DENICE & ALICIA NELSON - EXECUTIVE AGENT MAGAZINE

AGENT MAGAZINE

E x e c u t i v e

Ag e n t

M a g a z i n e . I n l a n d

E m p i r e

E d i t i o n . N o v e m b e r, 2 0 2 1

Denice & Alicia

®

EXECUTIVE

Denice & Alicia

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Written by H. K. Wilson - Photography by Ian Wiant

or those seeking a home away from the bustle of SoCal’s urban centers, you may want to explore the magic that is waiting just a few miles away in the community of Wrightwood — conveniently accessible from the 15 Freeway and more navigable Executive Agent Magazine

year-round than Big Bear or Mammoth. Nestled in the San Gabriel mountains at an elevation of 6,000 feet, this quaint town of 4,800 residents rests in a pinesheltered valley, where the scent of evergreens spices the air year-round.

Country Life REALTY Realtor® Denice Nelson grew up in a family of general contractors and then married into another. She has lived in Wrightwood for more than 30 years. “If we’re not building houses, we’re selling them,” she says.

Her daughter, Alicia Nelson, grew up in Wrightwood.

She was tagging along showing houses with her mom at age five and later worked alongside her dad on building sites. She eventually followed Denice into real estate, and today they are business partners at local real estate boutique Country Life Realty.

The Country Life Realty office is located right in the heart of town on Park Drive. And it is part of the town’s heart, established in 1990 by Pam Mortimer and Marilyn Wells and purchased in 2012 by Broker/Owner Rick Jones and Co-owner Cathy Jones. They and their team of agents are the resident experts in this unique community, and they

have helped many people buy or sell properties in town.

Local expertise is vital to a smooth real estate transaction in this area where there are numerous historic homes and other factors that can pose unique challenges. Many cabins were built in Wrightwood in the 1920s and 1930s, so Denice and Alicia’s extensive knowledge of construction is useful to buyers in assessing the condition of a property and the cost of rehab or remodel.

Further, the area’s flood zones and septic systems might befuddle an agent from down the hill, but not these ladies.

“Agents constantly call us because they can’t get insurance,” Denice says. “We know exactly what to do. It’s an important thing to know about when someone is qualifying to buy a home. Because of the FEMA flood zones, first-time buyers can’t always qualify with the extra cost of flood insurance.”

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Alicia says, “In a mountain community, septic is one of biggest things. We always want to make sure of the integrity of the tank. Even if you think it’s good, there’s still a chance it won’t pass, so sellers need to be prepared.

Denice adds, “That’s a big deal, and we know who to call — contractors we work with who are honest, ethical and take pride in their reputations.” Reputation is everything in a small town. When Denice and Alicia Executive Agent Magazine

are out at Jensen’s (the town’s only grocery store), the post office or Wrightwood’s only gas station, they are bound to run into past clients who are now neighbors.

According to these ladies, they never have to shy away, since they always treat people right. Denice says, “Do unto others — if you live life that way, it’s a great life.

That’s our bottom line for everybody, and people love working with us because we’re always watching out for their best interests.”

Loving Life in the High Country A past client commented: “Denice is fantastic! She totally went out of her way to accommodate our schedules.

When we found the house we loved, she let us go back to ‘make sure’ this is the one at four times. Such a great Realtor® that truly listens.”

Another said: “Alicia is awesome! Very professional and works hard to get you the best deal. I highly recommend her if you are looking to buy or sell property.”

Denice and Alicia are recognizable not just for their real estate representation, but also for their ongoing contributions to the community, whether to the Wrightwood Car Show, Mountaineer Days or the annual tree lighting event. “We love Wrightwood,” Denice says. “We’re never leaving.”

Yet another generation is poised to join the family business, Alicia’s son Jack. In his fifth grade yearbook,

he was asked what he wanted to be when he grows up.

His answer? A Realtor®. In the meantime, he is enjoying growing up in this friendly community that is also close to nature.

With the shift to remote work that has accompanied the pandemic, many young families are moving into Wrightwood. They are delighted to find a safe community with a great school district. Recently, the city upgraded to UIA high speed internet, making it possible to work from home.

According to Alicia, you’re either a mountain person, or you’re not. If you’re ready to give the High Country life a try, give her and Denice a call. “When people move here from a new town, we’re their first friends. We want them to feel comfortable knowing we’re somebody they can trust to introduce them into the community.”

Executive Agent Magazine

DENICE & ALICIA NELSON

Country Life Realty 6050 Park Drive, Wrightwood, CA 92397 Tel: Denice 760.662.6577 / Alicia 760.662.9642 denice.nelson@yahoo.com - Alicia.clr@yahoo.com www.countryliferealty.com DRE # 01925148 / 02006814