The Real Deal | Suzanne Terry

(About Me)

Sometimes it is easier to connect with someone when you know the real deal about that person. Here's my opportunity to share the real deal about me with you.

My husband, Michael, and I frequently traveled from Savage, MN, where we resided, to his home town of Kasson, MN. We love road trips and really enjoyed driving through rural Minnesota. I have to admit, of all the small Minnesota towns we meandered through, Faribault was one of the rare ones where I thought to myself, "I could see myself living here." It pulled at my heartstrings almost as much as Duluth, where my parents were born and raised and where my brother and I were born. Faribault’s population of about 20,000 and the quaint downtown was a far cry from the bustling south suburbs of Minneapolis where I lived most of my life.

Little did we know, when we began our almost two year search for the "perfect" hobby farm, we would end up landing in Faribault. It just seemed to make sense. We loved the town, the beautiful countryside, and being located halfway between our moms. Best of all, our horses loved it because they were not being boarded, but home with us! They were the reason for our move to begin with! The nearby lakes also lured us as Michael and I met on a Canadian fly-in fishing trip. (Go figure – we now live close to lakes but spend less time in the boat!)

Michael and I owned a construction/remodeling company and previously owned a window and door retail store. Some of my previous occupations involved administrative work and various facets of event and travel planning. The more creative side of my career history included interior and exterior landscaping, floral design, and designing holiday decorating programs for communities. My eclectic career experiences just beckoned collaboration and I became a Realtor®! So, shortly after moving to Faribault, I decided to embark on the career of Real Estate. I’m grateful to have worked part-time at a local florist, Bloom, the first year in Faribault as it helped me immensely in becoming acquainted with the area and some of the local residents. I chose Edina Realty to be my broker because of Edina Realty’s exceptional technology, training, and professionalism.

Move and they will follow......"they" meaning family. Since moving to Faribault, Michael’s sister, his brother (all the way from Alaska), my dad, my grandma, and our daughter have all relocated here! My mom talks about moving here soon, also.

Tearfully, since moving here, we’ve said farewell to my dad, grandma, and three (we started out with five) of our four leg friends including one old equine friend. Happily, there have been more additions to the family, such as our Blue Roan mare, our Blue Healer (dog), and three friendly barn cats. Mother’s Day weekend 2006 blessed us with the most exciting additions to our family. Our beautiful granddaughter and our handsome colt were born within 12 hours of each other! What a Mother’s Day gift!!

Everyone needs recreational therapy and mine are playing with the horses, playing in the dirt (aka gardening), and playing a design diva. I love HGTV! Ask anyone who knows me about how often I reposition our furniture and accessories. That little quirk is a great asset in helping my clients stage their homes! Check out my Favorite Links to HGTV and RFD-TV.

Professionally, I continue to hone my Realtor® skills by learning about the numerous technology tools Edina Realty provides to its agent. In turn, I pass on that knowledge to other Edina Realty agents by providing training and mentoring sessions. I am a Certified Ethics Trainer, which means I am qualified to provide continuing education on Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics to agents in the Realtor association where my membership originates.

My business, which is referral based, has grown beyond expectations and I have developed many deep and lasting friendships. Eight years of hobby farm and rural property real estate experience has earned me a reputation for being a specialist in that arena. I am very familiar with the unique features and challenges those type of properties pose. They often require more research, which is something I enjoy.

I’ve seen many changes in the real estate market and in the community. I have experienced many changes, both personally and professionally. For me, however, my personal philosophy remains constant:

Grow spiritually
Nourish healthy loving relationships
Maintain a positive attitude
Lead a balanced life
Exercise and eat healthy
Expand academically
Provide my clients ...