Searching for our home during this time of strange economic circumstances felt like a daunting…read morejourney when we first began. But by a stroke of good fortune, (and Zillow) - we crossed paths with Leah and Jon Courage, and that has made all the difference for us in every possible way. From my very first conversation with Leah it was as clear as day that she was a consummate professional who not only follows through, but is at all times, ahead of the game. Not only was she able to answer every single question and challenge thoroughly and articulately and with a wealth of information and expertise - but she did so with such clear authenticity and passion for what she does. We felt very quickly that we could trust her to be an expert guide and an ally as we tackled everything that comes with searching for and purchasing a home. At every showing, Leah came beyond prepared. She came to the table equipped with research on the property, with incredible insights, and most importantly, a deep connection to and awareness of our goals, our needs, and our specific situation. She was there to earn our business, and make certain we got everything we needed and more. Our search initially started out with a wide net. We were searching MANY areas in Washington and, because of that, did showings with multiple realtors in different locations, but none of them felt as personally devoted to our needs as Leah. She followed up consistently, but never overwhelmed us. She was so positive and encouraging, but also incredibly direct and clear about every property, and every aspect of the process. As we continued to search, we had the pleasure of beginning to work with Jon as well and found him to also be a treasure trove of expertise and information. He was also honest, direct, very funny, and incredibly professional. Together, we felt we had a crack team on our side. They jumped through hoops and were incredibly prompt and responsive to every single inquiry, text, question, emotion, thought bubble and annoying equivocation. Every single question was met with enthusiasm and expert advice. Leah and Jon know this industry backward and forward. They educated us at every turn and offered every possible option and consideration we needed. And when we finally walked into the house that checked all of our boxes - they knew before we did - and were already pulling out all the stops and contacts in their toolbox to ensure not only that we could secure our home, for the right price, but that the entire negotiation would go seamlessly. We were expecting the purchasing process to be bumpy - but it was absolutely seamless from start to finish. Leah stayed present at every possible moment - answering every single question, advocating for us, expertly guiding us, and always being excited, encouraging, direct, clear, honest and authentic. Leah and Jon not only helped us find our dream home - which exceeded our expectations - but most importantly, they dug in and put in the work to be present for us at every step to ensure we got through the process with zero problems. They also referred us to multiple contacts throughout the process that turned out to be exceptional referrals. We did our homework on lenders in particular - but in the end, Leah's recommendation was of course the most professional and best option. Her conscientiousness is also clear in who she partners and does business with. She clearly has high standards for who she keeps company with - and we benefitted greatly from that. You cannot match the level of expertise and devotion Leah clearly brings to the table. I don't think she sleeps. We could not have had a better team on our side. They're the best decision we made in our home buying journey. We are about to move into our dream home. It's everything. Thank you Leah and Jon!

This is a small island with many choices for realtors. A few years ago we went to Friday Harbor to…read morecheck out our retirement home possibilities. Lucky us, we began our investigation with Christopher Spaulding from the Island Group Southey's Reality! It's been over five years since that first meeting, and you would think that Chris would forget about that first meeting? That is not the case. Chris would periodically send us an email, no pressure whatsoever over this time and when we were ready this past June, he went into high gear on our behalf. Through text and email, we had 12 waterfront properties to choose from. With Chris offering valuable information throughout the process. When we arrived, Chris had set up a plan for three full days of house hunting. This accomplished, we had two days to revisit, do our due diligence and just go visit our final two choices. Throughout this entire process, including closing, Chris was with us all the way! His knowledge, savvy of local market conditions and professionalism, is excellent, his personality, calming during this stressful process and we believe, he is our first Island friend! The island life is not for everybody. But if you need help finding a home in the San Juan's, be sure and see Chris Spaulding!

My husband and I were making a big move (physically and emotionally) from Los Angeles to remote…read moreOrcas Island and did not know a soul in the area. Kathryn Bowes and her colleague Chris Spaulding were the perfect people to help us make the transition and find a home. Kathryn was organized, flexible, and patient (even after we waffled back and forth between buying undeveloped land, renting or buying a home (we even considered San Juan Island for a time)). She never pushed us in a direction but gave us important information and her opinions when asked to help us make a sound decision. In the end, with her persistence and her sound negotiation skills we were able to buy a real gem of a property with a 180 degree panoramic view of Cascade Bay and a commercial vacation rental property on the premises, all for 1/3rd the cost of our LA home. We've been living in the house for less than a week and Kathryn is still helping answer questions and graciously introducing us to the community. We we would highly recommend her and Chris Spaulding to anyone else.

Marcy is a conscientious, thorough realtor with a very personal touch. I have worked with her on…read morevarious projects, and would recommend her as someone you can trust. She is dedicated, and takes her job seriously, as well as treating your decision to buy or sell with respect.

Marcy is the type of realtor you are fortunate to find. She is knowledgeable in her field and very…read moreenergetic and capable. She puts your interests first. Marcy is on top of every little detail of the sale. She ensures it goes smoothly. In my opinion she goes above and beyond what is expected in a realtor. I was very happy with my experience.

My husband and I were making a big move (physically and emotionally) from Los Angeles to remote…read moreOrcas Island and did not know a soul in the area. Kathryn Bowes and her colleague Chris Spaulding were the perfect people to help us make the transition and find a home. Kathryn was organized, flexible, and patient (even after we waffled back and forth between buying undeveloped land, renting or buying a home (we even considered San Juan Island for a time)). She never pushed us in a direction but gave us important information and her opinions when asked to help us make a sound decision. In the end, with her persistence and her sound negotiation skills we were able to buy a real gem of a property with a 180 degree panoramic view of Cascade Bay and a commercial vacation rental property on the premises, all for 1/3rd the cost of our LA home. We've been living in the house for less than a week and Kathryn is still helping answer questions and graciously introducing us to the community. We we would highly recommend her and Chris Spaulding to anyone else.

Heather has spoiled us when it comes to dealing with other realtors. Her efforts in helping us…read moreselect and purchase our new home went above and beyond. Heather was extremely patient about showing us many properties and discussing the pros and cons of each, never rushing our decision. She said that one of the reasons she became a realtor was to match people with a home that makes them happy, and that's exactly what she did for us -- she's a gem!

This is my fourth rental with Leonard and American Dream, and once again, it's been a great…read moreexperience. The space is super clean, brand new, and just a short walk from everything I need--which makes small-town living even better. Leonard has always been an awesome landlord--responsive, professional, and genuinely cares about the properties and the people in them. It's not easy to find someone you can consistently trust when it comes to renting, but with Leonard, I always know I'm in good hands. Highly recommend!

This is the best and most personal property management group I have ever had the pleasure of…read moreworking with. Leonard is friendly, professional and responsive. Erica is always nice to talk to and always helpful to me. I am saddened to be moving on, however I know I will surely call on their services again.

My partner and I had the pleasure of working with Marie and her team amidst a year and season when…read morebuying a home felt impossible. She helped us prepare, kept us on track, and secured a legitimately great deal given market conditions. She gave and kept her word, treated us like family, and made sure she was in constant contact (but not to the point of annoyance!). When the time came to choose a mortgage option, she laid out our options clearly, offered pros and cons for each, and patiently stuck with us as we vacillated between the final two. When closing arrived, Marie saved us thousands more because of some last-minute work on her part. She went above and beyond (although I suspect this type of work is just a normal thing for her - she's that good!). Happily, neither my partner nor myself needed to follow-through on our plans to each sell a kidney. Three years from the start of the pandemic, neither my partner nor I could have imagined our present - homeowners in Bellingham! It's a privilege we will not take for granted; a privilege facilitated by Marie and Fairway Mortgage.

Marie and her team were exceptional to work with from the very first phone conversation. As first…read moretime homebuyers, we had many questions and needed some guidance. Marie was there for us. She gave advice and made everything make sense. Anytime we had a question, Marie was there to answer it and add her expertise to the situation. She went above and beyond for us, working overtime to help us close when there were things seemingly out of our control. Communication is key and Marie maintained an open line through the entire process. Checking in, following up and congratulating us after we finally got the keys! It was a lovely experience working with Marie and her team. We will recommend them to everyone in the future. Thank you again, Marie, what a pleasure it was working with you!

My husband and I worked with Mary Clure on the purchase of our Orcas family home and could not be…read moremore happy with her as our agent. Mary came highly recommended by my in-laws so we knew we would be in good hands. She was their listing and selling agent in 1999 I believe. Sure enough, she was very responsive and knowledgeable about the island. We had lots of questions about island life, schools, medical facilities - Mary loves the island and raised her two kids here, so she was great. Mary Clure showed us lots of properties in our price point and once we finally found a home we loved, was an amazing negotiator and a wealth of information. We had our small daughter with us during showings and she was patient and made us feel very comfortable. I was still living in the Bay Area while my husband moved up to Orcas during our transaction. Mary skillfully guided us through the home buying process, always available to answer any questions. It's rare to find a realtor who truly cares about her clients and Mary did just that. She is highly regarded in our community as a knowledgable, trustworthy person who is wealth of knowledge and wisdom. We have lived in our house for years now and are forever grateful that Mary Clure had represented us. Owning our home has been a dream come true and Mary Clure was invaluable as our agent.

Mary Clure is an excellent, trustworthy real estate agent. She showed us vacant land on Orcas and…read moreLopez islands and knew both really well. She picked us up at the ferry and gave us a tour of the islands while showing us properties. She has long Island ties and was able to guide us through the different parts of the islands to narrow down what would suit our needs more. We like to garden, she steered us away from properties that get less sunlight. She knows a lot about wells, water sources and septic systems. She is also really connected and was able to recommend contractors we could work with for building. She is great at following up and finds answers if they are not immediate available. We looked at a ton of properties and she was always patient, professional, and courteous. Mary is easy to work with, very accommodating and we feel lucky to have found such and excellent resource.