Teresa Garza has over 20 years of housing counseling experience, including real estate, real estate finance, housing counseling, and financial coaching. Throughout her career, she has worked with low to moderate-income populations, including immigrants and monolingual Spanish-speaking clients. Her work supports families in achieving and maintaining homeownership, using coaching and inclusionary housing programs. During the financial crisis of 2007-2008, she put her expertise to work as a foreclosure fighter. Due to a desire to enhance her counseling skills, Teresa earned a master’s in counseling psychology in 2019.
Because of her passion and commitment to asset building, she also does extensive volunteer work during the tax season working as a VITA site coordinator and Financial Aid U volunteer preparing taxes and assisting high school seniors to complete their applications for federal student aid. She is a proud member of the Leadership San Francisco Class of 2013 and is honored to champion Bay Area families as they work toward accomplishing their life goals.
Teresa is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist pursuing California state licensure. She also holds a HUD certification in housing counseling and is an AFCPE Certified Financial Fitness Coach and AFCPE Accredited Financial Counselor. She is currently working toward certifications in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health and Financial Therapy. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends at Dolores Park, trying out new soup recipes, and indoor cycling.