Today we’d like to introduce you to Denetra Johnson.
Hi Denetra, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was fortunate to grow up traveling with my parents. Some of my favorite childhood memories are our family trips to Disney World every Christmas and Thanksgiving. Those experiences sparked my love for travel, but as I got older, I viewed many destinations as out of reach.
Everything changed in January 2020 when I got tired of waiting on other people and decided to take my first solo trip to Boyne Mountain for a ski day. I documented the experience in a blog post that unexpectedly went viral. That trip gave me the confidence to keep exploring on my own.
A year later after the pandemic, I took my first international solo trip to Mexico, for my birthday. I rented a car (had no idea what I was doing driving in a foreign country lol), created a full itinerary, and drove to Tulum and stayed there for 7 days, couldn’t speak a lick of Spanish just a translator. I had no idea what I was doing, but it ended up being one of the best experiences of my life. From that moment on, I was hooked.I’m naturally adventurous, and solo travel has given me freedom, confidence, peace of mind, and some of the most memorable experiences of my life. My goal is to show people that the world is more accessible than they think and that sometimes the best things happen when you stop waiting and just go. I’ve met so many people while solo traveling. I literally meet a new friend every time I’m on a trip. I’ve met other solo travelers online and we met up. I met up with another solo traveler we spent a day in Paris and went to a concert in London the next day. lol I love it.
Today, I’ve traveled to 17 countries and built a platform called Adventure with Netra, where I share my adventures and encourage others to step outside their comfort zones. Solo travel has given me freedom, confidence, peace of mind, and a deeper appreciation for different cultures. Hope to one day move out of the country (I will lol). I’ve been blessed to touch places like Bali, Kenya (I was able to walk with animals a beautiful feeling) , Finland the real north pole, and so many more. on my day I always try to take it all in, and just thank God for letting me be here to experience this. I’m blessed and cant wait to continue to travel.
my goal is the same: to create a life filled with purpose, growth, and meaningful experiences. Most of all freedom!!
@adventurewithnetra
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, but every challenge has helped shape who I am today
On the travel side, solo travel can be intimidating. My first few trips came with a lot of uncertainty and fear because I was navigating unfamiliar places on my own. I had to learn how to trust myself, plan ahead, and become comfortable stepping outside my comfort . ALways be safe. share your location and itinerary with family and friends. Have all US emergency exit. and don’t overly share information.
Another challenge was simply believing that certain destinations were possible for me. Growing up, I loved traveling with my family, but as I got older, many places felt out of reach. Once I stopped waiting on other people and started taking trips on my own, I realized the only thing really holding me back was fear.
Travel has taught me confidence, independence, and how to trust myself. Every trip isn’t perfect, but I’ve learned that some of the best experiences happen when you’re willing to take a chance and embrace the unknown.
I’ve also learned that growth requires patience. Patience with yourself mostly. Whether it’s building a business or traveling the world, things rarely happen overnight. The biggest lesson has been to stay consistent, trust the process, and keep moving forward even when things don’t go exactly as planned. And listen everything doesn’t always go as planned.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I’m a Realtor in Metro Detroit, but I like to think of myself as a resource first. I help first-time homebuyers, sellers, and investors navigate real estate while showing people how to use it as a tool to build wealth.
A lot of people know me as The House Dealer. What sets me apart is that I don’t just talk about real estate—I live it. I’m an investor myself, I own property, I have property management experience, and I work with a lot of investors looking to buy, hold, flip, and grow their portfolios.
I’m also big on education and community. Whether it’s hosting Market Mondays, seminars, investing workshops, or creating content online, I love helping people understand real estate in a way that feels approachable and achievable.
What I’m most proud of is the impact I’ve been able to make. I’ve helped dozens of families and investors reach their goals, and many of my clients come back or refer their friends and family. At the end of the day, I want people to know that I genuinely care, I’m going to keep it real with them, and I’m committed to helping them make the best decision for their situation.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I’d say stop waiting and just go for it.
A lot of the things I’ve accomplished happened because I got tired of waiting on the perfect timing, the perfect plan, or other people. Whether it was real estate, investing, or traveling solo, I learned that confidence comes from doing, not from having all the answers.
Be patient with yourself! Stay consistent, be willing to learn, and don’t let fear stop you from trying. Some of the best things that have happened in my life came from stepping outside of my comfort zone.
@adventurewithnetra
@soldbynetra
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @adventurewithnetra @soldbynetra
- Facebook: Denetra Johnson
- LinkedIn: Denetra johnson
- TikTok: @adventurewithnetra @soldbynetra
