Kris VanBuskirk
“I love seeing people cross something off the list they never thought they could do,” says Kris VanBuskirk, a real estate professional with Live West Realty. And that energy—the excitement of achieving the seemingly impossible—is the thread that runs through everything she does.
Kris is a born-and-bred Coloradan. Originally from Colorado Springs, she headed north to attend CU Boulder, majoring in business management. Life soon swept her into the fast-paced world of hospitality, where she wore many hats—from front desk to HR to accounting and eventually, sales.
It was while working at a hotel in Westminster that she met her husband, Ryan, who at the time was a chef. Together, they ventured from Colorado to Austin, Texas, then on to Phoenix, before returning to their beloved Front Range to plant permanent roots. “All of our family and friends were in Colorado,” she shares. With kids on the horizon, there was no better place to call home.
Back in Colorado, Kris stayed in hospitality for another year and a half—until motherhood changed everything.
“Hotels never close. They’re 24/7. That work schedule made it really hard to spend time with my daughter,” she recalls. “That was the tipping point. It was time to make a change.”
PROOF
“We had a motto in hotels: ‘Say yes is the answer—now what’s the question?’ That mindset stuck with me. Now in real estate, the question becomes, ‘How do we get to yes?’”
It’s a mindset that’s carried her through challenging transactions and helped her navigate the emotional rollercoaster that is real estate. Buying or selling a home isn’t just business— it’s deeply personal. “We’re not just REALTORS®,” she laughs. “We’re therapists, babysitters, and sometimes even cleaners. We wear a lot of hats.”
Real, Raw & Relatable
As a millennial mom of two—Piper, 7, and Luke, 4—Kris is honest about the obstacles she’s faced, especially
That candor has helped her earn the trust of first-time homebuyers, especially those who never thought homeownership was in the cards. She remembers one client vividly—a single mom who had rented her whole life and never dreamed of owning a home.
“At the closing table, she screamed, ‘I did it! I have a house!’ That moment stays with me. It was so cool to be part of that.”
Balancing Work and What Matters
Despite her success, Kris is clear-eyed about what fuels her hustle: family. “I’m a mom and the breadwinner. That’s a powerful ‘why.’” Her husband Ryan, a former Marine who served two tours in Iraq, is now a proud stay-at-home dad. When COVID hit, the couple reevaluated everything.
In 2019, almost exactly one year after the birth of her first child, Kris got her real estate license and launched a new career. Though the transition was bold, it wasn’t completely out of left field. Her seven years in hospitality had armed her with a goldmine of transferable skills—stellar customer service, high-level communication, and the ability to remain calm under pressure. All of which serve her—and her clients—exceptionally well today.
early on. “I was very conscious of my age. I got started in my late twenties, and real estate isn’t typically a field people jump into straight out of college or shortly after. There was a lot of imposter syndrome.”
What helped her break through? Transparency.
“I’m not going to promise what I can’t deliver. Flashy marketing only goes so far. What people value is honesty.”
“It was a rough year for most of the planet, but honestly, a good year for us. It forced us to take the leap—me fully into real estate, and him stepping back from his job to be with the kids.”
Five years later, they haven’t looked back. With Ryan holding down the home front, Kris is free to chase real estate opportunities while showing up for school pickups and family dinners.
When she’s not working (a rare occurrence), Kris is a self-described “introverted extrovert” who recharges with home projects and yardwork. The family loves taking their camper out in the summer for hikes and low-key camping adventures—“as adventurous as it gets with two kids under seven!” she jokes.
And when they can sneak away? Kris and Ryan are die-hard foodies who used to plan entire vacations around one unforgettable meal. “We’d pick a city and make a reservation at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Someday we’ll get back to that—but for now, it’s on the goals list.”
Supporting Those Who Serve
Beyond family and real estate, one cause is especially close to Kris’s heart: Semper Fi & America’s Fund. Ryan, who is disabled due to his service, has found purpose and community through the organization, which supports wounded veterans with housing modifications, physical activities, and ongoing care.
“They’ve been incredible—not just for him, but for our whole family,” Kris says. “They understand that when a veteran is hurting, their entire support system needs to heal, too.”
Ryan stays connected with his fellow veterans through bi-weekly calls, many of whom he’s never met in person but considers family. They’ve run the Marine Corps Marathon together through the Fund’s athletic arm, Team Semper Fi.
“That organization is near and dear to my heart. I’ve seen the support they’ve given my husband—and I wish every veteran knew it was out there.”
Making Her Mark
Now more than five years into her real estate career, Kris has found her groove. She’s grown a thriving business, built on trust, transparency, and a deep respect for the process.
“I don’t know if I’d call it a superpower,” she says humbly. “But it’s not just a transaction for me. It’s helping people take their next step—and I don’t take that lightly.”
From hospitality’s fast-paced front desk to the closing table’s emotional highs, Kris VanBuskirk is the real deal—authentic, resilient, and fiercely committed to helping others succeed. She’s not just selling houses. She’s opening doors—to homes, to new chapters, and to dreams come true.
Kris VanBuskirk kris@vanbuskirkhomes.com
Cell (719) 640-1610 Office: (303) 800-9601 vanbuskirkhomes.com
I DON’T KNOW IF I’D CALL IT A SUPERPOWER,’ SHE SAYS HUMBLY. ‘BUT IT’S NOT JUST A TRANSACTION FOR ME. IT’S HELPING PEOPLE TAKE THEIR NEXT STEP—AND I DON’T TAKE THAT LIGHTLY.
As first-time homebuyers, we couldn’t have asked for a better experience than the one we had with Kris! She came prepared to our first meeting with an awesome guide she built to walk us through the home buying process from start to finish. She made what could have been an overwhelming experience feel smooth and easy. She made us feel comfortable asking all the “stupid” questions, and she took the time to make sure we fully understood everything. She was proactive and worked quickly, consistently staying one step ahead. We truly felt like we were in the best hands throughout our time working with her and will definitely be reaching out again for any future home-buying needs! Thank you, Kris!!
-Veronica Bailey
We have worked with Kris on two transactions over the past few years, first when we sold our CO home to head to SC and then again to buy when we decided to wanted to be back in CO. Kris is hands down someone you want on your team. Our recent home purchase was all sight unseen and Kris was our eyes and ears on the ground, making sure to advocate for us when we weren’t there to see for ourselves. Kris goes above and beyond, gives you the information before you even think to ask the question and genuinely cares about your journey as a person. We hope we won’t be moving again for a while but we already know who will be selling this home when that time comes.
-Breanne Nelson
We had the pleasure of working with Kris for our first home buying experience. I can honestly say I don’t think we would have gone through with the home buying process if we didn’t have Kris on our side. We had a few bumps in the road, but through it all she remained consistent, supportive, and positive. You can tell how passionate she is about her work and she goes above and beyond for her clients. If you are looking for an incredible realtor, I cannot recommend Kris enough!
-Jessica Clerkin
