During the most stressful time of my life,I didn’t know what I was going to do or how my future would look. With the encouragement of my husband and my own determination,I took a chance on a new career path and found the fulfillment and success I had been looking for.

It had been the perfect job for nearly nine years. I led a sales team for an insurance company working with credit unions to offer credit protection plans. Initially,I covered the Northeast region from Maryland to Maine. After a year of intense travel, and a two-year-olddaughter at home,I decided to take a step back from the constant travel to cover Georgia exclusively. My position changed over the years, but in the last three I worked remotely, coaching credit union leadership teams across the country, and training their lending staff. It was perfect because my daughter was in first grade and I had the flexibility to be there for her, and even volunteer at her school.

In November 2015,I received news that several upper-level positions were being eliminated, and one of them happened to be mine. I was crushed. Over the years,I had excelled in my sales position, and learned a great deal about being a leader and coaching others. It seemed logical to apply for similar positions in the banking and finance industry. I started the process of applying and looking for new employment; all the while utilizing my severance to help cover our expenses. It was a very stressful time because I didn’t know what my future would look like.

My husband, Laurence, was incredibly supportive and encouraging during that time. I continued applying for positions that aligned with my previous work experience, but no doors were opening. No matter how hard I pushed, I couldn’t force doors to open. One day my husband said, “You know, you should really get back into real estate. You were great at it and people trusted you.” In the past, when we lived in Maryland, he had encouraged me to get my REALTORS® license and we worked together as The Fee Team. I had enjoyed real estate but thought I wouldn’t be able to have financial stability.

For a while,I didn’t take my husband’s advice. I continued seeking VP-level positions in finance and banking to no avail. Laurence knew I wanted the stability of my old positions, but one day he said, “You worked nine years for that company. Where’s the stability now?” He was right. I had no stability even though I had been with that company for so long. What he said made sense, and with his support, I decided to get my REALTORS® license in December 2016. I passed the exam on my birthday and got to work.

I began reaching out and re-establishing old connections that I had made years ago. As I reached out to people, it felt good knowing we still had a mutual interest in one another’s lives. One day I called an old client of mine from a credit unionI coached in the past. After discussing where we were in life, I mentioned that I had my REALTORS® license. It just so happened that she and her husband were looking to sell their houses and buy one together. They decided to work with me, and from one call I had three transactions, and re-connected with an old friend.

My daughter Lauren was now eleven and she too supported me in this new career venture. One Saturday afternoon she helped me place flyers on the windshields of cars parked at a Walmart parking lot. We then went inside to purchase something. As we stood in line, she asked the cashier, “Would you be interested in buying or selling your home? My Mom is a great Realtor!”. It just so happened that the cashier was fixing up her Mom’s home with the help of her husband, and would be looking to sell it soon. (That simple question led to my third listing transaction, andLauren earned her first referral fee!)

From there, everything gradually snowballed. I continued focusing on the relationships I had with people, incorporated a “can do” spirit and success followed. It was not easy, but I stayed the course with the support of my family. I learned that you cannot force something to happen that is not meant to be. Once I went into real estate, the doors just kept opening for me because it was the right path. Fast forward, I now have my Broker’s license,Owner of Custom Solutions Realty Group(that opened in November 2020) and have a great team of Agents. My experience in sales, coaching and leadership has definitely helped me excel in this industry. I am proud of how far I have come and that I’m now able to offer the same support to my husband as he pursues his own entrepreneurial endeavors, and set a great example for my daughter as she grows her video editing business.

The most rewarding parts about being a REALTOR®, are the relationships I form with people, and the trust I uphold throughout the entire process (and even after). Whether you are buying or selling, it is a huge financial decision. My clients know that they can trust me to give honest, professional advice and help them in any way I can. As we work together to achieve your goals, my focus is entirely on YOU.

My background in sales has given me extensive experience in negotiations, marketing and finances. I understand the importance of marketing a property correctly to achieve winning results. My knowledge in finance allows me to assist my clients through the lending process and establish a reasonable budget. As your REALTOR®,I am dedicated to educating you along the way so you have all the information needed to make a confident and well informed decision. Even after the transaction is over, I will continue to offer support as your lifelong REALTOR®.

With gratitude,

Marki R. Fee, MBA
Broker-Owner