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Tara Armijo & Jill Muller
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Tara Jill ARMIJO MULLER Are Better Together
This Mother and Daughter Duo Leads the Way in Real Estate BY ELIZABETH MCCABE
When the global economy fractured in 2008, the ground vanished beneath the fine art industry overnight. For two decades, Jill Muller and her husband ran a highly successful wholesale art publishing business, generating five million dollars a year in sales and supplying elite galleries from San Francisco to Miami. But as the banking debacle unfolded, galleries shuttered and discretionary spending evaporated. Jill found herself at a crossroads at 50 years old: watch her life’s work dissolve, or reinvent herself entirely. At that exact time, her daughter, Tara Armijo, was preparing to attend the University of Colorado Boulder. Needing to secure student housing for Tara in a volatile market, Jill stepped into real estate as a buyer. That’s when she saw a spark of opportunity. “I had been in sales my whole life,” Jill recalls. “I thought, ‘If I can sell art, I can sell houses.’ It’s not the same, but I knew art wasn’t going to survive, so I got my license in 2010. I had to think outside the box.” Jill targeted her marketing toward out-of-state CU parents looking for properties for their college-bound children. This brilliant niche strategy launched a powerhouse second career. For over a decade, Jill thrived as an independent agent across Colorado’s Front Range. But by 2022, managing a demanding, purely referral-based business on her own became overwhelming. Getting closer to retirement, she needed a partner who shared her standards. Enter Tara.
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The Convergence of Art and Strategy By 2022, Tara had spent nearly a decade in corporate advertising, working for a marketing agency for nine and a half years. After welcoming her first child, she craved professional autonomy and flexibility for her growing family. “I’ve always loved interior design, and I loved watching my mom thrive,” Tara says. “The timing just lined up perfectly. My mom didn’t want to do this alone anymore, and she said, ‘Come join me.’” Tara followed in her footsteps, learning directly from her expertise while mapping out a transition for the future. Joining forces under the banner of milehimodern, the duo unlocked a rare synergy. Real estate marketing can be formulaic, but Tara and Jill combine high-level brand strategy with classical aesthetic design. Jill’s background in fine art gives her an intuitive eye for spatial layout and home staging, while Tara counters with corporate insight, data analysis, and digital strategy. “Between my marketing background and her fine art background, we have a very keen eye for good design and presenting properties in their absolute best light,” Tara explains.
Tech Time with Tara vs. Relational Depth While they operate hand-in-hand on every transaction, their internal dynamics bridge real estate’s past and its future. Jill’s business is entirely referral-driven, built on trust and relationships. Tara has emerged as the team’s technological innovator, integrating artificial intelligence, cutting-edge market platforms, and deep-dive data analysis. In fact, Tara hosts a weekly networking group with a small circle of milehimodern agents every Thursday. “Sometimes they call it ‘Tech Time with Tara,’” she smiles. “They’ll ask what new platform or tool I’m using. I’m constantly digging into the actual data to see which agents are showing properties in specific neighborhoods so we can reach out to them directly for our sellers.” Yet, the duo refuses to let technology replace human authenticity and connection. In an industry where consumers know multiple agents, Tara and Jill differentiate themselves by curating a high-touch experience that extends far beyond the closing table. What does that look like? “Going above and beyond means being truly authentic and caring about what is happening in their lives,” Tara says. “If a client has a baby, we send a gift. If they lose a pet, we are there for them. It’s about maintaining real relationships. We never want anyone to feel like we are pushing a house just to get a closing.”
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I had Davie, I was attending a closing with my mom nine days later. This time around, having her as my partner means I can actually enjoy a real maternity leave knowing my clients are completely protected by someone who shares my exact values.” Even Jill’s husband, Mark, who is fully retired and loves taking Jill on international trips to destinations like Marbella, Madrid, and Lisbon, occasionally nudges Jill to step back completely. But Jill isn’t in a rush to step away. Real estate keeps her energized, sharp, and connected to the community. When she isn’t navigating contracts or practicing yoga, Jill is often seen volunteering throughout the community alongside her certified service animal, a golden retriever named Daisy, visiting local libraries to help young children practice reading.
Authentic Growth As Tara looks toward the future, she reflects on the steep learning curve of the industry and the quiet confidence she has earned.
PROOF Navigating the Seasons of Life Working together has fundamentally reshaped their family dynamic, bringing mother and daughter closer than ever. “We joke all the time that she can never fully retire now,” Tara laughs. “We talk every single day because of the business. When I was in corporate marketing, we were close, but we certainly weren’t communicating daily. Because we are family, we can give each other honest feedback and vent openly. We get to bond over something beautiful every single day.” That family safety net is about to become more critical than ever. Tara is currently balancing a packed life: she is a mother to 4-year-old Woods and 2-year-old Davie, manages a bustling career, and is expecting her third child this October. “Working with family is an incredible blessing because the level of trust and respect is already absolute,” Tara says. “When
“During my first two years, I had major imposter syndrome,” Tara admits candidly. “I would ask myself why anyone would hire me when I’ve only been doing this for a year or two. But as you work through complex transactions, you realize how much care and strategy you truly bring to the table. I recently closed a transaction over $3,000,000 completely on my own, which felt like a massive professional milestone.” Despite that success, Tara isn’t interested in the hyperaggressive, high-volume grind that characterizes many top producers. Her philosophy is entirely grounded in the present season of her life. “I have two toddlers and a third baby on the way. My focus is entirely on meticulously taking care of my direct circle of people,” Tara notes. “If you take extraordinary care of the individuals right in front of you, the future business takes care of itself.” Whether they’re helping clients navigate one of life’s biggest financial decisions or simply showing up for someone who needs encouragement, both women believe relationships are life’s greatest investment. One brings experience. The other brings innovation. Together, they’ve built a business grounded in trust, strengthened by family, and focused on people above everything else. That’s a legacy that will outlast any transaction.
Jill Muller: 303-941-6927, jmuller@milehimodern. com Tara Armijo: 303 941.0010, tara.a@milehimodern.com