Julia Cantarovici, Partner/Realtor, 8z Real Estate
Research shows that moving is one of the most stressful life events a person can experience.
But having a good Realtor by your side can make the process easier. We caught up with the seasoned 8z agent and partner Julia Cantarovici to find out how her love for this community and passion for customer service help her clients — and what to expect if you’re looking to purchase a home in this white hot market.
At Home: How did you end up working with 8z as a residential real estate agent?
Julia Cantarovici: I’ve actually been in real estate forever. Originally, I worked directly with real estate developers, first running my own company, and later working as the vice president of sales and marketing for The Peloton here in central Boulder.
After the housing market crashed, I went up against a competitor for a development in North Boulder and was told they went with my competitor because they had such a strong internet presence. My competitor ended up being Lane Hornung, 8z’s co-founder and CEO. I figured if, I can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, so I gave him a call. That was eleven years ago and I’ve been with the company ever since.
AH: What do you love about serving the Boulder County community as a Realtor?
JC: What’s not to love? This is a well-educated community that puts a high value on supporting quality schools. Boulder County stands out as a place that offers a wide variety of schools, including some excellent charter schools, giving every family the opportunity to open enroll in an attempt to match each student with the setting that’s right for them.
And sharing this place, where I have so much fun mountain biking, skiing, and hiking, with my clients never gets old. It probably goes without saying, but Boulder is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream come true. Skiers can get to Eldora in 30 minutes or to world-class resorts within
1-1/2 hours. The trail system is vast and unbelievably accessible.
AH: What do you bring to the table as a Realtor?
JC: For one thing, I have an understanding of the school system that most Realtors don’t. Between my friends and me, we’ve had kids at just about every school in the district. Also, I volunteer with Blue Sky Bridge, a local non-profit whose mission is to protect children from sexual abuse. Boulder Valley School District has committed to bringing the program to every school. As a volunteer educator, I go to every school once a week for four weeks.
Spending time in the building, talking to teachers, administrators, and students gives me a unique sense of what each school is really like. I use that knowledge to help families decide what school would be the best fit for their child.
Also, I’m so proud to be an ambassador for this community. I’ve lived here for 35 years. This is where I raised my kids. When my clients come to look at houses, whether they’ve flown in from another state or driven in from another county, I’ll spend half the day showing them different neighborhoods and downtowns. I think it’s key to help people figure out where they want to be.
As a result, many of my clients end up becoming my friends. It was actually a client from Arizona who got me into winter hiking!
AH: What real estate trends do you see on the horizon and how can readers prepare for them?
JC: Because we’re basically an island surrounded by open space, housing has always been in relatively short supply. That trend has only intensified over the past couple of years and as far as I can tell, the market is only going to get tighter. One of my buyers just went under contract for a home in Louisville and paid $425k over asking.
My advice to buyers would be to look at homes significantly below your budget because you’re going to pay your budget when you’re in a bidding war.
