Anne Wells

ANNE WELLS PROOF

While she could not have known it at the time, Anne Wells’ connection to Boulder and its real estate market had been forged over the more than three decades she spent in the city as a student, community leader, proud mother, and now, top producing Realtor® with milehimodern.

Anne holds a deep love for her roots in Boston, yet the lure of the mountains after her first visit to Boulder meant that this city would be her chosen hometown. She considered four options when applying to universities —three on the East Coast and the fourth being the University of Colorado. “Driving up over the crest of the hill for the very first time and seeing the Flatirons with snow-capped peaks as their backdrop, I was completely taken and knew this was it,” Anne says.

I feel so fortunate to have gotten the chance to get to know people from far and wide.

Her enthusiasm for the city runs deep and reflects a strong connection to the city, the uni-versity, and its beloved football team. As a college freshman, Anne arrived in Boulder during a difficult time in the real estate market. The collapse of the Silverado Savings and Loan in 1988 plunged Colorado real estate into a severe recession. Such events were not dinner-table topics for most college students at the time but over the subsequent 35 years, as Anne made Boulder home to herself and her three chil-dren, the ebb and flow of the real estate market has taken on greater significance.

As a CU student, Anne watched the Buffs win their first national championship in 1990, and in 1993 she found herself as a member of the team, first as the Recruiting Secretary then Assistant to the Head Coach – a job she still speaks of with great fondness.

“The arc of my connec-tion to the city of Boulder spans nearly four decades, and my connection to the University of Colorado, and Buffalo football, runs the same time.” She recalls sitting in the stands as a student on game day and organizing the recruiting dinner the night Rashaan Salaam won the Heisman! She also proudly stood on the sidelines on the field as the Assistant to three separate Head Coaches. “I have been a lifelong and enthusiastic resident, supporter, donor, and fan.”

Following her graduation and a three-year tenure with the Colorado Buffaloes football pro-gram under Coach Bill McCartney, Anne set off for Texas to try something new and obtained her real estate license there. Although the plan was to eventually return to Boulder, fate intervened sooner than expected when Coach Neuheisel, who had become Head Coach just before Anne’s departure for Texas, reached out and requested her return as his assistant. This was an offer she couldn’t refuse.

While working for CU Football was an amazing experience and so much fun, Anne always knew that she wanted to settle down and soon embraced the role of a full-time mother to her three young children. Even during this period, she remained active in the real estate market by showing houses and holding open houses for her friends who were Realtors®. It wasn’t until her kids finally entered high school that she fully reentered the real estate arena. While she worked at two other Boulder brokerage firms previously, she has been an integral part of milehimodern for the past two years.

“I absolutely love it here; they are amazing. I feel so fortunate to be a part of this brokerage. The community, support, energy, training opportunities, and vibe are what sets milehimodern apart from the rest. I am so happy and grateful to be surrounded by and collaborate with the best of the best.”

Acting as a comprehensive Realtor®, Anne goes beyond property transactions by recommending contractors, designers, and painters—building a network of trusted professionals to ensure that all her clients’ needs are met as they prepare to sell or look forward to moving into their new home.

As part of her real estate offerings, Anne collaborates with many out-of-town clients, often connecting through Zoom (one of the interesting developments of the postCOVID era). One memorable example involves Max and Evan from Boston, with whom she worked for a year, creating a fun and successful relationship through many Zoom calls and FaceTime Walkthroughs and then, eventually meeting in person. “The time invested over Zoom creates a sense of familial connection when we finally meet. This approach has led to successful connections and collaborations with clients from all over the US, adding a new dimension to my work.”

The relationship grew strong organically and resulted in Evan recommending Anne to her mother, Leigh, whom Anne represented in the pur-chase of a beautiful mountain property in Boulder. “I feel so fortunate to have gotten the chance to get to know people from far and wide. They end up being more like an extension of my family.”

Listening carefully to your client’s needs and conducting your due diligence ahead of time creates successful outcomes. One such transaction involves a family visiting Boulder with a very specific request – to view only four homes. Anne orchestrated the perfect, well-organized tour, showcasing

exactly what they wanted. After securing their home, the Buyer‘s review states, “[Anne] is knowledgeable, organized, extremely pleasant and, importantly to me, honest. It is a great combination, and she is a joy to work with, I almost wish it had taken longer to find our home.”

But accolades do not come only from her clients. Recent remarks from fellow Realtors® in the past year serve as motivation and encouragement for Anne. They’ve expressed that working with her feels like a return to old-school Boulder—no games, just straightforward collaboration. It means a lot to Anne that fellow colleagues appreciate her easy-going approach while still ensuring the utmost safeguard for her clients.

FPROO

Anne has a very close relationship with all three of her children. “For the most part, it’s been just ‘me and my three.” Eli, her oldest, is a senior at CU, Connor is a sophomore at TCU in Fort Worth and her daughter, Ava, is a freshman at Northeastern University in Boston. Eli initially began his academic journey at George Washington University in DC.Anne recounts, “I’ve noticed a prevalent mindset among many kids who grew up in Boulder who believe they have to explore elsewhere, viewing staying in Boulder for college as a potential shortcoming. However, a significant percentage of them find their way back home.” Eli persevered at GW for two years, despite the challenges posed by COVID. Finally realizing that Boulder is the best college town in America, he transferred back in the summer before his junior year. Now, he’s so happy to be home, and Anne has the joy of seeing him three or four times a week. “Having him back in Boulder is truly an awesome experience, and I’m grateful to have him here with me.”

Connor, Anne’s middle child, has observed the enthusiasm and fulfillment she has experienced working in real estate. Witnessing her excitement piqued his interest in the field, leading him to switch his major from exercise science to business with a minor in real estate. When asked about the possibility of working alongside Connor, Anne expresses a resounding, “Absolutely! The kid has such a dynamic personality and he’s so well connected in this town. People love him. He’s a handsome kid with a big personality. I think that it would be wonderful to work with him in the future.”

Anne’s youngest, Ava, is a brilliant freshman who secured a spot at Northeastern. She is navigating the challenges faced by many freshmen attending a university with an acceptance rate of just 5.6% while pursuing majors in chemical and environmental engineering, and a minor in marine biology. Her intensity and dedication inspire Anne. While Anne traded Boston for Boulder as a college freshman, she is more than happy to visit her youngest in a city she knows well (but she certainly hopes that Ava lands back in Boulder someday).

Anne practices yoga daily to maintain balance in her life, “It centers me and enhances my well-being. The benefits extend beyond personal transformation in body, mindset, and spirit but equally as important is that these benefits also extend to all of the people whose lives mine touches. Real estate can be fastpaced and busy, and maintaining this routine for me is crucial, as it not only alleviates any stress but also positively influences the energy I bring to others.”

Beyond yoga, Anne loves riding her bike around town, often with her eldest son, exploring houses along the way. She plans the routes she will take with clients, emphasizing the unique perspective a bike provides as compared to being in a car. Having lived in Boulder most of her adult life, Anne is a fan of all things Colorado and can often be found skiing in the winter and hiking and biking in the summer, joking that she is “like every other person in this wonderfully healthy city.”

Anne would traditionally spend two weeks each summer in Boston and Cape Cod with her kids. This yearly tradition has created some of Anne’s fondest memories with her children and she is so proud that that love of New England and Boston passed on to Ava in her decision to attend college there. However, as her three kids have now flown the nest, most of Anne’s travel of late revolves around visiting them.

As a new empty nester, Anne is in the process of rediscovering herself. This year marks a period of complete self-recreation, seeking a balance between personal life and career for the first time. Surprisingly, instead of viewing this transition with sadness, she finds herself invigorated and ready to embrace this new chapter with new experiences. “This winter, I’m treating myself to a yoga retreat in Costa Rica. Joining about 30 other Boulder women, we’re going to this quaint surf town, and I couldn’t be more excited about it. It is my first time doing something like this, and I’m so excited to go out of the country on an adventure traveling on my own.”

When it comes to philanthropy, Anne has a soft spot for animals, supporting organizations like the Humane Society, Greenwood Wildlife Rehab, and the Wild Animal Sanctuary. Anne also has a few hidden talents not widely known. She holds a black belt in Muay Thai and formerly, for almost a decade, owned a gym, specializing in Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and Family

Fitness. The discipline and overcoming of adversity that she learned from working for five years to get a blackbelt in Muay Thai taught her a “never give up” mentality which often transcends into the fastpaced world of real estate that is her life now. Before venturing into real estate in Boulder, she also gained experience working for an art gallery which helped her develop her aesthetic eye (which she has applied to architecture, design, staging, and the real estate market). These diverse interests and experiences contribute to her wellrounded personality.

Looking back over her 35 years in Boulder, the real estate market could not be more different than it was after the collapse of Silverado Savings and Loan. The city is experiencing a “moment,” a resurgence highlighted by the revitalization of Buffalo Football. The city’s newfound national exposure, thanks to the addition of Coach Prime, Deion Sanders, has not only deepened the bond between Boulder and the University but will have a dramatic impact on the local real estate market. Anne has seen the changing dynamics in the market due in part to the increased interest from parents buying real estate for their college children.

“It’s a fascinating development: more parents are recognizing the value of making strategic investments rather than opting for rental payments. Working with these clients has been a wonderful experience.”

In the world of real estate, Anne Wells stands out not just as a top producer but as a passionate advocate for Boulder, proud mother, passionate Buff, and dedicated community member.

“Watching College Football Gameday take place on Farrand Field, filled with students and jubilant fans, with the Flatirons as the most beautiful backdrop is a game changer for Boulder in more ways than one. I feel so fortunate to be here now and to experience this new vibe and energy that brings such amazing life to this town.”

I feel so fortunate to be here now and to experience this new vibe and energy that brings such amazing life to this town.