October 2022 Newsletter | Team Member Spotlight: Michaela Schmidlin
Michaela Schmidlin has always been drawn to architecture and design, especially historic properties with a story to tell. Her real estate career began in New York City, where she walked virtually every street in Manhattan (and met her now husband, Matt). But her connection to real estate goes far beyond homes - Michaela has a strong desire to be in community with others, and when she earns the trust of someone to be a part of their life during the vulnerable and often intense experience of buying or selling a home, she does not take that lightly and ensures that her clients feel supported and heard. She wants each client to receive expert and genuine service from her and the Firefly team, and hopes to create clients for life in the process. Michaela met Katie Prendergast, Firefly's team owner, at a time in her life when she was looking to break free from the confines of corporate life, and felt that she'd found the right fit.
"Katie was a breath of fresh air and I've never met anyone more authentic. She's proven to give the best advice and always supports me on my individual journey. As a leader she really understands that personal growth is the cornerstone of long term success."
Personal growth is something Michaela has experienced since joining Firefly. Coaching others about lending, the housing market and investing led to a passion for financial education and wealth building, and empowered her to start her own investing business with a partner. She's turned the often-taboo subject of money and financial health into a crucial conversation for her family as well as her clients.
The first piece of financial advice she'd love for all home buyers to follow is to get pre-qualified with a lender before starting the home search. This is the one way to truly know your buying power. Michaela and the Firefly team have several trusted lending partners that can be recommended to those interested in starting a home search, whether you're a first-time home buyer or an investor.
The culture of the team was also a big draw for Michaela. She could see that the foundational relationships amongst team members and their support for one another are a direct line to the team's investment in the community as well as its strong client relationships.
Michaela and her family live in historic Montford, and she would love to serve more of her neighbors there and in the North Asheville community. She's committed to helping Firefly blossom as a brand, and continue to build its referral business.
Michaela holds a Masters in Project Management with a professional background in Hospitality, most recently in the Marketing Events department at Biltmore. She and her husband have two children, William (4) and Anna (10 months). She's originally from Columbia, S.C., and visits family often there. She and Matt share a love of sports, live music (before kids you could always find them at the Phish NYE show at Madison Square Garden), camping, and good food (Liberty House Cafe, All Souls Pizza, and Jettie Rae's, to name a few local favorites). If she could travel anywhere in the world, she'd return to Le Sirenuse.
In the photo above, Michaela and her family are near her husband's parents' home in Sanibel, Florida. Sanibel was one of the hardest-hit areas during Hurricane Ian in September 2022, and while their family members safely evacuated prior to the storm, the rebuilding of their home - and the island - will be no easy endeavor. If you would like to help folks impacted by Hurricane Ian, Michaela recommends making a donation to FISH of SanCap.
