Herlinda's Story Letter

I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to take this opportunity to connect with you and share a little of my story.

I would be nowhere today without my mom and dad, Carmen and Telesforo, who were my greatest inspiration. They grew up in the middle of nowhere, three hours from the nearest city in Mexico. Without much of an education, my parents could barely read or write, but they were the hardest workers I have ever known.

Every morning, they would get up before sunrise and drive over an hour to do manual labor in the fields across the US border, picking strawberries or tomatoes. Their work day started at 5 AM and didn’t end until the evening, when they would return home to feed their nine children. Everything we ate was made from scratch, including tortillas from our own flour and salt. And our lives were centered around our faith, praying the rosary nightly and attending Mass every Sunday.

Eventually, Mom and Dad managed to buy a house in San Ysidro and moved us to the United States, despite the fact that they didn’t speak English. My family didn’t have much, but thanks to my parents’ tremendous courage, my siblings and I were given greater opportunities. My parents thought I was amazing for learning to read in school, but I knew that they were the amazing ones for giving me the chance to do so.

After graduating high school, I was working a job at a tuxedo shop. My manager there encouraged me to look for a real career, and even allowed me to leave while on the clock to apply for jobs. I looked for openings on the job board at the college I was attending and found a position as an administrative assistant at a real estate company. I learned a lot and worked with some talent agents over the next few years, but one Realtor^® in particular comes to mind as the most influential person I met.

I worked for CJ for a couple years, but I wasn’t happy as her assistant. I knew I had the knowledge to do more. I didn’t like my job, and it showed. So she fired me.

But CJ wasn’t trying to get rid of me—she was trying to motivate me! She immediately offered to hire me back, but only as her buyer’s agent. CJ saw my potential even more than I did, and she knew I just needed that push.

I closed on nineteen homes within my first year. By year two, CJ had bought the company and started managing rather than selling, allowing me to step into her role of listing agent as well. Real estate has proved to be my true calling, and I’m always thrilled to help others achieve their dreams of homeownership.

It's not always easy or convenient, of course. But when I have a listing an hour away, I just think back to my parents and their daily commute, and I tell myself how lucky I am to be able to dress well and drive a car with air conditioning.

My mom and dad have since passed away, but they continue to inspire me, especially regarding my own family. I married my husband, Kris, in 2000, and we thank God every day for the abundant love we share. Our children, Marbella and Nick, have made us incredibly proud. Time goes by so fast as I watch them grow up, and it’s always my goal to not miss the exciting moments in their young lives.

My home here in Coronado is also very important to me, and I’ve worked with the Coronado Schools Foundation and the Coronado Navy League—as well as several local businesses—to foster local growth and create a strong community. I consider myself fortunate to have built a life here with my family, and I would love nothing more than to lend my knowledge and experience toward helping you do the same.

Buying or selling real estate is often an enormously important transaction, and the representation you receive from your agent can have significant impact on your results. I want you to pick the agent that’s the right fit for your needs. If that person ends up being me, I promise to work diligently to exceed your expectations.

Lisa's Story Letter

Hi there, my name is Lisa Storey!

I was born and raised in Utah where we always had direct access to the gorgeous scenery all around. While there, I raised my four beautiful children with a love for the outdoors, just like me. We often spent our weekends snow skiing in the mountains and our summers water skiing on Lake Powell. When my kids were young, I decided to open a daycare in the heart of Salt Lake City. But after running that company for eight successful years, I decided to switch career paths.

In 1993, I was introduced to the real estate industry and found my passion for helping families and investors buy or sell their next home. Once my kids were older, I went back to school and received my Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. I am still so proud of that achievement! In 1994, I started working for a company doing market analysis acquisitions.

That job gave me valuable experience into the industry and I enjoyed my time there. Then, we moved to California where I spent several years working on a top producing real estate team based out of Coronado. From 2010 to 2016, I also worked as a Broker Associate with Pacific Sothebys International Real Estate.

After marrying my husband, Curt, in 2008, we decided to open our own property management company called Coronado Premier Properties. We work hard for our clients as a dedicated company who goes above and beyond for the owners and tenants we manage. My focus is primarily on sales and listings with a specialty for homes in the Coronado Cays.

Curt and I have a wonderfully blended family with eight awesome children - four of his and four of mine. We have 13 grandchildren whom we visit as often as we can throughout California, Utah, Colorado, and South Carolina. We still love to adventure outdoors and spend as much quality time with our kids as we can!

I love being involved in my community and value any opportunity I have to give back. I previously served on the Coronado Real Estate Association Board and currently serve as the Executive Vice President of the Friends of Children United Society, Coronado where we raise funds to help battered, abused, homeless, disabled, disadvantaged, military, and foster children within San Diego County.

Being a REALTOR® is one of the greatest jobs I’ve ever had and I love being in this industry. Buying or selling a home can be overwhelming and just plain exhausting – but that’s where I come in! It brings me so much joy to be able to help my clients and their families on this journey. Whether you’re looking for your first home, your forever home, or an investment home, I’m here to help you achieve your real estate dreams!