Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty is pleased to welcome Ren Friddell to our brokerage. We are confident that Ren's skills with matching moves to mindsets will help her provide the excellent service that makes Mosaic Realty the top-producing real estate agency in Asheville and WNC. Mosaic's Hillary Edgin took a moment to connect with Ren over these questions.
Can you please share a bit about your background with us?
I’m originally from rural Georgia, but by the time I was 18, I knew I wanted to see more of the world, so I moved to Atlanta. At that point, I was focused on the beauty business—hair and makeup—which gave me an early education in customer service and connection. Sitting in my chair, clients often shared how my work made them feel, and that taught me how important it is to truly listen. Looking back, that was the beginning of what I now see as a lifelong path of entrepreneurship.
After spending time working in Atlanta and New York, I felt ready for something completely different. I wanted four seasons, wide open space, and a place where I could hike and explore nature, so I packed up my dog and headed to New Mexico. It was a chapter that gave me a new perspective, but eventually, I felt the pull to be closer to family again and made my way back east to Atlanta. That’s where I met my husband, Greg, and we’ve been on our own adventure together ever since.
By 2007, we both knew we were ready for a change of pace from city life. We started looking for a place that felt more manageable, had a strong community, and offered easy access to the outdoors—somewhere in the mountains where we could really settle in. Asheville checked every box. We moved here in 2007 and bought a home in West Asheville, where we still live today with our dogs, Tonka and Mavis, and our cats, Otis and Edith.
What made you want to be a real estate broker?
After we bought our house, I started doing hair at Ananda Hair Studio and eventually became one of the owners. Being a stylist meant talking about so much more than hair. People would sit in my chair and share pieces of their lives, their plans, and what “home” meant to them. I loved helping people feel seen and supported as they made big, personal decisions.
It was when we began renovating our own home that my connection to real estate really took shape. I became fascinated by how a space could be reimagined to better fit someone’s life—how a house could evolve alongside the person living in it. That process sparked my interest in helping others find not just a place to live, but a place that truly felt like theirs. Real estate started to feel like a natural extension of what I already loved: guiding people, listening to what matters to them, and helping align their lifestyle with the space they call home. Eventually, I sold my shares in Ananda to focus fully on building my real estate path and growing my knowledge so I could better support the people I work with.
Not too long ago, while working with a seller, I met Mosaic broker, Jackie Dirscherl, who was representing the buyers on the same deal, and I was immediately impressed by her approach and heart for her clients. I told her, “I’m loving what you’re building, and I’d love to be part of it.” I also already knew Mosaic's owner, Mike Figura, from the neighborhood and his work at the Hudson Cottages, and I admired how rooted he was in the community. When I learned about Mosaic’s focus on “community lifestyle,” it felt like the perfect fit. I’m grateful to be part of this team and excited about what we’re building together.
It is a team of very passionate people, for sure! What are some of your passion projects or subjects?
I love hiking, the outdoors, and nature conservation, but my deeper focus is women’s empowerment. I founded She Owns It AVL as a space for building a community of women—entrepreneurs, creatives, and makers—who connect, share their stories, and show up for one another in support of our lives and businesses. It's growing into a beautiful thing.
Another big passion of mine is animal advocacy. When we first moved here, it was still legal for dogs to be kept chained on a property. I worked with a small group to build fences for dog owners who felt like chaining was their only option. Afterward, we’d help with housetraining or whatever support was needed to create a better relationship between people and their dogs.
The fences became a way to build trust—not just with pets, but within the larger community. Along the way, we were proud to help change city ordinances to ban chaining altogether.
When it comes to giving back, these two areas take up much of my free time, and I also support RiverLink, MountainTrue, Conserving Carolina, and Mountain Pet Rescue.
Other than having massive stores of energy (Ed. note: Yikes!), what do you think are your superpowers?
I’m really good at helping people feel heard and get clear. Once that happens, the rest of the process gets a lot less overwhelming—whether someone is letting go of a home or stepping into a new one. I take the time to listen, reflect things back, and help sort through what actually matters versus what’s just noise. From there, we can move forward with a plan that fits their life, not just the market.
That's a great way of looking at it. Are there certain communities in which that seems to happen more naturally for you?
It’s not really about one specific area for me—it’s about finding the right fit for the person. I’ve lived in West Asheville for 18 years and still love the walkability and sense of community here, but what pulls me in is helping others find a place that matches how they want to live.
I’m naturally attracted to areas with a strong sense of place, whether that means being close to trails and the mountains, or being able to walk to coffee, friends, and daily life. My goal is always the same: to help people land somewhere that feels like them.
Connect with Ren at Ren@MyMosaicRealty.com or 828-846-9282
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