eXp Realty adds former NAHREP president Carmen Mercado

eXp Realty announced that Carmen Mercado, former national president of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) and former director of affordable lending at Freddie Mac, has joined the company as a real estate agent.

Mercado brings more than 20 years of experience in residential real estate, brokerage leadership, housing finance and affordable lending.

She has served as a broker, trainer, growth strategist and New York Department of State-certified real estate instructor, and has appeared on HousingWire’s annual Women of Influence list.

“Carmen has spent her career pushing the industry to be more inclusive and better prepared for what’s ahead. That’s exactly the mindset our model was built for,” said Leo Pareja, CEO of eXp Realty. “We’re not just gaining an experienced leader. We’re gaining someone who’s spent her whole career making other people better at this business.”

Mercado entered the real estate industry in 2002 following a difficult first-time homebuying experience with her husband, a military veteran.

At the time, she was working on Wall Street, but said the Sept. 11 attacks prompted her to pursue a career that allowed her to spend more time with her family while helping others navigate the homebuying process.

“Throughout my career, I’ve found that the agents who thrive aren’t necessarily the ones who predict every market change perfectly,” Mercado said. “They’re the ones who prepare before opportunity arrives. As the Roman philosopher Seneca wrote, ‘Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.’ That’s a philosophy I’ve carried with me throughout my career.”

At eXp, Mercado plans to grow her own team while expanding her residential and investor business. She will also work with corporations, nonprofits and industry partners on business development and continue sharing market insights to help agents identify opportunities.

This article was generated using HousingWire Automation and reviewed by a HousingWire editor before publication.