Real Estate
P Partners 2020
HEALTH & WELL-BEING • CONSTRUCTION
GIVING
in Real Estate
The Knowledgeable Professionals Ready to Help You Fulfill Real Estate Dreams
As life in America changes, more and more people are seeking a new place to put down roots — a place where they feel connected to the land and to a community. A place like Sisters. Sisters’ real estate community is made up of people who pursued that same vision themselves — some of them relatively recently; some decades ago. They know what it takes to bring a dream to fulfillment in Sisters Country. Real estate brokers have to be
knowledgeable, diligent, and above all they have to know how to listen to their clients to determine what property best fits their vision of the Sisters way of life. The men and women you will meet in these pages know Sisters intimately, in all of its surprising diversity. They have the knowledge and resources to help you find the property of your dreams, or to sell the one you’re in and start somewhere new.
new people integrate into the vibrant, four-season life of the town, finding just the right fit, from a townhome to a ranch, from downtown to way out in the sagebrush and trees.
These are people who love their community — and they love helping
Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief The Nugget Newspaper
Let them guide you on the path to your Sisters dream.
A special section presented by The Nugget Newspaper GOLDEN EAGLE PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK | HORSE STATUE PHOTO BY CEILI CORNELIUS | ADDITIONAL PHOTOS BY JESS DRAPER
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Partners in Real Estate // The Nugget Newspaper // July 15, 2020
Welcome to ‘Oregon Lifestyle’ Jodi Satko is able to help her clients enjoy the Central Oregon lifestyle — because she lives it. A seasoned veteran in real estate, Satko knows how to ask the right, detailed questions to make sure that her clients’ lifestyle and the properties they seek are a great fit. That allows her to streamline what can be a complicated process, strategically seeking out homes that truly match a client’s wants and needs. Her experience, passion and attention to detail make for win-win transactions on everything from single-family homes to ranches and prestigious luxury properties, here in Sisters Country and all across the state. Jodi was recently nominated for the Woman of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award for her years of outstanding success in the real estate industry. She is also accredited in International Luxury Division, making her a resident expert in luxury properties. Pictured below is one of her current luxury listings of a prestigious property here in Sisters Country. For Satko, through her company Oregon Lifestyle Property Group and Keller Williams Realty, the key element of a successful real estate transaction is getting to
know clients personally and taking their needs and desires to heart. “This is a very emotional and personal decision,” she notes. “It’s one of the most important decisions people make in their lives.” There is nothing more satisfying to Satko than to have a client trust her to find exactly the right property and for them to believe in her when she says, “this is the one for you.” “That’s what keeps my passion going,” she says. That passion has driven her over a 30-year career — a career that has also built on a foundation of training and education for others. “I realized really, really early on that people don’t really understand the process,” she recalled. She started educating and training both real estate professionals and clients and worked as a national corporate trainer for many years. “That kind of set me apart years and years ago,” she said. As a veteran real estate broker, she takes great satisfaction in seeing her 28-year-old daughter, Courteney Satko-Holland, following in her footsteps. “What bigger blessing could you have?” she says. A licensed broker for over four
photo provided
years, Satko-Holland is especially well-positioned to help young families just starting down the path toward homeownership. “She’s really engaged with the first-time homebuyers,” Satko says. Satko-Holland helps those first-timers negotiate unfamiliar terrain when it comes to credit, loans, and the potentially intimidating process of purchasing a home. Together, Jodi and Courteney also help Keller Williams engage with the Central Oregon veterans community, and they support Family Access Network in aiding local families in need. Both are deeply immersed in the equestrian life in Sisters, which gives them a deep understanding of the unique demands of
rural real estate transactions. The mother-daughter duo are currently creating the 2021 Trilogy Scholarship in Courteney’s name through Sisters Graduate Resource Organization (GRO). A financial scholarship will be awarded to students of diverse interests and involvement in sports, music, and the arts at Sisters High School — Courteney’s favorite subjects when she attended Sisters High School, graduating in 2010. The Satkos will also be donating a baby grand piano that was played in the 1984 Olympics to the Sisters High School music department, For the Satkos it’s all about building long-term relationships — a hallmark of Jodi’s career since the very beginning.
OUR REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE ISN’T EXPENSIVE…IT’S PRICELESS!
A home is not a home because of its room dimensions or the color of the walls. It is about how you feel when you walk through the front door. And the way you can instantly envision your life unfolding there. FEATURED HOME OFFERED AT $2,895,000.
LUXURY…CUSTOM…NEW CONSTRUCTION…RESORT…FARM & RANCH “…We are truly blessed to have had Jodi & Courteney as our team. Anyone who is looking for a knowledgeable and professional team should call Jodi Satko & Courteney. They will give you their all and you will be very pleased with their efforts & RESULTS!” “…If you or anyone you know is looking for an intelligent, compassionate realtor, we hope you will decide to give Jodi & Courteney a call. We can honestly give them our very highest recommendation.”
COME LIVE YOUR LIFE,, OREGON STYLE, WITH JODI & COURTENEY Jodi Satko
Broker, Team Leader satkosellsoregon@gmail.com
Over 30 Years National Experience Working for You! Licensed in the State of Oregon
Call for Available Listings
Courteney Satko-Holland
Mention this ad and receive a one-year warranty on any new listing or purchase (up to a $500 value).
541-550-0819
Broker, Buyer & Listing Specialist cs.kellerwilliams@gmail.com Serving all of Central Oregon Licensed in the State of Oregon
Each office independently owned & operated
The Nugget Newspaper // July 15, 2020
// Partners in Real Estate
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Hayden Homes offers affordable opportunities Affordability is at the core of Hayden Homes’ mission. Hayden Homes’ Regional Director Chris Davis notes that the goal of each community is to build at “the highest quality at the lowest possible cost” in order to serve underserved rural markets. Starting home prices are based on the area median income threshold in a community rather than being driven by market rate of the homes. In turn, Hayden Homes’ homes are virtually always “the most competitively priced homes in all of the communities we build in.” The commitment to affordability is especially apparent in Hayden Homes’ McKenzie Meadows Village project, which is now underway in Sisters. The 195-plus-unit development combines 116 single-family detached homes, 18 single-family attached/ townhomes, and 61-65 multi-family units plus 3.32 acres of open space, and recreational amenities and supporting infrastructure. Among the homes built in the three-phase development will be 10 homes dedicated to affordable housing for families qualifying at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) threshold of 80 percent or below
of Adjusted Median Income. The homes are being made available through the First Story program, Hayden Homes’ nonprofit charitable arm. “What we’re doing in Sisters is the largest, most impactful project the nonprofit has done,” said First Story Executive Director Claire Duncan. Three families have been selected for First Story homes in the initial phase of the project, which is expected to take three years to complete. “All three families are the first in their families to own their own home,” Duncan said. Two of the three families currently live and work in Sisters. The nonprofit First Story reached out to the Sisters community to seek applicants and to help prospective homeowners prepare for the responsibilities and burdens of home ownership. First Story’s affordable loan program provides zero-down, zero-interest, 30-year loans to qualified individuals purchasing their first home. The First Story homes are triplex units — but they are only attached at the garage and do not share a living-space wall, giving them the feel of a single-family detached home. They
photo provided
are 1,058 square feet with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. They come with appliances, air conditioning, fencing and landscaping in place. Since 1989, Hayden Homes has built over 17,000 homes in underserved, secondary markets throughout Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Economies of scale help to keep land and materials costs down so that Hayden Homes can be affordable to working families and first-time homebuyers. Every time a Hayden Home is sold, 1/8 of one percent of the sale price goes to First Story. The funds collected are distributed into the local community, where First Story makes charitable grants in support of community programs. For the sale of a new
home, Hayden Homes pays the percentage. When that first buyer sells the home, they pay the same percentage and so on, each time the house sells. “Deschutes County is one of our largest recipients of this grant funding, so hundreds of organizations have received grant funds,” Duncan noted. Hayden Homes and First Story have made considerable contributions to Sisters High School, the Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank, the veterans outreach programs, Central Oregon Council on Aging and many more projects and programs. Through their approach to building and the First Story program, Hayden Homes is offering an affordable opportunity to many families to call Sisters home.
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Partners in Real Estate // The Nugget Newspaper // July 15, 2020
Stellar Realty NW creates community space Things have gone extraordinarily well for Tim Kizziar since he ventured into the world of real estate five years go. “It sounds trite, but I feel really blessed,” he said. “I don’t really completely get it, how well it’s gone.” Establishing Stellar Realty NW in a new, community-oriented space on Hood Avenue (across the street from Sisters Ace Hardware) is way of creating an agency that is customized to Sisters. “I had contemplated opening my own brokerage, but I didn’t really want to,” Kizziar said. The duties of operating a brokerage, Kizziar feared, would take away from what he wants to focus on — which is serving clients. By affiliating with Stellar Realty NW out of Bend, Kizziar feels he has helped create an effective hybrid of a franchise and a small independent brokerage — one that fits him and Sisters. “I get all the benefits without the burdens of being a sole proprietor,” he said. A dozen agents have independently joined Kizziar in a space deliberately designed to be much more than a real estate office. “This is a community space,” Kizziar said, looking around at a
comfortable, airy, open floorplan that he foresees being used by a variety of people for wine tastings, poker nights, book clubs – all, of course, awaiting a return to greater normalcy. “We have a shortage of gathering places in Sisters.” From the space to the nature of the business, Kizziar is creating something unique — and very “Sisters.” Something built around people and a sense of community. “It’s really an organic way to build a business,” he said of the gathering of agents. “Everyone’s a different story. I don’t think there’s even a theme running through it. I guess if you could say there’s a theme, it’s very relational.” Kizziar identifies the keys to success in real estate as “competency, connection, and creativity.” Creativity is at a premium right now, in a market driven by high demand and low interest rates. “There are definitely more buyers than sellers,” Kizziar said. That means he’s had to come up with extraordinarily creative ways to connect buyers and sellers — even sellers who didn’t really know they were sellers until he came up with an idea that worked. Kizziar clearly relishes
photo by jim cornelius
overcoming challenges and finding solutions. And creativity and connection is on display in the physical environs he has developed. “That’s the vibe I’m trying to create here,” he said. “I’m trying to create a co-op.” Kizziar says that he doesn’t specialize in any particular type of property. He has worked with residential properties in town, large agricultural properties in the Sisters Country hinterlands, commercial real estate,
and ranches. “My area of focus or expertise is the Sisters area,” he said. Kizziar’s operating principles are neither complicated nor esoteric. And they’re rooted in a personal outlook that dwells on service as a first principle. “I just genuinely try to do the right next thing, do it with all my heart and expect nothing in return,” he said. “Good things just come back to you if you genuinely serve people and don’t expect anything. Good things come back.”
New Stellar Realty NW Branch Office Open!
Branch Manager Tim Kizziar leads a team of 11 independent brokers with international reach from a beautiful new community gathering space in Sisters. When passion intersects with set-up, really good things happen! Connie Mitchell • Francis Houle Brian Beveridge • Kim Pucci Roger Alvarez • Eric Bilderback Matt Carter • Vic Dody Anna Scarpulla • Jack Farley Annie Andreson
Stop by anytime!
Tim Kizziar, Principal Broker | 541-419-5577 | 382 E. Hood Avenue, Ste-A East, Sisters — Licensed In The State of Oregon —
The Nugget Newspaper // July 15, 2020
Duo offers stellar property management Those who own rental properties in Sisters rely on top-quality property management — a service offered by Annie Andreson and Danielle Thrasher in the South Sister Property Management Office affiliated with Tim Kizziar at Stellar Realty Northwest. The office is located in a new co-op space at 382 E. Hood Ave. Andreson has been a real estate broker in Sisters for over 30 years, and a Sisters resident since 1978. “The properties I manage are often properties I’ve sold to people in Sisters,” Andreson said. Thrasher is an active partner in the work. “I’ve kind of moved into a more managerial, part-ownership role,” she said. “All the owners Annie has sold properties to, I’ve been able to build relationships with.” Combined, Annie and Danielle have 50 years management experience. Thrasher has been in the field for several years, and has a deep background in a variety of forms of management. “It’s about people skills,” she said. “It’s about having trust...” That trust keeps people coming back — because they’ve had good experiences.
“My owners turn into sellers and my tenants turn into buyers,” Andreson said. With 52 rental properties active, Andreson and Thrasher stand ready to help clients buy, sell, or lease a rental property. “I love real estate,” Andreson said. “I love helping people find what they want, helping people evaluate what they have.” For property owners, finding a good tenant is a critical mission. “We qualify renters really well,” Andreson said. It’s an extremely tight rental market in Sisters, and Andreson and Thrasher have a list of highquality renters waiting for an opening. “We have a really great screening process,” Thrasher said. “We find the best renter for the property.” They pride themselves on a straightforward rate structure that keeps things simple for property owners. And they pride themselves on building and maintaining strong personal relationships with everybody they work with. As Thrasher observed, “Maintaining relationships is important right now.”
EXPERTS COMBINE
REAL ESTATE AND RENTAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
// Partners in Real Estate
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Teaming up for real estate success Connie Mitchell has a proven real estate track record with buyers and sellers in Sisters over the course of 15 years — and now the second generation is coming on board to continue the tradition. Connie’s daughter Francis Houlé received her broker’s license earlier this year. The mother and daughter are now affiliated with Stellar Realty Northwest, working out of a new co-op space at 382 E. Hood Ave. “I love the way they do business,” Connie said. “It’s not about the money; it’s about the people, it’s about the relationships and the service we provide.” While Houlé embarked on her new career in the midst of a tumultuous time, she has hit the ground with a confident stride. “I think it’s a good path for me,” said Houlé of her venture into the family business. “I’ve felt so welcomed. And I have such a great mentor.” While she benefits from Connie’s deep experience, Francis brings extensive knowledge in the latest digital trends of the industry and Oregon real estate marketing — and a passion for the work.
...it’s about the people, it’s about the relationships... — Connie Mitchell “I love homes; I love interior designing,” she said. “So this is a really good fit for me.” In Central Oregon, it’s important to have a Realtor who knows the lay of the land and is ingrained within the culture of the community. Connie and Francis are lifelong residents of the area and specialize in tailoring a personal and organized approach that best fits each individual client’s needs. This dynamic duo has come together to form a strategic union where knowledge meets passion, and innovation complements experience. They bring many resources to bear. Francis’ husband Jordan Houlé provides drone photographer services and Francis is adept in the critical social media aspects of the work. “I think that puts us a step above, really,” Connie reflected. “It’s nice to have it all in the family.
TEAM STELLAR NW
now affiliated with
Stellar Realty NW, Sisters We help you buy, sell or lease a rental property!
Annie has 30+ years as a real estate broker, and combined with Danielle’s rental property experience we have 50 years of management experience, with 52 active rental properties.
While Francis brings extensive knowledge in the latest digital trends of the Industry and Oregon Real Estate marketing; Connie brings over 15 years of experience in the Central Oregon marketplace with a proven track record with buyers & sellers, alike. Connie and Francis are lifelong residents of the area and specialize in tailoring a personal and organized approach that best fits your needs.
Annie Andreson, Broker
Connie Mitchell, Broker 541-610-8011
annieandreson@gmail.com 541-410-9514 South Sister Property Management
Connie@TeamStellarNW.com GRI, ABR, SFR, E-PRO, CRS
Licensed in the State of Oregon #698501612
Licensed in the State of Oregon
Danielle Thrasher, RLNE 4698426 382. E. HOOD AVENUE, STE A-EAST, SISTERS
dkt.assoc@gmail.com 541-977-1492 South Sister Property Management
382 E. HOOD AVENUE, STE A-EAST, SISTERS
Francis Houlé, Broker 541-788-3606
Francis@TeamStellarNW.com Licensed in the State of Oregon
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Partners in Real Estate // The Nugget Newspaper // July 15, 2020
Realtors specialize at Black Butte Ranch Black Butte Ranch is a beloved place for thousands of people who have vacationed there since childhood. For many, it is a lifelong dream to live there or to have a vacation home on the Ranch. Black Butte Realty is on the Ranch to help make those dreams come true. “Black Butte Ranch is a very special place,” says managing broker Gary Yoder. “I traveled for 20 years all around the planet, and have visited some special places — Black Butte Ranch is definitely one of them.” Yoder has a particular connection to the place: his father-in-law, Robert Muir Graves, designed the Big Meadow Golf Course on the Ranch, and Robert’s Pub is named in his honor. Gary’s wife Katy recently completed a book commemorating Black Butte Ranch’s 50th Anniversary. Don Bowler, president and coowner of the company, concurs with the assessment. He knows, because he lives there. “It’s a pretty unique place,” he says. “Most people think of it as a vacation place, but there are about 300 of us who consider it a residential community.” Like many of his clients, Bowler dreamed of living at the Ranch
when he retired from a successful corporate career — and he fulfilled that dream. After flunking retirement, he decided to go into real estate and facilitate the dream for others. Black Butte Realty has a special relationship with the Ranch. “We’re the exclusive on-site Realtor for the Ranch,” Yoder explains. “We specialize in Black Butte Ranch real estate and have been doing so for many years.” Yoder notes that the amenities on the Ranch are top-quality and the golf courses are prestigious. Yoder worked in golf at the Ranch before moving into real estate. Bowler extols the delights of an active, engaged group of homeowners. “It’s a fantastic community,” he says. The Ranch offers a wide range of activities for vacationers and homeowners alike. Black Butte Ranch has unique requirements — for instance a requirement for maximum tree density and defensible space in a community that is vulnerable to fire. It doesn’t have more restrictions and requirements than other places, necessarily, but they may be different — and Black Butte Realty is positioned to guide
photo by jim cornelius
clients through the complexities. Bowler is a gregarious, personable sort who thrives on engaging with people on the Ranch. Yoder brings the locked-down detail orientation he developed in his military service to bear. And they pride themselves on providing top-quality and highly ethical service to each client — buyer or seller, the client comes first. “That’s the way we approach the business,” Yoder says. “We’re going to be the most ethical company we can be.” Taking care of clients at Black Butte Ranch requires a high degree of engagement. Bowler notes that not only is it a dream to live there, it can be a very
emotional event when a family has to sell. Black Butte Realty also features the services of Joe and Carol Dye — who have been homeowners since 1993 and agents since 1996, Ross Kennedy, and a great new addition to the team, Corrie Lake. The agents and brokers at Black Butte Realty feel the same emotional connection that countless clients feel toward a very special place, and it informs every aspect of their work. “We feel a responsibility to the Ranch,” Yoder says. In addition to real estate transactions, Black Butte Realty manages 40 vacation rentals on the Ranch.
photo by Curtiss Abbott
With Your Black Butte Ranch
Real Estate Experts!
— Exclusive On-Site Realtor for the Ranch —
Don Bowler, President & Broker 971-244-3012
Carol Dye, Broker 541-480-0923 Joe Dye, Broker 541-419-1215
Gary Yoder, Managing Principal Broker 541-420-6708
Ross Kennedy, Principal Broker 541-408-1343
541-595-3838 Black Butte Ranch 541-549-5555 in Sisters
See all our listings at blackbutterealtygroup.com
Corrie Lake, Broker
541-521-2392
The Nugget Newspaper // July 15, 2020
McCrystal works with integrity, passion Jennifer McCrystal of Coldwell Banker Reed Bros. Realty has had great success in residential and commercial real estate all across Central Oregon, from agricultural properties to downtown homes. This success has come after two decades of family and business life in Sisters, during which McCrystal co-created Jen’s Garden and The Cottonwood Café and served her community through nonprofits ranging from the Sisters Trails Alliance to the Sisters Folk Festival. Having raised two school-aged daughters, she well understands the assets of the Sisters School District. That community foundation is a key to her success. “People know me,” she said. “People trust me.” They also know that McCrystal works out of a wide and deep base of expertise in the Sisters area and a work ethic that comes out of a rural raising and an entrepreneurial spirit. “I’m not a commission hunter,” she said. “I do this because I love it and I’m passionate about it.”
McCrystal sees changes in people’s approaches to residential real estate coming out of the coronavirus pandemic and extended quarantines. “Their home is more important to them emotionally than they ever realized,” she said. “I’m definitely seeing a difference in the things people are looking for in a house.” Those differences include space for remote work, which is poised to become a major factor for Sisters buyers. Jen is an active person — a runner, hiker, and fly-fisher, among other things — and she has a deep appreciation for all the natural bounty that Sisters Country has to offer. With her deep roots in Sisters, McCrystal understands better than most that finding a house is only part of finding a home. She tends to forge friendships with her clients because she’s not just managing a transaction for them. One of her great passions is “helping people who have moved here from other areas to integrate into our town.”
// Partners in Real Estate
Bratton Appraisal Group stakes claim in Sisters Dana Bratton has built a career as one of the most highlyregarded real estate appraisers in Central Oregon. Bratton and his wife, Nancy, moved to Sisters in 2019 with a heritage of living in a small town in Eastern Oregon. The Brattons grew up in the farming community of Nyssa, Oregon, a town with a stable population of 3,000. Dana says he grew up in the era of small farms and large families, a time when everyone in the family worked as a community growing crops that flourished in the Treasure Valley. “My dad was an equal opportunity employer and all the kids had a serious job list,” he said. After a wedding in the 1970s, the Brattons settled in rural Deschutes County and Dana, a graduate of the University of Oregon, began a 40-year career as a real estate appraiser. Over the years he has trained appraisers and built a prestigious appraisal firm that has grown along with the communities throughout Central Oregon. The Brattons were happy that their four children were able to experience a rural neighborhood
lifestyle. But after the kids graduated from high school and moved on they decided it was time to sell the farm home and return to their heritage of small town living by staking a claim in Sisters. Nancy enjoys gardening, biking, walking and loves the fact that the people she meets have time to wave and share friendly conversation. Dana commutes to Bend four days a week, where he leads a team of appraisers and support staff specializing on the valuation of investment-grade real estate. Bratton Appraisal Group, LLC provides a wide range of services valuing office buildings, industrial properties, apartment complexes and hotels. Property owners appreciate the support a qualified appraiser can give when making financial decisions about their investment property. “When I mentor investors looking to increase their real estate asset value I explain that they need to be an agent of change,” Bratton said. “A change of use, building addition, or renovation are all ways to increase the value of your home and commercial property as well.”
I’d Love To Be Your Broker, Too!
EXPERTS IN REAL ESTATE ANALYSIS
“Jennifer is the quintessential professional and is fun to work with! She gets out in front of potential speed bumps, and listens to her clients. She helped us find our perfect home in Sisters. She was all over the details and didn’t let anything get in the way of a timely closing. The day we moved into our new home, we found her shoveling snow from the walkway. Jen is the best!" — Lois & Doug P.
I take pride in anticipating and exceeding the needs of buyers and sellers, both residential and commercial.
Jen McCrystal, Broker
541-420-4347 • jen@reedbros.com Reed Bros. Realty
291 W. Cascade Ave., Sisters 541-549-6000 | www.reedbros.com Licensed in the State of Oregon
Each office independently owned and operated.
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• 40 years specializing in the valuation of investment-grade real estate like office buildings, industrial properties, apartment complexes and hotels • Mentoring real estate investors to be agents of change... change of use, building additions or renovations that increase home and commercial property values • Advocate for giving back to small towns through community volunteering
Dana Bratton 541-420-1143
Bratton Appraisal Group, LLC
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Partners in Real Estate // The Nugget Newspaper // July 15, 2020
Carrying on a powerful RE/MAX legacy in Sisters Ryan and Tim Buccola understand the importance of legacy. They’re a third-generation Oregon real estate family — and they have assumed the mantle of the RE/ MAX brand in Sisters through their Bend-based RE/MAX Key Properties. “RE/MAX has been an established brand in Sisters for a long time,” Ryan Buccola said, noting that the agency has been a longtime supporter of community organizations such as the Sisters Folk Festival. “The whole vision really started with Peter Storton, who built the brand in Sisters,” Buccola said. Buccola sees his business very much as the torch-bearer for a valued tradition of service delivered with diligence and integrity. “They’re just great people,” he said of Peter and his wife, Janet, who now live in Arizona. “He created a real legacy in Sisters and we’re just proud to be part of that.” Integrity and service are always the keystones. “The only thing we have is our integrity and our name,” Buccola said. That puts a premium on a simple mission: “Doing what we say we’re going to do.” That, for RE/MAX Key
Properties, means supporting its brokers. Buccola says that RE/MAX Key Properties is “a broker’s brokerage… Our clients are our brokers and buyers and sellers are the clients of the brokers.” That means engaging a fulltime, in-house marketing staff and a board of directors that is looking not at next quarter’s trends, but 24 to 36 months down the road. That means providing technical support that allows brokers to operate in a tight market and a pandemic-constrained environment. RE/MAX Key Properties brokers use 3-D imaging tools like Matterport to virtually show properties to prospective buyers. That technology was in wide use before COVID-19 hit, but it’s become an even more vital tool as people try to minimize unnecessary in-person contacts. The days of lookieloos and tire-kickers are past. “We don’t want to parade people through houses that are not already up to speed,” Buccola said. “The benefits to the seller are that you have qualified buyers… that are educated and ready to go. The benefit to the buyers is that all of the information is available and ready to go. Buccola foresees a significant
and ongoing influx of people from the Willamette Valley, Seattle and San Francisco who are looking to get out of metropolitan areas and work remotely. Pandemic restrictions have encouraged work-from-home capabilities, and turbulence has made getting away from the big city ever more attractive. “It’s really a very exciting time in real estate,” he said. “Internet is going to be paramount for people to be able to work remotely. If you have an occupation in which you are able to work remotely, you’re going to take advantage of that now… If I don’t have to go to the office every day, where do I want to be?” The answer for many is Sisters Country. RE/MAX Key Properties is planning a fall launch of a Ranch & Land Division to serve those who are looking for larger acreage and a ranch lifestyle. “We’re doing the groundwork on that and we’re really excited
photo provided
about that,” Buccola said. With a strong foundation built up since the 1990s in Sisters, and an eye on the future, RE/MAX Key Properties is positioned to serve the local community — a prospect that pleases Ryan and Tim Buccola. “We look forward to growing with Sisters.”
The Nugget Newspaper // July 15, 2020
// Partners in Real Estate
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Sisters broker seeks ‘win’ for everyone In an interesting way, Ross Kennedy brings to bear his background as a coach and trainer on his work with real estate clients. “If I’m helping somebody, whether it be in business or in sports, I want the best outcome for them,” he said. That outlook shapes every aspect of Kennedy’s work. “It’s about the client. It’s not about closing a transaction. It’s about me enabling them to get the best scenario out of it. I do a lot of listening to find out what their needs are.” Working as a Principal Broker with Black Butte Realty Group, Kennedy has experience and expertise in every kind of property in Sisters Country. With a strong feel for the various pieces that make up Sisters’ cultural quilt, he helps clients find just where they want to be in this surprisingly diverse community, whether they are looking for commercial property, a vacation home, or are realizing the dream of living in Sisters full-time. As a loan originator, Kennedy offers clients “one point of contact for the entire transaction. At the end, the experience for the buyer is so much better.” Kennedy is equally versed in
the listing and the purchasing end of real estate transactions. A skilled track athlete, Kennedy still competes in triathlons. He’s serious about it — but more serious about the experience than about “winning.” “I have a competitive spirit,” he said. “However, I want to enjoy the experience. I want everybody to compete at their absolute best.” Winning for the sake of winning isn’t a motivator. “I never want to take advantage of a situation,” he said. “I want it to be the best it can be.” And he always comes back to the critical aspect of lending an attentive ear. “Everybody is human,” he said. “Everybody has their own story, and you have to support their story and their journey.” Kennedy says that he truly loves his work. It gives him the flexibility to be a family man and a volunteer coach. “I don’t feel like I’m missing out on my kids’ life and my family life,” he said. Raising a family here, Kennedy is deeply invested in the vitality of Sisters. And he likes to share the community’s spirit, values and vitality with clients. “We’re a community of support,” he said. “There is a rising-tide-raises-allboats mentality.”
photo provided
And that’s more important now than it has ever been. More than simply seeking to close a deal, Kennedy seeks to help his clients find their place here. “I try to educate them about our culture, the Sisters culture,” he said. “What part of the culture makes sense to them?” Ross has volunteered on campaigns to support the schools through passage of construction bonds and a local option levy; has served as an assistant coach in track and field and basketball; and volunteers each year with the Sisters Outdoor
Quilt Show. The can-do outlook is built into Kennedy’s nature; it’s the bedrock of his work and nothing satisfies him more than seeing it all come to fruition in a positive outcome. “I love the end of the transaction,” he mused. “You’ve created this wonderful experience.” Experience teaches that there are always options. “You never have to do it just one way,” he said. “I’m not trying to solve the problem at the moment. I don’t have to be reactive. I can problem-solve because I’ve been there, done that.”
Personalized Service, Real (Estate) Solutions ONE SISTERS REAL ESTATE BROKER, ONE POINT OF CONTACT:
FROM INITIAL MEETING THROUGH FINANCE AND CLOSING
Great customer service should not stop when a real estate broker has a signed purchase agreement in hand. I am unique in that as an Oracle mortgage broker too, I take our relationship and the process of financing your home one step further than other brokers can by offering you a single point of contact through financing and closing. I walk through the entire lending process with an eye toward expediting approval of your loan.
Ross Kennedy Principal Broker
Loan Originator NMLS #1612019
541-408-1343
BUYING SELLING REFINANCING
SERVING BLACK BUTTE RANCH & THE GREATER SISTERS AREA
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Partners in Real Estate // The Nugget Newspaper // July 15, 2020
Keeping an eye on the financial big picture Kathy Kemper-Zanck has a knack for making complex and potentially confusing matters straightforward and simple. “I was a school teacher,” she said. “I know how to explain things really well.” That comes in handy when clients are looking at a bewildering array of mortgage loan options. It’s particularly useful in the work Kemper-Zanck finds herself enjoying more and more — home equity conversion mortgages, commonly called reverse mortgages. “I do a lot of reverse mortgages now, and those are a different beast to wrap your brain around,” she said. “There’s a lot of different ways to structure it.” Details are critical, and Kemper-Zanck has the temperament and communication skills to walk with a client every step of the way. “It just takes a lot of patience and clear instruction to make sure you do it in the way that’s best for the client,” she said. She takes deep satisfaction in the work. “I’m seeing the power in how these can absolutely bring peace
and financial stability to our seniors,” she said. Kemper-Zanck is committed to the best possible outcome for all of her clients. It’s not just about getting them into a loan. It’s about getting them into the right loan — one that works in their bigger financial picture. Licensed to work in Oregon, Arizona, and California, KemperZanck prides herself on going the extra mile to meet client needs, thinking creatively, and providing options that a client might not be aware of. She says that in about 50 percent of transactions the client ends up doing something different than what they had originally planned because KemperZanck comes up with ideas and alternatives. “I love that,” she said. “I get so excited to help people. I think I’m really good at making sure my clients get the best bang for their buck for this. I’m that way with all my clients.”
I was a school teacher, I know how to explain things really well. — Kathy Kemper-Zanck
Finding dreams with Sisters HomeLand Realty Ali Mayea raised her family in Sisters after coming here in 1985. Deep roots in the community mean she’s got her finger on the pulse of activity — which means a lot when the housing inventory is so scanty. “I kind of have a handle on what may be up for sale or finding it, looking for it,” she said. Mayea operates Sisters HomeLand Realty out of the historic Hardy Allen House on the corner of Main Avenue and Larch Street. The location itself offers a warm welcome to prospective clients. “I love coming to work here,” Mayea said. She prides herself on having a knack for quickly determining what a client’s true desires are in a home, and helping them act quickly to secure their dream. Communication is the critical tool in narrowing down key goals so that both buyers and sellers can act efficiently and effectively in a fast-paced market. “Time is of the essence,” she
photo provided
said. “Sometimes our market is real quick… I can pretty much feel what (a client’s) style is and what they want in that time frame.” Efficiency and concerted effort apply on both the buying and the selling end of the equation. Mayea has a particular expertise in staging homes effectively. It’s an aspect of the work that she really enjoys. “I like to help people get their properties dialed in and ready for sale,” she said. With 18 years of experience, four of them on her own at Sisters HomeLand Realty, Mayea understands the value and importance of a personal touch.
We treat our clients like neighbors because they actually are. Your Local Mortgage Solution
Sisters Home H Land Realty is located in The Hardy Allen House, originally built in 1908. It was one of the most attractive houses in Sisters at that time. It was scheduled for demolition in the 1980s but was saved by moving it and restoring it. Now at the corner of Larch & Main, where we call it home!
SENIOR MORTGAGE ADVISOR NMLS 255580
Come by and learn more about Sisters...the coffee is always on! We are trustworthy, honest, and hardworking, and our client’s needs are always our top priority.
473 W. Hood Ave., Ste. 103, Sisters
Licensed in the State of Oregon | 401 E. Main Ave., Sisters
Cell 541-749-0610 EQUAL HOUSING LENDER NMLS #1169 | AZ BK #0937529
Ali Mayea, 541-480-9658 Principal Broker/Owner
www.sistershomelandrealty.com
The Nugget Newspaper // July 15, 2020
Zosel Harper Real Estate thrives as a team It turns out that the best qualities of a good teacher translate into the most important qualities of a successful real estate broker. “Teachers are good listeners and good problem solvers,” says Carol Zosel, who has parlayed the talents she built in a career in education into a successful second career as a partner in the ZoselHarper Real Estate Team. Listening to the needs of a client and finding a way to a good outcome — regardless of obstacles and impediments along the way — are perhaps the most important “intangible” skills a broker must deploy once competence in the nuts and bolts of the field is established. Alysa Williams, like Zosel, brought those skills with her from a long and varied teaching career. “I was a teacher for 30 years,” she said. “Carol and I taught in the same school in Portland, which is how we met. As a teacher, I worked on a team, and I know Carol was looking for someone to work on a team in real estate as well.” Williams has been with ZoselHarper for a year now, since moving to Sisters, and she is thriving in a field that demands calm temperament and strong communication – and a natural affinity for building relationships. Williams’ success in the field reflects the discovery that Zosel made as she ventured into real estate after moving to Sisters with her husband, Chuck Harper — fully intending then to simply ride off into the sunset on their ponies. Discovering an affinity for real estate, Zosel said they determined quickly that, “When you’re new to town and to a business, you have to figure out how you’re going to add value. We knew we had to give No. 1 service.” That entails a lot of communication and sharing of data, and a
work ethic that exceeds the average workaday level. As Williams says, it means “going above and beyond with whatever they need.” Chuck Harper brings a particular skill set and an exceptional level of attention to detail to the work. He comes from an engineering background and has a degree in rangeland management. His thoroughness in all aspects of a transaction is extraordinary, and when it comes to a ranch transaction, he notes “I have a pretty good understanding of water rights, wells, irrigation…” “He has taught me to look for things I never would have looked for,” Williams said. Varied backgrounds and experience make for a strong team – and the support of Keller Williams has aided in building an effective real estate team. Zosel notes that Keller Williams has an operating philosophy of “hire better than you are. We definitely hired people with strengths we don’t have.” Heather Stohl came on board within the past year with a background in transaction coordination and a comfortable facility with technology. That is especially important in a changed world. Stohl got her broker’s license just as the economy and society shut down in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. But her skill set and can-do temperament have helped her help her team strengthen their ability to serve clients with technology. “Everybody is adapting to new ways of doing things,” she said. Jessica Vitelle brings administrative skills to bear in keeping the office running smoothly, and each team member is continually striving to learn more, to develop skills and to support each other and their clients. “Everybody brings something good to the table,” Stohl said.
// Partners in Real Estate
We Believe A Lifestyle Is More Than A Place To Live
Just like so many others, we moved here for the lifestyle, the beauty, and the small-town experience and relationships. We’re passionate about where we live and our involvements and connections in the community we call home. We believe in breathing in fresh mountain air, being friendly to our neighbors, and welcoming new friends. We’re equally passionate about providing exceptional, personal service to those who entrust us to help them sell or buy a home. By combining our years of experience and proven process, we’ve established a long list of enthusiastic clients we now call friends.
Keller Williams and the ZoselHarper Real Estate Team are built on a simple-yet-revolutionary principle:
PEOPLE ARE WHAT MATTER MOST.
Our belief system guides how we treat each others and how we do business.
WIN-WIN or no deal INTEGRITY do the right thing CUSTOMERS always come first COMMUNICATION seek first to understand COMMITMENT in all things CREATIVITY ideas before results TEAMWORK together everyone achieves more TRUST starts with honesty SUCCESS results through people! The only team living and working in Sisters with the “Best of Zillow” designation! Carol Zosel, Broker 503-616-8712
Chuck Harper, Broker 503-915-9417
zoselharper.com photo provided
170 W. Cascade Ave., Sisters
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Partners in Real Estate // The Nugget Newspaper // July 15, 2020
Grand Peaks at Sisters offers customized lifestyle It happens over and over again. People visit Sisters, fall in love and decide they simply must find a way to live here. Grand Peaks at Sisters offers those people a way to do just that. The 38 homesites at Grand Peaks — located along Camp Polk Road near Sisters Eagle Airport — feature a variety of homes utilizing cutting edge design and natural, sustainable materials on the exterior, stylish interiors, and a variety of amenities at a reasonable price point for people seeking a new home. Jeanmarie Kapp of Renaissance Realty Group, and one of the principal partners in the development, says that those seeking homes at Grand Peaks in Sisters are “a lot of folks who have already discovered Sisters.” Some are downsizing, some are looking for an alternative to the big city; some are looking for a place from which to launch adventures. “We have people who say they have a motorhome, so they want to travel a bit and have a base,” Kapp said. Kapp explains how prospective homebuyers find the right fit: First they determine when they want to move in, the desired
size of their new home, and the community to life. Pacific has been in Central Oregon for over amount they wish to spend. “From there, we have a dis- 15 years, developing and building cussion about the things that a portfolio that includes commerare important to you,” Kapp cial and residential construction said. “Are you a gardener? Do — particularly high-end and cusyou never want to cut a blade of tom homes. The developers have made an grass? Sometimes until you have the discussion, you don’t know extra effort to make the development fit into yourself.” Sisters, emphaGrand Peaks at Sisters That’s always been sizing indoor/ outdoor living offers a range our MO — to learn and a commuof home types nity feel. The based on fulwhat the needs are development filling those offers in-town desires. Models in a community. living close range from — Jeanmarie Kapp to downtown 1,789 square shopping and feet with two restaurants, bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms to 3,309 square with views and ready access to feet with three bedrooms and 3.5 parks and pickleball courts. It’s the good life in Sisters — and bathrooms. Most of the models are on one easy to button up and hit the highway for other places when level. “I think more and more of the desired. Half of the homes are alleymarket is looking for that,” Kapp oriented and “we have overdone said. Grand Peaks in Sisters offers a the landscaping to enhance the selection of high-end contempo- outdoor feel,” Kapp said. The effort is to offer something rary/rustic design that is far from unique in the marketplace that being “cookie-cutter.” Pacific Construction & appeals to people increasingly Development, Inc. is the general hungry for a different way of life. “People from the (Willamette contractor that is bringing the
Valley) and Seattle are taking a hard look at coming here, and we’re offering something a little different from what others are offering,” Kapp said. “It’s very upscale in appearance, but we’re trying to keep our prices… reasonable. “Our designs are different,” she said. “It’s just the overall feel, I think, that rings a bell with people.” Kapp and the development team bring 30 years of experience to the table in crafting the new development — and they are also turning their attention to developing workforce housing in Redmond. “Every community needs middle-income rental housing,” Kapp notes. Intensive market research characterizes the work of the partners in the Hunter Renaissance Development. They operate by taking a deep dive into the needs and desires of a community and developing a concept around what they find. “That’s always been our MO — to learn what the needs are in a community,” Kapp said. “Demographics will take you so far, then you need on-the-ground intel.”