It is my fondest hope that you can take a moment to read this! It’s been almost 40 years since I started this “real estate as a career” journey, and it’s not just been about making money and taking more listings (to make more money). It’s been- and remains about a string of islands that I call home. And the people and places that make it even more special as the years fly by. When You live here as long as I, you realize that the sun shines differently here.
In the very beginning, I worked for premier developer, Joe Moretti, who developed Hammer Point and Madeira Village.(You may Know of his son Ritchie – who has the Turtle Hospital down South). We sat onsite at the new builds, and those bay view, canal front homes started at $115k and went up to a whopping 200K! Monty Greene and Mike Denius were in that mix too. I learned that the Keys environment was delicate, and working within the State Area of Critical Concern regulations was arduous but necessary. I made many friends in that era and started to realize just how important this service I provide could be. I went on in that time, to help Laura Quinn escape death threats in her oceanside neighborhood and build The Florida Keys Wild Bird Center Just North of Hammer Point on the bay front native land.
I worked for all the major “Brands” and collected all the trinkets and accolades that come along with top production. I served the local Board of Realtors, and Women’s Council of Realtors in almost every capacity, and I never stopped caring about home affordability for everyone. I lived and worked through the major fluctuations in the market, many times taking on other jobs to keep afloat. I learned so much from the people who care about this little fragile place, and it has forever changed me.
Now, as I look back, I remain committed to the people and places here, that hold so many memories for me. And I find pride in helping others make this place their home. No one knows this island home better than I, and no one knows homes better than Better Homes and Gardens Destinations.
