Because experience and integrity are not fads ...
About our team
In a sea of real estate companies, on-line services and do-it-yourself operations, why should you consider Robbins & Associates (R&A)? We're not the biggest, not the cheapest and certainly not the 'trendiest.' No catchy jingle or memorable slogan, just dedicated professionals with one thing in common - an unparalleled work ethic and dedication to each client's positive experience. Oh, there's decades of experience in this market, numerous awards won, licenses, certifications and leadership positions held, but every professional agent with R&A banks their career on the service they provide their clients.
​
Of course, they're human too - with real personal lives, interesting backgrounds and families and goofy hobbies. Learn more about them below.
Joey is a native North Carolinian, growing up in Rocky Mount and studied areospace engineering at NC State University in Raleigh ~ Go Pack! He started his career as a real estate broker in Cary in 1983. There were no cell phones or fax machines and the computer was just a terminal that spit out reams of paper. Interest rates were 17.5%. He remarks that he learned the business of listing and selling real estate in one of the toughest markets in history. Over the last 38 years he's owned his own brokerage, listed and sold lots of homes, and managed several offices for the largest company in the Triangle. Along the way he's learned what it takes to deliver superior service to clients, negotiating the best deals for buyers and ensuring that sellers can command top dollar for their homes. Joey loves to restore classic cars and occasionally even finishes one.
Awards and Achievements:
-
President- REALTOR Foundation of the Triangle
-
Vice President- Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS
-
Associate Dean- Triangle REALTORS Leadership Academy
-
4 time CB/HPW Division I Manager of the Year
-
CB/HPW Hall of Fame 2006
-
CB/HPW Garland Spangler Award
-
6 terms Director RRAR Board of Directors
-
2 terms Director Triangle Multiple Listing Board of Directors.
​
What clients are saying:
​
Joey was very patient and dedicated in finding us the perfect house. After only a few months, he was able to find the house that checked off everything on both our "must have" list and our "wish" list! He continued to work diligently on our behalf through the inspection and loan process and was always available to answer our questions. His 35 years of experience in the real estate business was evident as we toured each home because he could advise us of any potential inspection issues or neighborhood concerns. I highly recommend Joey if you want an experienced real estate agent who is honest, hard working, patient, and works on your behalf until you have the keys to your new home in your hand!
​
We have used Joey's services to buy two homes and sell one. Our home was sold in the first weekend in which it was listed. Having been in the real estate business for many years, Joey is very knowledgeable and shares valuable insight.
​
I am a first time home buyer and was referred to Joey Robbins by a family member. I knew nothing about purchasing a home, nor about the many inspections required and especially any paperwork that needed to be done. However Mr. Robbins not only assured me that he would take care of everything, he went above and beyond what I consider a family member would even do. He lived up to his promises. Furthermore, Living in Miami I was very limited to the resources that I had to ensure that the residence I was interested in would be worth me traveling more than 12 hours to go see. However, Mr Robbins not only offered, but insisted he would check on the residence for me. He travelled more than three hours to inspect a home. Well he didn’t stop there, he gave me a full report of the pros and cons of the house, area and neighborhood. I ended up purchasing a home with the security and confidence Mr Robbins built in me along with his commitment to help. I strongly recommend Mr Robbins wholeheartedly.
​
​
Mancy brings a wealth of experience in high level client relations to his Triangle real estate business. He was a senior executive for over 30 years in International Sales & Business Development spanning Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and South America. A refined set of organizational skills combined with a unique talent in cross-cultural communications allows Mancy to provide the highest level of service. His understanding of, and experience with, different cultures and his ability to speak four languages (English, Arabic, Italian, French) are instrumental in understanding his clients' needs.
Mancy moved to Cary in 1995 when the area was still being developed. His expertise and knowledge of the business and of the Triangle area, with his work ethic and working relationship with people, brings additional sophistication to our team. Mancy earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Physics from The American University.
Tammy is a native of Jericho Vermont (brrrr...) but comes to us via Rochester, Minnesota where she lived for 5 years. Tammy loves living in the triangle, where she and her family have been for 11 years. As a 15 year real estate industry veteran, Tammy says she loves working with people from all walks of life, hearing their stories and making strong connections. "The world of real estate is always changing, so it forces met to continually adapt," says Tammy. In her spare time (which can't be much with 5 children), Tammy can be found waterskiing, playing and watching soccer or baseball, or volunteering with her family at triangle food banks. Tammy is also fluent in spanish.
Mary Jane Barone has been practicing general brokerage in the Triangle area for 11 years and counting. After moving her family from Buffalo N.Y. she came to learn about and appreciate the importance of having a skilled and diligent realtor first hand. With so many moving from elsewhere into this area, fully educating clients is as high a priority to her as listening to and understanding their needs.
For Mary Jane, a large focus and investment of time goes into the initial consult to fully educate clients on each detail of the often complex process, market conditions and all scenarios so she can best meet your needs. She works with a variety of client needs and has extensive experience selling properties from investments to luxury. She works as a team with colleague Nicki Knowles to bring you an added resource of experience, knowledge and availability.
Torri N. Allen, was born and raised in Greensboro, NC. Upon completing high school, she was accepted into North Carolina Central university and received her Bachelors of Science and Master Degree in Family and Consumer Science. She has always had a passion for working with individuals and families and started a mental health business while studying at NCCCU.
Torri has been a Realtor in the triangle area for many years. The most important tool that Torri delivers to her clients is educating them about their real estate options, without being overwhelmed and stressed. In her spare time Torri loves traveling and spending quality time with her husband and 3 daughters. She is determined and continues to strive for greatness and success in all her endeavors. If you are in need of a great agent contact Torri today and “let her help you unlock the door to your future”.
Stan was born and raised in the Triangle area living in many of the communities (Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs and Raleigh) that make it a wonderful place to call home. Over more than 25 years in the business, Stan has skillfully guided over 800 clients in selling, buying and investing and as well as representing new home communities. Stan's longevity in the industry has provided a foundation of expertise permitting him to successful navigate the most complex of transactions on behalf of his clients. Having consulted clients through hundreds of home inspections and working closely with builders, Stan's understanding of property conditions provides a critical advantage to my clients.
​
Real estate is in Stan's lineage, with many family members engaged in various elements of real estate development and the home construction process. Stan built the Partin Group so his clients would be expertly advised at every stage of the journey, from initial meeting to closing day. Learning, educating his buyers and sellers, and taking care of details from day one, is Stan's commitment to his clients.
Wendy is from Buffalo, NY and arrived in the triangle in 1999. Wendy spent most of her early career in the world of finance, serving as a Financial Manager for Ernst & Young, among others for 13 years. She loves trips to the beach, walking and sports. She has two children and one precious grandchild (are there any other kind?) Wendy is the consummate professional. Her client-focused nature and attention to details (big and small) allow her to give unparalleled service to homebuyers and sellers.
Melina Olivares, originally from Texas, has spent most of her life in Durham North Carolina. She studied Psychology at Meredith College and developed a career in Private Behavioral Consulting and Management of Public-Funded Services for the I/DD Community, specializing in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Her passion for working with people, her history of preserving long-standing relationships with professionals and families and her expertise in complex systems and contracts serve her well for her career in Real Estate.
Melina is a licensed Real Estate Broker and brings her esteemed standard of professionalism and skillset to every Client and Professional she encounters. Melina also owns her own Real Estate Investment Company and provides specialized expertise in local market knowledge and development. In her free time, Melina is fluent in spanish, loves to travel, explore Vegetarian Cuisine, focus on health & wellness and snuggle with all of her dogs.
​
What clients are saying:
Ericka B - Austin, TX: 2021-01-21
We bought and sold our house in Raleigh through Melina Olivares. She is the best realtor a type-A personality could ever hope for! She was always on time and well prepared for meetings and showings, including print outs when we were buying so that we could take notes on individual properties. She was great at anticipating our needs! When we sold our home, she provided advice on how to prep, timelines, when to go to market and answered all our questions. After 90+ showings over 2 days and 11 offers, she presented a spreadsheet with all the relevant offer details so that we could make a decision based on facts. We didn't even have to ask! We found her to be highly intuitive with fantastic area and real estate knowledge and super personable. Melina is an absolute pleasure to work with and I would recommend her to anyone searching for a home in the Triangle area.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandy C - Fuquay Varina, NC: 2021-01-21
I am so glad I found Melina. From the beginning Melina made herself available on my schedule to look at houses even adjusting her schedule to accommodate mine. Melina has solid real estate expertise and I never worried about her attending to all aspects and details of the process. She watched out for my interests and advocated for me when necessary. She provided good suggestions along the way and helped me navigate and successfully purchase my home of choice in a competitive market. Her personal thoughtfulness to me and my son was also very much appreciated. And we had fun along the way! I highly recommend Melina if you are looking for a great agent in the Raleigh area.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
​
Krystal J - Raleigh , North Carolina: 2021-01-15
Melina has helped me buy and sell multiple properties in the Triangle area for years. She has in depth knowledge of the Triangle, having worked in different markets and is very experienced in the field. She works directly with all of her clients on every transaction and never passes them on to a "team member" or colleague. She is also an active member of the LGBTQ community and is sensitive to their unique needs. She is an expert negotiator and a great advocate for her clients. She spends a great deal of time getting to know her clients and their individual needs and preferences. Melina's greatest skill lies in her ability to truly listen to people and assess how to best serve them. She is kind, attentive and patient and always makes you feel like you are her top priority.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
​
Jess K - Morrisville, NC: 2021-01-15
I called Melina in a panic one January after the owner of my rented house wanted to sell, and although I didn’t want the headache of a move, I knew if I was going to buy a house...I wanted to do it right. She listened to everything I wanted, down to every detail, e.g., how far from work, a window in the bathroom, lol, screen porch, etc. We looked at several options together, and she wanted me to be honest! She also reminded me about my list b/c sometimes we’d see one and what I said I wanted would just fly outta my head b/c I was worried we wouldn’t find something in time. She encouraged me to have patience, and then—BAM, she calls me and says check your email... and there it was, just on the market, almost with all the stuff on the list. She said we should go now, so I met her over there, we did all the paperwork online that night...and the rest is history. Been here 3 years and I still love it. Trust me, Melina is really good at this, gives great advice and if the seller agrees to something, she holds them to it! Highly recommend.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tanaka E - Durham , NC: 2021-01-15
Melina was very professional, patient, and knowledgeable about the process of buying a home. My husband and I had an enjoyable experience while looking for homes. She never pressured us and was very forthcoming about the houses. We are so overwhelmed with joy and happy with the home that we purchased. My family and I highly recommend Melina as your realtor.
Nicki is a native of Garner, North Carolina where she attended school before going on to UNC-Wilmington to obtain her degree in secondary education. She is truly a teacher at heart and has learned that real estate is really all about successfully educating Buyers and Sellers about the process, the market and their options.
Nicki began her real estate career in 2007 as an on-site agent for St. Lawrence Homes selling new construction homes. Since 2008, she has worked with Buyers and Sellers throughout the Triangle assisting them with successfully buying and selling resale and new construction properties. She uses her knowledge of the Triangle area, education background, and experience to continually teach clients about their real estate options, the state of the market, and so much more. Her ultimate goal is to help home buyers and sellers make wise decisions and have a seamless, stress-free transaction. Nicki achieves this by providing the information needed to facilitate a successful and positive real estate experience. Nicki also has the pleasure of working closely with her business partner, Mary Jane Barone, who is another service provider to our clients insuring that we're always available and working for you.
Nicki now lives in Willow Springs with her husband, Matt, and their two sons, Fletcher and Bennett. In her free time, she enjoys spending time at the beach, hanging out with her dogs, reading, and doing CrossFit with her family.
Having grown up and now raising her own family in this great area, she has the experience and the knowledge to assist you in buying or selling a home anywhere throughout the Triangle area.
Trish is a native of Ashboro, NC and studied at St. Mary Jr. College in Raleigh and UNC-Wilmington for her undergraduate degree and obtained her law degree from Campbell University Law School. Trish has spent most of her adult life professionally engaged with real estate transactions, either as agent, managing broker or attorney. Trish spent eight years mastering the coastal markets of Wilmington and Wrightsville beach before becoming a licensed attorney in 1989. In the Triangle market, Trish served as Corporate Risk Manager for one of the area's most successful real estate firms, in addition to managing five branch offices. Her vast experience has afforded her the opportunity to understand complicated real estate transactions from a multi-faceted perspective, providing great value to her clients. Trish is widely known and respected in the industry, and serves as a valued member of the Robbins & Associates Team.
With close to 30 years of experience in the industry, Noreen Barrett couples her knowledge and passion into a seamless home buying or selling experience for everyone.
Noreen had an idyllic childhood growing up on the outskirts of Dublin, Ireland where her dad had a large animal veterinary practice. As with most Irish people, she was a sports fanatic and enjoyed every weekend following rugby, football, and Gaelic games. Making the big move from Ireland in 1989, Noreen took her first job in the United States as a Wilderness Educational Counselor for at-risk teens in Eastern North Carolina. From
there, Noreen expanded her career to the community economic development field. She focused on affordable housing and small business lending which inspired her to search for a more active, face-to-face role with home buyers and sellers. She activated her long-held real estate license and joined Coldwell Banker, Atlantic Beach, NC in 2014, where she was awarded “rookie of the year” by the Crystal Coast Association of Realtors. She joined the Triangle MLS in 2018 after she moved to Raleigh and has been actively working with buyers and sellers since that time. Her secondary office is
still Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage in Atlantic Beach, NC, where she continues to serve her many friends gathered over her 30 years living in Beaufort, Morehead City and Wilmington.
Her love for community, combined with her eagerness to meet new people and hear their stories has given her the unique ability to make the home buying process more than just a transaction. Her primary goal and focus is to take that stress away by offering a complete package of support, experience, knowledge and superior communication to lessen the burden of the home buying or selling process. A self-described “people person,” Noreen enjoys being active in Raleigh, and in the end is motivated by one thing that never changes: providing her clients with the best service possible. Her hobbies include travel, cooking, understanding her Jack Russell terrorist Eddie, and playing pickleball (poorly!). Noreen holds her Senior Real Estate Specialist designation. Noreen serves as the board membership chair for the Harmony NC LGBT+ Allied Chamber of Commerce. She is an active member of the Wake County Facebook group, “Put the Kettle On” which has over 100 Irish born women in its membership. She has also recently served as a board member on a corporate Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion committee.
​
What clients are saying
Kitty B:
Noreen was lovely! I wasn’t sure what I wanted, and I met with her and told her of my wants & needs. She was very patient and accommodating. When my perfect place became available Noreen got me there first thing on the first day to look at the property. She then made some very helpful suggestions as I made the offer. I’m also aware that she was professional and extremely positive with the other real estate agent which I’m sure helped me get the house! I hope I never have to move again but if I do, I will not hesitate to call Noreen. She was wonderful!
Gary B:
Noreen is simply spectacular in every respect. She is thorough, responsive, affable, reliable, a staunch advocate, and extremely knowledgeable. We've worked with many Realtors for several home purchases, large and small. Noreen is easily the best!
Penny A:
I can't say enough good things about Noreen and the way she advocated for us throughout a very challenging closing process. She is knowledgeable, professional, and extremely responsive. We are so happy we chose her as our buyer's agent.