Becky Martino, Realtor®

Where did you grow up? What was it like?
I grew up in central Illinois farm country. My parents owned a family restaurant that took lots of their time, so I was lucky enough to spend my summers and school holidays at my grandparent's farm in southern Illinois. That's where I learned to love the outdoors! My grandparents grew corn, oats, wheat and soybeans and raised just about every kind of farm animal you can imagine. My grandmother raised chickens and sold the eggs, so I always got to help gather, clean and sort the eggs. In the summer, we'd pick strawberries and wild blackberries and make them into jam or pies. There were always fresh tasty vegetables growing in the garden. It was a terrific way to grow up and I learned so much about "life" from my parents and grandparents!

Why do you live in the Hayward Lakes Area? What do you like most about it?
My husband and I moved to the area over 30 years ago. His family owned a cabin on Long Lake and we'd spend our summer vacations at the lake and dreamed of someday retiring here. One day it occurred to us that if we waited until retirement, our children and families would likely live in one state and we'd be in another. So we loaded up the moving vans, headed for Wisconsin and the rest is history! I love this area - no matter what season, there's always a reason to be outside! There are so many lakes and woods - you can always find a place to relax and enjoy life!

What is your favorite lake? Why?
That's a tough question! I enjoy many of the quiet little lakes where you can fish all day and never see another person, but my heart belongs to Long Lake. I first visited Long Lake as a young bride, a number of years ago. My husband had vacationed here from the time he was a toddler and he was always telling me about this beautiful lake. I'll never forget my first trip to Long Lake, driving north on County Road M, there's a hill and then a curve at Grandview Resort and then your first glimpse of the shimmering blue water! That will always remain a magical moment for me and Long Lake will always be my favorite lake.

What is your favorite part of working in Real Estate?
Well, the best part is being able to spend time outside and still be working! I really have fun with the people I meet and now can count a number of past clients as my good friends. I love this area and its great to be able to share my enthusiasm and experiences to help buyers find the perfect place at the lake, or to help sellers follow their dreams.

What is the most unusual thing you have encountered while working in Real Estate?
Several years back, I worked with a buyer who wanted to purchase a run-down, junk-littered hobby farm. I drafted an offer for him so that the sellers agreed to remove all the junk before closing. (lesson: never assume that folks who've lived with trash for many years will recognize how to clean it up!) So, the morning of closing, we did a "walk-through" to check on the condition and discovered that most of the junk was still there - including a gigantic old freezer in the basement filled with frozen food! The listing agent agreed to come out and take a look and explained that the sellers were packed up and ready to leave after closing and couldn't possibly get rid of the junk. Things got pretty tense, but eventually we worked it out and even found a couple strong guys willing to remove the freezer. We were patting ourselves on the back for a job well-done when we walked out the door and saw a parade of free-range chickens strutting out of the barn. I looked at the other agent and said "YOU'RE TAKING THE CHICKENS!" We all laughed til we almost cried! I can't remember who eventually got the chickens, but to this day, I can still see them marching out of that barn just like they owned the place! Sometimes you just have to find something to laugh about when the going gets tough!

Why should someone choose you as their real estate agent?
I will always put their interests first! My biggest reward is seeing the smiling faces of the buyers and sellers once the closing is done and everyone has achieved their dream.