Keri Lippold

Broker
Windermere Stellar
360-901-9414
kerilippold.com

How long have you worked in Real Estate?
I’ve been a licensed broker for 11 years. I worked 15 years prior to real estate in the title industry as an escrow officer and marketing representative.

What is your specialty?
I have a special calling to work with seniors. I enjoy helping seniors transition and taking stress out of the equation by coming up with a logical, detailed plan that we carry out together to the finish line. I also specialize in VA purchases. The VA loan is still one of the best out there and I like working with veterans. My dad was in the Air Force and my grandpa and husband in the Navy.

What is one tip you have for someone looking to buy or sell a home?
I would say the best tip is to stop trying to time the market based on prices and interest rates. When you find the perfect house you want to live in and can afford this home, then that is the best time for you to buy. Real estate is cyclical, going up and down. If you try to wait for the perfect time you might miss out!

What is the most unique property you’ve listed or sold?
The most unique property that I sold was probably a home that had an electric train running through the walls. There were cutouts in each room so that the train could make its way around the entire home. The new buyer kept the track and was a cat lover that planned to turn it into a catwalk.

What is the most challenging/gratifying aspect of what you do?
The most gratifying thing is when the sale or purchase is completed and you know your clients are happy. Long distance purchases are challenging as some people buy the homes without ever seeing inside. They rely on my eyes, ears and even nose. I do video walkthroughs and floorplan sketches but I’m always a little nervous to see their reactions when they do physically get to see inside for the first time.

What do you see in the future for real estate sales/prices?
Mortgage rates are expected to increase and I think we’ll see a flurry and frenzy of buyers that are ready. For sellers their home values should be strong and I hope people that have been debating whether to sell will take advantage of the fast moving market.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working? Hobbies, volunteering, family, fun?
I am so lucky to become a grandmother for the first time next month! I love animals. My dog Remington is a purebred boxer that is affectionately nicknamed Meathead. I volunteer with Meals on Wheels. I like beachcombing, board games, camping in my camper, treasure hunting, cooking, gardening, Pinterest, self- publishing, boating, going to the movies, trying new restaurants, spending time with family, and happy hour with friends. I like to take classes. I’ve learned how to draw, weave baskets, make soap and paint with watercolors and acrylics. Cheese making is the next class I am planning to take.

What do you like about living in this area?
I like the Blazers and the Seahawks games being so close. Vancouver has been my home my entire life and my parents have lived in the same house for 44 years. This area is unique as you can go to dim sum in Portland for lunch and then within a half an hour drive to beautiful rural settings with picturesque barns, country farms and rolling pastures. Recently I sold a home to a couple from Arizona; they kept saying “It’s so green!”

Anything else you would like our readers to know about you and your company?
Windermere Stellar has an excellent reputation for outstanding service and professionalism. Windermere Stellar supported 41 charitable organizations throughout Oregon and southwest Washington in 2016. Through the Windermere Foundation, over $360,000 was given to local charities supporting low-income children and families, with nearly $120,000 benefiting nonprofit organizations based in Vancouver, such as Children’s Justice Center and Clark County Food bank. I am very proud to be part of the Windermere family and for sharing a part of helping our community.