What was supposed to be an exciting milestone quickly turned into a difficult and uncertain time. I didn’t know how I would get out of it, but I kept moving forward. Looking back, that experience set me on the path to my future and made me who I am today. 

This was supposed to be an exciting and rewarding time. I was 22 years old had just purchased my first home. It was a huge investment, and I was so excited. Shortly after moving in, I learned the entire septic system had to be replaced, costing nearly $50,000. A sense of dread came over me as I began to realize how run down the house was.  

It was 2002 when I bought that house. It became crystal clear with time that I had gotten a bad deal. So many things were going wrong, and I felt deceived. My monthly payments were changing so drastically, it reached the point where I couldn’t afford them anymore. I was fortunate enough to sell the home in 2006 before I almost lost it in foreclosure. Through this bad experience, I gained a lot of empathy for first-time home buyers. I never want anyone else to face the consequences of buying without a strong understanding of the process or without a powerful advocate on their side. From there I moved naturally from mortgage lending into housing counseling.

As a housing counselor, I was able to help people get out of bad situations. I worked for a national hotline where I connected directly with banks to find resolutions for people to prevent foreclosure. Through financial and credit counseling, I worked tirelessly to educate and guide people. Even though it was an incredibly stressful job, the success stories I was able to be a part of were so rewarding.

I became a licensed REALTOR® in 2015. I had been a part of the real estate industry for nearly 15 years at that point. It was clear to me that the best way to help first-time homebuyers was not after they already purchased a home, but before making a bad purchase. By educating my clients, I can help them avoid bad deals and ensure they are doing what aligns with their dreams.

Helping my community has always been a top priority in my professional and personal life. In my free time, I work on my nonprofit organization that teaches youth how to use permaculture and sustainable living practices while operating their own businesses. I started Sustainable Living Youth Club (SLYC Kidz) with the intention of letting the kids gradually take full control and establish their own bylaws and guidelines.

While California wildfires were devastating our region every year, SLYC Kidz began hosting an annual Secret Santa Drive to help the families affected. In 2017, we were able to help over 850 people affected by the Tubbs fires. Along with my career as a REALTOR®, I get to spend my down time working to establish my nonprofit and making a difference in my community. It’s incredibly rewarding to be building up and giving back to my community in multiple ways.

Through all my experiences, I have learned that my true passion is helping people. As a REALTOR® and as a mentor, I know I am making a difference in people’s lives every day. More specifically, I learned from personal experience what can go wrong if a buyer isn’t properly educated. I love stepping in to prevent others from making similar mistakes and instead guiding them on the path to achieve their goals.  We all have skills and talents that we can use to help others, and I’m grateful to have found the perfect outlet to utilize mine.

Working in the real estate industry for over 20 years and being a licensed REALTOR® since 2015 gives me the experience and knowledge to educate my clients and help them own their dreams. I maintain a line of open communication to answer all your questions along the way. I have conducted thousands of real estate valuations that give me expert market knowledge.

My experience of being a naïve first-time home buyer has made me passionate about helping others avoid this. When you work with me, I ensure every transaction aligns with your vision and is in your best interest. There is nothing quite like helping my clients make their dreams a reality. I’m always here to support them even after the transaction is over as their lifelong REALTOR®.

Own Your Dreams,

Milli Cannata
REALTOR®