOR® about your budget, must-haves, and deal breakers. In this market, you need to be prepared, move quickly when the right home comes up, and avoid making big financial changes like opening new credit cards, buying a car, or changing jobs during the process. Most importantly, don’t buy emotionally. Make sure the home fits your lifestyle, your finances, and your long-term goals. A good agent should help you understand the numbers, protect you during the process, and guide you from pre-approval to closing.

Before putting your home on the market, make sure it is priced correctly from the start. Overpricing can cause the home to sit, while the right price can bring stronger interest and better offers. I also recommend preparing the home as much as possible before listing — clean, declutter, make small repairs, improve curb appeal, and make sure the home shows well in photos and showings. Most importantly, work with an agent who will be honest about the numbers, explain your options, market the property properly, and guide you through offers, inspections, appraisal, title, and closing. Selling a home is not just about putting it online — it’s about having the right strategy to get the best result.

I have worked with a wide range of clients, including first-time home buyers, repeat buyers, sellers, investors, wholesalers, and commercial clients. I also work with clients who need guidance beyond just buying or selling, including off-market opportunities, investment properties, rehab projects, title-related questions, and property management needs. Because of my background in real estate, title, notary work, and general contracting, I’m able to help clients understand the process from different angles and make more informed decisions.

One recent transaction I am very fond of involved helping an out-of-state buyer purchase a home while relocating. The buyer was not local, so communication, coordination, and trust were very important throughout the process. I helped guide them through the offer, inspections, lender requirements, title coordination, closing documents, and signing arrangements so they could feel comfortable even from a distance. There were a few moving parts and time-sensitive items, but we stayed organized, communicated clearly, and worked together with the lender, title company, and all parties involved. The transaction reminded me why I love real estate — it is not just about closing a deal, it is about helping people move into a new chapter of their life with confidence. It was a great feeling to see everything come together successfully.

I got started in real estate through the title side of the business. As a licensed title closer, I was able to see the full transaction process from behind the scenes — contracts, title work, closing documents, buyers, sellers, lenders, attorneys, and everything it takes to get a deal to the closing table. From there, my passion for real estate grew. I became a licensed REALTOR®, and I also expanded into being a general contractor and notary so I could help clients in more ways than one. My background allows me to understand real estate from different angles — not just selling homes, but also understanding title, closing, repairs, investments, and the full process from start to finish. That experience is what helps me guide my clients with confidence.

My background gives my clients an advantage because I have training and experience in several areas of real estate, not just sales. I am a licensed REALTOR®, licensed title closer/title agent, public notary, and general contractor. I also have education in business administration and paralegal studies, which helps me understand contracts, documents, deadlines, title issues, and the overall transaction process. Because of this, I can guide my clients through buying, selling, title, closing, inspections, repairs, investment numbers, off-market opportunities, and renovation needs. My goal is to help clients feel informed, protected, and confident from start to finish.