One of Us

Lisa Barton

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Lisa Barton and her team have been a big part of the real estate landscape in Ponte Vedra for more than a decade. Lisa Barton Team Ponte Vedra Beach — Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners has established itself as a leader in one of the keystone businesses on the First Coast.

Tell me a bit about yourself and your team. How long have you been working in real estate? What type of real estate do you handle? Do you have a speciality?

I began working as a real estate agent over 15 years ago. I’ve had a team for about 10 years and the team grew quite naturally. For example, my two senior agents Marsha Keller and Tonya O’Quinn were buyers who worked with me when they moved to the area from out of state. When they decided they wanted to consider a career in real estate, I hired them! We’ve been together for over a decade. This type of longevity is unusual in real estate.

Together, we have been top-producing real estate agents in Ponte Vedra Beach since 2012. We handle residential real estate of all types but are particularly versed in Ponte Vedra Beach and our surrounding Beaches communities.

The real estate market in Northeast Florida is red hot right now. What does that mean for buyers and sellers?

Understanding current real estate market trends is a huge part of what we do as successful real estate agents. Sharing this market knowledge to help our customers make the best decision about their next move is an important service we offer. We study market indicators, read reputable housing reports and utilize our relationships with mortgage lenders and other industry thought leaders to truly understand current market conditions.

What advice do you have for people who are either buying or selling in this market?

Go ahead and make the move! It’s a great time to buy AND it’s a great time to sell! Home values in the 32082 and 32081 ZIP codes increased 24% from June 2021 to June 2022 (Source: Northeast Florida Association of Realtors). This means that the price for homes will likely never be lower than they are right now. We’re slowly starting to see more inventory come on the market, but there’s no indication that home values will drop in the near future.

For the homeowner, now is a great time to sell! Inventory is low and the demand is high. Nationwide, we have had a shortage of inventory for the last 20 years. For example, there were 3.7 million homes for sale in 2007, now there are less than 1 million homes for sale (Federal Reserve Economic Data). According to the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors, sales prices for homes in our area have gone up 24% in the last year, along with 32.5% of those offers coming in at over list price. Whether you’re considering buying or selling, I always suggest using an agent that knows and understands the intricacies of the market and the area.

Tell me about your education and how you got into this business.

I was raised in Gainesville where my father was a professor at the University of Florida. My three goofy younger brothers and I grew up outside — horseback riding, biking, swimming and playing in the woods. My parents still live in my childhood home, and I have a special place in my heart for Gainesville. My childhood gave me a real appreciation for Florida’s natural beauty.

I attended UF (of course!) and then went on to earn a Master’s in psychology from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. I worked for several years as a school psychologist in the Pennsylvania public school system until I came home to Florida in 1994. I have two sons, Dylan and Christopher. They both live in Jacksonville, which makes me so happy!

My background in psychology taught me the importance of developing strong relationships and earning a solid reputation through quality professional service, personal accountability and always delivering as promised.

You have a team of real estate professionals. Can you tell me about them?

Our team has four agents: Marsha Keller, Tonya O’Quinn, Sean Muserallo and myself. We also have three support staff members that work diligently behind the scenes to make our operations seamless. Our team sold over $92 million in residential sales in 2021 making us one of the top producing teams in Northeast Florida. One of our key aspects of success is developing long-standing relationships with our clients based on mutual respect and trust.

What do you like most about what you do?

Helping people buy and sell real estate is challenging and exciting! For most people, a home is their biggest financial investment, so I feel a real sense of responsibility to provide accurate information to help my customers make a sound decision. Whether I’m working with first-time home buyers or an older couple who’s downsizing, I love the process of helping them discover what’s the next step in their life adventure.

I really enjoy meeting new people and am an excellent listener. I truly value my relationships with my customers.

How do you like to spend your free time?

I enjoy playing tennis, practicing yoga and boating on the beautiful waterways that surround Ponte Vedra. I love spending time with my husband and two sons. Our family has a cottage in mid-coast Maine that is a wonderful summer getaway.

I believe in supporting our local community and preserving the beautiful area in which we reside. Part of my personal mission is to give back to my community. I serve on the board of the North Florida Land Trust and am also a board member for Groundwork Jax. I served on the Wolfson Children’s Hospital Family Advisory Council for several years. I feel lucky to be part of these wonderful organizations.