Ali Carson, Realtor with ARC Realty

06/11/2026

06/11/2026

OMG... I love Duke. ❤️

This morning I had to step away from my normal real estate routine and help out some neighbors by taking the neighborhood celebrity (also known as Duke, the giant black Schnauzer) to daycare.

The adventure started with Duke riding shotgun. For the first couple of miles, the seatbelt dinged nonstop because apparently safety regulations don't apply to giant Schnauzers. 😂

Then he moved to the back seat so he could stick his head out the window and let the wind blow through those ears. A few minutes later, he relocated all the way to the very back of the SUV, determined to soak in every smell, sight, and sound the world had to offer.

Music playing. Conversations happening. Pictures taken. Videos recorded.

Then we arrived.

Y'all would have thought we had pulled into Disney World.

The excitement level immediately went from 10 to 1,000.

There was barking. There was whooping. There was wiggling. There was pure, unfiltered joy.

I parked, opened the back door, and Duke launched himself out of the vehicle. The next thing I knew, he was literally dragging me across the freshly mopped floor toward his friends. I finally let go of the leash and the staff laughed and said, "We've got him!"

Mission accomplished. 🐾

Sometimes the best part of your day isn't the contracts, the showings, or the appointments.

Sometimes it's just getting to spend a little time with a dog who reminds you how exciting life can be when you're headed somewhere you love. ❤️

05/29/2026

One of the hardest parts of my job isn’t negotiating.
It isn’t the long hours.
It isn’t even the driving.

It’s telling someone the market doesn’t support the number they have in their mind for their home. 💔

For the last 7 months, I’ve worked alongside a family preparing their property to hit the market.

And when I say preparing…
I mean REALLY preparing.

An hour drive there and back.
Customized Sparkle Lists.
Meeting contractors.
Hiring painters.
Helping redesign curb appeal.
Changing lighting.
Selling items around the acreage.
Helping clear out the home.
Scheduling photographers and stagers.

And honestly?
The transformation was incredible. ✨

The landscaping finally made the property feel welcoming.
The inside photographed better.
The home felt brighter.
Cleaner.
More marketable.

We absolutely increased the value.

But here’s the thing people don’t always understand about real estate:

A home is only worth what the market can support.

Not emotion.
Not memories.
Not what was spent building it years ago.
Not what a seller “needs” to make.

And in this price range?
The competition mattered.

Homes above 1M had updated finishes, designer lighting, hardwoods, luxury kitchens, curb appeal, garages, outdoor living spaces… all the things buyers in that price point expect today.

This home was built specifically for them and their lifestyle over the years.
And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

But buyers don’t pay future prices for yesterday’s finishes.

As agents, we can improve presentation.
We can maximize value.
We can market strategically.

But we cannot create comps that don’t exist.

So after months of work…
after investing time, energy, creativity, and money upfront before making a single dollar…

I received the call.

“We’ve decided not to sell.”

And truthfully?
I just sat there in silence for a second.

Not angry.
Not even shocked.

Just disappointed.

Because this side of real estate rarely gets talked about.

The part where agents invest deeply into people before a sign ever goes in the yard.
The part where we carry the emotional weight of someone’s goals with them.
The part where we pour into a property hoping to help someone move into their next chapter.

And sometimes…
after all of it…
they fall back in love with their home.

Which honestly?
I kind of love too. 🤍

So no…
I didn’t send an invoice.
I didn’t argue.
I didn’t guilt them.

I wished them well.
Told them if they ever changed their mind, I’d be here.

And then I swallowed my disappointment and kept moving forward.

Because real estate isn’t just contracts and commissions.

Sometimes it’s heart work too.

05/23/2026

Some things matter more than real estate. 🤍

Right now, ARC Realty’s Relationship Company Foundation is collecting donations for the Alabama Baptist Children’s Home to help support Alabama’s foster care children — and honestly, this one hits different.

Not every child gets to pack a favorite blanket.
Not every child gets to carry their own little backpack.
Not every child has the comfort of knowing where they’ll sleep next.

But together?
We can help change that. ✨

From diapers and baby wipes…
to books, bottles, blankets, clothes, and everyday essentials…

These simple things may seem small to us —
but to a child in transition, they can mean comfort, dignity, security, and love.

I’d love for our community to come together and show up BIG for these kiddos. 💙

📍 Drop off location:
Your respective ARC Realty office

If you’ve ever wanted to make a difference but didn’t know where to start…
this is it.

Because sometimes changing a child’s day…
can help change their whole future.