Realtor and long-time Lone Tree resident Julie Chown is at an age where she might think about retiring.  “All my friends are like, ‘What are you doing still working?’” she says.  “I love it.  Why would I stop?”

Chown’s enthusiasm for life and work are infectious.  Her unique set of skills, 32 years of experience, and focus on residential real estate make her an ideal partner to have when buying or selling a home.

“I love first-time homebuyers. I love to kind of guide them through the whole process,” she says.  “I also love working with seniors.  I’ve had several this year that are having to leave their home and go into a more assisted-living environment, and that’s really, really hard for them.  I love trying to make that more of a gentle transition.  I love it all.”

The real estate market has slowed down of late, Chown says, and there are not a lot of properties for sale.  Most of the buyers and sellers she has worked with lately are moving because they must, due to changes in employment or other life situations.  

Her decades of experience as a realtor help her weather market fluctuations as they are no longer surprising, but rather expected.  When a slower market might nudge newer realtors out of the profession because they have trouble keeping up with its continuing costs, Chown remains committed.

“The trends that have changed over the years, it’s really fun and interesting to watch,” she says.  

Among those trends she notes the perception of interest rates: “Our first house was at, like 15% interest, and I thought that was normal back then,” she says.  With interest rates around 2-3% in recent years, people got spoiled and came to see that as normal, so that now, 7% interest seems high even though historically, it is not.

Another trend she watches with interest is what first-time buyers are looking for in a home.  Gone are the days of eagerly moving into a one or two-bedroom starter home; today, “They want it all: the three-car garage and the big house and a family room and a big yard,” Chown says.

Real estate wasn’t Chown’s first profession.  She got her start as a banker, helping people with car loans, student loans, and mortgages.  She found herself most interested in those real estate transactions, which led her to pursuing her realtor’s license.    She spent 17 years at the bank in Lone Tree before going into real estate full time, where she initially worked with Coldwell Banker.  Today she works with Ruhl & Ruhl.

“I’ve been with Ruhl & Ruhl for almost six years now, and I just love the company, love the owners, and what we represent,” she says.  

The Davenport-based company is family-owned and has a long history, its origin dating back to 1862.  One of its greatest strengths is its ability to draw visitors to its website; with 177,000 total visitors in the first quarter of 2023, it outpaces its nearest competitor more than 4:1.  The homes listed for sale by Ruhl & Ruhl realtors attract a lot of eyes.

Having lived in Lone Tree for 47 years, Chown serves as ambassador for it and surrounding small towns.  

“The school is a big draw,” in Lone Tree, she says.  “Academically, it’s great.  Sports wise, it’s great.  We’ve taken a lot of teams to state,” she adds, noting the high achievements of the track team this spring.  

The new Wellness Center, which offers exercise classes for all ages, provides amenities and rentable event space; El Guanaco Restaurant recently opened up, serving highly rated Mexican and Salvadorian food.  Although there isn’t an abundance of businesses in Lone Tree, the essentials are there, and it’s an easy commute from Iowa City and Muscatine.  It’s small, clean, and safe, which is why many young people return to Lone Tree after college to raise their families there.

Chown enjoys seeing a succession of generations come through her door and plans to continue serving them into the foreseeable feature.  

“It’s a happy job most of the time,” she says.  “There’s just a lot to love about it.”