Stepping into the unknown, I embarked on a journey, crafting my life around the things that give me purpose and embracing every moment, living life to the fullest.

 

Leaving the teaching profession behind was a pivotal decision—one driven by a desire for financial stability and a longing to expand my horizons. Many of the teachers I worked with had been worn down by the difficulty of the job, and I didn’t want the same thing to happen to me. Not to mention, I wanted to be a homeowner one day, and yet, I was on track to be a lifelong renter.

 

Teaching is an honorable job, one I was passionate about, but I knew it wasn’t something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. There were so many things I wanted to achieve, and teaching simply wouldn’t get me there. The one thing I knew for certain was my passion for making a difference, and real estate seemed like a great way to do just that!

 

When I first began my real estate career in 2004, I was working on the weekends, balancing two careers at once. As a new agent, you don’t know what you don’t know. It took a few tries to find the right brokerage. At my first one, I was shown a desk with a phone and told to help people when they walked in—that was it. It was a sink-or-swim scenario where no one cared if I was successful or not. 

 

Persistence proved to be my greatest ally. Despite facing rejection and setbacks, I remained steadfast in my pursuit of excellence. I embraced every opportunity to learn and grow, attending seminars, workshops and networking events to expand my knowledge and connect with industry peers. With each passing day, I honed my skills, leveraging my background in education to communicate effectively with clients and navigate complex transactions.

 

In 2016, my wife, Kimberlee, and I bought our dream property in Nehalem, Oregon. We spent two years constructing the perfect home before relocating here in 2018. My motto is “Life is short. Have Fun. Every day.” Here, we get to do just that. 

 

With this move came a new set of challenges in reestablishing myself in a new community. Starting from scratch, but this time with years of experience in real estate, I took the advice of a coach to have 100 conversations each week through door-knocking. My experience was reminiscent of when I spent two years in Japan in college. People are people; no matter where you live, what job you have or how much money you make, we are all human and want the same things.

 

Putting myself out there, I was reminded of the power of connecting with complete strangers, finding common ground and, if there is anything I can help them with, becoming that resource for them. It was certainly a nerve-wracking experience at first, but I learned that out of 100 people, if one person wasn’t nice, it was okay because the 99 other people are the people I want to connect with and serve.

 

Through perseverance and determination, I began to see the fruits of my labor as clients started to take notice of my dedication and commitment. Word of mouth spread, and soon, my reputation as a trusted and reliable real estate agent began to grow here. Today, my business still revolves around my core values of integrity, transparency, connection, and a genuine desire to make a positive impact. 

 As I reflect on my journey, I am filled with gratitude for the chances I took and the life I have created because I didn’t let fear get in the way. Now, my days are filled with helping people make significant life transitions in real estate. When not working, I enjoy going to the beach, letting my dogs Scarlett and Goose run on the beach, crabbing and fishing, and spending time with my wife, grandkids, friends and family! 

 

Now that we have our dream home here in Oregon, it has become our goal to create lasting memories for our grandkids. We want it to be an adventure when they come here. We have an indoor bounce house, a watering tank transformed into a hot tub they call “the pool,” where two of them have learned to swim, and we are currently working to create a zipline in our yard. The memories I have with our grandkids in our home remind me why I became a REALTOR®—to help families create their own cherished memories in homes perfectly suited to their needs.

 

With a specialty in coordinating unique and complex real estate transactions, including estate settlements, divorce-related sales, luxury properties, and international transactions, I enjoy easing the stress for my clients and helping them transition into the next chapter seamlessly. Prioritizing forming genuine connections, I want to understand your needs, desires and long-term goals. Then, I can provide tailored solutions that align perfectly with your objectives. Even when the transaction is over, I am here to support you as your REALTOR® and friend for life!