PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Karen Balkin
www.EliteHomesTeam.com
About Karen Balkin and the Elite Homes Team
Karen is a seasoned Managing Broker. Since 2007 she has been sharing her local expertise in selling luxury homes, new construction, townhomes, condos, investment properties, and view and waterfront properties. Karen and her team are passionate about exceeding their client's expectations. They work collaboratively through all stages of planning, research, expert consultation, property marketing, and negotiation. They specialize in selling homes in Bellevue, Clyde Hill, Clyde Hill, Medina, Kirkland, Redmond, Issaquah, Mercer Island, and Seattle.
Before establishing herself as a premier real estate broker, Karen was the Director of Development for the domestic violence non-profit, Rainbow House. She holds an MA in Sustainable International Development from Brandeis University. Karen served for almost 3 years as a Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador teaching environmental education, and organizing conferences for adolescent girls to plan their careers and attain scholastic scholarships.
Designations
- Managing Broker
- Certified Negotiation ExpertCertified Real Estate Analyst
- Certified Senior Real Estate Specialist
- Luxury Marketing Specialist
- Green Certified Real Estate Professional
- Certified Home Buying InstructorManaging Broker
- Licensed Real Estate Broker, since 2007
Associations
- Member of the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA)
- REALTOR, National Association of Realtors Member
- Member of the NAACP
Education and Experience
- MA, Sustainable International Development, Brandeis University
- United Nations HABITAT, Research Intern, Brazil
- Scholarship, Peace Corps Fellow
- Peace Corps, El Salvador
Community Involvement & Non-profits supported through the Windermere Foundation
- Acres of Diamonds
- Assistance League of the Eastside
- Attain Housing
- Backpack Meals
- Bellevue Lifespring
- Boys and Girls Club of Bellevue
- Eastside Academy
- Eastside Baby Corner
- Escape to Peace
- Farms for Life
- Financial Beginnings
- Friends of Youth
- Hopelink
- Imagine Housing
- Issaquah Community Services
- Issaquah Food Bank
- Kindering
- LifeWire
- Mamma’s Hands
- Pantry Packs
- Royal Family Kids Camp
- Ruby Room F-Factor
- Treehouse
- Village Theater
- Youth Eastside Services
PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE
Five Star Professional conducts market-specific research throughout the U.S. to identify service professionals who demonstrate professional excellence and provide quality services to their clients. The Five Star Real Estate Agent program is the largest and most widely published award program for real estate agents in North America, covering more than 40 major markets. Five Star award winners do not pay a fee to be included in the research or on the final list of award winners.
The Five Star Professional research team contacted thousands of recent homebuyers, consumers and industry leaders to identify Seattle-area real estate agents who stand out in their industry and community.
To learn more about the research methodology, click here.
