Boulder County Real Producers July 2023

Photo by Heidi Howard Photography

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!

AIR CONDITIONING

Squeaks Services

(303)280-5765

www,squeaksservices.com

ARCHITECTURE

Rodwin Architecture

Scott Rodwin (303)413-8556

1245 Pearl St. Ste. 202, Boulder, CO 80302 RodwinArch.com

BANK/FINANCE

MidFirst Bank (303)376-3820

840 Pearl Street Boulder, CO 80302

www.midfirst.com

CLEANING SERVICES

Perkins Detail

Cleaning Service

Denise Perkins (915)270-3216

nextdoor.com/pages/ perkins-detail-cleaning -service-brighton-co/

CUSTOM BUILDER

Wood Brothers Homes (303)717-8207

www.woodbrothers homes.com

CUSTOM HOME

DESIGN & BUILD

Cooper Building Group (720)595-9684

372 W. Elm St. Louisville, CO 80027

www.cooperbuilding group.com

ESTATE SALES

Blue Moon Estate Sales

Dulgunn Lkhagvadorj (720)432-2726

390 E Mississippi Ave Denver, CO 80210

www.bluemoonestatesales. com/boulder

FULL SERVICE PROPERTY CARE

Granite Property Services

Christopher Hardman (720)483-1037

www.GraniteProperty Service.com

HANDYMAN/WOOD CRAFTSMAN

Omega Carpentry

Omega Perkins, Jr (915)249-9020 nextdoor.com/pages/ omega-carpentry-brighton-co

HEATING & COOLING

Meyers Heating & Air, Inc. (303)442-6640 meyersheatingac.com

HOME INSPECTION

Beagle Home Inspections LLC. (303)731-6891

beaglehomeinspections.com

Inspections Over Coffee

Bryan Zenner (720)845-5282

InspectionsOverCoffee.com

HOME WARRANTY

Home Warranty Inc. (260)433-4027 homewarrantyinc.com

INSURANCE

Superior Insurance Agency

Vicki Kupfner (720)259-0444

www.superiorinsure.com

INTERIOR DECORATING & DESIGN

2212 Design Inc. Property Staging Services

Laura Akahoshi (720)791-4800

www.2212Design.com

LANDSCAPING/ HANDYMAN/PRESSURE WASHING

Granite Property Services

Christopher Hardman (720)483-1037

www.GraniteProperty Service.com

MUSIC SCHOOL

Boulder Symphony Music Academy

Andrew Krimm

(720)328-8286

4730 Table Mesa Drive Suite I-300

Boulder, CO 80305

www.bouldersymphony musicacademy.org

PRESSURE WASHING

Premier Window Cleaning and Pressure Washing

Nick Casso (303)564-5574

premierwindow cleaningdenver.org

PRIVATE SCHOOL

PRE K – 8

Boulder Country Day School (303)527-4931 x295

4820 Nautilus Court North Boulder, CO 80301 bouldercountryday.org

RESTORATION - WATER, FIRE & MOLD 24-7 Restoration, Inc.

Deb Barone (303)485-1730

www.247restoration.com

TITLE INSURANCE

First American Title Insurance Company (303)449-8442

4940 Pearl East Circle, Ste 104 Boulder, CO 80301 FirstAmColorado.com

BOULDER

If you are interested in contributing or nominating REALTORS® for certain stories, please email us at john.mendez@realproducersmag.com.

Liv Berger Photographer theheadshotgal.com

Kim Ash Ad Manager ads.rpboulder@ realproducersmag.com

Kevin Snyder Photographer kevinsnyderphotography @gmail.com

Dr. Felicia Santelli Writer felicia@santellihealingcenter.com

John Mendez Publisher John.Mendez@ realproducersmag.com 303-596-1685

Brenda Saint Photographer b.saintphoto@gmail.com

Debbie Pelzmann Writer debbie@ohmyword.co

Christine Bowen Writer christinegbowen@gmail.com

Alyssa Shikles Writer amshikles@gmail.com

Barbara Gart Writer GartBarbara@gmail.com

As a Realtor, you know that networking and exposure are two essential factors in the world of real estate. Hearth & Stone Luxury Home Tour is an exclusive opportunity for agents to showcase their luxury listings, network with other agents, and gain valuable knowledge about the luxury market. The program focuses exclusively on the Colorado collection of luxury homes with architectural significance, in the Front Range and Boulder areas.

The tour was created as a way for agents to showcase their luxury listings and receive feedback from other agents. It also provides a platform for meaningful networking opportunities with agents from all brokerages.

Members of Hearth & Stone Luxury Home Tour can feature their qualifying listings on the

website, which will be emailed out to all members. Members also have access to put their properties on H&S social media platforms, which increases credibility with clients by gaining knowledge of the luxury market.

Meetings take place once a month on a Wednesday, with coffee, light breakfast, and networking taking place from 9-9:30 a.m. Attendance at the meeting is required to go on the tour, which typically begins around 10:00 a.m. and includes 4-5 homes. Lunch is served at the last home on the tour. Guests may attend two meetings before being required to become a member to attend future meetings.

Homes featured on a tour have access to a luxury sign in the yard, letting everyone know their home has been selected to be a

featured property on an upcoming tour. The sign can be displayed up to two weeks prior to the tour. The minimum submitted price of a home on the tour with a Boulder or Niwot address will be $2,000,000, while homes in remaining areas must be listed at a minimum of $1,500,000. All listings must be active in the MLS.

Hearth & Stone’s areas include Boulder, Broomfield, Erie, Golden, Louisville, Lafayette, Superior, Niwot, and North Westminster. Members can request a listing to be on the next tour, and there is a $100 fee. Please note that the credit card will not be charged until the property is accepted for an upcoming tour.

Homes submitted must be architecturally significant and cannot be fix-ups. Newly constructed

Photos by Heidi Howard Photography

• Story

by Christine Bowen

homes must be completed, and all vacant properties must be professionally staged. Homes must include significant luxury features such as custom cabinets, gourmet appliances, luxury flooring, highend fixtures, and superior-quality finishes. If the home is not new construction, it must be updated to current styles. The value must be in the improvements and the property, not only the land. Inclusion of property on the tour will be at the discretion of the Tour Director.

Realtors who have attended the tour in the past have found it to be a great way to network with top luxury agents and gain firsthand knowledge about available properties. Melissa Breese, a Realtor with Keller Williams Preferred Realty says, “Hearth & Stone is a great way to network with top luxury agents, as well as gain first-hand knowledge for my clients on the properties that are available. This knowledge will assist my clients to price their properties correctly. The agent-to-agent

top producer

I JOINED HEARTH & STONE TO CONNECT WITH OTHER AGENTS IN THE BOULDER AREA, INCREASE EXPOSURE FOR MY LUXURY LISTINGS, AND FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MY BUYERS.

relationships will help my offers to garner additional consideration, as the listing agent will already know my ethics for the transaction. I am excited to expand my network of like-minded agents in the northern Colorado region. Knowledge is power when working with my clientele, and what you focus on expands.”

Additionally, Jon Cole of Your Castle Real Estate states, “I joined Hearth & Stone to connect with other agents in the Boulder area, increase exposure for my luxury listings, and find opportunities for my buyers.”

Hearth & Stone Luxury Home Tour is an excellent opportunity for Realtors to showcase their luxury listings, network with other agents, and gain valuable knowledge about the luxury market. With upcoming tour dates this Summer (July 19th, Aug 16th) and additional dates to be announced for Fall and Winter, now is the perfect time to become a member and start showcasing your luxury listings. For more information, visit the website at www.hearthandstoneLHT.com.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER WHEN WORKING WITH MY CLIENTELE, AND WHAT YOU FOCUS ON EXPANDS.

By Debbie Pelzmann

Photos by Liv Berger

RODWIN ARC HITECT URE

Connect With An Architect | Empowering Boulder-Area Realtors to Know the Code

“Understanding the Rules for Building in Boulder” is a class educating Boulder-area Realtors on exactly what its name implies. But don’t take its easy-to-swallow title as an indication of easyto-follow subject matter.

Spanning 14 years and reaching 2,000 Boulder-area Realtors, the free course has established itself as a cornerstone of Realtor education in Boulder County. Bonus: Those who successfully complete the two-hour curriculum also earn two continuing education credits.

The creator of the program is longtime Boulder resident and highly-sought architect Scott Rodwin, President of Rodwin Architecture and CEO of its sibling practice, Skycastle Construction. Scott identified a need among local Realtors frequently seeking his advice on topics related to homes, but not necessarily within the purview of a Realtor’s expertise around the sale and purchase of them.

“About 17 years ago, we started receiving calls regularly from Realtors in town saying ‘I have a client who wants to do something with their house.’ They had questions about everything from building in flood zones to modifying historic landmarks to building setbacks, costs, and permit requirements,” Scott recalls. “Our willingness to offer friendly and helpful answers without charge made us an unofficial resource for local area Realtors.”

Unable to supply answers at the pace of the questions they received, Scott and his team crafted a solution.

“Understanding the Rules for Building in Boulder” turns Realtors—whom Scott says have become a “crucial clearinghouse for reliable information”—into trained and trusted resources who feel empowered to serve their community better.

“Their class is one of our all-time most popular,” Veronica Precella, CEO of BOLO Realtors, said. “It provides an essential tool for our members when counseling their clients. Scott’s

contribution to our association is priceless and we appreciate his constant support.”

As a BOLO Affiliate Partner, Rodwin Architecture provides the class pro bono to BOLO members and offers private course instruction to local Realtor offices upon request.

“Even when people aren’t in the process of buying or selling, Realtors remain the most accessible resource in the neighborhood,” Scott said. “You might be planning a bathroom remodel, or considering a kitchen makeover; and at a cocktail party, you might strike up a conversation with a Realtor about your plans.”

Why Boulder County’s Building Regulations Are Such a Beast

A testament to the nature of our locale’s building rules and regulations, the team at Rodwin and Skycastle updates “Understanding the Rules for Building in Boulder” four times a year.

Why? First, Boulder County’s building and land regulations comprehensively and rigorously reflect its commitment to sustainable and responsible development, the public’s safety, community needs, and the protection of its unique historical character.

But that’s just its base level.

Layered above are contributing regulatory factors including a diverse topography, evolving technologies, and an enormous demand for housing amidst dwindling available land on which to build.

Finally, like the Rockies towering behind it, Boulder County keeps getting hit with unprecedented poundings of proverbial pow. Through flood and fire, Boulder has become one of the steepest, strictest regulatory mountains in the nation. Even the most adept and tenured Realtors can’t cut an easy turn on this slope.

“The rules for building in Boulder are so complex and constantly changing; it’s virtually impossible for any Realtor to know all that information,” Scott explained.

But not knowing the basics, thinking you know something that has actually changed, or being slightly misinformed about a

building regulation can seriously burn a Realtor who is held liable for the information they share with clients. A significant part of Scott and his team’s work around the course is to collect, consolidate, and distill in one place all of the most current information a homeowner, buyer, or seller in Boulder County might need to know to make decisions about a property.

Rodwin and Skycastle aren’t ones to drop the ball there.

Architects Who Connect: The Minds Behind A CrossDisciplinary Course

The teams at Rodwin and Skycastle comprise a level of experience, education, and professional expertise in local building regulations that have resulted in the emergence of both practices as champions of stunning modern design, community engagement and philanthropy, and industry-leading sustainability practices in Boulder County.

Politically active, particularly in issues around development and affordable housing, Scott serves as President of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Colorado North section, sits on the Better Boulder Board of Directors, and formerly as President of the Colorado Green Building Guild (CGBG). Skycastle Construction President and Co-owner

Brandon David holds in common with his business partner a degree in architecture and a deep passion for creating extraordinary green homes. Course co-presenter and Rodwin Architecture’s Studio Director Jim Kadlecek was a Realtor himself during part of his 40 years of experience in both residential and commercial building.

“We have a shared belief that the process is as important as the product. So, we put an enormous amount of attention toward making sure that when we do the hand-off from Rodwin to Skycastle, Skycastle is the client’s trusted partner to carry them across the finish line.”

Through 24 years in business, they’ve received dozens of local and national awards, honors, press accolades, and professional certifications.

Leveraging what they learn from”Understanding the Rules for Building in Boulder,” Boulder-area Realtors can confidently hold and guide building regulation conversations with clients and cocktail party-goers alike.

If a client with a qualifying property has individualized needs or nuanced questions, their Realtor can point them to Rodwin Architecture for a feasibility consultation and,

for $1,500, receive a detailed development feasibility report (roughly ten pages of every constraint and opportunity that applies to a specific property).

Scott says his firm’s unique connection with the real estate community has been mutually beneficial to everyone. Its aim, ultimately, is to help clients feel confident about making building decisions by getting to the point of the question everyone wants to know, whether buying, selling, or staying put: “What can I do with my property?”

Adapting as a Realtor to BoCo’s Shifting Build Landscape Boulder County has weathered its share of storms in the past decade alone, from devastating floods in 2013 to epic wildfires in 2020, and the expansive damage and loss caused by the Marshall Fire just last year.

Each bout of Mother Nature in fierce mode necessitates modifications and new regulations to Boulder County’s building code. Each of those changes, however beneficial in the long run, makes building in this beautiful landscape more challenging than it was before.

Following the Marshall Fire, Scott’s team committed half of its housing project capacity (five rebuilds in total) to offering

discounted design services to families whose homes were lost in the flames. Scott also provided free one-on-one consultations to 50 other families whose rebuild projects he wasn’t able to take on, answering fundamental questions like where to start, how to navigate the rebuilding process, best-guess timeframes, cost ballparks, and who they needed to connect with to bring it all together.

Shannon Wehner, a Rodwin Architecture project manager and Senior Architectural Designer, and President-Elect of the CGBG, pivoted much of her work toward CGBG’s immediate laser focus on providing community and government resources for rebuilding sustainably from the fire. CGBG, as a result, played a critical and central role in bringing desperately needed information and resources from municipalities and vendors to homeowners in the wake of the loss of their homes to the Marshall Fire.

“Boulder has a lot of experience with disasters, so they’ve gotten very good at handling a response to those,” Scott said.

He’s right. Tracking the area’s response to the Marshall Fire, the AIA National Disaster Assistance Program shows Boulder County to be way ahead of the curve at more than double the national rate for rebuilding after a disaster.

There is no question that Boulder County’s connected community and quick-to-contribute nature play a significant role in its ability to rebuild with speed, efficiency, and hope, even after the elements give us their worst.

Despite its losses, the popularity of this region continues to surge, with more and more hoping to call Boulder County “home.” This squeeze—a booming population with a finite amount of buildable land—has sparked a continuing evolution in policy and regulation as well.

Boulder County’s unnaturally extreme encounters with natural disaster remind us that we can’t always predict how the realty game might change from one moment to the next. As such, the rules of the game for buying, selling, and building in Boulder County are always in flux, aiming to balance growth, safety, and sustainability in this region that’s equally abundant in natural beauty and natural challenges.

Our efforts to build a strong realty community and bridge it to others through supportive, uniting initiatives keep us set up to bounce back with equal ferocity.

Green From the Get-Go

While “Understanding the Rules for Building in Boulder” is Scott’s longest-running course, it’s neither his first nor only. Scott also taught his passion, green building, for the City of Boulder, Boulder County, Naropa University, and nationally for the AIA.

Rodwin Architecture’s first projects 24 years ago helped pioneer sustainable design in the Rocky Mountain region long before “green building” became a buzzy marketing point. For Scott, sustainability was simply the right thing to do. His ethos has remained steadfast, its mark forever fused into the national, state, and most certainly Boulder’s architectural landscape.

While Boulder today has some of the strictest green building codes in the country, Scott’s practice has been at it all along, building some of Colorado’s first LEED Platinum and “regenerative” (net-energy positive) houses.

Guiding Clients Securely: A Design-Build Approach

Undoubtedly considered leading green-building experts, Scott says Rodwin and Skycastle have found their niche in people who seek them out for their reputation in finding balance across three things: excellence in design, and the highest levels of green building and service.

Accomplished through a close partnership between Rodwin and Skycastle, he’s established a specialized design-build model to serve the needs of Boulder’s happily green market.

Critically important, Scott stresses, and his firm’s number one concern, is that custom home buyers have someone they can trust to guide them through such a complex process.

“It’s likely the most expensive financial investment they’ll ever make in their lives. We take our responsibility to navigate people safely through this process very, very seriously.”

Sustainable, custom, high-end homes around 4,000 square feet at $3-$7M in hard construction cost make up the majority of projects at Rodwin and Skycastle. Several commercial projects also stand out among Colorado’s best. Notable to Boulder-area Realtors is Scott-and-team’s remodel of the BOLO Realtors office.

Realtors, Colorado residents, and visitors alike can explore several recognizable Rodwin/Skycastle projects, many of them garnering national awards.

In Denver: Montbell’s flagship retail store on the 16th Street Mall; Brother’s Bar & Grill (across from Coors stadium); Japon Sushi; and many more.

In Boulder: Cult-favorite sushi restaurant Japango (big sushi fan, Scott); Radiance Power Yoga; the Brewer’s Association office; Bohemian Biergarten; Tara Waldorf High School; collaborations on Whittier Elementary School and Columbine Elementary School; and many, many more.

In essence, with work as dynamic and sustainable as Boulder County itself, it’s not surprising that Scott and his team reached across their field to initiate and grow the connection with local Realtors.

Just about every top-performing Realtor we know— and we know a few—prioritize either participating in or creating their own community-minded initiatives like Scott Rodwin’s free and invaluable course for Realtors. If you’ve already taken advantage of it, let us know how it’s helped you and your clients!

If you’ve yet to tap into “Understanding the Rules for Building in Boulder,” find the registration link for the next live webinar on August 22 at members.bolorealtors.com/ calendar.

CHRIS STURGEON

LIVE WEST REALTY

EVERY MORNING WHEN CHRIS STURGEON WAKES UP, HE ASKS HIMSELF ONE QUESTION: HOW CAN I MAKE SOMEONE’S DAY BETTER?

This idea — of giving more than he gets — is the core theme of Chris’s life and work. A real estate agent at Live West Realty, Chris’s passion is helping people, whether it is assisting buyers in finding a home or building relationships with clients as they go through transitional seasons of their lives. At the end of the day, he always wants to leave people better than he found them.

“In real estate, you often meet people during a turning point in their lives, whether that is a marriage, a divorce or having kids,” Chris says. “So if I’m present and inquisitive and open, I get to grow meaningful relationships that extend far past a transaction. That’s the good stuff — what makes it worth getting up every morning.”

Caring for people well has always been a part of Chris’s career, even before starting in real estate. For most of Chris’s life, he has worked as a pastor. After getting his seminary degree in California — where he met his wife, Lindsay — he worked in a church in the Bay Area for seven years. Though he enjoyed his work, he found it difficult to settle in California and realized it was time for a change in location.

“We were anxious to be somewhere we could sink roots,” Chris says. “My wife’s brother had settled in Boulder, and my first boss who hired me out of grad school had moved back to Boulder as well. When he called me with a job opportunity at his church, we jumped on it.”

Chris started working at Ascent Community Church in Louisville, Colorado, seven years ago, and not

real estate might be a great fit for him. Now three years in, he’s discovered there is more crossover between working in housing and being a pastor than you might expect.

“In both real estate and church work, people invite us to be somebody they can trust — someone who’s been there before and can help them navigate what is often a very complex, emotional and confusing process,” Chris says. “It feels like a huge privilege that people would trust and invite me in during a time when they need help.”

so to succeed, the best thing to do is get to know them and their personal needs. Even building relationships with other Realtors has been core to Chris’s career in real estate.

“I’ve had so many mentors,” Chris says. “And I’ve experienced that the people who do well in this business are those that do so with generosity and openness, with a sense of abundance of bringing others into the industry, rather than those who lean into competition with the idea that there’s a scarcity of resources.”

Article by Alyssa Shikles

Photos by Kevin Snyde r, Kevin Snyder Photography

Outside of work, Chris’s mentality of generous giving extends to his family. His wife, Lindsay, struggled with an autoimmune disorder throughout her life and needed a kidney transplant from her father when she was 24 years old. Several years later, she learned that she was in need of another transplant. Though many people got tested to be a potential donor, it turned out that Chris was a perfect match. He was able to donate his kidney, and Lindsay’s health has stabilized ever since.

“I found out that I was her match on Valentine’s Day, around nine or 10 years ago,” Chris says. “I sent her on a scavenger hunt around town where she had to find clues. At the very end, I drew a clue with a little picture of a kidney bean that said, ‘I’m a match.’ We really were made for one another.”

Spending time with his family is Chris’s favorite pastime, from coaching his daughter’s soccer team to being involved with their school’s PTO board. With his wife, Chris enjoys trying

new restaurants around town, such as Jeannot’s Patisserie & Bistro, where they like to read and listen to live music. He also enjoys exercising and getting outdoors, mountain biking on local trails.

Chris remains involved with his church community, and he is also passionate about the Bridge House in Boulder, a nonprofit focused on confronting issues that affect people struggling with homelessness. Bridge House is Chris’s chosen charity at Live West Realty, and he has seen firsthand how the nonprofit has changed and impacted individuals’ lives.

For Chris, the journey of becoming a Realtor has been rewarding and surprising.

“I FEEL LIKE I’VE BEEN SO SUPPORTED,” HE SAYS. “I DRAMATICALLY OUTPRODUCED MY WILDEST DREAMS IN YEAR ONE, AND EVERY YEAR SINCE HAS GONE EVEN BETTER. I’M SO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL AND HAPPY, AND IN EVERY WAY, I COULD NOT LIKE BEING HERE MORE THAN I DO.”

featured property 2300

75TH STREET, BOULDER

Have you ever driven past this central Boulder home and wondered what lies beyond the iron gate? When the owners of Ward Farm were in the infant stages of building this sprawling mansion nestled on almost 40 acres, they made sure to incorporate architectural appeal that gave a nod to their East Coast roots. The long winding drive, just past the lake, boasts an opulent estate that brings the Hamptons out west to the Rocky Mountains.

Presented by Jennifer Kelly, Keller Williams Realty Northern Colorado and Seed Property Group, Keller Williams DTC

Quiet sophistication and warmth prevail throughout the 19,000 sq ft home. Every detail has been perfectly curated, from Australian Cypress floors, White Ponderosa Pine trim, to imported Italian tile. The 7-bedroom, 11-bath home has been host to many events over the years and is primed for entertaining with grand dining, living rooms, and a massive kitchen. As you explore every inch of this beautiful estate you will find a botanical-filled conservatory, temperaturecontrolled wine room, an impressive exercise gym, and a full guest apartment with a secluded stone entrance. If you are seeking solitude, a private rooftop hot tub gives you panoramic views of the Flatirons while relaxing after a long day.

Step outside to enjoy over 2,200 sq. ft. of covered redwood decks with mahogany ceilings that invite you to the outdoor kitchen, green lawns, and the lush gardens that stretch across the property welcoming you to the pool house, heated pool, and in-ground trampoline. Nearby are the three garages providing room for 6 vehicles with a Porte Cochere. All of this is just steps away from the seven-stall barn which is reminiscent of a Ralph Lauren magazine and boasts a heated wash rack, heated tack room with half bath, and a 40x60’ storage space ideal for hay, tractor, or boat. The outdoor arena, and round pen, offers unparalleled views of the mountains where horses can graze in two four-acre pastures which would delight any equestrian enthusiast.

Experience living in a place, just 10 minutes from Pearl Street, ripe with wildlife, including Bald Eagles, a nesting ground for Great Horned Owls, Great Blue Heron, Mallard Duck nesting pairs, a host of birds, and a Coyote family nursery. This rare, luxury estate, cannot be replicated and has been a staple of the community for the last 25 years, much like the owners who are Colorado Buffalo alumni and continue to pour into the community which is so dear to them, even volunteering in the recent fire search and rescue

Experience living in a place, just 10 minutes from Pearl Street, ripe with wildlife, including Bald Eagles, a nesting ground for Great Horned Owls, Great Blue Heron, Mallard Duck nesting pairs, a host of birds, and a Coyote family nursery.

efforts. Walking the grounds of the estate, it’s easy to envision what it would be like to create a dream you can call your own.

Visit Ward- Farm.com to discover a private oasis just minutes from the heart of Boulder!

Jennifer Kelly 970.581.9005 -

The Jennifer Kelly Team - Keller

Williams Northern Colorado Erik & Andria Stashak 970.556.4424

- Seed Property Group - Keller Williams DTC

PORTIA HUSTED, DEIDRA LAUREL & TERRA BREWER

PORTIA HUSTED, DEIDRA LAUREL & TERRA BREWER

When asked why Portia Husted, Deidra Laurel, and Terra Brewer are passionate about real estate, the three women all said the same answer: helping others.

However, that’s not the only thing these three Realtors have in common. They have recently joined forces to form a partnership called Husted Laurel Brewer Residential. Deidra and Portia

have been working together for over a year, having met through their independent work at Compass Real Estate. The newest addition to the team, Terra, has only recently joined, knowing Deidra from a former brokerage.

“We’ve found camaraderie among all of us,” Terra says. “We can rely on each other, and we all bring something different to the table. Having that community, resources and friendship — it’s amazing.”

Though the women work in tandem now, they have each had different journeys to becoming the successful Realtors they are today.

Meet Portia

Portia jokes that she wants to be the queen of Chautauqua, her neighborhood in Boulder. From hosting a neighborhood block party each year to knowing all the secret spots to even selling homes in the area — she might be well on her way to royalty.

Originally from Southern California, she joined her then-boyfriend, Chris — a

REALTORS on the move

Photos

by Liv Berger • Article by Alyssa Shikles

Boulder native — and decided to move back with him to his hometown. They got married, and she’s been living in Boulder since 1997. When Portia moved, she continued working in advertising and marketing on accounts such as Toyota, the Denver Broncos and the Denver Post. She was fully immersed in the corporate world, and it grew burdensome to commute from Boulder to the Denver Tech Center every day.

After several years, Portia decided to quit and look for a job closer to home. When someone suggested she might be good at real estate, she was immediately interested. “I thought I would be a good fit because I enjoy meeting and helping people,” she says. “I love being social and working with houses.”

Portia has now been working in real estate for over 16 years, and the best part of her job is forming long-lasting relationships with her clients. From helping a 70-year-old client who now feels like a mother figure to her to assisting a young couple who are now her close friends, her passion is easing others’ stress and

helping them find their dream home.

Portia likes to spend time outdoors, hiking local trails with her dog, Riley, and vacationing to beaches with her husband. She also enjoys spending time with friends, meeting with the same group of women every Wednesday for the past 12 years.

“I’m passionate about family, friends and being a Realtor,” Portia says. “I’m so fortunate to have found my place here in Boulder doing work I’m passionate about.”

Meet Deidra

Boulder County is in Deidra’s blood. A generational native, she’s lived in the area for a total of 31 years. In 1997, Deidra moved from Boulder to Minnesota for 16 years with her husband, Steve. During that time, Deidra worked in the restaurant industry and later as a nurse. However, as her three kids got older, Deidra started to wonder how they were going to afford sending their children to college. She thought it might be time to consider a new career — real estate.

She had always been interested in homes, especially since living in a beautiful 1920s bungalow in Minneapolis. For her, working in real estate seemed like a good fit with the experience she gained over the years.

“I love helping people,” she says. “I think that is part of my mothering and nursing skills — helping people sort through, prioritize, and find the home that is going to meet their needs.”

Deidra has now been working in Boulder real estate for over eight years, and she was able to pay for her children’s college tuitions as well as her own student loans. Now she is passionate about guiding her clients through the housing process, and she especially enjoys working with firsttime homebuyers.

Outside of her work, Deidra spends her time with her family and two dogs, gardening and cooking. She also spends time volunteering at Our Center, a resource center in Longmont that offers families services such as food, housing, and utilities.

Meet Terra

For Terra, discovering her love for real estate came hand-in-hand with a difficult season in her life — a divorce. During that time, she knew she needed to find a way to provide for herself and her three sons. Having previously worked in advertising, she had the skills needed to market herself and the homes she sold. Being able to focus on design, fine details, and branding, real estate was a perfect fit.

Now a Realtor for over seven years, Terra not only has her real estate career established, but she also co-owns LuDA Interior Design, which she runs with Kourtney Brewer, her sister-in-law and best friend. As a true extrovert, Terra loves working with people, and she is passionate about helping others get back on their feet.

“It’s really scary to move somewhere new when you’ve had a partner for so long,” she says. “When it comes to real estate and design, I really want to help others find empowerment and joy during the incredibly difficult transitions of their lives.”

Terra’s joy comes from finding a healthy work-life balance. She often spends her time outside of work in yoga studios, exploring the outdoors and road-tripping with her sons. Originally from Southern California before coming to Boulder, she still considers the beach her happy place.

For Terra, real estate has become a rewarding chapter in her life. “I gave so much of my heart to my family, and now it’s so rewarding to find this next chapter of my

life and career, knowing in difficult times, I will always persevere,” Terra says.

Giving back

Every year Deidra, Portia, and Terra work together on an important cause that has personally affected each of them: Holes of Hope, an annual golf tournament that fundraises for the Tebo Cancer Center in Boulder.

Portia co-founded the fundraiser 14 years ago after her good friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. Over the

years, the event has grown and raised over $500,000. Now, Deidra and Terra have also gotten involved, and the team sponsors one of the tournament’s golf holes together.

From helping clients find housing to supporting others through philanthropy,

the three women have come together to support the Boulder community.

“We all believe it’s important to do good and give back, and we are committed to investing our time and energy to our community and our clients.”

Contact information: You can reach Portia Husted at 303-868-3558 or portia.husted@compass.com.

You can reach Deidra Laurel at 720-840-2212 or deidra.laurel@compass.com. You can reach Terra Brewer at 720-745-9962 or terra.brewer@compass.com.

WE ALL BELIEVE IT’S IMPORTANT TO DO GOOD AND GIVE BACK, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO INVESTING OUR TIME AND ENERGY TO OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CLIENTS.

a few things that need to be remedied quickly or your expert eye saw a problem first; either way, it needs to be taken care

rising star

Article by Barbara Gart

Photos by Brenda Saint

I learned by fire. I had to be quick on my toes, write the best contract and be the best communicator. That’s been my experience since the beginning, so as things have slowed, I’m still operating under those same high standards.”

When Hannah first got into real estate, she didn’t want to be “the friend at parties passing out business cards.” Instead, in her first year she intentionally focused on meeting people outside of her current circles, primarily building relationships within the Boulder Chamber of Commerce. “I had been a sustainability, mission-based, ‘start-up girl’ for so long, and I didn’t want my friends to change their perspective of me. Naturally, however, friends reached out to me for real estate help, and working with them has been the most fulfilling part of this career change. I’ve learned they actually love working with me and I love working with them, so that’s been a really nice discovery.”

Hannah enjoys working with clients that need a little extra hand-holding throughout the process. “Buying and selling a home is an emotional journey. Usually, it’s an exciting, or difficult, time in somebody’s life, and it’s an honor for them to trust me with that.”

This has led Hannah to work primarily with first-time home buyers, as well as older adults looking to downsize. She’s found a common need within these two very different demographics: a Realtor who will listen to their needs carefully and who can be patient through what can be a long journey.

A nerd at heart, Hannah finds joy in explaining the real estate process to her clients. “When I purchased my first home 6 years ago, I felt overwhelmed. I was lucky that my parents were involved throughout the process, however at the end of the day I didn’t feel like I fully understood how I came to own a home.

Now that I’m on the other side, I enjoy helping my clients understand the process. Especially for my clients buying or selling for the first time, I like teaching them about the whys behind things, and making them feel empowered and confident in their decision.”

Whether she’s helping seniors, first-time home buyers or sellers, or

her friends, Hannah wants to make sure her clients don’t feel pressured throughout the process. “I think at the end of the day, patience is very important to me. I never want people to feel pressured or pushed into something they’re not ready for, whether they’re someone who has lived in the same home for 40 years or a first-time homebuyer who is nervous about the whole process. I want them to know they can trust me, and I won’t push them, but I will answer all of their questions and help them make a decision they can feel good about.”

For new agents coming into the market, Hannah advises them to start with finding the right brokerage for their needs. Hannah interviewed several different brokerages, and Live West stood out as a perfect fit for her. “Our managing broker, Rich Dana, does an amazing job preparing new agents and holds us to high standards when it comes to how we conduct business. I’m so grateful for the knowledgeable

and supportive environment that he’s created at Live West.”

Hannah has also found a mentor in one of Live West’s top produc ers, Danya Rivlin. Since day one, Danya has taken Hannah under her wing, and what began as a mentorship has grown into a part nership that has helped strengthen each of their businesses.

Hannah is very involved with the Boulder Chamber, serving on the Board of Bolder Young Professionals and Boulder Home Professionals. “I love being at the center of what makes Boulder ‘Boulder’ and being part of our thriving busi ness community. Meeting the owners of local businesses and seeing all of the creativity and entrepreneurship happening around us is really inspiring.”

Outside of work, Hannah spends time with her partner Andrew and her dog, Riley. They spend their free time playing sand volleyball, skiing, and discovering local restaurants and breweries. Travelling is important to them, and they’ve recently been to

South Africa, Italy, and Switzerland.

Hannah finds many ways to be social and loves to gather friends at her house for dinners or parties. She’s also part of a book club with a handful of friends. “Of course, I love the social aspect of book club, but I also appreciate that it’s gotten me to read things I never would have read before. I’ve learned a lot by being around people who push me to discover new things.”

In the summer, Hannah loves gardening and says she can spend countless hours outside, covered in dirt, and feel like no time has passed at all.

Over the past few years, Hannah has enjoyed learning and growing in her new career. “I’m having a lot of fun with this. I’ve found working with clients to be so fulfilling, and it’s been wonderful getting to know some of my friends on a new level.

I’m also very grateful that the Boulder real estate community has been so welcoming. I’ve found that most colleagues are doing business honorably and ethically, and I’m proud to be a part of that.”

To connect with Hannah, please visit her website at www.hannahhester. com, or contact her at (404) 933-9008 or hannah@livewestrealty.com.

I’VE LEARNED A LOT BY BEING AROUND PEOPLE WHO PUSH ME TO DISCOVER NEW THINGS.

health and wellness

By Dr. Felicia Santelli

WHAT’S IN YOUR GARDEN?

In the last several months, we have discussed all aspects of Stress…except where it comes from!

We are the reason we are unhealthy. Every one of us has some level of control over our health. But we have been ignoring the root cause of our stress and many of our health problems: OUR THOUGHTS.

Is the mind our servant, or our master?

Our thinking mind produces over 80,000 thoughts a day, and 85% of them are the same thoughts we had yesterday! Feelings and behavior come from our thoughts. This means most of what we feel and do every day is preprogrammed by our habitual ways of thinking. Without the ability to quiet the mind and step outside the thinking mind, we are a prisoner of

our habits and patterns. By learning to quiet the mind, we can take back our power.

To enjoy good health and true happiness, one must first discipline and control the mind. When we think positive thoughts, we see abundance, not scarcity. Instead of focusing on what’s wrong, we focus on what’s right. Instead of seeing the glass half empty, we see the glass half full. Instead of taking things for granted, we focus on things with gratitude.

When you think negative thoughts, you will likely find yourself unhappy, unhealthy, and unsuccessful. After all, how can anything “good” happen to someone who is always complaining and viewing themselves as a victim?

If you spend most of your time with pessimistic people, your thoughts will follow suit. Conversely, when you associate with people who are a positive influence, you’ll have a flourishing positive life.

To be a successful master of your own mind, you need to listen, get to know your servant, acknowledge its contribution, realize its nature, and make peace with it. Throughout history wise men, teachers, philosophers, and prophets were in complete and unanimous agreement — the key to success or failure is that you become what you think about most of the time.

According to Dr. Caroline Leaf, an expert in the field of brain neurology, “75% to 95% of our illnesses are a direct result of our thoughts about life”.

With 80,000 thoughts a day; these thoughts affect us both physically and emotionally. Research shows that fear triggers more than 1,400 physical and chemical bodily responses and activates more than 30 different hormones, creating the conditions for illness and making ourselves sick. (The Secret to Life Transformation) Negative thoughts will occur even with the most positive person. But it’s what you do with those thoughts that make a difference between living a positive, happy, healthy life, or a negative, miserable one.

So how can we control our thoughts?

We have a life-changing decision to make: To decide to think about what we should be thinking about. I came across this quote that speaks volumes:

“Your mind is a garden, your thoughts are the seeds, the harvest can either be flowers or weeds.” Osho

Consider the following excerpt about a story that parallels the human mind with a garden. From The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale

“Suppose a farmer has some land, that’s good and fertile. The land gives the farmer a choice. He may plant whatever he chooses. The land doesn’t care. It’s up to the farmer to make the decision. We’re

comparing the human mind with the land because the mind, like the land, doesn’t care what you plant in it. It will return what you plant. Now, let’s say that the farmer has two seeds – one is a seed of corn, the other is nightshade. He digs two little holes in the earth, and he plants both seeds – one corn, the other nightshade (a poisonous plant). He covers the holes, waters, and takes care of the land… and what will happen? The land will return what was planted. As it’s written in the Bible. ‘As ye sow, so shall ye reap.’

Remember the land doesn’t care. It will return the poisonous nightshade in just as wonderful abundance as it will return corn. So up come the two plants – one corn, the other one nightshade. The human mind is far more fertile, far more incredible, and mysterious than the land, but it works the same way. It doesn’t care what we plant ...success…or failure. A concrete worthwhile goal…or confusion, misunderstanding, fear, or anxiety. But what we plant the mind will return to us. The human mind is the last great unexplored continent on Earth. It contains riches beyond our wildest dreams. It will return anything we want to plant.”

“Spiritual life is a lot like gardening. We till and cultivate the garden of our heart, planting seeds of presence, openness, and the ability to respect whatever arises. We

water each one so the things which are beautiful within us can blossom.”Jack

Kornfield

Even if everything is roses in your life right now, it doesn’t mean your inner gardening is done. On the other hand, if you are going through a rough patch don’t think it is too late to start planting new seeds.

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Be careful what you think because your thoughts run your life.”

When your mind/thoughts are in harmony with love, kindness, compassion, and peace, there is no room for stressful, negative thoughts. Positive thinking is a form of stress management that benefits health and wellness.

“Become the master of your own mind – skillfully directing it to live in harmony with the other players of self - body and spirit.” Buddha

References: https/www. sharecare.com/health/healthyhabits/how-can-behavioraffect-health http/www. affirmationsforpositivethinking. com/Healing-with-PositiveThinking.htm Chrystyn, Julie. The Secret to Life Transformation. Nightingale, Earl. The Strangest Secret.