Tobin Bossola
Rising Star: Natali Zaher
Partner
Spotlight: Brian & Kristin Lunsford, Bring the Joy Ventures
PHOTO BY REAL ESTATEOGRAPHERS
Preferred Partners
This section has been created to give you easier access when searching for a trusted real estate affiliate. Take a minute to familiarize yourself with the businesses sponsoring your magazine. These local businesses are proud to partner with you and make this magazine possible. Please support these businesses and thank them for supporting the REALTOR® community!
HANDYMAN SERVICES
Fix-it Flamingo (904) 474-1768 fixitflamingo.com
HOME BUILDER
Century Communities (904) 618-3220 centurycommunities.com
HOME BUYER
Mac Home Development Inc (904) 887-4015 machomedevelopment.com
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Design Works (941) 355-2703 www.hskindustries.com
HOME WARRANTY
Fidelity National Home Warranty
Betty Carter (904) 716-0819 homewarranty.com
First American Home Warranty
Sierrah Stolte (904) 718-3685 firstamrealestate.com
INSPECTIONS
LunsPro Inspections (904) 249-6523 LunsProFlorida.com
River City Home Inspections (904) 654-4732 rivercityhomeinspect.com
INSURANCE
Kilpatrick Agency Inc:
Goosehead Insurance (904) 420-7711 goosehead.com/agents/ carol-kilpatrick/
MORTGAGE / LENDER
Atlantic Trust Mortgage (904) 338-9356 AtlanticTrustMortgage.com
First Coast Mortgage (703) 627-1775
FirstCoastMortgageFunding.com
Future Home Loans (904) 887-7926 future.loans
Mortgages By Linda (904) 591-3662 mortgagesbylinda.com/
Movement Mortgage (404) 751-8463 tylertatum.com
North Florida Mortgage Brokers
Timothy Newman (904) 755-0307 northfloridamortgage brokers.com
Regions Bank - MacDonald
Mortgage Team
Ian MacDonald (904) 998-4961 regions.com/mlo/ianmacdonald
OUTDOOR LIGHTING
JoyLights (904) 474-1768 WeBringTheJoy.com
PEST CONTROL SERVICES
Kingfish Pest Control (904) 595-5300 KingfishPest.com
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Collage Day School (904) 900-1439 CollageDaySchool.org
REAL ESTATE MEDIA
Real Home Image
Michael Rowlette (904) 930-3756 realhomeimage.com
REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY
The Real Estateographers (904) 770-5262 therealestateographers.com
RENOVATIONS
Renovation Sells (904) 655-2411 renovationsells.com/jax
ROOFING & EXTERIORS
Mighty Dog RoofingJacksonville FLA (904) 867-7859 mightydogroofing.com
SPORTS TEAMS
Jacksonville Jaguars (904) 633-3348 Jaguars.com
TITLE COMPANY
Atlantic Coast Title & Escrow (904) 853-5591 atlanticcoasttitleandescrow.com
Cherry Tile LLC
Angelique “Chrissy” Kirsch (904) 300-3414 cherrytitle.us
Landmark Title (904) 367-2525 LandmarkTitle.com
Omega National Title Agency, LLC (904) 456-0858 Omeganationaltitle.com
Woods, Weidenmiller, Michetti & Rudnick, LLP
Josh Rudnick (239) 325-4070
WEALTH MANAGEMENT
Whitacre Wealth Management (410) 961-6548
WhitacreWealth Management.com
Kristin and Brian Lunsford Owners/Publishers
Jess Wellar Writer
Zachary Cohen Writer
Scott Golmic Photographer
Michele Jerrell Operations Manager
Determined to Make It Happen
A GIRLS’ WEEKEND AGAINST ALL ODDS
BY KRISTIN LUNSFORD
You’ve probably heard the old postal service adage:
“Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail shall keep the postmen from their appointed rounds.”
I recently lived this—except it wasn’t mail, it was a long-awaited girls’ weekend that nothing was going to stop.
I’ve been friends with these amazing women since middle school, and while life keeps us busy, our time together is always special. With six schedules to coordinate, finding a weekend that worked was a miracle. So, when we finally decided on MLK weekend in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia, we were ecstatic!
Obstacle #1: The Flight Fiasco
A week before the trip, my husband Brian casually reviewed my travel plans. “So, you’re flying to Atlanta on Monday,” he remarked.
I rolled my eyes, confident he wasn’t paying attention. “No, Brian. I fly HOME to Jacksonville on Monday.”
He smirked. “Well… that’s not what your ticket says.”
Cue full-blown panic. WHAT?! How did I mess this up? And more importantly, how do I fix it ASAP? A few frantic searches and some quick thinking later, I rebooked my flight. Crisis averted.
Obstacle #2: The Vanishing Cabin
Just as I breathed a sigh of relief, another curveball hit—our rental cabin canceled
our reservation. Seriously?! Another inconvenience, but we weren’t backing down. With a little scrambling, we found a new place. The trip was still on!
Obstacle #3: A Winter Storm Warning
Icy roads made travel dangerous. Not exactly ideal for a group of women unaccustomed to mountain driving. The new cabin owner strongly advised canceling.
Some of our husbands gently suggested rescheduling. Finding another weekend that worked for all six of us? Not happening anytime soon.
Mortgages That Mean more
We found a warmer destination and kept our plans.
Obstacle #4: The Flu Strikes Days before departure, one friend tested positive for the flu. Our group chat exploded with remedies. We were determined—she made it, just a day late!
The Power of Determination
Despite every setback, we made it happen. Imagine if we tackled our dreams the same way—not just hoping, but acting.
So, what in your life needs less hope and more determined action?
KRISTIN LUNSFORD
&BRIAN LUNSFORD
Bring the Joy Ventures
In Case You Didn’t Know: Kristin & Brian Are Ready to Work with You
Over the past several years, Kristin and Brian Lunsford have expanded their suite of companies with a clear goal in mind: to spread joy throughout the Jacksonville community by providing world-class service. It all started in Florida with LunsPro Inspections in 2015; Kingfish Pest Control followed, in 2016. Since then, Kristin and Brian have added several more companies: Jacksonville Real Producers, JoyLights, and Fix-it Flamingo Home Services. While each company offers different services, they are connected through a commitment to service and joy. That’s why the overall organization is aptly named Bring the Joy Ventures.
“We have so many service offerings, and sometimes it can be hard to explain everything we
do service-wise,” Brian shares. “We’ve brought them all together under Bring the Joy Ventures. Our mission is to bring joy to everyone we encounter, whether it’s someone in line at the grocery store or a customer, team member, vendor, or REALTOR® partner. We want to deliver on that promise. Bring the Joy Ventures does that.”
“We want to show the real estate community that we have these other companies, we stand behind them, and we bring joy to customers every day through them,” Kristin adds.
go-to home inspection company serving agents, buyers, and sellers from north of Jacksonville to south of St. Augustine and everywhere in between.
It wasn’t long after LunsPro’s arrival that Kingfish Pest Control entered the scene. Kingfish, known for its extremely highlevel of customer care, is also well-known as a loyal partner to the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and the only pest control provider of the Jags new $120 million, 125,000-square foot practice facility, the Miller Electric Center.
Control
LunsPro Inspections & Kingfish Pest
Although Brian’s entrepreneurial journey began in Georgia nearly twenty years ago, LunsPro Inspections hit the ground running in Northeast Florida a decade ago. LunsPro has solidified itself as a
Jacksonville Real Producers, JoyLights, & Fix-it Flamingo After adding Jacksonville Real Producers in 2021, Kristin and Brian welcomed their fourth company to the stage in 2022. JoyLights Seasonal and Permanent Lightscapes is perhaps
BY ZACHARY COHEN PHOTOS BY THE REAL ESTATEOGRAPHERS
the most obvious example of their dedication to creating joy. With so much experience running businesses and a full staff already on board, the Lunsfords had a headstart in making the leap from idea conception to serving the community through outdoor lighting solutions (think Christmas lights, permanent lighting, and landscape lighting).
The fifth company, Fix-it Flamingo Home Services, was established in 2023.
“It was born through our team reaching out to us,” Brian explains. “They saw a need for reliable handyman services, whether it’s a REALTOR® who needs it for a listing, a buyer or seller who needs a home inspection item fixed, or someone looking for dependable white glove handyman services. People often tell us they can’t get handymen to answer their phones. We excel with communication and saw a need, so we built Fix-it Flamingo.”
Making a Difference Through Joy and Community
With each company, Kristin, Brian, and their team take a community-centered, servicefirst approach to the business. It’s no wonder they’ve come to be known for bringing the joy.
“I hope people say we deliver on our promises in work, but they also say we are faithful people who are looking well beyond ourselves and our companies to impact our community,” Brian shares. “We love Northeast Florida. We infuse charity and giving back in everything we do, but it even goes deeper than that. The long-term game for us is to make sure this community is left a lot better than when we got here… for our kids, for their kids, building on this wonderful place we live in. We want to help in any way we can.”
“WHETHER YOU NEED A HOME INSPECTION OR TERMITE AND PEST CONTROL, A HANDYMAN OR PROFESSIONAL OUTDOOR LIGHTING–WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED!” -BRIAN & KRISTIN LUNSFORD
Family Spotlight
Kristin and Brian’s children, Jake and Abby, are now 12 and 11, respectively. They are well on their way to achieving their family goal of visiting all 50 states before the kids graduate high school, having checked 34 off their list so far. “We value experiences more than anything,” Kristin says.
Real Estate Transactions
Owned
BY
THE DRIVE TO THRIVE Tobin
Bossola
When Tobin Bossola decided to leave his stable, salaried job at Home Depot in 2006, he was taking a leap of faith into a career that promised more flexibility and potential. The long hours and all-consuming nature of his role as a Home Depot Store
Manager didn’t align with the life he envisioned, and so, he turned to real estate.
“My wife and I were planning to have kids, and I didn’t want to be married to the job,” Tobin recalls. “I started exploring options, and real estate stood out. It was an exciting time in the market, and I thought it would provide the flexibility I wanted for my family.”
That leap of faith into real estate, however, coincided with one of the most turbulent periods in the industry’s history.
A Rocky Start
After leaving Home Depot, where he had spent five years, Tobin entered real estate just as the market began to unravel. He joined Vanguard, drawn by the brokerage’s forward-thinking approach to lead generation.
“My team leader at Vanguard Realty was ahead of his time,” Tobin explains. “He had invested in SEO and owned about 20 domains, generating hundreds of leads monthly. That gave me something to work with as I started out.”
Despite these tools, Tobin’s first year was challenging. He had only one closing in 2006. By 2007, he had found his rhythm, but when the market bottomed out in 2008, the challenges escalated.
“Our first child was born in December 2007, and for the next five months, I didn’t have a single closing,” Tobin recalls. “We were burning through savings, and I started to feel doubt creep in. I even began teaching myself to code and stayed up late doing online surveys to earn a little extra money.”
While money was tight, there was a silver lining. “I got to be really involved in the early part of my daughter’s life,” Tobin says. “But I knew I had to find a way to make real estate work.”
A Strategic Pivot
Determined to carve out a sustainable niche, Tobin immersed himself in the foreclosure market. He began doing Broker Price Opinions (BPOs), completing over 1,000 in 2009 and 2010.
“BPOs were a great way to stay busy, make some money, and learn the
ZACHARY COHEN PHOTOS BY THE REAL ESTATEOGRAPHERS
“Organization is huge.”
A
Business Today
market,” Tobin explains. “They also led to a few foreclosure listings, which became a turning point.”
When Coldwell Banker was purchased by his brokerage, Tobin joined their foreclosure team, and his career took off.
“My listing volume exploded,” he says.
“I took over an account and grew it exponentially. For five years, I was deeply immersed in foreclosures, and that experience gave me a huge number of listings and a large book of business, especially with investors.”
Even as Tobin thrived in the foreclosure space, he maintained a diverse business model. “I knew the foreclosure market wouldn’t last forever, so I kept working on other parts of my business,” he says.
“That decision made a big difference when the market shifted again.”
Nineteen years later, Tobin is still with Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty, working as a solo agent. In 2023, he had his best year yet, closing nearly $24 million in volume with over 55 transactions. He followed that with a $8 million, 24-transaction year in a down market in 2024.
“My business thrives on personal connections,” Tobin says. “I’ve developed a script I’ve memorized so I can focus on looking people in the eye and really connecting with them.”
Tobin attributes his success to three key principles: doing BPOs to gain market knowledge, creating worklists to stay accountable, and staying organized. “Organization is huge,” he emphasizes. “It’s what keeps everything moving smoothly.”
Full-Time Dad and REALTOR®
Outside of real estate, Tobin’s life revolves around his family. He and his wife, Rachel, have three children: Lily (17), Amelia (13), and Myles (10). Rachel, a part-time pediatric nurse, works three days a week, while Tobin takes on a hands-on role at home.
“I’m up every day helping my kids get ready for school, making breakfast, and packing lunches,” Tobin says. “Being present for my family is just as important to me as my career.”
Tobin’s past experiences also influence his personal life. A former cook with a degree in environmental horticulture, he enjoys preparing meals for his family and tending to their garden. “We grow some of our own food and compost — it’s something we enjoy doing together,” he says.
Tobin hopes to leave a legacy defined by being a good husband and father, as well as a professional who was deeply committed to his clients.
“One of the things that separates me from other REALTORS® is how driven I am,” he says. “I wake up every day ready to exercise, get organized, and get to work.”
NATALI
Following Her Big Heart
“I have a favorite Bible quote, Proverbs 4:23: ‘Above all else, protect your heart, for everything you do flows from it.’ It’s very true, even in real estate — everything I do, I do it from my heart,” begins Natali Zaher, a talented new REALTOR® with Herron Real Estate in Jacksonville.
In her first full year as a REALTOR®, Natali achieved a jaw-dropping $16 million in sales volume across 43 transactions in 2024 — which speaks volumes of her perseverance, devout faith, and dogged determination to rise above life’s challenges while listening to her heart.
From Syria to Rising Star Born and raised in Syria, Natali’s life took a dramatic turn when she moved to America at just nine years old with her older sister, fleeing before an imminent war in her home country. Her mother was forced to stay behind due to visa complications, and nearly lost her life when a missile narrowly missed their home.
“My dad had arrived in the U.S. before my sister and I, but he was working 16-hour days to make ends meet,” Natali recalls.
“Our Syrian currency was worth nothing in America; so my sister, who was 14 at the time, was working too and I had to raise myself. I won’t lie – it was tough and the worst time of my life. I would just sit in class and cry.”
Finally, six years later, Natali’s mother was able to reunite with their family and escape the ongoing conflict.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Natali learned English within six months and began laying the foundation for her future.
Natali took her first job at age 14, and eventually obtained her MBA in logistics while juggling various colorful endeavors along the way to pay for school and fund her love of travel. She worked as
BY JESS WELLAR
a private tutor during the COVID-19 pandemic, guiding students through online learning, exploring various entrepreneurial ventures, including selling water bottles on Amazon and even babysitting for nonprofits. She knew she was destined for greater things and continued to pray for guidance from above.
“I felt like I was failing in every direction,” Natali admits. “But then I felt God leading me into real estate. I used my savings to step into this industry, and it lit a fire under me. I had to support my family here and in Syria so I really didn’t have a choice to fail.”
Top Priorities
An unexpected conversation with a relative of a tutoring client led Natali to Herron Real Estate, where her career has been flourishing since March 2023. She credits her extroverted, authentic personality, business coaching, and supportive
brokerage for helping her build a solid foundation quickly in what can often be a tough business to break into.
“This is a relationship business,” she emphasizes. “I’m not in the business to sell you something. I want to find something for you that you will love and be excited about.”
Her genuine approach extends to social media, where she frequently showcases the highs and lows of her work day.
“I’m not afraid to show the losses as well as the wins,” she notes. “It makes people trust you when they see that you’re real and not just pretending it’s easy.”
Being an Arab woman succeeding in real estate has also made Natali a source of inspiration for her community, as she readily points out that Jacksonville boasts a very diverse population.
“I get messages all the time on social media saying that I inspire others,” she shares. “Coming from Jacksonville, which is mostly foreigners, it gives them hope that they can also live the American dream.”
Despite her lightning success, Natali’s faith remains central to her life and career.
“My faith guides me to have the best intentions in this industry,” she affirms. “It leads me to build relationships instead of focusing on numbers. I pray, and it protects me. If it’s not meant for me, it won’t come to me … When a deal falls
apart, I know something better is coming along.”
Thinking Big
When it comes to her future, Natali’s ambitions are global and audacious. With 27 countries already under her belt, she’s well on her way to achieving her goal of visiting 30 countries before she turns 30. Next on her travel list? Number 28 is Australia next month and her wanderlust is palpable.
Professionally, Natali is setting her sights on the international real estate scene and savvy investments.
“My goal is to get licensed in other states and then expand into international markets, specifically in Mexico, Italy, and the UAE,” she offers. “Those are the hottest markets in the world right now, and I want to help people maximize profits while easing into properties.”
Despite her fledgling success, Natali remains humble and focused on her bigger life purpose.
“I believe in helping people no matter what my gain is from the transaction,” she concludes. “If I have to take a harmless loss for someone to gain a big win, I will do that. My purpose is to serve my community, whether or not it fully serves my financial interests.”
What is your favorite outdoor activity?
Hiking. Nothing calms the soul for me than going for a hike in the woods or by the sea on a great trail. My newest favorite place I keep going back to is Ireland to visit my daughter who lives in Dublin and go hiking
I enjoy walking on the beach because it is so very therapeutic. I love the smell of the salt air, walking on the sand and feeling the warm sun on my face! It just makes me happy and thankful that I live in such a beautiful city!
I love gardening, being out doors, seeing all these beautiful trees and plants that God created for us makes me happy. Just being outside, my garden is like Zen to my
Burch
Keller Williams Atlantic Partners Southside
My favorite outdoor activity is shooting in the woods! Boy do I love shooting. I have a custom purple and black AR15. Her name is Purple Venom. I also have a Glock
Donielle Wagner
Coldwell Bank Vanguard Realty
I enjoy getting out on our boat and enjoying the Florida sunshine.
Keller Williams Atlantic Partners Southside Swimming! I am a fish out of water and was a competitive swimmer growing up! I love pool volleyball, teaching my girls to swim and doing laps. I could swim all day everyday!
Tiffany Griffin Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty
Walking the historic riverfront neighborhoods of Jacksonville. I love seeing the smiling faces and nature converging alongside of us. Bald eagles, dolphins, the giant oak trees. It’s all part of our city’s ecosystem that stuns me and keeps me wondering what’s around the next turn.
Andrew Young United Real Estate Gallery
Golf! Even though 80% of my golf balls either go in the water or out of bounds, it’s a nice recharge to get away from my phone for a few hours.
Natalie Bryant Compass Florida
If I am not golfing at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club golf course, I love water skiing in
Round Table Realty
Paddle boarding and Pickleball!
Dogwood Realty
My favorite outdoor activity is playing with my granddaughters CJ (5 years old) and Logan (3 years old). We love riding bikes, looking for acorns, beautiful leaves
Crystal Duckworth
Crystal Clear Realty
Andrew Michael
Coastal Haven Group
Our family’s favorite activity is hiking. After church we find a local trail and take a walk. I bring a weighted ruck so the walk is a bit of a challenge.
Brooke Hewitt
Momentum Realty
My husband and I absolutely love our daily walk in our neighborhood. It’s such a great way to start our day. We feel so blessed to live in NE Florida, with amazing weather and such beautiful scenery!
My favorite outdoor activity is soaking up fun in the sun playing beach volleyball!
Tobin Bossola
Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty
Mine is going to the beach with my family!
Jeff Riber
Pursuit Real Estate
Taking the family to the beach on a nice day in February is 100x better than going in June/July/August!
Samantha Blayne Ponte Vedra Club Realty
My favorite outdoor activity has to be going on the boat! I love going for a boat ride to a sandbar to relax for the day or do some inshore fishing. I just love being
Jan Rice
Momentum Realty
My favorite outdoor activity is swimming. It’s the perfect way to stay active, unwind, and enjoy the beautiful Florida weather. Whether it’s in the pool or the ocean, there’s nothing more refreshing than being in the water.
Future Home Loans
Tough call! It’s a tie between fishing with the kids (where I spend half my time untangling lines) and cutting the grass (because nothing beats the smell of freshcut grass… and the satisfaction of perfect mowing lines!)
Jonathan Daugherty Future Home Realty
Julia Almstead
Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners
St. Augustine
I love to wake up super early in the morning and walk the beach and catch the early morning sunrise! They say it’s great for opening up your Pineal gland! Rich and I try to stick to a morning walk 7 days per week! While vacationing in Cabo, Mexico, we managed to catch the sunrise there! Absolutely
Rana Dexter
Round Table Realty
I love family bike rides at the beach, both Atlantic Beach and Jekyll Island.
Mirtha Barzaga
Davidson Realty
Gardening is my favorite outdoor pastime, I have a beautiful English garden and I just love working on it, specially in the spring when everything needs revamping.
Playing with my kids in the pool.
Christina Welch Keller Williams St. Johns Paddleboarding.
Edwina
From the Desk of the President:
“Florida’s Economy is a Force to be Reckoned With”
BY TIM WEISHEYER, 2025 PRESIDENT OF FLORIDA REALTORS®
Florida may not be the biggest state geographically but we pack a punch economically. As of 2024, its gross state product (GSP) stands at a massive $1.695 trillion, making it the fourth-largest economy in the United States. To put this into perspective, if Florida were a country, it would boast the 15th-largest economy globally, surpassing nations like Spain and Mexico.
According to the “2024 Profile of International Transactions in Florida,” there were $7.1 billion in international sales in Florida. The largest share of foreign buyers (45%) were from the Latin America/Caribbean region. The top 5countries of foreign buyers in Florida were: Canada, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, and the United Kingdom.
According to the Florida State Chamber of Commerce’s latest migration trend report, in 2023, Florida experienced significant inbound domestic migration, but it was lower than the previous year. Here’s a breakdown: Inbound Migration: Florida led the nation in domestic in-migration, receiving 636,933 new residents. This means that over half a million people moved to Florida from other states within the US.
Net Migration: While Florida gained a substantial number of new residents, it
also saw a significant outflow of people. The net domestic migration (inbound minus outbound) was 126,008. This is a decrease from 2022, where the net migration was almost 250,000.
Several factors contribute to Florida’s economic success, however Florida’s real estate market attracts both domestic and international investors, further fueling economic growth. For instance, in 2024, REALTORS® closed over 361,000 sales with $198.5 BILLION in dollar volume.
As real estate professionals it is essential that we stay in tune with the condition of our state’s economy and Florida REALTORS® is focused on connecting our legislative agenda to the success of the Florida economy. From advocating for more workforce housing to reducing the sales tax on commercial leases the REALTORS® are always engaged and putting Florida and our communities first.
As the state continues to attract businesses, investment, and talent, its economic future looks brighter than ever. When these three show up in Florida we see buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants move to secure their needs. Whether for your home or your business the REALTORS® are ready to bring you home.
