Built Different.

Home is one of the best investments any of us can make. I work equally with buyers and sellers—whether you’re dreaming of a luxury vacation retreat, taking the exciting step toward your first home, navigating the challenge of buying and selling at the same time, or settling an estate for your family. I’ve been a successful, top-producing, full time Realtor for 9 years.  I help both buyers and sellers navigate the twists and turns of the market with the confidence of years of marketing and sales training, experience and success.

I am honored to be a member of Allen Tate’s Gold Circle, frequently a Monthly Top Performer and Quarterly VIP.   With extensive experience in client relations, I bring a steady hand and a listening ear to every transaction. My deep knowledge of the Foothills and the Catawba Valley allows me to guide clients with insight that goes far beyond the MLS. Whether you’re selling and want to maximize the value of your home, or we’re exploring several counties to find the one that feels just right, I know this area—and its people—well.

My journey in real estate is, at its heart, a story about passion and perseverance. Every client who invites me into their homeownership story becomes part of the legacy I’m working to build here: one grounded in integrity, compassion, and unwavering dedication to helping folks find their place to call home.

Raised as a military brat, I know firsthand what it means to pack up, start fresh, and discover home in unexpected places. That background gives me a unique perspective on the real estate landscape of Lenoir, Morganton, Hickory, and the surrounding Foothills and Catawba Valley communities. Though I’m deeply rooted here now, I understand what it’s like to move from afar. I’ve lived from coast to coast and overseas, but my own homeownership journey started in Indiana. After graduating from Indiana University, Bloomington, with a marketing degree, I dove into a sales career in Indianapolis. Before long, the scenic beauty and warm hospitality of North Carolina called my name, and I moved to Charlotte in 1997—and then to our farm in Lenoir in 2016.

Although I spend most days working full-time for my clients, I treasure the work-life balance real estate allows. My commitment to this community goes well beyond homes. I am a Board Member with the Caldwell Arts Council and heads down in the details of making sure the new location we are renovating gets up and running for the community.  I am also a long time supporter of Foothills Canine Rescue.  I have volunteered in many roles there and most recently as a Board Member.  I’m dedicated to helping stray, surrendered, and unwanted dogs find homes of their own. It’s not unusual for me to have a few foster puppies underfoot. When I’m not working or helping our four-legged friends, you can often find me on the golf course soaking up the beauty of the Foothills, or helping my husband tend to our farm. With five grown children, three grandsons, four dogs, and a garden that seems to grow faster than I can keep up with it, there’s never a dull moment.

I’m Tara Smith—your Realtor in the Foothills and the Catawba Valley. Whether you’re buying, selling, or simply seeking guidance on the local market, I’m here to help you find your place to call home.