by Michele Gillis, Staff Writer
Sisters have an indescribable bond and, in the real estate industry, that unique bond that goes beyond the typical.
Having known each other their whole life, they fight, make up and handle situations differently than most.
We found four sets of sisters in the real estate industry here. Some work together and live together, some work in different offices, but the main commonality is that they all share a rare bond which helps them both professionally and personally.
Selby Kaiser and Linda McMorrow
Selby Kaiser and Linda McMorrow of The Legends of Real Estate, are the best–known sister act in Jacksonville.
“We got along growing up, but when we fought, we really fought,” said Kaiser. “The thing that bugged us the most is that people referred to us as ‘the twins’. We were thought of as one, a packaged deal. We tried our darndest to be as different as you can be. We wouldn’t dress alike. Linda usually had long hair and I’d have short so people could remember what our names were. We really looked just alike back then. The older we got, when that wasn’t important anymore, we realized we are just alike.”
McMorrow said they are very similar, right down to their choices of clothes. But, they try to retain their individuality and try to call each other in the morning to make sure they are not wearing the same outfit.
“We like the same things,” said McMorrow. “We will show up and have on the same color or if we have an outfit that is the same, it’s not unusual that we will wear it on the same day – without a phone call. We have to make an effort not to dress alike.”
Growing up, their father was in the military, so they moved around a lot.
“It was always so good to have your best friend with you wherever you were,” said Kaiser. “We appreciated that. We used to fight among ourselves, but don’t you dare pick fight with my sister because then you will deal with two of us.”
McMorrow entered the real estate field in Northern Virginia in 1976 with her sister following her in 1981 in Southern Virginia.
“Linda was in it and was very successful and I thought it would be something I could do,” said Kaiser.
Kaiser and McMorrow have worked together since 1988. They first worked as a team at Epping Forest Real Estate.
“Linda Sherrer and I became friends when I was the director of sales at the Villages of San Jose,” said Kaiser. “Every time I’d see Linda, she’d ask when I was going to come work for her at Epping Forest. We’d just laugh. Then when I decided to leave the Villages of San Jose, I called her.”
McMorrow had taken a break from real estate and was working for a telephone company, so Kaiser asked her to join her at Epping Forest Real Estate.
Soon after Prudential Network Realty opened, the sisters joined that company.
McMorrow worked at the San Jose office and Kaiser was manager of the Mandarin office. McMorrow moved over to the Mandarin office in 1994 where Kaiser was her manager for five years.
They then joined up as a team again in 1998.
Kaiser and McMorrow’s parents had moved to Jacksonville and were very ill. Both sisters wanted to have the time to take care of them, so Kaiser left management and joined her sister so they could work together and help take care of their parents.
“That’s what brought us together,” said Kaiser. “She had been bugging me to go into business with her for a long time. I always dreamed about the day that could happen.”
McMorrow saw the management was hard on her sister and wanted to make her life easier.
“On a daily basis someone would be chewing on her, so I told her whenever you want to work together again, let me know,” said McMorrow. “That day came in October 1998.”
They opened their own company, The Legends of Real Estate, in 2006.
They’re the best of friends. Though they may argue, but they get over it and move on.
“I know she has my back and the same in return,” said Kaiser. “We think alike. In our real estate business, I will be the point person on some listings and Linda is the point person on others. But, she doesn’t worry if she is out of town or sick in bed, because she knows if something needs to be done, I will do it to her satisfaction.”
When they leave the office, they each go to their respective ways, giving them the distance they need.
“We do socialize but we go to different churches and have different friends,” said McMorrow. “We are not together all the time.”
Since they are sisters, they know each other better than anyone.
“I’m sure there are times when I drive her crazy and there are times when she drives me crazy,” said Kaiser. “I know her better than anybody. I know what will make her mad at me and I know what to do to keep her from being mad at me. So, you just act accordingly and you can avoid a lot of things.”
Since Kaiser has management experience, she has taken the role as manager of the company, while McMorrow runs their team business.
“I handle the sales-related activities, while Selby does more of the management duties,” said McMorrow. “Selby was born first, so she has more of the Alpha personality. At any given time, she is the one who does most of the talking. I realize that and it doesn’t bother me.”
Sisters: Teresa Jacalone and Donna Overman
Teresa Jacalone and Donna Overman of Watson Realty tend to work for the same companies, but never in the same office.
Today, Jacalone is a Realtor with Watson Realty Corp. in the U.S. 1 office in St. Augustine and Donna is a vice president/broker manager for Watson Realty Corp. in the Mandarin North office in Jacksonville.
In 2005 both worked for Coldwell Banker Walter Williams Realty, with Jacalone in St. Augustine and Overman in Jacksonville.
In 2008, Overman joined Watson as broker/manager for the Mandarin North office and in 2009 Jacalone moved her real estate business to the Watson St. Augustine U.S. 1 office.
Both rely on each other for different perspectives and geography of the business; trading notes and ideas on the latest tech tools, marketing, self-promotion, referrals to areas easier for one office or the other, training opportunities and the comfort of knowing there is someone who not only understands the business, but cares about how it affects them.
“When I have a question, Donna helps me with it as a sister and a manager,” said Jacalone, a Realtor since 2004. “It’s nice to have a different opinion than your own and even if it’s from a manager in a different office.
“I send customers to her office if I cannot confidently provide the necessary services that they need to buy or sell a home in their area of northeast Florida and she does the same for me. It’s a good working relationship for both of us, being able to support each other in the world of real estate.”
The sisters live about 35 miles apart and work in such different areas that they can help each other out.
“I do think the biggest benefit we have is that we live far apart. Because this area is so diverse geographically, it allows us to refer customers to each other,” said Overman, who became a Realtor in 2002.
“We both have strong work ethics and we trust that our referrals will be handled exactly as we would handle them ourselves.”
Although St. Augustine is our home town, Teresa has lived there all her life, while I moved here in 1974 and she has seen every change and knows it well, while I have an office filled with agents who are familiar with Jacksonville, Orange Park and the Beaches.”
Their work days are varied and busy so communication is based on needing something “right now” and they are both always ready to help the other. They love to catch up on the “real estate biz” at family gatherings. Their mother is an avid real estate investor and loves to know what’s happening in the market, so she has two Realtors available with no waiting.
“Donna is the older sister and I looked up to her,” said Jacalone. “We are three years apart in age and while growing up, this made a big difference in our interests and relationship. Now, we work in the same field with much in common and get along great. We work together on more than just real estate and can handle many different situations concerning our immediate family together, because we understand what the other is dealing with in terms of deadlines and pressures.”
Overman said she always admired her sister while growing up.
“As the middle child of three girls, Teresa had more grit and determination to get her way than me or our younger sister,” said Overman. “She always spoke her mind, knew what she wanted and usually fought until she got it. I think this has served her well in everything she has done in her professional career, especially in real estate. She is a ‘get it done’ woman. Our relationship has improved vastly from our childhood, as our children came around and we raised them.”
Jacalone and Overman both enjoy real estate, but different aspects. Jacalone enjoys working with buyers and sellers with their real estate needs while Overman enjoys working as a manager with her agents to help them successfully market and grow their business.
– Michelle Gillis
Sisters: Darlene Yordon and Denise Demico
Darlene Yordon has had her broker’s license for 30 years and her appraiser state certification for 20 years. She currently works for The Legends of Real estate as a Realtor and does real estate appraisals in Volusia and Flagler Counties.
Her sister, Denise Demico, is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty with a niche in listing and selling short sales. She has been in real estate for 14 years.
“I began selling real estate after college and then transitioned into appraising,” said Yordon. “A current real estate license is all that was required back then. I was hired as the first full-time Downtown Development director in Daytona Beach, serving in that capacity for two and a half years. I started my own appraisal firm in Daytona Beach in 1994 which gave me the flexibility to serve as a Daytona Beach city commission for six years. Those experiences took my real estate education to a completely different level.”
Denise followed her sister’s footsteps into real estate after seeing her success.
“Darlene got into it way before I even thought of it,” said Demico. “We grew up in it with our family and I only got my license because I was a bored stay-at-home mom helping our mom with her commercial properties for a few years. I started out as a licensed assistant for a Top Producer and the bug bit me.”
Yordon said her sister encouraged her to move to Jacksonville when the economy turned and her appraisal business volume became almost non-existent.
“She forgot to mention that I would be selling in three or four counties,” said Yordon. “It was an overwhelming experience at first and to her credit she put me under her wing and made sure that I gained the knowledge to succeed. We worked for the same company for almost two years, but our personality styles have steered us to companies that enhanced our individuality.”
Though they are not in the same office, the sisters do try and help each other out.
“We are always available to answer questions, research information and to assist each other on any and all matters,” said Yordon.
Demico said they help each out daily with questions, answers or whatever the other needs.
“We are strong enough and respect each other enough to know that her brokerage is a perfect fit for her and my brokerage is perfect for me,” said Demico.
There is a 13-year age difference between the sisters, with Yordon being the elder.
“She was my real live baby doll,” said Yordon. “I fed her, changed her diapers and spoiled her rotten. We were typical siblings. We could fight among ourselves but no one better pick on the other.”
Since there is a 13-year difference, they did not grow up together so to speak.
“We can argue or disagree like all siblings do but we usually get over it in a day and forget the subject and move on,” said Demico. “I was like her own little baby doll since she was older and took care of me.”
Yordon is single; Demico has a husband and children.
“We both have very strong work ethics and take our commitments to our customers very seriously,” said Yordon. “The fact that I have only a dog and no commitments to children or a husband has given me time for more opportunities such as community involvement and travel. Our different life experiences have been the complementary part.”
Demico said she and her sister are stubborn or bull-headed as their father used to say.
“We both have the gift of gab,” said Demico. “She will give you the shirt off her back and her last dime if you need it and I am more hesitant of people at first. We are different in our lifestyles for the reason that she has more personal free time to socialize with friends where I am changing hats between mom, wife and real estate agent with barely having me time.”
Having a sister in the business has been a benefit for both women.
“Knowing that Denise is there has been the only thing that has saved my sanity sometimes,” said Yordon. “She has guided me through the trials and tribulations of the Jacksonville real estate world. It has helped me immensely as our differences are complementary.
“She has lived in this area for many years and is my history book. My background of appraising and other involvements has been her technical support.”
– Michelle Gillis
Sisters: Bunny and Linda George
Bunny and Linda George of The Legends of Real Estate not only work together, they live together.
Bunny has been in real estate for 35 years while Linda has been in it for 30 years.
“I saw Bunny was doing well in real estate, so I decided to try it,” said Linda.
Bunny started out working for Sam Folds and then went to Watson Realty for 30 years. Linda started out at Watson for eight years and then was onsite at Deercreek for 10 years and then Queen’s Harbour for 10 years. She rejoined Watson a little over two years ago to work with Bunny.
A year ago, The sisters joined The Legends of Real Estate.
The sisters said it helps to have someone on your team that has your back.
“It makes it so wonderful if one of us has a closing or needs to show property, the other can cover the business,” said Bunny. “We have coverage at all times for our buyers and sellers.”
There is a three-year age difference; Linda is the younger.
“The wonderful thing is that you can say things to your sister that you wouldn’t say to anyone else,” said Bunny. “We may have a spat and five minutes later, it’s over. We know each other, we love each other and she is my best friend.”
Growing up was a bit tumultuous for these two.
“Our father passed away when we were very young,” said Linda. “Our mother had her own business, so she wasn’t home a lot. I was the little tag-a-long sister and Bunny was very protective of me.”
Bunny said it wasn’t until Linda got out of high school that they became close. They are the best of friends. They live together, travel together and do business together.
“Nobody can believe two sisters can live and work together and get along,” said Bunny. “But our personalities mesh and complement each other.
Working together works well.
“I love to be on the go, meet people and show property. Linda is the technical one and likes to be organized,” said Bunny. “We are just able to cover each other’s business when the other one is out.”
Since Linda has experience as a site agent and Bunny has experience as a re-sale agent, they are the best of both worlds as a team.
Bunny said she and her sister complement each other and their buyers and sellers are never left without coverage.
“If I have any questions about anything, Bunny is so knowledgeable that I can always go to her for help,” said Linda.
– Michele Gillis