Tonyeil Spencer, CRS, Spencer Realty, LLC, Aurora, Colorado

What prompted you to get the CRS Designation?

I had finished getting my GRI, and my GRI instructor said the CRS was the next Designation to get. While the GRI courses taught practical knowledge and application, CRS went to the next level in terms of client relationships and best practices.

What appealed to you most about CRS?

The Council of Residential Specialists is an organization that focuses on its members — where they can share their experience and knowledge. It is a group formed by members and for members. I found other real estate organizations to be more cutthroat and competitive among the members, while CRS is all about cooperation and member empowerment.

You have taken on homebuyers who have been through bankruptcy or a previous foreclosure as an area of emphasis. What prompted you to make this your special cause?

It came out of personal experience. In 2005, my husband was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and it hit us hard, emotionally and financially. Because of his illness, he had to cut back on work, which affected our income. We were living off of our savings, and our credit was affected. Just like many other Americans facing a major illness in the family, this was totally unexpected; we had huge hospital bills and not enough money coming in to meet our needs. When creditors started lining up, we had no control. Fortunately, we did not have to file for bankruptcy or lose our home, but it was still a terrible ordeal.

We had to rethink the entire way we handled our finances. There was one lender who helped me; he gave me insight into the process and told me exactly what to do. We got back on our feet quicker because of his help. (I have been very loyal to him since then, I tell you!) So, I wanted to help other people who have been in financial trouble see their difficulty as a hurdle to jump over — that it is possible to get your life back. It doesn’t have to be the end of the world.

When you were facing your creditors, did the process seem unfair? Or did you feel that it was just the way of the world and you had to cope somehow?

There was a marked lack of compassion. Compassion dictates that you tell me how to fix my credit or how I can navigate repayment of the debt. I saw a need for educating people who’ve been through devastating financial setbacks.

What do you share with prospective buyers who have been through a foreclosure?

I team up with lenders to do workshops with buyers or owners to give them the information they need to make informed decisions. I offer consultations; we walk through the process of re-establishing credit and how to avoid getting overextended again. This consultation service is not predicated on the participants giving me their business — I’m fine with them going to another REALTOR^®.

About 8 out of 10 people who take the workshops go on to buy — one person took 10 years — but just knowing that someone is walking the journey with them and will not give up on them can help them stay the course.

Over the last few years with the nation’s economic downturn, did you find that Denver had more people facing this difficulty or fewer?

Denver was not hit as hard, and we probably had fewer people facing foreclosure than the nation as a whole. But if my experience could make a difference for a single person who needs it, it’s a game changer.

What other aspect of the real estate business are you interested in pursuing?

I want to work more with repeat buyers, to show them the differences between their first foray and what they should be thinking about as they move forward. As REALTORS^® and CRSs, we are in the role of teacher for first-time homebuyers. For clients’ second purchases, they tend to see themselves more as investors, since they understand how the process will flow. I want to help them make sure they capitalize on that knowledge.

What would you like to share with other CRS members?

I have just started getting more involved in the CRS organization, but I am especially humbled every time I get feedback from another CRS! When someone I respect says there is something of value in what I have to say, it is a great feeling. I would like to thank my fellow CRS members — I wouldn’t have the success I have without my CRS family. This is a very unique organization in that CRS makes it personal. I am honored to be a part of this organization and I appreciate its support.

Tonyeil Spencer achieved her CRS Designation in 2011. She can be reached at 303.991.3367 or her website tonyeil.com.