Featured Properties
Meet the Team
Bettina Garber
Bettina enjoys introducing newcomers to all that the Keys have to offer. Born in Germany, she was a newcomer to the U.S. herself in 2000 and knows, first-hand, all the questions that swirl around one’s mind when acclimating to a new home and the lifestyle that accompanies it.
Her first home “on this side of the pond” was in New Jersey, but after wintering in the Keys for a couple of seasons it wasn’t long before she knew that the Keys were to become her permanent home. Now residing in Lower Matecumbe Key for the last ten years, she cannot imagine living anywhere else!
Acquiring her real estate license was a natural step in her customer service-oriented career. Bettina spent 14 years in sales through which she developed a deep understanding of — and appreciation for — the quality of the customer experience ...
Jocelyn Tiedemann
Jocelyn Tiedemann Jocelyn proudly calls herself a native Conch, a popular term that refers to genuine “originals” of the Florida Keys. Everyone she meets is greeted with a warm smile and her unmistakable zest for island living. Born and raised here, the Keys are now the place where she and her husband, Brian, feel blessed to be able to raise their four young children.
Real estate seemed like the perfect career choice for Jocelyn who grew up in a family of home builders and renovators, and 15 years ago she became a licensed Realtor. From childhood, she was forever in the middle of seeing her dad’s new homes going up or her mom’s renovation projects, quite literally learning real estate from the ground up. Few realtors can match her expertise when it comes to first-hand knowledge of the intricacies of ...
Jeffrey Shamon
Realtor, Jeffrey Shamon, has made the Florida Keys his home for more than 20 years. Together with his lovely wife, Shevaun, they truly cherish the lifestyle that living by the sparkling azure waters affords them. He considers it a privilege to help people experience that same joy by connecting them with opportunities to own their personal slice of paradise here in the Keys.
Providing an exceptional customer experience is the gold standard he has held himself to since his days in the restaurant business and now, for over a decade, as a licensed Realtor. Jeffrey’s deep local market knowledge makes him an exceptional resource for area residents and out-of-towners who come from all corners of the country, even the world. His command of the intricacies of the process of buying or selling real estate, together with the meticulous attention he devotes ...
Loretta Lawrence
Loretta Lawrence is a distinguished Realtor based in the Florida Keys, known for her expertise in real estate and her deep passion for the environment. With a diverse background and an impressive list of degrees and certifications, Loretta brings a unique blend of knowledge and dedication to her clients.
Loretta holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology and Chemistry, which provides her with a solid foundation for understanding the intricacies of the natural world. This scientific background allows her to bring a meticulous and analytical approach to the real estate industry, ensuring her clients receive the utmost professionalism and attention to detail.
In addition to her academic achievements, Loretta has obtained several certifications in the field of real estate. Her credentials include EPRO (Internet Professional), AHWD (At Home With Diversity), CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Expert), SFR (Short Sale Foreclosure), and Accredited REO Agent. These certifications reflect her commitment ...
Connie Zeckendorf
Connie is a licensed real estate agent with over 15 years experience and is now enjoying her 4th year in the Florida Keys. She recently joined our team after having spent three years in Key West affiliated with Preferred Properties. Prior to that Connie worked ten years as a realtor with Brown Harris Stevens in New York City, representing buyers and sellers of residential townhouses, cooperatives and condominiums. She is a member of the Florida Keys Board of Realtors and the Real Estate Board of New York.
Connie grew up in Darien, Connecticut, graduated from Tufts University and went on to live over 25 years in New York City. She still maintains a residence in and travels often to Amagansett, New York.
Connie loves to sail their Island Packet 350 and scuba dive the beautiful Molasses Reef just minutes offshore. As well, ...
Ana G. Zalesky
Ana is a natural for her role as a Realtor in the fabulous Florida Keys and it shows in the authentic ease and enthusiasm she brings to every client interaction. Born on the island of Cuba, her family lived briefly in Spain before moving across the Atlantic to New Jersey. The island life kept tugging at her heartstrings, and in 1993 she made the move to Key Largo, her forever home by the water.
Her career gravitated toward the real estate industry in 1998 when she was recruited to work as a title agent representative. In 2001, she acquired her Mortgage Brokers License and originated residential loans for local banks, getting to know many aspects of the Florida Keys unique properties.
The following year she acquired her Real Estate License and has since earned several additional distinctions — certified expert in Second ...
Ellie Donofrio
Ellie's Keys journey began in 1977 when she made the life-changing decision to move to the captivating Florida Keys with her husband and three children. Since then, she has accumulated a wealth of diverse experiences that have shaped her profound understanding of life in this unique island paradise.
Throughout the years, Ellie has embarked on various ventures that have allowed her to immerse herself fully in the vibrant Keys lifestyle. From building homes that embody the essence of coastal living to successfully managing both a marina and hardware stores, Ellie's integrity, entrepreneurial spirit, and dedication have been instrumental in shaping the local community.
In 2001, recognizing her passion for the Keys and her desire to assist others in finding their own piece of paradise, Ellie made the pivotal decision to obtain her real estate license. Since then, she has dedicated herself wholeheartedly ...
Holly Hight
Holly Hight, founder and broker of Island Equity Real Estate, grew up on Key Biscayne spending her days exploring the crystal clear waters. She left Key Biscayne to attend Foxcroft School, a prep school in Middleburg Virginia, which emphasizes academic and horseback riding skills. Holly went on to study Agricultural Business at the University of Delaware, graduating with honors. Her love for the outdoors inspired her professional horseback riding career in North Carolina, Delaware, and South Carolina.
When the water called her home, she moved to Islamorada in 1992. Holly acquired her real estate license in 2000. By 2001, Holly sensed momentum in the real estate market and began leading a small team of partners in investing. They enjoyed great success buying properties, remodeling them, and reselling them.
In 2006, Holly saw dark clouds on the real estate market horizon so she ...
Sunne Rego
Just like the word that describes the typical, idyllic day in the Florida Keys, Sunne (yes, it’s pronounced “sunny”) is a Realtor who loves what she does and it shows! Her effervescent personality combines with her boundless energy and real estate knowledge to form relationships with delighted clients that endure far beyond closing day.
Years ago, she launched her professional life with a Bachelor’s degree in the field of hospitality management — learning the ropes of what it takes to provide stellar hotel services, she was already acquiring the skills that are synonymous with delivering excellent customer experiences.
She also discovered that the hours and demands of this role weren’t the most compatible with family life and raising two young children. So, as resourceful and creative moms often do, she moved on to a new venture for a better work-life balance and ...
Robin Berman
Robin Berman has been a South Florida resident for over 30 years, spending the weekends and summers in Tavernier, while raising two daughters in Broward County and running a business. After she and her husband sold their business in 2013 and the girls graduated college, Robin and her husband moved to Tavernier permanently and now are full time residents of Hammer Point. Robin loves to fish, cook, boat and travel, and is thrilled to live in this wonderful place called The Florida Keys.
Throughout her personal and professional life in business, Robin has had a great deal of experience buying, selling, and building both residential homes and commercial properties. She is very passionate about helping her clients with selling their home or buying the home of their dreams. Robin is very energetic and dedicated to fulfilling your real estate needs. ...
Testimonials
Ana was highly recommended to us by family friends. Everyone in the Key Largo area had great things to say about Ana. So with no hesitation we decided to work with her. She sold our home in less than 3 months, just as she said she would. There were a couple of bumps on the road before closing and Ana was always there to help or support us in any way she could. We would highly recommend Ana to anyone ...
“Thank you again for all of your help with the house. It has been a real pleasure to deal with you. You have gone over and beyond what a Realtor would do, including offering your home to store some of our things. We so much appreciate it. We have never worked with such a caring and willing to accommodate realtor.”
“Holly has renewed our faith in real estate agents. We would actually call her a “real estate angel”. Holly worked very hard for us to ensure that we were comfortable, from our selection of a neighborhood, to finding the exact type of vacation home, to selecting the perfect place that our family will enjoy for many years. She did not stop there; she was very diligent during all the negotiations and the contract stage. She kept us well informed, beyond ...
“Recently it was our pleasure to work with Holly Hight as the realtor selling our house on Plantation Key. She came highly recommended by someone who has been buying and selling real estate in the Keys for years. In addition to our property in the Keys, we have also been working with realtors in Clearwater and Gainesville, Florida. None have come close to providing the extraordinary service provided by Holly Hight. Our property in the Keys was listed for a ...
Thank you Sunne Rego! We have been so lucky to have such an awesome knowledgeable realtor to support us in finding and closing on our retirement home in the Keys. You exceeded our expectations at every turn from being an expert in real estate to understanding the intricacies of living in the Keys. There were many things that were not a part of your job description that you didn’t hesitate to help support us on, from finding competent contractors to ...
We were first time home buyers and stressing out about the home buying process. After going through several realtors and frustrations, a friend recommended Sunne. She walked us through the whole process and made everything so easy and un-stressful. Now we are enjoying our beautiful home in the Florida Keys!"
“You made the purchase of our second home, in the Florida Keys, and the sale of our condo at Ocean Pointe, a truly wonderful “all around” experience. We have had many years of experience purchasing and selling real estate, but, you are in a class all by yourself! We had never experienced such First Class service from a broker, and that is the truth! You went out of your way to help us and make us feel like friends, and, ...
“I recently closed on the sale of our Islamorada home. Holly Hight was our realtor. She was awe-some. She did what she agreed to and more! She was very professional and showed the house many times. She gave a time frame for the sale of the house and was right on task. The house sold within the time frame. With regards to marketing, setting the price, and showing the house, she was the best. Throughout the years I have had ...
“Holly is truly a Keys expert...she knows every mile marker and coconut tree by heart! During our shoot, it was obvious that Holly’s passion for and knowledge of the Keys makes her a valuable per-son to know when buying a house there. She delights in sharing “her” Keys with clients and regards each one as a potential new neighbor.”
Some people say that a bigger agency is better. We do not agree. We worked with Island Equity Real Estate, a small agency with big results. We got much personal attention with a small agency. It is a stressful experience to sell our house and a rental and to leave a community where we have lived for 25 years.
The Island Equity Team met every challenge in a very professional manner which resulted in a sale. We appreciate ...