Meet Shemeca Cooper of Namesake Real Estate, LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shemeca Cooper.

Hi Shemeca, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My reason for starting Namesake Real Estate stems from my personal experiences with real estate. I grew up on the south side of Chicago, IL, where housing options were not always ideal. While some people owned houses, many lacked the financial tools and resources to become self-sufficient and achieve homeownership. This cycled down to the children. When my mother could finally afford a home of her own, she passed away, leaving behind three children with a mortgage balance. My siblings and I didn’t know what to do, so we abandoned the house and let it fall into foreclosure. For almost a year after my mother passed, I was homeless. I bounced from one friend’s house to another to avoid “wearing out my welcome.” When I married my husband, I moved out of the city to accompany him on military orders. From there, I sought to learn as much as possible about being the answer to a nationwide problem. It was then that I realized that companies like mine are equipped with industry experience and passion for alleviating property owners’ financial, mental, and emotional burdens. “This devastating personal journey sparked my desire to be a part of the solution. From this, Namesake Real Estate, LLC was born.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a smooth road?
The challenge of being in this industry is that it is very male-dominant. Most women in the industry are Real estate agents. There are very few who transition to the investor side of the house. If they do, they usually do so with a male partner. My company is one of the few that are 100% black-female owned. Being taken serious (and not being taken advantage of) is not without a challenge. This challenge, however, presents a great opportunity. It allows me to impact an industry that has been one-sided for far too long. I can be an inspiration to other women who may desire to pursue investing but are hesitant.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Namesake Real Estate, LLC?
Namesake Real Estate (NRE) is an outreach service company that provides solutions and resources to distressed property owners. We currently service Kansas City, St. Joseph, and Portsmouth, VA; These cities and citizens have been battling vacant, rundown, and blighted properties in recent years. These properties have become breeding grounds for illegal activities, drug use, and pests. Our company provides relief to property owners by offering solutions to renovate these properties and help enhance the entire community. We do this by linking owners to resources or through purchasing options. Our company recently had the privilege and honor of supporting a local family whose parents had died. The siblings sincerely tried fixing the property but ran into a few issues. The property hadn’t been properly maintained due to their parents being elderly. The house suffered damage to the foundation, and rodents destroyed the roof due to its extended vacancy. There was also water damage. Through NRE efforts, the siblings and community were relieved of the property through successful renovation and overhaul. This was such a great accomplishment because their situation reminded me of my own with my mother; to know that I was able to help this family solidified my purpose for creating this company.

We all have different ways of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success by my faith in God and the impact I make on others. Knowing and trusting God’s guidance is key to my personal and business success. I receive my most creative and innovative ideas when I trust God. Because of this, I can make an impact on others that inspires them to become greater because of my example. This is how a legacy and vision is carried on from generation to generation.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.namesakebuys.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/namesake_real_estate/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/namesakebuys

Image Credits
Shemeca Cooper, Founder and CEO