Our Mission

Our mission at Real Advantage Transaction Management is quite simple -- to provide exceptional Transaction Management Services to REALTORS®. This will allow agents to spend their time cultivating more business, spending time with family, or simply enjoying life by leveraging our experience and dependability to enhance their business and drastically change the time spent focusing on the details behind every transaction. We are passionate about our work and committed to providing an outstanding service. 

Krissy Shellenberger
Owner, Transaction Manager

Krissy Shellenberger is the owner and founder of Real Advantage Transaction Management. Krissy has been involved in real estate for her entire life, coming from a family who has sold real estate since the 1980s.  She obtained her Virginia real estate license after graduating from college (James Madison University) and also obtained her real estate license in Alaska, selling residential real estate in the Anchorage area for a year and a half while her husband was stationed in Anchorage with the US Army.

 

Krissy's knowledge of the industry and extreme attention to detail, combined with the growing need for this type of service in the real estate industry, motivated her to start her own company managing real estate transactions in 2014 and she hasn't looked back!  Krissy is passionate about providing exceptional service to the agents the team has the opportunity to work with as well as creating opportunities for the amazing TCs on the Real Advantage team.

 

In Krissy's spare time she enjoys riding and competing her horse, Quantum K, in the equestrian sports of Three Day Eventing and Dressage, spending time with her two dogs, Riggs and Banks, working on home improvement projects with her husband, Graham, and watching their son, Weston, learn and grow.

 

Call or email Krissy any time to see how she can help you grow and maintain a successful career in real estate through her Transaction Management services!

 

Krissy@RealAdvantageTM.com  |  571-239-1721

Sam Joyce
Transaction Manager

Sam Joyce began her real estate career as an Operations Manager for a large team beginning in 2016.  She oversaw over 100 transactions a year for her team as well as being an agent herself.  After the team lead decided to venture off into another career path Sam found her true passion in being a Transaction Coordinator with the best company, Real Advantage!  She has been an integral part of the company since 2018.

 

"Buying/selling can be so stressful and is a huge financial commitment.  I love being able to make the process seamless for both our agents and their clients.  I absolutely love what I do and couldn't imagine doing anything else!"

 

When Sam is not working she is hanging out with her 2 Australian Shepard dogs or planning new home projects.

 

Sam@RealAdvantageTM.com  

Melissa Martin
Transaction Manager

Melissa worked as the Operations Director for a large, top producing Real Estate team based in DC for over 7 years. Over this time, she assisted in closing over 500 successful transactions while managing the brokerage, handling social media, and training new agents, as well. She will tell you that she found her true passion when she began working in real estate in 2014. She admires the amount of dedication and time that great REALTORS® put into their work and enjoys being able to take the "busy work" off of their plates, so they can focus on their clients and building their business.

 

“What we do is important. I never underestimate the value of this work. I understand that for most people, buying or selling a home is one of the most important personal decisions, and possibly the largest financial decision they’ll ever make. It is my main concern to tailor each sale to the individual needs of each of my clients, and their buyers and sellers, in order to make this process as easy and stress-free as possible."

 

When Melissa is at home you might find her watching Food Network and either planning a new recipe creation or dreaming of her next foodie excursion with her partner, Jon.

 

Melissa@RealAdvantageTM.com 

Sarah Herrera
Transaction Manager

Sarah started her career in Real Estate in 2002 as an assistant to several agents at a small brokerage in Oceanside, California.  During her time there she managed the marketing of listings as well as daily office duties.  In 2004 Sarah decided to further her career and began working for a small mortgage company as an assistant to a loan officer.  As her love for the mortgage aspect of the industry grew she worked her way up to being a lead post-closer.  After the birth of her second child she decided to put her career on hold to be a stay at home mom.

 

In 2019 Sarah jumped back into the Real Estate industry when she was given the opportunity to join a successful Real Estate agent as her Director of Operations and Transaction Coordinator.  This opportunity opened up her eyes to her true passion and calling in Real Estate -- as a TC!

 

Few things make Sarah happier than assisting agents with the parts of the Real Estate process that take time and energy away from what they love doing -- connecting and building relationships with their clients.

 

Sarah@RealAdvantageTM.com 

Lauren Derr
Transaction Manager

Lauren Derr was introduced to the world of real estate at a young age due to her family being in the industry and quickly grew an interest for it herself.  In 2011, she began working for a new home builder where her interest for the industry grew even further.  Lauren then obtained her Maryland real estate license in 2012 and joined a team at Long & Foster working as a REALTOR®.  After a few years she then transitioned to a Transaction Coordinator position and has been doing it ever since!

 

With a background in new home sales and her experiences as a REALTOR®, Lauren has seen it all and knows first-hand every step that must go into each transaction. She is committed to managing transactions the right way with a high degree of quality, attention to detail, and consistent communication.  Lauren is excited to be a part of Real Advantage Transaction Management and help other REALTORS® throughout the transaction process.

 

When she is not working Lauren enjoys spending time with her husband and their two sons.

 

Lauren@RealAdvantageTM.com 

Liesl Arrington
Transaction Manager

Liesl's experience in real estate began in 2017. Since then, she has worked as a Transaction Coordinator and a Listing Coordinator for a multi-agent team assisting in 100+ closings per year in Virginia, Maryland, and DC. She has also worked as an Operations Manager for a solo agent assisting in a wide variety of tasks including everything related to the listing and closing process, staging, client events, and administration.

 

Liesl believes providing excellent customer service to everyone involved in any transaction is of utmost importance and attention to detail is a priority when assisting in helping someone buy or sell a home. It’s one of the biggest decisions someone will make in a lifetime, so being able to work with someone who is trustworthy, reliable, and knowledgeable is key.

 

In her spare time, Liesl enjoys spending time with her husband, her daughter, and their many fur babies. She also enjoys kickboxing, traveling, and baking.

 

Liesl@RealAdvantageTM.com 

Abigail Pierson
Listing Coordinator

Abigail is a young entrepreneur born and raised in Bluemont, VA. She started in the real estate industry at the young age of 18 and has tackled her dreams head on since. As a lover of all things nature and adventure, in her spare time you will almost always find her on a random trail in the Blue Ridge Mountains with her two dogs or en route to a new destination.

 

Abigail's background consists of three years experience working in the real estate title industry, nearly three years as a licensed REALTOR®, and almost two years assisting other agents tackle their business and social media presence. Abigail is passionate about all that she does and takes great pride in her ability to assist all through their real estate transactions.

 

Abigail@RealAdvantageTM.com 

Holli Wallace
Transaction Manager

Holli Wallace began her real estate career in 2010 as Office Manager for a top-producing team in Old Town Alexandria. Over the years, Holli advanced to the role of VP of Operations, during which she played a pivotal role in successfully closing over 800 transactions. Her contributions were integral in building a strong team culture, developing efficient processes, nurturing client relationships, and providing comprehensive agent support.

In 2024, Holli decided to focus on transaction coordination, driven by her passion for supporting agents and helping them create exceptional experiences for their clients. She believes that buying or selling a home is one of the most significant decisions in a person's life, and her goal is to provide agents with dedicated, knowledgeable support to ensure a seamless experience for their clients. "Fostering connections and building relationships is what I love most."

When she is not working Holli enjoys spending time with her family and her dog, Mickey. She also loves going to the beach and entertaining friends.

 

Holli@RealAdvantageTM.com