Betty Ann Bickford on her way making waves and breaking new records. The 850th Sale for Island Real Estate on Lake Winnipesaukee.
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ate last Fall, when you could see your breath in the air, no leaves on the trees, and birds on their way south, Betty Ann Bickford of Island Real Estate was still out on Lake Winnipesaukee in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire taking buyers, sellers, agents, inspectors and appraisers on her 21 foot Grady White to help finish her years’ busy island sales. It is no surprise she logged over 2000 miles on her boat helping people achieve their island dreams. I don’t know anyone who spends that much time on a boat — until I met Betty Ann. A few of these miles on her boat were spent with one waterfront agent who shared a listing
on Rattlesnake Island. at would be me. No stranger to island living, my family owned a 1.3 acre island in McGregor Bay, Canada, 9 miles by boat to get to in uncharted waters from the landing and 28 miles by car to the nearest town called Little Current—which was an over statement. I learned from when I was a skinny redheaded freckled face 11-year-old the real appeal of island living as part of a family of seven. I learned to drive a boat—even build a boat, before I learned to drive a car. I grew up learning about nature, fishing holes, camp fires, boating rules, sail boat races, swimming — and girls. I thought I had learned every-
thing that had to do with island living —until I met Betty Ann. Decades pass. My hair is no longer red— actually much of my hair is no longer. Life took me from the shores of Lake Michigan, to Manhattan Island, to East Haddam on the Connecticut River, and Commercial Wharf on the Boston Harbor. en life began again for me as an owner of a small lake house in New Hampshire, and then waterfront agent in real estate. Even though I have sold properties on over 50 different lakes, I thought I knew everything I needed to know about waterfront real estate—until I met Betty Ann.
Betty Ann is a true waterfront agent here on Lake Winnipesaukee for over 30 years. Her entire focus being non-bridged island properties. ere are some 365 islands on Lake Winnipesaukee-only 252 habitable. July 2015 marks the 850th island sale for Island Real Estate. at’s right—850! Island Real Estate began as a weekend hobby for John F. Bridges from his Treasure Island home in 1977—ironically selling only properties with no bridges. In 1984, Betty Ann began doing weekend bookkeeping work for John in a small office in Minge Cove with
a desk and an outhouse out back. Aer a year of much resistance, John finally convinced Betty Ann to get her own real estate license. at presented other challenges, like, for instance, she had to learn how to drive a boat, not to mention docking, rope knots, navigation, buoys, weather, the rules of the water—and where all of these 365 or so islands were—no GPS or MapQuest to help—just maps. It is one thing to simply know about Island Real Estate. It is another to actually work and share a listing with Betty Ann, and experience first hand the Betty Ann her clients know and love in action. I was humbled by her knowledge of the water, the islands and island
life. I never knew someone with the innate ability to navigate a lake and the master the sometimes murky waters of a real estate transaction — until I met Betty Ann. And now, before summer has officially begun, Betty Ann Bickford has made new waves and broken new records. e 850th Island Real Estate Sale. Congratulations on such an accomplishment. I doubt you’ll find such a devoted steward of the islands of Winnipesaukee until you meet Betty Ann. ~Michael Travis, REALTOR BHHS Spencer-Hughes Real Estate
©2015 Michael Travis • Media Wing LLC, PO Box 1644, Wolfeboro NH 03894, 603-515-9422 • www.MediaWing.com
Betty Ann Bickford • Island Real Estate • 35 Bay Street, PO 1680 Wolfeboro, NH 03894 • www.IslandRE.com • O: 603-569.3972 Michael Travis • Bean Group • 10 Endicott Street, POBox 450, Wolfeboro • www.WaterfrontAgent.com • O: 603-569-0700 • C: 603-303-2599