Community Highlights: Meet Annie Markuson of A Mark Real Estate

Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Markuson.

Hi Annie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My journey to my current life in the great state of Colorado started when I was in fourth grade due to a well planned and orchestrated two-week road trip out west with my family. My mom, dad, older brother, younger sister, and I all managed to pack our bags of necessities, a pile of large AAA road maps, important entertainment items like Mad Libs and handheld video games, and let’s not forget our large Coleman cooler to keep our breakfast and sandwich making materials cool into our not so spacious four-door sedan. That summer, we visited many places of interest, including many State and National Parks. My most memorable journey was from the western entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park south through Winter Park over Berthoud Pass. It was the heart of summertime, but we could feel the temperatures dropping and humidity levels rising as we drove through Grand Lake and Fraser. Moments after passing through Winter Park, we couldn’t believe our eyes as large white snowflakes began peacefully falling onto the road in front of us. We pulled over to exchange our tank tops and sandals for the warmest clothes we packed, jeans, sweatshirts, and tennis shoes. Once back in the car, we began inching up the mountain pass behind what seemed to be an endless line of commercial and passenger vehicles until we finally safely made it to the top, 11,306’ when I begged and pleaded that my dad to pull over so we could exit the car to play in the snow that had accumulated over several inches. There was something special about that day that has since driven my life’s vision and goal setting. I knew one day I would feel at home in the Rocky Mountains, and I would do whatever it took to make that life happen. I had aspired to start my life in Colorado during my college years.

However, a fruitful financial aid package at a school closer to home in the Midwest shuttered that dream. It wasn’t until I gained more life experience spending 14 months working and traveling throughout Australasia and beginning my career as a teacher in Minnesota that I realized this idea I had as a nine-year old on the top of Berthoud Pass was still pulling me towards living that mountain life I had always dreamed of. Following my aspirations of life in Colorado would be a risky decision financially and emotionally. It would leave me with an abundance of unknowns and the future of my teaching career in limbo, but these were all things I was willing to risk. With no Colorado connections and no experience skiing at any of Colorado’s resorts, I was elated to have my brother make this move alongside me. Together we researched various regions of the state, honing in on Summit County, CO thinking it could offer us the mountain lifestyle we were looking for. We both secured tipped positions at a high-end bar and restaurant in Keystone and found a condo to rent in Silverthorne prior to packing our cars for the move. I fell immediately in love with life in Colorado. My job tending bar didn’t begin until late in the afternoon so I was able to spend time every day doing what I loved, skiing. I also picked up many new mountain activities to help fill my days and my heart; cross country skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking, hiking, dirt biking, disc golf, and camping to name a few.

As if life wasn’t exciting enough, I adopted a young white Siberian Husky named Yuri. After a year and a half-life was tugging my brother in another direction, and he made the decision to leave Colorado. I stayed. Never before had I felt so alone, yet so alive. My sense of independence blossomed. I met new friends to enjoy my newfound mountain activities with. I got more involved in the local community working on trails and mentoring and sharing my love of life in the mountains with a local 6th grade girl. Through mentoring, my previous experience and passion for teaching were discovered. For the next six years, I had the incredible opportunity to develop programming that served youth and families across our community, filling childcare and enrichment gaps that were identified as our community’s greatest needs. Through hard work and dedication, my team was able to make these programs possible by establishing lasting partnerships with other community organizations and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars through grants on an annual basis to make our programming affordable for all. My job duties evolved alongside the growth of these programs taking me further away from spending meaningful time with the program instructors and participants in order to tend to the heightened load of administrative tasks. Through this position, I was given a great deal of freedom. I grew in so many ways, both personally and professionally. Still, it was my grit that drove me to accomplish the mission of my position, filling a huge gap across our community. I knew it was time for me to pass this position onto someone else and figure out my next career move in my heart and soul. I thought long and hard about my passions and how my life’s loves could intertwine and form the perfect career. Through countless discussions with my partner and closest friends, we able to determine my greatest strengths are as follows: I believe great communication is key to any successful relationship, I am a teacher at heart, I’m focused on the details, I’m self-motivated, I love a good challenge and take pride in my abilities to problem solve and negotiate, I’m knowledgeable about our local community, and I love where I live. And so my career in real estate began, a career I look forward to for many years to come. Assisting clients with the buying and selling process goes hand in hand with my greatest strengths while allowing me to share my love and knowledge of our community so they too can live their best mountain life.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I believe without challenges, there is no change, so I am happy to say that I’ve had my fair share of struggles. As I transitioned into my career in real estate, I was known throughout the area for my career in community education. I was the name and face of many programs offered daily throughout our community. It was difficult to change the perception the public had of me from my previous career identifier to that of a Realtor®. Kids were constantly coming up to me asking, “where have you been” while parents expressed their current program concerns while in line behind me at the grocery store. This pulled at my heartstrings more than I could have ever imagined. I began questioning myself, “Could I have done more to prepare my replacement for success? Are these kids and families receiving the care and communication they deserve? “Had I made the right decision?”. Patience and time eventually conquered this challenge. Living 1,000 miles away from family has also been a challenge. Every person I am related to lives in Minnesota, with the exception of one of my cousins who recently relocated from Minnesota to Hawaii. Spending holidays together with my family has not been something frequently possible since my move to Colorado, but in person, visits have been a priority a couple of times each year. My family and I are able to stay connected through regular communications using video chat, social media posts, a text thread with my immediate family members that is brutally honest and typically quite entertaining, and of course, phone conversation and emails. Our world pandemic has highlighted that this distant form of connection and communication is not the same as having a regular raw natural face to face interactions. With the exception of a short visit from my mom, I have not had the opportunity to interact in person with my family since August 2019. This is tough. However, it would feel impossible had I not found my life partner here in Colorado almost six years ago. He is my rock and my biggest cheerleader. He and his two teenage children have become my family right here in Colorado.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I’m an independent Realtor® at Coldwell Banker Mountain Properties based in beautiful Frisco, Colorado. With over 40% of our local annual real estate transactions serving residents of Colorado’s front range, I’m proud to say that I don’t sell real estate. I sell the mountain lifestyle, so my clients can live their best mountain lives. As a long time local, I’ve done more than my fair share of exploring and adventuring in the mountains of Colorado. As a step-parent and former educator, I’m knowledgeable about our great schools. I know about local events and recreation opportunities because I enjoy them with my family. I can give you recommendations for just about anything in the area you’d like. Do you like face shots? Well, I can tell you where to locate secret powder stashes at our area resorts and in the backcountry. Don’t forget your snorkel! Skiing and snowboarding, not your thing? Then let me direct you towards the most extreme sledding hill instead. Does baking sweet treats above 9,000 feet make you feel deflated? Well, I’ve got you covered.

I will happily share my high elevation recipe conversions with you! I truly enjoy going above and beyond for my clients and looking to purchase a home? I will happily educate you on the process, share resources such as lenders and property managers available here locally, be by your side and guide you 100% of the way! Looking to sell? I do more than provide my clients with a to-do list in order to prep their home for sale. I am hands-on with the process from start to finish helping my clients get the highest dollar in the least amount of time for their home. I offer a research-based, fully customized, comprehensive marketing plan that is proven and really works! From strategic mail marketing campaigns, e-blasts to our large network of agents and clients, social media ads, eye-catching videos, and so much more. As a bonus, I’m known for offering delicious fresh-baked goodies when hosting open houses to create an even more memorable experience for our visitors. I understand that each of my clients has unique interests and desires when living their best mountain life. With hard work and stellar communication, I guarantee an exceptional experience. I am focused on my clients and driven by results, so I promise to deliver the mountain lifestyle you’re dreaming of.

What does success mean to you?
Success for me is when I solve a problem or conquer a challenge, when I help others understand and achieve their goals, and when I can offer relief in a stressful situation. Success is when someone is smiling ear to ear because they are healthy, happy, and living their best life

Contact Info:

• Email: Annie.Markuson@cbmp.com
• Website: AMarkRealEstate.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/anniemarkuson_realtor
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMarkRealEstate/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnieMarkuson
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFFqhuoIie_ses2f3GpeyGA