Athena Brownson is a former professional skier turned top-performing real estate agent, investor, and developer based in Denver, Colorado. After a career-ending battle with Lyme disease, she reinvented herself through real estate—combining her background in interior design and her passion for people into a thriving business. Athena is known for helping clients build long-term financial wellness through homeownership and strategic real estate investing, and she’s especially focused on education, resilience, and relationship-driven service.
Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Should Ask, here.
Key Takeaways
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Athena began investing by house-hacking her primary residences, using a “live in it, then rent it” model to build her portfolio.
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She transitioned from interior design to real estate after recognizing her entrepreneurial spirit and desire for scalable impact.
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Investors must plan for CapEx reserves, property management, and insurance complications—especially in regulated markets like Denver.
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Building the right team is critical; your broker should be your connector to vetted contractors, lenders, and legal resources.
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Resilience—built through adversity and chronic illness—is the core of Athena’s mindset and professional approach.
Topics
From Ski Slopes to Showings
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Grew up in Breckenridge and became a pro skier by 15, competing for over a decade.
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Following multiple injuries and health challenges, transitioned to interior design, then real estate.
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Initially skeptical of real estate, she found mentorship and reframed her perception of agents through relationship-driven models.
How She Built Her Real Estate Portfolio
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Started by purchasing homes, living in them, and turning them into rentals after two years.
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Leveraged Denver’s strong appreciation to build long-term wealth without chasing high cash flow.
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Encourages clients to follow a similar path using primary residences as investment stepping stones.
Investor vs. Homeowner Mentality
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Homeowners often buy emotionally; investors must approach with a long-term, data-driven mindset.
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Good investor agents should provide data on appreciation, vacancy, rental income, and CapEx projections.
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Understanding local laws, tenant rights, and insurance challenges is crucial for profitable investing.
Why the Right Team Matters
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Your agent should introduce you to reliable property managers, lenders, contractors, and insurance brokers. Denver is a highly regulated market—landlord-tenant law varies even by neighborhood. Without the right team, investors risk costly missteps, code violations, and legal exposure.
Resilience Through Adversity
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Diagnosed with Lyme disease, Athena rebuilt her career by focusing on real estate as her purpose and outlet.
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Her story highlights how clarity of mission and community service can create fulfillment and long-term success.
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Round of Insights
Failure that set Athena up for success: Being diagnosed with Lyme disease forced her to reevaluate everything—and ultimately helped her discover her calling in real estate.
Digital or mobile resource: U-Haul Migration Reports — a unique, underused resource to track population shifts and identify hot investment markets.
Book recommendation: Sell It Like Serhant by Ryan Serhant — an energizing read that reignites motivation and sharpens real estate strategy.
Daily habit: Structured morning and evening routines—journaling, affirmations, and short meditation sessions to stay focused and intentional.
#1 insight for building resiliency: Find your “why.” Without a purpose that gets you out of bed, it’s impossible to build long-term strength and focus.
Favorite restaurant in Denver, CO: Tavernetta
Next Steps
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Visit AthenaBrownsonRealtor.com to connect and learn more
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Review your current team—broker, PM, lender, legal—and make sure each member knows your investment goals and market landscape
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Start simple: consider using your next home purchase as a launch point for building your portfolio
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