Kathleen Tomlinson-Guthrie has called Albuquerque home her entire life, and for nearly two decades, she’s helped others find their place here too. As a residential real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Legacy, she guides buyers to their dream homes and helps sellers get top dollar for their properties.

Before entering real estate, Kathleen worked as a unit manager for a Fortune 500 company. Her path shifted dramatically in 2005, when her husband of 18 years passed away unexpectedly. With a daughter in high school and a demanding job, Kathleen knew she needed a change. She left the corporate world and enrolled in real estate school in 2007. The flexibility allowed her to be present for her daughter while building a career that quickly became a passion.

Her journey into real estate was shaped by years of experience in finance, insurance, and property management. After graduating from UNM with a degree in sociology, she held leadership roles at a savings and loan and later at a credit card company. Kathleen also gained hands-on experience managing her own rental properties, a skill rooted in her childhood helping her parents maintain theirs.

She believes those early years set the stage for her success. From selling financial products to negotiating with credit customers and preparing units for lease, each experience added to the toolkit she now uses to serve her clients. Kathleen says these skills help her connect with people from all walks of life and make smart, strategic decisions in any real estate market.

Kathleen is known for her calm, clear communication style and her ability to guide clients through every step of the buying or selling process. Whether someone is purchasing their first home or preparing to list, she focuses on making the experience smooth, informed, and personalized.

Since 2005, she’s lived in West Tanoan, just steps from her parents, both former APS administrators. Her father passed away in 2016, but her mother, who turns 90 this September, remains an inspiration and daily presence. Kathleen enjoys being active in the West Tanoan neighborhood and values the relationships she’s built within the community.

Kathleen’s daughter is now married and thriving, and in 2018, life surprised her again. A childhood acquaintance reached out and asked her to dinner. They reconnected, fell in love, and married in 2019 at Tanoan Country Club. Together, they share a love for healthy living and family time. They also share their home with Lily, their Shih Tzu who was born in 2015 and now regularly steals the spotlight on social media.

Even after years of multi-million dollar sales, Kathleen still finds joy in helping people move forward. If she had unlimited time and money, she says she’d keep doing what she loves and travel more. “Life is short,” she says. “Make memories while you can.”