Tina Peterson

Achieving Success With a Service-Forward Mindset

By Robbyn Moore

Photos by Stylish Detroit

As team leader of The Tina Peterson Team (TPT) with Real Estate One and president of Blue Star Service Dogs — a nonprofit program that provides healing to military veterans diagnosed with PTSD through service dogs — Tina Peterson has been making a difference in the real estate industry and in her community.

Tina and her team’s top-producing real estate work has been awarded by Detroit’s local news station, WDIV Local 4, as a winner of Vote 4 The Best for four consecutive years in addition to being recognized in Hour Detroit magazine as a Top 5% real estate agent.

As a real estate professional, dog lover and proud supporter of the military, Tina found a creative way to blend her passions together. When she interviewed Blue Star Service Dogs, Tina discovered that there was a need to build a safety fence for dog training. Due to the surrounding wetlands, the cost to build the fence was going to be more than $10,000 — an amount well beyond the budget of the group, and possibly forcing them to sell the building. “I knew they wanted to stay at their location, so I proposed to do a fundraiser,” Tina recalled. “The director happily agreed, and immediately, my team and I went into high gear!”

For the next six weeks, Tina and her team coordinated a fundraiser with matching contributions from Real Estate One and raised $17,000. “As a team, we contributed a portion of every sale to the nonprofit organization,” Tina said proudly. “It was a collaborative effort within our community that raised money, awareness and public service.”

Tina began her real estate career at a time when most people were running away from the industry. It was 2009, and the market was suffering. “Regardless of what was going on in the world, the timing was right for me,” Tina shared. “I had raised my four beautiful children and decided I was ready to move onto the next chapter. Real estate appealed to me because I could be my own boss, work as much or as little as I wanted, and I got to work directly with people, which has always been a passion of mine.”

From her very first buyer, Tina knew a career in real estate was the perfect choice. “Seeing the reactions on people’s faces when they get the keys to their new home is so fulfilling,” she said. “I knew that this was what I was going to be doing for a very long time.”

Tina has an impressive career volume totaling more than $155 million — $36 million of which she did in 2021. Her road to success took a positive turn when she began to focus on changing the public’s perception of real estate agents. “It will make you sad to see what comes up when you search the internet with the words ‘real estate agents are,’” Tina said. “This finding inspired me to develop a ‘people over paycheck’ mentality, which I strongly communicate with my team. I honestly feel that when you genuinely care about people, your business will thrive.”

Tina’s group includes: husband-and-wife team Rick Buckingham and Cathy Barrera, Katie Schrock, Ursula Pougnet, Lynsey Shaw, Dana Shumaker, Nick Dunwoodie and Mariah Alvarado. Collectively, the team shares common passions, integrity, service-forward thinking and a desire for ongoing training, education and mentorship. “We strive to be as knowledgeable as possible so our clients have the best representation,” she said. “The best thing about TPT is that we are like a family: We spend time together, support one another, and share ideas, experiences and knowledge.”

Recently, Tina promoted one of her agents, Kimberly Koss, to partner. Kim brings her own strengths to the partnership that will further benefit the other agents as well as the client experience. Together, they will be a dynamic duo.

Tina said that much of her success is a result of the support she received from her family, which includes her husband, Eugene, and her four grown children — Jessica, Nick, Kevin and Matt; three stepsons — Eugene, Ben and George; and three grandkids — Cole, Livy and Charlie. “Personally, my biggest accomplishment is my family,” she said. “I also have two dogs, two cats, three chickens and a 110-gallon saltwater fish tank.” Beyond her real estate and volunteer work, Tina enjoys time on her boat on Lake Michigan.

Photo by Shone Photo

I have always wanted to create a life that made a difference and to be remembered for genuinely caring about people.

Tina advised new agents to find a team that offers guidance, support and mentorship. “This industry can be very complex, competitive and sometimes just plain overwhelming,” she explained. “Therefore, it is important to align yourself with a seasoned professional to help uncover your strengths and to help you discover how you can add value to your business and, ultimately, your clients.”

As the leader of her group, Tina is especially great at setting realistic expectations for herself and for her team. She is authentic in her guidance and leads by example, offering her clients a genuine, honest and heartfelt experience. “Homeownership is the American dream,” she said. “A home purchase is usually the most valuable asset in a person’s life, so it’s important to treat each transaction as if it was your own.”

The most rewarding aspect to Tina’s job has been the people she has met who have become lifelong friends. “My colleagues, peers in the business and industry partners have played a crucial role in my professional success and happiness,” she shared. “It’s also an honor to be a part of my clients’ journey when they buy their first home, retire or fulfill a lifetime real estate dream.”

When Tina was 34 year old, her mother passed away at age 54. It was difficult and life-altering, and an event that shaped Tina’s life. “My mother’s passing made me realize how short life is and how important it is to be happy and enjoy what you do,” she said. “I have always wanted to create a life that made a difference and to be remembered for genuinely caring about people. I think I’ve done that with my work in real estate, my community involvement, and the life experiences I’ve had with friends and family.”

TOP PRODUCER Tina Peterson from Real Estate One