Meet the Re/Max First Choice Realty Agents

Georgina Bedran

My work as a real estate agent began coincidentally but it has become one of the most important things in my life. I like to do it; I like to be involved in one of the most important decisions someone can make: to buy a real property.

I started my career in real estate by working for a large development company of tourist destinations in Mexico and Central America called Situr. This experience permitted me to be involved in the world of real estate sales, mostly to foreigners. I know the sales and legal process in Mexico very well. Although my native language is Spanish, I perform well in English and I always to do my best to have satisfied clients. I am a current member of A.M.P.I. the Association of Mexican Real Estate Professionals and am a licensed Real Estate Agent in Sonora, Mexico.

I was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. I am an adopted Sonoran for the last 30 years, a lover of this land and its people. My children and my husband are Sonorans by birth. I am a good friend, I like to do what I am and to be what I do. Contact me at georginab@remax.net
 

Thonda Kay Oliver

Thonda started her Real Estate career in Soda Springs, Idaho where she sold Real Estate for 10 years. She specialized in Residential Real Estate and was involved in many city council activities. After moving her family to Silver City, New México in 1987 she continued her Real Estate career working for C21. With her strong business and ethical background she decided to open up her own Real Estate practice; Hacienda Realty, and then became a Coldwell Banker Franchisee. Thonda was the qualified Broker for Coldwell Banker and the Property Manager handling over 100 rental properties. During the time she lived in Silver City she was involved in the Mimbres Regional Art Council and past president of the Silver City Regional Association of Realtors as well as many other community activities.

Thonda Oliver is a licensed Sonora México Realtor in San Carlos México Lic. # 0345 and a proud member since 2004 of AMPI (Assosiation Mexicana de Profesionales bienes raicess A.C).

Thonda has been a Realtor in San Carlos México for 5 years and she is heavily involved in the marketing of the San Carlos Realtor Association and she is the current President.

Thonda’s expertise involves Residential Sales, New Construction, Land Sales, subdivision Development, commercial sales, and Property Management. Thonda has been selling Real Estate for 30 years and still loves the business of helping people find the home of their dreams. Let me turn your dreams into Reality.

Sheila Olson

I am Canadian and have lived in Québec, Manitoba, Alberta and now in Ontario. Seven years ago my daughter and son-in-law discovered San Carlos, fell in love with the area, and moved here from Alberta. My younger daughter, her then boyfriend (now husband) and I were invited to share Christmas here in San Carlos with them. I fell in love with San Carlos too and have been returning for longer and longer visits every year since.

My background has been in sales for most of my career. I was a Sale Manager for Avon Products in Edmonton, Alberta and won many sales awards before being transferred into the Canadian Head Office of Avon Products in Montreal, Quebec and assigned a position as a Category Manager for various product lines carried by they Company. After a transfer to their Head Office in New Year City which I declined, I opened my own business, a flower shop. We grew to three locations in the West Island of Montreal before deciding to move out of Quebec to Ontario. Settling in a small town was a new adventure, buying a farm, having horses, steers, pigs, chickens, goats as well as the usual dogs and cats. A great setting to bring up my two daughters!!

I sold the business and retired only to find I was bored. So I launched a new career becoming a Real Estate Agent licensed for the Province of Ontario. Now that I spend so much time here in San Carlos, I have joined Re/Max First Choice Realty as a Real Estate Agent. I am now licensed here in the Province of Sonora, Mexico and enjoy meeting Canadians and Americans who also fall in love with this little piece of Paradise called San Carlos and want a little piece to call their own!

Phil Polk

My name is Phil Polk. I came to San Carlos as a single man some 15 years ago but it didn’t take long to end 34 years of bachelorhood. I met and married my wife here in Guaymas 13 years ago. We have three children who keep both of us hopping with their school, sports and social activities. We feel that the Guaymas / San Carlos area is a great place to raise a family. I have come to know many people who have visited San Carlos and most are in agreement that this is a beautiful part of Mexico and the people are what make this place feel so welcome.

I am proud to be a part of this community and the ReMax family. I feel that with my knowledge of the area and the local customs I can offer my assistance and some free advise to those who are visiting or planning on making San Carlos their second home. A big smile and warm abrazo (hug) can go a long way!
 

Bryan Replogle

Bryan Replogle has been visiting the San Carlos area for 29 years. After years of the short vacation, and having had enough of battling the youth of south Tucson in education, Bryan made the permanent move to San Carlos. There he met Lisa Honeycutt, owner of Ruby Wine Bar, who he will marry May 17th, 2009. Bryan loves enjoying all that the San Carlos area has to offer, as well as sharing his passions with others.

You can often find Bryan walking his golden retriever Shaka, on the water fishing, helping people navigate the estuary and chase dolphins on kayaks, sailing his Hobie 18’, windsurfing, making sushi at the wine bar, or showing and selling real estate. He plans on being in the San Carlos area for a long time and hopes that you do too!

Norene Sullivan

Norene Sullivan brings to Remax First Choice over twenty years of expertise and experience in real estate. She was a Realtor in Redding, California where she specialized in residential sales, senior housing, investment properties, and property management. “I have been a real estate agent all of my adult life. For me, it’s all about making new friends, listening to their needs, and helping achieve their housing goals, she states. It’s very rewarding!” It’s her positive outlook and perky personality combined with her knowledge and customer commitment that have made her very successful in business.

Norene vacationed in San Carlos at the height of her career and fell in love with the scenery, the people, and the culture. Instantly, she knew she wanted to make this seaside paradise her home. She describes San Carlos as “Mexico Lite.” Unlike most tourist destinations of this country, “almost everyone speaks English, the water is safe to drink, real estate is affordable, and the natural beauty hasn’t been over-commercialized.” But, like many first time foreign investors, Norene needed more information about the differences in purchasing real estate in Mexico. “Remax First Choice Realty is where I turned for help in purchasing my first home here. I felt it was important to put my trust in a respected company that would guide and advise me in the ways of investing in Mexican real estate. I was so impressed with the professionalism, ethics, and knowledge of the entire staff and I am honored and excited to be accepted into this outstanding group of professionals.”

Norene has been a member of the National Ski Patrol for many years, serving as an instructor and holding offices at the regional and national levels. She is very community minded and finds ways to use her interests and talents to help others. “Snow skiing was always my passion. Patrolling and coaching gave me the chance to share my excitement of the sport. I have now replaced this passion with the local activities of fishing, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, jet skiing, hiking, karaoke, photography, painting and anything else that’s going on. I am diversifying, she proclaims!”

Whether you need a recommendation for a good restaurant, a place to stay, a great snorkeling spot, or how to make your life better by realizing the dream of living in our seaside paradise, Norene is always happy to help. Contact her at norenes@remax.net or 1-800-587-2830 office or 1-530-776-5776/USA direct line 622-227-0366 in San Carlos
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Don Swartz

As a frequent visitor to San Carlos over the past 20 years, my wife and I made the permanent move to this beautiful little place by the sea in 2005. With 40 years experience in real estate sales and management with major builders and developers in the US, the pace in San Carlos is a very refreshing change.
 

It is a pleasure to be associated with Remax First Choice Realty and the quality projects and properties they represent. I am currently licensed in Sonora and Arizona.

Cheryl Hillestad
Administrative Assistant

Twelve years of Human Resource experience helped her in working with all types of people and personalities from all walks of life. Her kind efforts are always geared toward pleasing others.

She has been a Licensed Real Estate agent for over 6 years, and managed multiple rental properties prior to moving from Tucson Arizona. Cheryl moved to San Carlos with her husband Carl of 8 years.

She has been listed on the top 100 Realtors list for the past six years in Tucson Arizona. Mostly because she took the time to listen to her clients needs and was very diligent in finding the perfect home her clients were looking for. She also knows the areas inventory and the current market values to insure her clients get the right home at a great price.

An avid sailor she and her husband sailed their 42 foot sail boat (Mystique) from Jacksonville, Florida through the Virgin Islands, through the Panama Canal and up the west coast to San Carlos.

Cheryl and Carl enjoy riding their motorcycle or quads through the Mexican country side, appreciating the wonderful local sights and especially the weather.

Her outgoing personality combined with the love of people and her need to help, find Cheryl involved in the local community and volunteering her time to multiple fund raisers.

Most important to Cheryl is her family Husband Carl, her two kids Karie and Christopher, Alex and Amanda son and daughter in-law, the two granddaughters, Kayla and Maddy, then there is their cat, Sailor and dog, Teria that round out the family.

Maria Luisa Ibarra Lemus, known as “Luisa” by all, is the office manager of Remax First Choice and sister company First Choice Property Management. She is the smiling face that greets you in the front office and the nail that holds everything together. As a lifelong resident of Guaymas, she is fluent in both Spanish and English and our American and Canadian customers have greatly appreciated her helpfulness in communicating with the locals in a foreign country. She has a degree in Tourism from CBTIS 40 and has many contacts and close relationships with the businesses in the State of Sonora. If a problem needs to be solved, Luisa knows where to start.

Luisa and her husband Felipe are raising their eight year old daughter, Itzia Jazmin, to value education and a strong work ethic. They provide a solid example in their own lives and have set family goals that will assure their daughter's acceptance into a respected university in the future. They recently bought a home and take pride in entertaining friends and family during their free time. Family is an important part of the Mexican culture, and Luisa spends as much time as possible with hers.

In the past, Luisa worked as the manager at Marina Cantina, a popular restaurant in San Carlos. She enjoys the many friendships she has made in her career and especially appreciates the close bonds she has established with her employers, co-workers, and customers. She is always happy to help with any task and takes great pride in a job well done. With her sense of humor and jovial personality, it is not uncommon for returning residents to pop in the office just to say hi to her and get a hug from their favorite San Carlos friend.