Link to full article with Coastal Illustrated
Winnie Skarpalezos
Realtor
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hodnett Cooper Real Estate
Family: Mom, dad, brother, aunt, grandma.
Occupation: Real estate professional
School: Glynn Academy and Georgia Southern
Years in the Golden Isles: Born and raised … is the number really that important? Ha!
What is one thing every visitor must do before leaving the Golden Isles? I would suggest taking a trolley tour. They offer so much history, and you get to enjoy the views while someone else is driving. It gets the visitor out to the north end, which they might not have done on their own, and also to the Avenue of the Oaks by the Lodge … who doesn’t enjoy taking a picture with that beautiful landscape?
A local you admire: Anyone that is a self-motivator, helps others and is kind.
Favorite Landmark in the Golden Isles and why: Jekyll Island. Anything Jekyll … walking the ruins, bike riding, enjoying peel and eats on the water, touring the Jekyll Island Club Hotel at Christmas.
Describe a perfect Saturday for you in the Golden Isles: Waking up without an alarm, working, making time for the beach and then laughing with friends & family.
Who or what inspired you to become a Realtor? Inspired or pressured? After college I worked for my dad and brother in the family business as a receptionist, and they told me they were going to dock my pay until I obtained my real estate license. Not sure that would be fair with anyone else but that was 22 years ago, and I am very grateful to them both. I learned so much by driving around with them listening to their conversations, their ideas and solutions. I tried to absorb everything they said.
What advice would you give to someone looking to buy a home in the Golden Isles? Get with a local professional: Realtor, mortgage lender/bank, home inspector and trust that we will guide you every step of the way. And once you do live here, say “hi” when you pass people; it’s easy and free.
How have you been best utilizing this time of social distancing? I try to learn something new every day. I’ve been watching work-related educational videos and I joined Instagram finally. I have also been enjoying daily walks where I take the time to think about the meaning behind this and pray.