1st-time real estate agent breaks through to success

Charlotte might be feeling the effects of a recession, but Cynthia Matheny, a real estate agent and mother of four, hasn't let that freeze her enthusiasm for the business.

She got a lot of exercise in 2010, walking amid the homes of south Charlotte.

Her hard work have paid off. Matheny works for the Keller Williams Ballantyne area office, and she just received the Team Rookie of the Year award. She closed $3.4 million in real estate sales in 2010.

Here's the best part: 2010 was her first year selling. She was a stay-at-home mom for 14 years.

Originally from Montana, Matheny, 42, and her husband, Richard, have been married for 19 years. Their two daughters are Kelsey Sue, 18, and Ellie Kate, 4. Their two sons are Taylor, 14, and Carson, 6.

Matheny and her family relocated to Charlotte from Georgia three years ago.

After attaining her real estate license in 2009, Matheny was going to start her career once Ellie Kate entered kindergarten. However, the recession affected her family, so she started earlier.

Glance in her car during a showing and you'll see she's toting a cooler with water, soda, juice boxes, snacks and DVDs for bored kids. She is no stranger to the hunger-induced toddler meltdown. What's her secret to success in the middle of a recession?

"It is hard work, determination, personality, financial motivation and a love of the profession," she said. "On average, I work 60 hours per week, and I come in to the office every day." What does she tell clients who are putting their house on the market?

"It's a beauty contest and a price war, and you have to win both to sell," she said. Matheny has a cautious optimism about the market, and she has seen an increase in business the last few months.

This year, she started her own team at Keller Williams. Matheny also credits her success to large investments that she has made in advertising. Matheny does a large amount of work at night, after the kids are in bed.