SARAH SCHWARTZ

To Truly Care

By Brandon Jerrell • Photos By Scott Golmic

“It hurts me to see people hurting and brings me tremendous joy to see people thriving,” shares Sarah Schwartz with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty. Right away, it’s easy to see what kind of person Sarah is and what kind of person all REALTORS® should strive to be.

Personal Life

Sarah is originally from Baltimore, Maryland, but her family moved to Jacksonville when she was nine. “My dad was sick and couldn’t handle the cold winters, and my parents knew a couple in Jacksonville,” she explains. “I graduated from Nease High School in 2003 and went to FCCJ for my associate’s degree in marketing.”

“Growing up with a sick parent gave me an appreciation for life and truly living. My mom has always been the hardest worker I know. I watched her go to work every day, take care of me, my sister, and my dad, all with a smile on her face.”

Sarah says she has always had a job since she was 14. Of her early jobs, she lists being a lifeguard at Adventure Landing as being her favorite. “It’s amazing the friendships that you create during your summer jobs when you are in high school. I am still close friends with at least five other lifeguards that I worked with and still acquaintances with a handful of others.”

“In my ‘previous life,’ I was a Navy wife for 10+ years and moved to Savannah, GA, San Diego, CA, Honolulu, HI, back to San Diego, and then ultimately back to Jacksonville when we separated.”

Sarah continues, “About seven months after moving back, I swiped right and met the most perfect man for me. After dating for almost four years, we got married right before the pandemic and have been married for a little over three years and have a one-year-old baby boy, Myles Lennon Schwartz, and two adorable Dalmatians, Alby and Penny.”

Years of Experience

Since earning her college degree, Sarah has followed her passion for sales and marketing. In Savannah, she was the Director of Administration and Marketing for a physical therapy company. She was promoted to open a new clinic in Jacksonville where she also started working for a skincare company on the side. When she moved to San Diego, she transferred with the skincare company which opened the door for her to work at Nordstrom for many years. When she returned to Jacksonville for the final time, she worked in marketing at 1-800 Flowers for a few years before transitioning to full-time real estate. Sarah’s customer service skills were honed and the whispers of real estate were calling.

The Real Estate World Real estate was always there just under the surface in Sarah’s mind.

“I’ve always thought about getting into real estate but never followed through as life events happened and I always poured myself into the work I was currently in. I had people ask me for recommendations for REALTORS® and would refer them to a local REALTOR®, and then she along with my boyfriend at the time — now husband — as well as my parents, really encouraged me to take the leap and get my license. I 100 percent did not expect to take off as quickly as I did.”

Her history in sales made her decision all the more obvious.

Sarah explains, “I’ve always had sales and marketing jobs, sales is in my blood. My dad was in sales, his dad was a commercial REALTOR® in Baltimore, MD, and it just made sense!” She recounts that when she moved to San Diego in

2011, she was desperate to find a place to live.

“No one would call me back,” Sarah recalls.

“I called REALTOR® after REALTOR®, and everyone was too busy for me or not interested in helping me find a place to rent.”

“I had no idea what I was looking for or where I wanted to live, I didn’t know the area or how long I would even be living there. That was when I first thought about getting into real estate because I didn’t want anyone to experience what I had just experienced.”

The more she thought about it, Sarah knew the time was right to make her transition into real estate.

“Real estate had been on my mind but always got pushed to the back burner. After moving back to Jacksonville, I finally got to a point in my previous career where I didn’t see any opportunity for growth, and I was tired of working for someone else. I wanted to be in control of my time and income, so it was time to finally get into real estate, and getting my license was a priority.”

To Truly Care

For Sarah and her team, communication is paramount. “We respond in minutes, not hours. We never leave anyone hanging, even if the response is ‘I’ll get back to you shortly’ or ‘Let me find that information and I’ll reach back out once I have it.’ The bottom line is quick and clear communication at all times, no matter the time of day.”

Sarah prioritizes keeping people in her world happy. “I care deeply for my friends, my family, my clients, and even perfect strangers. I care for their well-being, their comfort, and their happiness,” she explains. “I take pleasure and pride in being the rock for so many people. I’m the one they can go to for any reason at any time. This compassion and care is something I eat, sleep, and breathe. It’s not just a front for a transaction, but a true part of who I am down to my bones.”

Sarah continues, “I think the genuinity inside me is easily seen by people who take the time to get to know me or work with me and I think it’s greatly appreciated by many. It’s what makes me, me. It’s probably why a majority of my clients who I meet in the business become real friends who I now hang out with often and talk to every day.”