 In December of 2008 a
great fire in downtown Lincoln destroyed the home and business of
Mike and Kathy Simonson. Almost everything the family owned was lost
that fateful night, but the family was all safe, and they were
thankful for that.After the great fire, Mike first tried to
continue working at painting and selling flooring goods out of his
truck, and then at a home that Mark Shew graciously allowed him to
use as a storefront. But the recession was hitting, and Mike and
Kathy along with their children tried a change of location, but only
for six months.
"We had a place in Panama City Beach, Fla., that we could see the
ocean from," Mike said. "But we didn't like it, the kids didn't like
it, and we just didn't fit in. So we came back to our home. And
Lincoln is our home, and this is where we are supposed to be."
Fortuitously, just days before they came back to Lincoln, a
retirement at Logan-Mason Rehab gave Kathy an opportunity to get
back her previous job as an instructor at the center.
Mike began selling real estate for ME Realty, getting his license
in March and then his broker's license last month.
The firm was started 28 years ago when competitive friends
Carolyn McMath, Glenda Allison and Mary Ellen Copeland, all working
for different realty firms, decided to work together. It
has been a highly successful realty business ever since.
When Mike and Kathy found out that owner Carolyn McMath intended
to retire at the end of the year, the couple decided to buy the
realty firm.
"Carolyn had received several calls on selling, some from
out-of-town businesses. We thought the company should stay locally
owned, so we decided to buy it from Carolyn, and we intend to keep
the name and the same location. People will find the same friendly
staff they have come to know over the years at ME Realty," explained
Mike.
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Mike said that currently there are eight on staff and things are
going well.
In 2011, ME Realty had the highest number of sales in Logan
County. They currently have 97 listings. Mike said 2012, although
just a few days old, is already showing signs of another busy year
for the firm.
Simonson said his favorite moments in the business come when he
gets first-time homebuyers into their dream house. "It's exciting
for the new buyers, and I just love helping them out," he said.
The family also owns the Britsch Mobile Home Park, and they live
in the house there.
"We love it here," Mike concluded.
[By
MIKE FAK]
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