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As the New Year approaches and goal setting begins, here are some New Year’s Resolutions to help put potential home buyers on the road to owning their dream home:

1. Make a list of your new home wants/needs.

2. Do your research on school districts and homes that are for sale in locations you like.

3. Save for a down payment, as well as closing costs, moving costs, home repairs/maintenance and other homeowner expenses.

4. Check your credit score.

5. Pay down credit card balances; avoid big credit purchases like new cars or furniture.

6. Prepare Federal Tax returns & W2s for the past 2 years.

7. Prepare bank statements for the past 6 months.

8. Prepare proof of any investment income.

9. Prequalify for a loan.

10. Start mortgage shopping to get the best rate.

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Congratulations to November Agent to Watch, Shawn Lowe! Shawn is new to W through our new Petaluma Office, and we are so glad he’s here! Real estate has been a constant in Shawn’s life, and he knows how big of an accomplishment it is to say you’ve found your dream home in Wine Country. He takes his industry knowledge and love of Sonoma County real estate and does the hard work on behalf of his clients. Keep reading to learn more about Shawn!

 

What was the first thing you wrote on your to-do list for today?:

First thing on my list today was to do some client follow-up.

 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?:

If you find something you enjoy or love doing for work it won’t feel like work.

 

What is your favorite part about working in real estate in this part of the world?:

We have some of the best weather and scenery in my opinion so to be able to help people achieve the dream of homeownership in our area is a blessing. So while I enjoy the whole process handing over the keys to my client’s new home is the best part.

 

Tell us about a recent challenge you came upon and how you conquered it.:

Right now between family obligations, work, and taking time for myself finding that balance right now is what I would consider my biggest challenge. It can be a tough thing to conquer but for me, I try to focus on being present and focused on what I am doing at the time whether that be family, work, or me time.

 

What role has mentorship played in your career?:

I grew up in the real estate business. My father was a real estate broker and I followed in his footsteps so he has always been my mentor. Due to having that great resource at my disposal passing that knowledge along and helping mentor others throughout my career has always been something I have enjoyed.

 

What’s your favorite home design feature that you wish more homes had?:

I have always enjoyed homes with a porte-cochere but you don’t see them too much around our area.

 

If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would you choose and why?:

I lost 3 of my 4 grandparents before I was born or when I was very young so I never got to spend any time with them. I am a big family person so I would love to be able to spend some time with them to learn more about them.

 

Someone is coming to visit Sonoma/Napa/Mendocino/Lake/SF County. Where should they go first?:

If they are wine people then of course a nice wine tour since that is one of the main things we are known for. That would allow them to take in the beautiful scenery and weather we have to offer while enjoying some of the many wineries we have here.

 

What’s something you’re looking forward to in the upcoming year? (Wedding, vacation, new opportunity, etc.):

My daughter has started looking at colleges so this next year will be big for that process. While it is scary as well I am looking forward to that process and what opportunities that will bring for her.

 

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Congratulations to November Agent to Watch, Shelly Reed! Shelly just joined our team at W, and to say we are excited she’s here would be an understatement! Her core practices are rooted in kindness, mindful hard work, and integrity, and we look forward to seeing all she accomplishes. Keep reading to learn more about Shelly!

 

What was the first thing you wrote on your to-do list for today?:

Pilates/workout! Focused mind, strong body kind heart.

 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?:

Be kind. People don’t remember what you say but they never forget how you make them feel!

 

What is your favorite part about working in real estate in this part of the world?:

The support! Coming over from Century 21 I thought I was supported, now I realize there is a big difference between seeing support and actually feeling supported!

 

Tell us about a recent challenge you came upon and how you conquered it.:

Finding affordable Homeowners Insurance in CA is a problem. However, despite this everyone I have had the privilege to represent has been assisted by me to receive a reasonable affordable premium. I’m proud to work with an amazing team of preferred vendors that ROCK!

 

What role has mentorship played in your career?:

I started in Real Estate in 2003. Brian Buffini was my favorite mentor. He helped me conquer my fears and change my mindset. We can have blocks in our minds that separate us from being on for success. He got to my heart and mind! He helped me accomplish the things I was holding back doing that ultimately separated me from accomplishing my goals. I couldn’t crack selling more than 6 million in Real Estate between 2004-2011 after my time with Brian I closed 11 million in 2012 Since then it’s been up up up and away!

 

What’s your favorite home design feature that you wish more homes had?:

Large kitchens and great rooms with big windows overlooking an outdoor entertaining space.

 

If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would you choose and why?:

Dale Carnegie. Such an amazing man who used faith to mold minds to think bigger than themselves. To focus on creating relationships based on there is more happiness in giving than receiving. Kindness honesty and integrity were at the core of his books, lectures, and mentorship. Our relationships are the single most important thing to create happiness in our lives.

 

Someone is coming to visit Sonoma/Napa/Mendocino/Lake/SF County. Where should they go first?:

Our Gorgeous Lake, our amazing wineries, and our stunning state parks. Clean air, outdoor adventure great wines.

 

What’s something you’re looking forward to in the upcoming year? (Wedding, vacation, new opportunity, etc.):

My husband and I just celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary by going on a month-long tour of Spain, France, Italy, and Greece. In 2025 we’re sticking close to home and have some exciting house projects to work on. Our Carnegie time with our kids, grandkids, family, and friends is our joy!

 

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Congratulations to our November Agent of the Month, Kasie Gray! Kasie takes a very intentional approach to her business. She knows her niche and she knows her own strengths, and in combining those two things Kasie has created a very successful career for herself that only keeps on reaching new heights. It’s an understatement to say that we are very glad she’s on our team at W! Keep reading to learn a little bit more about Kasie.

 

What three words would you use to describe your approach to the real estate business?:

Educate, community, trust.

 

What’s one aspect of your business that you are looking to improve on this year? In what ways/how would like to see yourself improve?:

I would love to set stricter boundaries with clients to allow for more time to focus on my family.

 

To what do you attribute your success most?:

Real Estate gives you exactly what you put into it. For me, I focus my energy on building meaningful and trustworthy relationships. I dedicate my time to volunteering, educating our community and my clients, and making sure that I treat people exactly how I would like to be.

 

If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out in real estate, what would it be?:

Pick your pillars, your marketing, your niche, and stick to it. There are so many shiny objects and they can all work but you can’t work all of them.

 

What’s the one piece of advice you always give your clients first?:

At the end of the day, you are the one paying the mortgage, so it doesn’t quite matter what I think of the house.

 

Failure is a natural part of achieving success. How do you recoup when things don’t necessarily go your way?:

Take a moment, breathe. When one door closes three more open up. Having a business plan allows you to have actionable items that you can control, focus on those things first.

 

If work-life balance is important to you how can you tell if you are getting it right?:

I don’t think I will ever get it right. There are times when my kids need me more than my business and times I have to do business with a toddler crying and a baby on my hip. But that’s the joy of being in real estate and being a mom, I get the choice.

 

What roles have mentors played in your life and career?:

My mom taught me how to give back, my grandpa taught me how to build a business and Todd Schapmire Jr taught me how to keep showing up even when it’s tough!

 

What risks were you willing to take when starting out in your career and how have they benefitted you?:

Volunteering my time to be the president and founder of Ukiah Women In Business, has taught me much more than I could ever imagine.

And creating and marketing a digital and physical real estate and lifestyle planner has allowed me to give back to so many agents across the country.

 

If you could only ever visit one business again in Sonoma/Napa/Mendocino/SF County, what would it be and why?:

Only one?! I guess W Real Estate so I could pay my bills 😅 other than that probably Catellis, I can’t say no to Chicken Parmesan.

 

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We wouldn’t be us if it weren’t for all the hardworking staff behind the scenes who keep us running as a company. We do our best to celebrate these incredible individuals each day, and now we want to celebrate them with you too! We’d like to introduce you to our September Employee Spotlight, John Sprague. John is one of the steadfast pillars of our Transaction Coordinator department, and we are so grateful he’s on our team. Keep reading to learn more about John!

 

What does a typical day at W look like for you?:

Emails, emails, and more emails. Helping keep the transactions flowing has me mostly glued to my computer all day, but I’m happy to help and get the deals closed.

 

What’s your ideal day out in Sonoma/Napa/Mendocino County?:

I mostly spend my time in Sonoma County. Spending the day with family, taking my daughter for walks, and relaxing with my beautiful wife.

 

If you could pick up a new skill in an instant, what would it be?:

To slow down time. There are never enough hours in the day!

 

What’s your go-to karaoke song? Or the song that always gets you out on the dancefloor?:

Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen, would get me on the dance floor. Not quite my karaoke song because I don’t have that kind of vocal range.

 

You can only have one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?:

My mom makes an amazing Mexican food inspired pizza that I could eat 24/7.

 

If you could live anywhere new in the world for a year, where would it be?:

A beach with no internet access.

 

Tell us about something you’re excited about this year!:

The birth of my niece in less than a month!

 

What’s your favorite part about working at W?:

The culture, it’s like working with one big extended family.

 

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Congratulations to our September Agents of the Month, Jina Marie and Jerry Ellsworth! As heads of the Ellsworth Real Estate team, Jina Marie and Jerry are not afraid of hard work. Self-proclaimed workaholics, they tap into their local knowledge and client commitment to continue to lead their team to new levels of success. Check out our blog below to learn more about Jina Marie and Jerry!

 

What three words would you use to describe your approach to the real estate business?:

Prompt, Professional, and Attentive

 

What’s one aspect of your business that you are looking to improve on this year? In what ways/how would you like to see yourself improve?:

This year, leveraging technology to enhance client experience.

 

To what do you attribute your success most?:

The simple answer is Hard Work. The commitment to building strong relationships and maintaining a client-first approach, staying transparent throughout the process, and always acting with integrity.

 

If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out in real estate, what would it be?:

Focus on building long-term relationships, not just transactions. Real Estate is a people-driven business, and long-term success will come from creating trust and providing value to your client. Take the time to truly understand their needs.

 

What’s the one piece of advice you always give your clients first?:

Stay focused on long-term goals. Whether you are buying or selling, it’s easy to get caught up on the fast-paced aspects of the Real Estate process. I remind my clients how each decision fits into the bigger picture.

 

Failure is a natural part of achieving success. How do you recoup when things don’t necessarily go your way?:

We view setbacks as learning opportunities. The first step is reflection, focus on adjusting strategies, and maintaining a positive and resilient mindset.

 

If work-life balance is important to you how can you tell if you are getting it right?:

Honestly, we are off balance work, work, work. We clearly don’t have this right.

 

What roles have mentors played in your life and career?:

Mentors have pushed us to step outside our comfort zone and grow professionally and personally.

 

What risks were you willing to take when starting out in your career and how have they benefitted you?:

There is risk in nearly every step of life that takes one to achieve their goals and dreams. Simply evaluating the risk verses the reward has worked to our benefit.

 

If you could only ever visit one business again in Sonoma/Napa/Mendocino/SF County, what would it be and why?:

The Lodge at Bodega Bay. This is one of the few places where we truly disconnect and enjoy the peace and quiet of the surroundings.

 

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Congratulations to a September Agent to Watch, Cynthia Carrillo! It’s no secret that real estate is a challenging industry, but Cynthia faces these challenges head-on and is rewarded with success for herself and her clients! No request is too big and no timeline is too short for Cynthia. Keep reading to learn more about our W teammate, Cynthia!

 

What was the first thing you wrote on your to-do list for today?:

The first thing on my to-do list was checking for new listings that hit the market. I always like to stay informed on the latest properties, so I can provide up-to-date information and opportunities to my clients.

 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?:

The best advice I’ve ever received is to treat every challenge as an opportunity for growth. This mindset has helped me stay positive, adapt quickly, and constantly improve—whether navigating market changes, finding creative solutions for my clients, overcoming life’s challenges, etc.

 

What is your favorite part about working in real estate in this part of the world?:

I love working in real estate in this part of the world because of its diverse landscapes and welcoming communities. Whether you’re looking for a home surrounded by vineyards, nestled in the redwoods, set on rolling farmland, in a suburban neighborhood, etc., there’s something for everyone. Each area has its own unique feel, making it fun to help clients find the perfect place to call home.

 

Tell us about a recent challenge you came upon and how you conquered it.:

I recently helped a client who was on a very tight timeline to find a new home. To make it happen, I quickly narrowed down properties that met their criteria, leveraged my network to learn about new listings before they hit the market, and scheduled showings for the homes I knew they would love. We stayed in constant communication, moving quickly and making confident decisions. We found a fantastic home before it hit the market and secured the deal just in time for their move. It was a whirlwind, but seeing how happy they were in their new home made all the hard work worth it!

 

What role has mentorship played in your career?:

Mentorship has been essential to my growth in real estate. I’m fortunate to have multiple incredible mentors, one of whom is my father, who have provided unwavering support and guidance throughout my journey. Their experience, insights, and encouragement have taught me so much about the industry and what it takes to succeed. Their mentorship means everything to me, and it has allowed me to learn, grow, and confidently navigate the challenges of this business.

 

What’s your favorite home design feature that you wish more homes had?:

I love open-concept kitchens that flow seamlessly into living spaces. They create a welcoming environment for entertaining, keep everyone connected, and make the home feel larger. I wish more homes had this feature because it enhances both functionality and the sense of togetherness.

 

If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would you choose and why?:

If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be my grandparents who have passed away. They only spoke Spanish, and growing up, I didn’t speak the language well enough to have full conversations with them. Now that I’ve learned Spanish well, I’d love to have a conversation with them about their stories and learn more about their life experiences.

 

Someone is coming to visit Sonoma/Napa/Mendocino/SF County. Where should they go first?:

I recommend starting off in Sonoma County by exploring the Dry Creek Valley. Enjoy wine tastings at wineries like Bella Vineyards or Ferrari-Carano and soak in the stunning vineyard views. If the weather is warm, consider a canoe or kayaking trip down the Russian River. And for a great meal, you can’t go wrong with Healdsburg’s fantastic dining options, such as The Matheson or Valette.

 

What’s something you’re looking forward to in the upcoming year? (Wedding, vacation, new opportunity, etc.):

I’m really looking forward to planning a trip to Italy. Even though the trip won’t happen this year, the process of researching, gathering recommendations, and planning it is exciting for me. This is something I’ve been excited about for a long time, and I’m so happy it is officially going to happen. I can’t wait to explore Italy’s beautiful landscapes, rich history, and incredible wine and food!

 

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Congratulations to another one of our September Agents to Watch, Samantha Bramble! Samantha is a true student of her craft, and she knows there is always someone or something that she can learn from. Her willingness to always learn and improve is just a small piece of what makes her a great agent for her clients and a valuable piece of our W team. Keep reading to learn more about Samantha!

 

What was the first thing you wrote on your to-do list for today?:

The first thing I wrote on my to-do list today was the calls that I needed to make in order of importance.

 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?:

The best piece of advice that I’ve ever been given was to “Remain Teachable.”

 

What is your favorite part about working in real estate in this part of the world?:

My favorite part of working in real estate in this part of the world is the diverse cultural population of people that I get to connect with. I feel that I have a natural gift of being able to relate with all sorts of people from different demographic backgrounds and it is an honor to be able to walk them through a life decision as grand as purchasing or selling a home.

 

Tell us about a recent challenge you came upon and how you conquered it.:

A recent challenge I came upon was a transaction with two escrows contingent on each other’s close of escrow. This is common in real estate but in this case, each transaction was also dependent on the sale of two other homes so we had a domino effect of four or five sales total and everyone was on a tight timeline which if they couldn’t be met, all would have been canceled. I was able to conquer this challenge with transparency on all sides while still going to bat with my client’s best interests in mind and prioritizing communication with all parties involved. We had to become very creative to make it work and I’m happy to say that everyone was very happy in the end as a result of the hard work put in.

 

What role has mentorship played in your career?:

Mentorship is huge in this line of work. It is important to remain humble and receive knowledge from those who are more experienced and successful than you while paying it forward and lending support to those that are newer to the industry.

 

What’s your favorite home design feature that you wish more homes had?:

This may sound silly but one of my favorite home features is real wood-burning fireplaces which after the early nineties stopped being made in Sonoma County and were replaced with gas fireplaces. I also love the architecture of the 1920’s, I once sold a home with the original crown moldings and skeleton ley doors that had been updated but kept their original touches, loved it!

 

If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would you choose and why?:

If I could have dinner with anyone right now it would be my dad who passed away last year. He was a business owner, very straightforward, confident, and frank, but also one of the most optimistic people whom I have ever known.

 

Someone is coming to visit Sonoma/Napa/Mendocino/SF County. Where should they go first?:

If I were visiting Sonoma County for the first time I would tour California’s oldest winery Buena Vista Winery which was founded in 1857 in Sonoma, as well as tour the Castello di Amorosa winery in Calistoga, then visit the Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery in Healdsburg for some wine tasting and a swim in their scenic pool area. I would go paddleboarding down the Russian River into Jenner and hike the longer paths in Armstrong Woods in Guerneville.

 

What’s something you’re looking forward to in the upcoming year? (Wedding, vacation, new opportunity, etc.):

Something that I am looking forward to in the upcoming year is welcoming my third daughter who is due in early February 2025.

 

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