I did not chose Real Estate, Real Estate choose me. As a child I liked to build houses, I loved Lincoln Logs. I made elaborate two story homes with, out buildings and horse barns. I had a huge dollhouse that my father made it was a replica of a Victorian house from the early 1800's. It had gingerbread and had a 5-color paint job. It was my dream home. My mother picked out furniture in the genre and helped me place the furniture in the proper rooms. I would get pieces of furniture for my birthday, Christmas and as prizes.
Every summer we would leave to go to a cooler location. We always rented. Every summer we had a different house. We always went to a resort town and mostly stayed on the water. I loved the old rambling Victorians the best. There were so many places to hide and to explore. In one there was a butler's pantry and a dumb waiter. I was in heaven.
My husbands family was in the Real Estate Business on Fire Island New York. Both our family philosophy's was own your home, never rent. We
We looked through the United Farm catalogs to find a property we could afford. One day we found a 40 acre farm for a really good deal. The farm house was old and very rustic, so rustic it only had an outhouse. We bought it. We fixed it up. We sold it. We doubled our money.
Our outhouse looked better than this one. It was a two seat-er. University of South Florida is my Alma Mater
We were on the hunt for a new house. At twenty and with a child we headed to Key West. We looked for a long time until the perfect house for us came up. With our real estate profits we bought a house. Key West at the time was a sleepy little fishing village. Houses were cheap. The house we bought was built in 1867. We sat at the top of Solaris Hill the highest point on the island (17 feet above sea level)
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We did extensive renovation carefully keeping the home historically correct. I was hooked. Buying and selling real estate became my passion. Renovating became my job.
The Palladian Window in he Kitchen were rescued from St Mary's Convent. The Convent was declared a National Historic Monument after it was torn down.
I got my first Florida Real Estate license in 1979. I was thrilled I could now have the inside track on good real estate deals. Friends started to notice what I was doing and wanted me to find them houses. It was as much fum finding a friend a house as it was buying one myself. I was ecstatic. I was getting paid to pursue my passion.
Many years have gone by and many homes have been renovated and I still have the passion for the business. I have added another element to my real estate career. I got my brokers license in Colorado in 1995 and spend 6 months in Colorado and 6 months in Key West selling real estate. I still have my original 1867 Conch house plus a 1905 Victorian in Palisade Colorado.
We are in the process of bringing the new house (it came with a bathroom) back to it's original glory, while still maintaining and improving the 1867 Key West House. As a result of my passion I morphed into an Electronic Broker. I am able to conduct my business anywhere without a hitch. I have everything on line and I am connected by technology.
EB Realty sponsors a Walking Guide to Historical Homes in Palisade Colorado where our offices are located. I Key West we have a Historical Guide to Key West Architecture.
I did not choose to become a Realtor it just happened. I Could not have picked a more satisfying career.
I do not have any baby pictures here in Colorado. Above is my sister and me in the early 70's.
This is me in the 1970's in my back yard in Key West. The only thing the same is the necklace.
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