photos by: JODIE BRIM CREATIVE
While Clare Fader is connecting clients with their perfect homes, she’s also selling all the things we love about Winston-Salem!
Clare now calls Winston-Salem home herself, but she’s well-versed on the deeper meaning of “home” as she feels enormous affection for her actual hometown — the village of Kinvara in western Ireland.
Her love of true community is the absolute heartbeat of her career as owner of Fader Real Estate — and as owner of the area’s largest digital marketing platform — Best of Winston.
Started in 2015 by local content creator, TeriLyn Adams, Clare purchased the marketing platform in 2023 after being a loyal sponsor for years.
It now serves as a savvy resource for both residents and tourists, showcasing the finest Winston-Salem has to offer and generating approximately four million impressions from its top 10 reels alone. Clare says it’s a personal goal to use this small business to improve and nurture the local community overall — and the innovative platform also gives Fader Real Estate’s home listings incredible exposure to potential homeowners.
“It means the world to me when a small business owner tells us about the impact one of our Best of Winston reels has had on their business,” she shares. “Or, when a local arts organization shares that people showed up because they heard about it through our platform.”
Their weekly newsletter features events, local news, and business and community organization spotlights, while promoting local businesses, and elevating the beauty of Winston-Salem. As a real estate professional, Clare knows selling community and lifestyle — as well as a beautiful house — is essential.
“I feel so lucky that I get to see our city through fresh eyes on a nearly daily basis,” Clare explains, as she shares the key elements on clients’ minds when they arrive here.
“Our hospitals and universities recruit people from all over the country, and many of these people know nothing about our city,” she explains. “People mention they had no idea how pretty the Triad is, commenting on the gently rolling hills and widespread green spaces. They are pleasantly surprised.”
Clare’s home listings typically include a wide variety of neighborhood styles – one of the beautiful things about Winston-Salem.
“We offer some amazing options, from small cottages in West Salem to grand mansions in Buena Vista, and everything in between. There is also still value to be had, in comparison to the historic neighborhoods in other North Carolina cities,” Clare explains.
What does she see clients looking for most — in terms of community and connection?
“I think more and more people are looking for walkability and access to bike trails — that’s something I hear more and more every day,” Clare shares. “We have a growing number of people relocating here from Florida and Texas, and they appreciate the climate and beauty of our surrounding areas. So many people say they wish they could safely walk or bike to a café.”
She believes there’s opportunity for smart development in surrounding areas — not just downtown — in order to accentuate walkability. And, she would absolutely love to see more rails-to-trails conversions in Winston Salem as well!
“There’s also the idea of ‘third spaces’ — informal, inclusive gathering spaces besides home and work — that is really growing,” Clare adds. “I think while we are spending more time scrolling on our phones, we are also hungry for authentic, face-to-face interactions with our neighbors.”
Winston-Salem is definitely a ‘15-minute’ city — which is another common conversation these days. But she hopes residents will be mindful of how our city is growing, and what we want it to look like in 20 years.
Clare admits her own easy, ‘15-minute’ life here is something precious — and she is grateful!
“You can live in such a variety of neighborhoods — all within 15 minutes of most of the places you need to be — from schools to banks and hospitals. When I’m helping recruit people to the area, this is one thing I always highlight. It doesn’t matter what stage of life you’re in — this is something we all appreciate as humans,” she shares. “We are at a powerful inflection point where it’s critical we look around and identify our strengths. Thanks to philanthropy in the past, we have some precious gems here — from Wake Forest University and the School of the Arts to incredible parks, historic districts, and a hospital and medical school that now play a critical role in the fourth largest medical system in the country.”
Deeply rooted in the community and passionate about supporting the people and places that make the Triad special, Clare hopes Best of Winston will be a powerful part of the storytelling of Winston-Salem — imaging where we are going, and what can be.
“Let’s trust in the things that make us unique and authentic — and run with it!!
Reach Clare Fader to start your own new home journey at 336.575.7262, or email her at [email protected]. Fader Real Estate at ERA Live Moore is located in Winston-Salem, NC at 751 W. Fourth Street, Suite 110. Learn more about their agents and current listings at FaderRE.com. Her Fader Real Estate team covers mostly Winston-Salem and the surrounding areas, but also includes agents who focus on Greensboro, High Point, and Charlotte.
