Linda Horowitz

Broker
Windermere Stellar
360-609-4379
linho2@comcast.net

How long have you worked in Real Estate?
Since 1994 — entire time with Windermere. While serving on Vancouver City Council from 1990-1998, I established the Housing Resource Center for 1[st] time home buyers. In 2005, I started the Greater Vancouver Luxury Homes Group to help market high-end properties.

What is your specialty?
I handle properties/clients only in Clark County, from 1[st] time to high-end. Since helping my 96-year-old mother sell/buy/move, I’ve come to understand the issues/needs of the elderly and retirees for this “later in life” market.

What is one tip you have for someone looking to buy or sell a home?
Take time to research and understand your market. Work with a broker who will not only do pricing/market analysis but will help educate you to the process.

What is the most unique property you’ve listed or sold?
A very high-end home that was located at the crossroads of Hwy 14/Lieser Exit/Evergreen Hwy. It was a MOST UNUSUAL location. The home sold for more than $2.5 mil and was worth every dollar!

What is the most unusual thing you’ve encountered while working in real estate?
Working with a buyer who was an heir to a well-known family fortune. In the beginning he wouldn’t even disclose any details. He kept saying “trust me.” Once we got into the process he finally put me in contact with the attorneys handling his estate and I realized he was “real”.

What is the most challenging/gratifying aspect of what you do?
There are always challenges to encounter in the process. Helping clients understand “how” to get through them is gratifying.

What do you see in the future for real estate sales/prices?
Our community is still recovering from the 2008 downturn. Owners lost a lot of their equity. Therefore they have been reluctant to sell their properties unless necessary. This has reduced the number of local “move up” buyers. (Most of our buyers have been from OUTSIDE our area and/or 1[st] time home buyers). And, without properties being listed we see a “shortage of inventory.” Prices have been increasing up to about the $700,000-$800,000 range. As prices increase, owners’ equity increases and we can hopefully see our industry return to normal.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working? Hobbies, volunteering, family, fun?
Travel, reading, doing puzzles and working out at the gym. Both our sons have settled in the area with our 3 grandchildren. This keeps my husband and I busy attending baseball, soccer, basketball, dance and cheerleading events as well as enjoying family get-togethers. I continue to serve as co-chair for the Greater Vancouver Luxury Homes Group. I also have been on the Clark County Mural Society which has been encouraging exterior Murals on our downtown buildings.

What do you like about living in this area?
I LOVE the intimacy of our community and its accessibility to Portland – where I grew up.

Anything else you would like our readers to know about you and your company?
I met my husband, David, in 1965 while at UC Berkeley. He retired his CPA business (as a consultant to builders and developers) and Construction Company with the downturn of the economy after 2008 and became my partner. His financial expertise and construction background has added considerable value when we show or sell properties. Windermere Stellar has given me the opportunity to learn and grow in our ever-changing hi-tech industry.