REALTOR Spotlight: C.J. Monroe

C.J. Monroe, Broker – Berkshire Hathaway Home Services NW

In September of 1989, C.J. Monroe left her job and attended a Real Estate class at Clark College with her husband. By December of the same year, they both took the Real Estate exam and their new careers began. Working in tandem all these years, she says of her husband, “I’m his backup, he’s my partner.”

C.J. has been with the same company for 30 years, although it has changed names. She says Berkshire Hathaway Home Services NW cares about educating the brokers with everything from Internet training to working with people. “They are the greatest real estate family”.

C.J. specializes in manufactured homes in 55+ communities first and foremost, as well as relocations, homes on acreages, and buyer/seller representation. Her philosophy is simple yet effective. “Work for the seller by working with the buyer.”

Her priority is are helping seniors and those that are disabled to stay in their homes by giving them solutions to lower their property taxes. “The most gratifying aspect of Real Estate is assisting seniors 61 -1/2 or older, or disabled, learn about getting a reduction in property taxes. This can possibly keep them in their homes.”

She enjoys working locally and helping others. In fact, she employs a young lady, Ava Golemo, for a variety of things, including light office work. C.J. believes in giving others an opportunity to learn, and she speaks very highly of her assistant. “Ava is known as my Calendar Girl,” say C.J.

She volunteers teaching Sunday School, is involved in the Chamber of Commerce, and is diligent about continuing her education by attending classes at Clark College, and other classes through the Association of Realtors.

The most important things to C.J. are God and family, and giving back to the community. She also enjoys keeping her 1990 Buick in good shape. This auto has been with her since she started in Real Estate. Her first job was pumping gas and she “can still change the transmission in a ’52 Chevy,” which was her first car.

 

 

A beautiful illustration of her beliefs can be found in the following verse:

Train of Life (anonymous)

“At birth, we boarded the train of life and met our parents, and we believed that they would always travel by our side. However, at some situation, our parents would step down from the train, leaving us on life’s journey alone.

As times goes by, some significant people will board the train: siblings, other children, friends, and even the love of our life.

Many will step down and leave a permanent vacuum. Others will go so unnoticed that we won’t realize that they vacated their seats. This train ride has been a mixture of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells.

A successful journey consists of having a good relationship with all passengers, requiring that we give the best of ourselves. The mystery that prevails is that we do not know at which station we ourselves will step down. Thus, we must try to travel along the track of life in the best possible way – loving, forgiving, giving and sharing.

When the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty, we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who continue to travel on the train of life.

Let’s remember to thank our Creator for giving us life to participate in this journey.”