Long & Foster Real Estate welcomes Philene James to its Kitty Hawk, North Carolina office. James, who is also a realtor in Long & Foster’s Kempsville, Virginia Beach office, has 20 years of experience in the real estate field.

“We are very excited and fortunate to have Philene join our team of highly trained professionals,” said Tina Holt, manager of the Kitty Hawk office. “The combination of Long & Foster and Philene’s unique skills, knowledge, and experience will no doubt provide the highest level of service to local buyers and sellers.”

James carries several designations including Certified Residential Specialist and Accredited Buyer’s Agent. She got her Broker’s License in 2010 and she is a member of the Hampton Roads Board of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.

“Before getting my Real Estate salesperson license, I researched various brokerages,” said James. I met with Susan Devich, a recruiter at Long & Foster’s Lynnhaven office in Virginia Beach, and was so impressed by her. She was kind, professional, and quite stunning. I talked with her about the recipe for success and felt very comfortable speaking about my future and my goals. Given the fact that I hadn’t even signed up to take the real state licensing class, I knew that once I had all of my credentials, there was only one place that I wanted to affiliate. Over the years it has been nothing short of a family environment. We support, encourage, and strengthen one another even after an occasional healthy debate.”

“We’re so pleased to announce Philene has expanded her reach to serve the Kitty Hawk area,” said Larry “Boomer” Foster, president of Long & Foster Real Estate.

Born in New York City, James lived in the Bronx but spent much of her time in Harlem with her grandparents. She studied at Iona College in New Rochelle, New York, then moved to San Marcos, California to attend Palomar College.

Also from New York City is James’ husband Mike, with whom she shares three children, Candace, Mike Jr., and Cydney. They also have three granddaughters, Aaliyah, Aubree, and Ava.

She credits Candy Dennis, her manager at the Kempsville Office, for being a strong leader who lends an ear and offers a wealth of knowledge for any agent to succeed if they are willing to put in the work.

When asked what she enjoys doing in her spare time, James said, “God and family come first! I enjoy caring and spending time with my granddaughters who brighten my every day. I also enjoy listening to music, dancing, karaoke, and my latest passion… scuba diving.” She has also spent time in volunteer work with the Foodbank in Norfolk as well as Samaritan House and Ronald McDonald House.

Long & Foster Real Estate is the nation’s No. 1 real estate company as part of HomeServices of America. For more information, visit LongandFoster.com.