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Robert and Elaine Ramirez |
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Meet The Team |
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Robert Ramirez “I can still remember the first home I sold…” recalls Ramirez. “It was in the Payran neighborhood, my best friend’s parents’ place. It sold for $37,000.” The year was 1976, at 22 Robert was the youngest Realtor in town…and the only agent under 30. A lot has changed in Petaluma since then, and along with his wife and business partner Elaine, Robert has been there through it all. Now a very desirable community, in 2006 Petaluma posted a median sales price of just under $620,000, one of the leading figures in the County. Since that first sale in the mid-70s, Robert has held his licenses at several Petaluma Brokerages. He began at the locally owned Golden Land Realty until 1980, then moving onto Westgate Realty where he worked his way up the latter as a top agent while earning his Broker license and graduating from Chatham Real Estate School. In late 1986 he and Elaine went on to manage their own successful Brokerage, Boardwalk Realty, for 6 years until 1992. During the same period he earned his “Certified Residential Specialist” designation (C.R.S.) which less than 2% of Realtors currently hold. The following year RE/MAX came to town and made Ramirez an offer he couldn’t refuse. The Boardwalk brokerage was sold and for the next six years Robert served as RE/MAX office manager while helping to build the infrastructure of the Petaluma office. While at RE/MAX Robert and Elaine earned numerous top-production awards, including the RE/MAX Platinum Club and the “Hall of Fame” honors. Upon Joining Coldwell Banker Robert and the Ramirez Office earned the "International Presdents Circle Award". This distinguished honor is only acheived by the top 4% of the more than 126,000 Coldwell Banker Sales Associates worldwide. In late 2006, after 14 successful years with RE/MAX brokerage, he and Elaine felt it was time for a change, and in order to better serve his clients and to find a more productive environment for their newest team member and son Armand, the three decided to move to their current home at Coldwell Banker Residential, located in the new “Theater District” in heart of Downtown Petaluma. Robert, Elaine, and Armand are very pleased with their new brokerage and are enjoying the additional promotional and technological resources that the firm provides for their clients.
“I’d Rather be Drumming”Few may believe it, but for years this quote was featured on license plate rider of Robert’s four-door. “I think it was my Son who made me remove it, maybe now I’ll get one that says I’d rather be Diving!” Although his career and community involvement have been an ever-important component of his life, he has always made it a necessity to cultivate his passion for Music and Nature – a personal mission shared by his entire family. A talented Latin and Afro-Cuban percussionist since his twenties, Robert’s most recent music ventures have been with Bautista and After Midnight bands. Ironically enough, he lived a sort of childhood dream in late 2006 when he performed at the Shoreline Amphitheatre as the opening act for the infamous Latin-Rock groups Malo and Santana. Although modest to admit the fact, over the past 30 years Robert has played an integral role in the Petaluma Real Estate industry, serving numerous terms and positions on the Petaluma Chapter of Realtors’ Board of Directors, including Chapter President and Events Director.
Due to his eagerness to serve, Robert only one of two Petaluma Agents to twice receive the community’s “Realtor of the Year Award” – an award given for excellence both as an Agent and active community member. In 2003, Robert was the recipient of the “Edjar K. Hansen Award”, a sort of ‘lifetime’ achievement for Realtors whom the Petaluma Board feels have been pillars of their local industry and community. In addition to the Real Estate industry, Robert has also served as President of the Petaluma Health Center, was an integral member of the initiative that saved the local Phoenix Theatre from commercial development, and most recently volunteers as a much-needed Mentor in Petaluma’s Mentor Me program for at risk youths. Robert’s other interests include scuba diving at his second home in Hawaii, fitness, biking, and spending time with his family, friends, and industry associates. (Particularly his 4 year old granddaughter, Ashlyn) Always a giver at heart, he volunteers his time on an annual basis for the “Phoenix Halloween Benefit” fundraiser for the Phoenix Theatre. Robert recalls an old advertisement by the National Association of Realtors that read, “Real Estate, it’s our life.” I prefer an alternate version, ‘Real Estate, it’s not our life, it’s our business.” He welcomes you to become a part of it.
Elaine Ramirez Durst field, the 50 yard-line. Probably the last place on a windy Friday evening you’d expect to find one of Petaluma’s most seasoned Realtors. But believe it or not, for the past 8 years Elaine Ramirez of Coldwell Banker Residential has also been affectionately known as ‘Coach Ramirez’ by the coaches and athletes of the Petaluma High School Football team. “What can I say…I love high school football and after Armand graduated in 1999 I asked head Coach, Steve Ellison, if I could help out as a defensive statistician. They haven’t kicked me off the field yet, so I guess I’m needed!” The only ‘non-native’ Petaluman of the Ramirez Office,
Elaine moved to Petaluma from Hamilton Air Force Base in Novato,
in 1970. After graduating from Petaluma High and marrying her husband,
Robert, she went on to study Sociology at Sonoma State University.
Her career in Real Estate began at American Savings in San Rafael
as a loan processor, later opening the Rohnert Park Branch of Northern
California Savings as a senior loan underwriter. Taking a break
in 1981 to spend time with her three young children, she remained
an underwriter with North Bay Savings Bank in Petaluma until opening
Boardwalk Realty along with Robert in 1986. In addition to volunteering at PHS, Elaine has also volunteered for many non-profits over the years: a Board member for the Petaluma Boys and Girls Club, a Commissioner on Petaluma’s Music, Parks and Recreation Commission, and a volunteer for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Recognized for her community service, she was twice nominated as Petaluma’s “Woman of the Year” by the Petaluma Chamber of Commerce and was an instrumental parent coordinator for two city wide school bond measures that were successfully passed in the 1990’s. Elaine prides herself on being devoted to family, friends and community first and her career second. She and Robert enjoy spending time snorkeling, diving, and relaxing on the beach at their home on Maui. “On Maui, we can finally relax and find pleasure doing simple things like preparing a good meal with fresh fruits and fish and watching the sun set.” Yet despite her professional success, Elaine always acknowledges her modest roots as an enlisted man’s daughter at Hamilton AFB; “I never take anything for granted,” she says. She enjoys working with past clients, and young, first time buyers, watching them raise their families and progress though life’s changes. “Watching the outcome of what homeownership can do to a person, couple or family is very rewarding to me.” Always grateful to the Petaluma community and quality of life Sonoma County offers, Elaine welcomes you to her family team, with whom it is truly a pleasure to work.
Follow these links to learn more about the above mentioned charities and organizations:www.crs.com About: Armand Ramirez |
