Today we’d like to introduce you to Sydney Friedman
Hi Sydney, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I moved to Knoxville from San Diego in 2014 to obtain my Master’s at UT and never looked back! I was born and raised in San Diego and was ready to make a change, see new sights. I fell in love with East TN and decided to continue my life here after graduate school. I started in the field of Speech Pathology and practiced for a little over 6 years. During that time (and throughout my whole life) I was riding and competing with my horses. Horses have always been at the center of my life and have been a driving force as to why I work so hard, and ultimately why I changed careers. I was traveling often for competitions to various other states and I felt so guilty leaving patients behind. I was trying to find the balance between my passions. I reached out to a friend from my horse show world who I knew was a successful Realtor about how she liked the field and she immediately said “OMG you have to get your license you would be such a great agent.” And there it began! I got licensed and dove right in. I was working both as a Realtor and SLP for about 6 months and then went full + time into Real Estate.
With a background in healthcare and a servant’s heart, this career change has been monumental. I am able to continue to help families meet their goals, just in a very different life event. Before being licensed, I helped several friends find their first home and my husband always joked and said “you need to just be a real estate agent”…here we are! People ask why I originally thought about pursuing real estate and I usually laugh and say “well the flexibility..” but the irony is that I work way more! However, now I am able to work on the road at times when I have competitions, and I also use my competitions as great client outreach.
I specialize in equestrian properties as well as smaller family farms and am able to meet new clients as well as market my listings while I compete. It gives me an edge with my clients because I live and breathe horse farms everyday. My husband and I have built two farms in East Tennessee, and I have spent my life around horses. My passion and career definitely intertwine and I am so grateful!
While I do specialize in these types of properties, my client base also heavily consists of both families and investors. I work with many relocations as this is something I have lived through. I have the unique perspective of picking up and moving your entire life across the country! I love that I can relate to my clients who are making that change as well. I truly enjoy helping families find their move up home, downsize home and everything in between. It’s been an honor to work with such a variety of buyers and sellers in Knoxville, and to get to be a part of their journey as I help them accomplish their real estate goals. It is a challenge not being from the region and running a real estate business…everyone knows at least 5 realtors and likely went to high school with them! But I aim to show the greater Knoxville area how much I love and support this community and that I have been so blessed to call it home for the past 10+ years.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Real Estate is not as easy at many people think. You truly run your own business. It requires developing and maintaining a personal brand, building a strong reputation, and always planning for the future. Starting out in a new area added an extra layer of difficulty. I didn’t have a built-in network or established “sphere of influence” to draw from. I am an outsider, another “Californian who is taking over Tennessee,” etc. I like to say I moved here before it was cool 😉
Breaking into a highly competitive real estate market, especially as someone new to the area, has been both challenging and rewarding. Beyond navigating the demanding nature of this career, I’ve focused on building my presence and reputation in a market filled with strong agents who are deeply established and provide outstanding service. My top priority has always been to provide my clients with exceptional and individualized service, creating memories and an experience defined by positivity, ease, clear communication, and fun! While it’s a challenge to establish my business among such talented professionals, I face the challenge with determination and a smile everyday, motivated by the opportunity to grow and make a meaningful impact.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Home and Farms Realty?
I’m proud to work with a boutique brokerage that’s newer to the scene but growing quickly and making an impact. Our brand, as well as our logo, reflects our unique expertise in horse properties—a niche that’s close to my heart. With firsthand experience, I connect deeply with clients selling their family farm or equestrian business, as well as horse owners searching for the perfect property.
That said, there are only so many farms in the region, and I’m equally passionate about working with buyers and sellers across all property types. While many in the industry emphasize focusing on an “ideal client,” I believe in providing the best possible service to everyone, no matter their real estate journey. Whether it’s a young family buying their first home in a West Knoxville neighborhood or someone selling a multimillion-dollar equestrian facility in Greenback, I bring the same level of dedication and care.
For me, it’s about more than transactions; it’s about building relationships and being a part of my clients’ stories. That connection is what I value most in this business.
Any big plans?
My focus is on growth and progress. Each year, I’ve been fortunate to expand my network and business significantly, and I’m excited to keep that momentum going. I truly believe in the power of hard work, grit, and striving to be a better version of myself every day, regardless of how cliche it sounds! With that mindset, I plan to keep building my business and to grow a team, while giving back to the Knoxville community that I’m so grateful to call home. I’m looking forward to deepening my roots here and continuing to show this community how much I value and appreciate being part of it!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sydney.homeandfarms.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syd_homeandfarmsrealtor?igsh=dmN6d3U3a25oYmhx&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sydney.adler
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SydneyFriedman-rn3vf
