As an octogenarian I guess I have been involved in real estate my entire life: I have owned timberland in Maine and later investment parcels; in college I purchased investment rental properties in CT; later in Iowa I purchased a farm and then contiguous parcels; in FLorida, again investment rentals; and finally my two holdings in Maine - Cathance Lake and Machias farm and meadows. I have been blessed with fine broker relationships throughout this time. An example, in CT, I was teaching a class when my broker called and shared that there was a property available but had to be purchased immediately. I had such regard for this gentleman that I purchased the building on the phone, sight unseen. Karen Eldridge even surpasses this very fine gentleman. She is an extraordinary lady in every dimension. She is charming and gentle, brilliant and assiduous, so thorough and fully prepared. Over the years, maybe back to 2007 handling my rental of the East Kennebec farm house, she would find me rentals in a very difficult market, thoroughly researching the character and economics of the potential renter. We never had a problem, rather unusual in Washington County! Karen is a jewel. When I desired to maintain the pastures after purchase, Karen found me an organic farmer, Aaron Bell, a lovely and gifted farmer who grazed his cattle and and hayed the property. Aaron, his wife Carlie, as Karen became my close friends whom I value to this day. When reluctantly I needed to sell the 30 acre pasture overlooking the East Kennebec Bay, Karen devised the best manner of offering the property; a division into two parcels. She assiduously researched comparatives, studied R.O.W.s ; easements, boundaries and quirks in topography and ascertained an asking price. She also analyzes the character of the two buyers, one difficult, the other very knowledgeable, a team of lawyers, and brokers, and famous purchaser. The parcels had to be sold at the same time, but one preceding the other at closing. The closing was one of the most demanding I have ever experienced, and there have been some horrors. Karen so competently flowed through the proceedings, anticipating each challenge, and keeping me calm! Karen was continuously optimistic, charming, lovely. I would often call her the "cat's meow;" She by far exceeded that! I am truly blessed to know Karen, to have had her as my broker over the years; I am awed by her qualities. In my life time there has been no better. Thank you, Karen, Best, always, Lance