We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Madeline Rousseau. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Madeline below.
Madeline, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
“Helping Others Through Our Work”
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Madeline Rousseau is a highly qualified Real Estate professional and Broker/Owner with many years of experience. Although born in New York, she was raised in Ft. Lauderdale and calls Florida home. She moved to Marion County in 1985 and obtained a BA in Psychology with a minor in Social Welfare from UCF. Even to this day her education and degree serves her well in Real Estate. Having obtained her real estate license in 2009, when the market turned difficult and buyers and homeowners needed help most, she learned the industry the hard way and specialized in residential short sales. Currently, she not only handles residential real estate, but also home rentals, new home construction, vacant land and commercial real estate.
Madeline LOVES helping those wanting to sell their homes as well as matching buyers to their dream homes. The process and relationships are very rewarding with often times clients becoming friends.
In 2014, Madeline decided to obtain a broker’s license and made a major life change moving to downtown Tampa in order to pursue her dream of having her own company in Tampa Bay. Keys To The Bay Real Estate was started in 2018. Servicing 20 Florida Counties with 19 Real Estate Specialists helping others through their work. Madeline and her Realtors prove that they are dedicated to their clients, also aggressive and will get the job done by diligently guiding clients through the buying and selling process in Residential and Commercial Real Estate. A firm believer in honesty and listening, Madeline provides expert knowledge, dedication and is committed to find perfect properties for her buyers.
Madeline has been a single mom to two wonderful boys who are now grown men. They are the light of her life along with her grandson! She has a great family, a lot of wonderful friends, business partners and clients with whom she stays close for they have supported her and made her the successful real estate agent/broker/Instructor she is today!
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I obtained my Real Estate license in 2009 when the market crashed. At that time everyone was getting out of Real Estate. Those around me told me I was crazy. I was thrown into the fire and learned Real Estate the hard way-on short sales and foreclosures, when people were very angry and emotional. I’ve seen a lot in the last 13 years especially recently when Covid- 19 shut the world down for a bit. I’ve been very resilient with the ups and downs of real estate in the past 13 years that is for certain. I moved to Tampa not knowing a soul or the lay of the land. If it were not for my prior experiences I would have drowned. I had to go back to the basics of Real Estate and to the basics of what I knew how to do. Started Keys To The Bay Real Estate 3 years ago with just myself. Today, we are a team of 19 with a Residential and Commercial Division, 2 offices and I am a member of 5 boards with 2 MLS Systems servicing 20 Florida Counties ready to expand to working The Keys, Florida to Tampa Bay!
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
I have funded my business myself. I was smart enough to know that I needed to bank some money when real estate was good. I owned two other companies prior to this one with partners. Things don’t always go well with partners and no sole decisions can be made. I started this company knowing I did not want any partners or loans, so Keys To The Bay Real Estate is owned by me and funded by me.
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