Ken Courtney Brings Clients 40 Years Of Real Estate Expertise

Story by Matthew Auerbach • Photo by Abner Pedraza

Ken Courtney of Re/Max Prestige Realty has spent almost 40 years as a successful Realtor in Palm Beach County. The decades have not diminished his passion for his work, and his capacity to embrace the future remains constant.

“When you love what you’re doing and you’re good at it, you keep doing it for as long as you can,” he explained. “One of the things I love most about my profession is that the nature of the business is always changing. When I first began selling, we didn’t have cell phones and, obviously, no computers. No e-mails, texting, internet, Google, Facebook, Zillow, nothing. Times change, and if you don’t adapt and change with today’s technology, you will be left in the dust. I have no plans to be left in the dust.”

After graduating from Florida Atlantic University in 1970 with a degree in psychology, Courtney moved to West Palm Beach. In the 1970s, he worked as a social worker, counselor and group home parent for mentally and emotionally challenged adults.

He wasn’t looking to change careers until, after a very positive experience buying a home in 1977, he decided to try his hand in real estate. When the Re/Max Realty franchise opened its first office in West Palm Beach in 1980, Courtney was one of the first agents to sign up. That move changed his life dramatically. “I always smile when I think about my first day at the new office, because that Re/Max office is where I met my wife, Nancy,” he said. “Nancy already lived in Wellington with her two young sons, Danny and Drew. I moved to Wellington in 1983, and we married in 1985.”

Two years later, Nancy gave birth to their daughter, Katie.

Courtney first began selling homes in Wellington in 1980 when the community was in its infancy and still developer-controlled. He marvels at the ways in which it has grown over time into a much-envied location for people of varied interests. “After years of controlled and thoughtful growth, Wellington has been honored nationally many times as a premier hometown community, as well as a destination for world-renowned equestrian venues,” Courtney said.

The commitment to treat every sale or purchase as a top priority has served Courtney well.

“The majority of my business comes from referrals and repeat business from loyal customers and friends whom I’ve known and enjoyed working with over the years,” he said. “I am truly grateful for the loyalty people have shown. I learned many years ago that customer loyalty must be earned and can never be taken for granted.”

Courtney has also learned another important lesson over the years: to treat those coming up the way he himself was treated.

“Early on, I had a mentor who took the time to help me learn what it takes to be successful in real estate sales,” he said. “Likewise, I’ve always felt it’s my obligation to pay it forward to the younger agents who I work with and hope I’m able to get across that hard work, honesty and strong ethics are the keys to success and longevity in the business.”

2017 will be Courtney’s 40th year in real estate. Time may have passed and the technological aspects of the business may have progressed, but his love of what he’s doing remains as fresh as ever.

“I enjoy beating the bushes for new customers. Of course, this requires being creative and aggressive, and it is what new agents need to do to get started in the business,” he said. “It’s what I did to get started, and it’s something I still enjoy doing to keep my selling skills strong.”

Re/Max Prestige Realty is located at 12789 W. Forest Hill Blvd. in the Wellington Plaza. To contact Ken Courtney, call (561) 309-4352.

Stephanie Gagnon Of The Keyes Company Keeps Her Focus On Clients

Story by Matthew Auerbach • Photo by Abner Pedraza

Stephanie Gagnon loves her job with the Keyes Company. Her current position grew out of her long career in property management.

“I moved to Palm Beach County from Madison, Wis., 17 years ago, where I studied criminal justice at Madison Area Technical College,” Gagnon said. “I was offered a phenomenal job opportunity in sunny South Florida, where my real estate career was launched. I spent 14-plus years in property management and property accounting, overseeing a large portfolio of multifamily housing developments throughout South Florida and Mississippi.”

Two years ago, Gagnon felt the urge to branch out into other areas of real estate.

“Looking to take the next step in my career, I became a licensed Realtor in 2014 and joined the Keyes Company in Wellington,” she explained. “I was impressed with Keyes’ family-like service, management support system and honorable reputation.”

Since joining Keyes, Gagnon has become a mentor within the firm’s Business Certification Coaching Program and is responsible for immersing sales associates into the daily functions and responsibilities.

As a wife and mother of two children — daughter Adriana, 9, and son Mason, 4 — Gagnon keeps busy during her spare time as the vice president of public relations for the Discovery Key Elementary School PTA. She also coaches her daughter’s intramural soccer team in Wellington and is an avid runner.

She doesn’t hesitate to credit the unique working atmosphere at Keyes for her continuing commitment to her job.

“Keyes has been an independently and family-owned company since 1926, which makes it not beholden to corporate structures that exist in national companies,” Gagnon said. “Keyes offers hands-on, personalized management support, state-of-the-art training and a strong internet presence for its agents. I am extremely hands-on, passionate, energetic and relentless.”

She is sure to keep the focus on her clients.

“For me, quality of service comes first, and every transaction is as unique as the home buyer and seller,” Gagnon said. “I recognize buying and selling can be very stressful for some; therefore, I pride myself on working hard to gain the trust and support of the clients who expect and deserve to obtain their objective.”

Working in and living close to Wellington has allowed Gagnon a unique perspective. She can assess the community both personally and professionally.

“Wellington is a highly sought-after destination in which to live,” she said. “It has that great hometown vibe, the unmistakable equestrian flavor and is a family-friendly community offering something for everyone. It’s also recognized for some of the top-rated schools in Palm Beach County. While I have become very familiar with Wellington and the surrounding areas, my focus remains directed toward the needs of the home buyer and seller, regardless of the location.”

Gagnon believes that the future of the local real estate market is healthy and probably will remain that way.

“I see the market as stable and positioned for conservative growth and holding strong over the next few years,” she said. “Foreclosure filings and short sales are significantly lower than previous years. Banks are holding the foreclosed homes close to their chests and demanding market value in some areas. Interest rates seem to be holding strong and are at an all-time low.”

The Keyes Company is located at 13920 Wellington Trace, Suite 200, in Wellington. To contact Stephanie Gagnon, call (561) 252-3356 or visit www.stephaniegagnon.keyes.com.

Wellington The Magazine-August 2016

Jesse Kearney Brings Real Estate Clients Top-Level Customer Service And Expertise

Story by Matthew Auerbach • Photo by Abner Pedraza

Some people know their career goals from an early age, but many folks — like Jesse Kearney of Kearney & Associates Realty — have to navigate life’s waters a bit before laying anchor on the correct career choice.

Kearney was born in Bologna, Italy, and moved to Palm Beach County in 1982 after his father completed his residency at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. He graduated from Lantana’s Santaluces High School, then joined the U.S. Army.

Later, Kearney attended Palm Beach Community College and went on to Florida Atlantic University, where he majored in computer science. After moving to Chicago and trying his hand at being a stockbroker, he returned to West Palm Beach and FAU.

“I entered into real estate as a means of supplementing my income while attending school at Florida Atlantic University, this time as a criminal justice major,” Kearney said. “It turned out that real estate became my passion, and I placed my focus there. I then worked toward obtaining my broker’s license starting in 2003, and in 2005, I earned the broker’s license.”

Kearney makes certain that Kearney & Associates delivers top-level customer service and real estate expertise.

“I believe what makes our firm different than the others is our approach and philosophy toward real estate,” he said. “We focus our efforts on creating a customer experience that is unsurpassed in the industry. Our goal is to be the first and only name that our clients think about when they are ready to move or when referring their friends and family.”

The Wellington-based company is a full-service brokerage specializing in luxury property marketing and sales, residential real estate, leasing and property management across Palm Beach County. It has represented both buyers and sellers as far north as the Jupiter/Tequesta area and as far south as Boca Raton.

Kearney is no newcomer to Wellington, having moved here with his wife Kristen and their family in 2002.

“We felt it was the best place to raise our family,” Kearney said. “I feel what makes our area special is the sense of neighborhood, the pride of community, and the equestrian draw. In addition to the parks and events, there’s a feeling of belonging to something that not only brings you back to a time almost forgotten, but provides the modern amenities that people have become accustomed to. It is something that needs to be experienced as words cannot do it justice.”

Kearney has a positive yet cautious view of the future of the local real estate market.

“We have gotten accustomed to the dramatic gains of recent years, but many forget that real estate is, in fact, cyclical in nature,” he said. “I believe we will still see more modest increases in value moving forward but with longer marketing times than in recent years.”

Kearney appreciates the results of doing good work on a consistent basis.

“I am humbled that I have clients from 10 years ago who will still call me for advice,” he said. “I have met so many interesting people and families, each one having impacted my life.”

For more info., call Kearney & Associates Realty at (561) 792-7104 or visit www.thekearneyteam.com.

Wellington The Magazine-July 2016

Bowen Realty’s Diane Widdick Provides Her Clients With Concierge-Style Service

Story by Matthew Auerbach • Photo by Abner Pedraza

Diane Widdick’s backstory is as American as apple pie. “I was born in the small town of Peckville, Pennsylvania, where everyone knows everyone else,” she recalled. “My mother and father were very politically active, and I was raised with the belief that family and community are important.”

It only gets better from there.

“I married my childhood sweetheart, Bob Widdick. We have two great kids and four beautiful grandchildren,” Widdick said. “Bob is a Vietnam veteran, and when he got out of the service, he went to work for an automotive company in Peckville. He was offered a position as a body and fender man with a major automobile retailer in South Florida. The money was good and the benefits were excellent, so we relocated our family to sunny Florida.”

How she became a Realtor is another story.

“Being a people person, I decided to get my real estate license in 2001,” she said. “I currently work for Bowen Realty. We serve several locations: Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach and Port Saint Lucie. Bowen is under the leadership of Darell Bowen, whose philosophy, like mine, is ‘people first.’ From the time a client walks into the office until they sign on the dotted line for their new home, they receive one-on-one service. There are never too many questions or too many phone calls.”

Widdick has never been one to settle for the status quo. She constantly pushes herself to stay ahead of the curve and hone her skills.

“By taking various educational classes in real estate, property management, mortgage financing and more, I have been able to offer my clients a full-service Realtor,” she said. “Many of my clients have compared me to a concierge in an upscale hotel because I make sure their needs are a priority. My educational background includes certification in Short Sale CDPE, as well as being active in the IRES, which serves the international marketplace.”

Widdick concentrates on doing business in Wellington and the surrounding areas. That said, she does not restrict herself geographically and will go wherever the best match between home and buyer exists.

“I am a major Realtor in Wellington, Royal Palm Beach and The Acreage,” Widdick said. “However, I will work in any area that meets the needs of my clients and their families. Every family is No. 1 on my client list, and each receives my individual and undivided attention. Personal customer service is mandatory, and meeting a client’s needs is a top priority with me and my staff.”

You don’t have to be a Wellington resident to benefit from Widdick’s expertise and experience.

“Many of my clients live out of state and, once I know their needs, I can put them in their dream home or sell their home without the need for them to be in Florida,” she said. “When a condo or villa or house is priced right, it will sell quickly.”

Widdick is based out of the Bowen Realty office at 1168 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. For more information, call her at (561) 247-5478 or visit www.dianewiddick.com.

Wellington Real estate

Ann Cook Of Illustrated Properties Loves Horses And Real Estate

Story by Matthew Auerbach

Photo by Abner Pedraza

When you grow up in New York City and are drawn to all things equestrian, you might have a hard time making your dreams a reality. Ann Cook, a Realtor with Illustrated Properties, had to wait a while, but she eventually found herself in the right place to satisfy both her love of horses and real estate.

“Although school and college took me to the Boston and San Francisco areas, it was not until I settled on Martha’s Vineyard that I was able to incorporate riding and my professional career as a Realtor,” she said. “Then I was invited to spend the winter of 2000 here in Wellington and found the perfect home to follow my two passions: dressage training and successful real estate transactions.”

Cook has come to specialize in Wellington’s unique real estate market, working with seasonal equestrians and year-round residents dealing in farms, luxury homes, villas and investment properties.

“I provide a full service of representing sellers, buyers, rentals and property management,” Cook said. “There is so much satisfaction in knowing that my work has led to a successful transition, whether for a first-time homebuyer or my sellers, and in finding just the right property for my buyers. My approach is very hands-on — I like to attend every showing of the homes I have listed for sale to ensure that all the property features are highlighted, and then give my sellers immediate feedback.”

Cook isn’t new to real estate. She marvels at how far the industry has come from the days of no cell phones or internet. However, she’s not nostalgic for days gone by and realizes how much modern technology has affected and improved her profession.

“For today’s buyers, sellers and investors, immediate access to property information is essential,” she said. “My property listings are all represented with professional HDR photography, video tours and aerial photos. Personal color brochures are given to all prospective buyers and include information about the neighborhood, survey and floor plans.”

The fact that Wellington is known around the globe as “horse country” continues to propel its popularity as one of the world’s most unique destinations. Cook will be the first to tell you that’s very good for business.

“We are the winter equestrian capital of the world, and we will keep growing,” she said. “The Wellington Equestrian Partners’ plan to purchase the International Polo Club and further expand the Global Dressage Festival and the Winter Equestrian Festival is great for our economy. Wellington continues to attract new visitors. An increasing number of my clients are European professional riders and their clients here for our winter months.”

Cook’s lifelong love of horses continues to this day. For the past two winters, she has presented the People’s Choice Award at the Global Dressage Festival for exemplary horsemanship, sportsmanship and performance.

“It is another way I am involved with the equestrian community and give a little something back,” Cook said.

Illustrated Properties is located at 11924 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 18, in Wellington. The reach Ann Cook, call (561) 301-4626 or visit www.annlouisecook.com.