Direct from Dawn

Memorial Weekend is here. It brings back memories of my first visit to Phoenix in 2000. I had to find a home in 3 days. With the help of my Realtor, I found the perfect home the very first day. She had done her homework. OF course I am working now as a Realtor! I have been in the real estate industry almost 9 years, particularly the Southeast Valley of Metro Phoenix, Arizona. My expertise is Relocation and Realtor Relations. Right now I am the Sales Director for an awesome condo project in Tempe, AZ called "Sotelo", near ASU and Papago Park. It is the perfect location for urban dwellers. We are in Phase One of the project and it is going to be edgy, modern and upscale. It was love at first sight. More updates coming on the Grand Opening late summer.(We have had great sales so far.) My past experience includes: Information Center Manager at Power Ranch, Sales Manager, Director of Business Development, Interim Relocation Director at Prudential Arizona Properties, Keller Williams Relocation Specialist, and AZ based Corporate Recruiter. I enjoy coaching, judging cheer and pom, blogging with MSU alumni and visiting my family in Michigan. My "therapy" pets are Daisy and Cookie. A 5 year old American Boxer and a 17 year old Calico cat!

Relocating here from Michigan in August of 2000 was an experience I will never forget. My Realtor picked my 16 year old daughter and me up at Sky Harbor around 3 p.m. We proceeded to the parking structure and opened the doors to a blast of "dry" heat. Our new lives had begun. The Realtor had an older Chrysler that had great air conditioning. (The bad kind we don't use anymore.) We headed toward Superstition Springs to spend the next 3 weeks at the Country Inn Suites until we closed on our new home in Higley. Telling a 16 year old she is moving her junior year of high school to Higley, Arizona takes courage. If you have clients who are moving teens, this site has tips to help with the transition. For instance, if your teen is involved in any sport call all the school districts to find out who the directors are and who is accepting new talent. A lot don't. One of the reasons we ended up where we did was because Gilbert School district was so awesome, in particular Highland High School. The cheer coach allowed my daughter to try out the first week of school for the Varsity Squad in her classroom! Yes, she made it. Whatever they love to do, get them involved on a local level. I had to start making calls in March.

Do you have a good story to share about relocating?

 Dawn H. at Sotelo