Team Approach To Realty: The Best of Both Worlds

Bob Hamilton is one of those guys who knows everybody. "That man can't go anywhere without talking to three people," says Diane Anderson, his business partner at Bob Hamilton Edina Realty Crosslake. "He's been around here forever. Bob is a people person."

As realtors in the Brainerd Lakes/Crosslake/Nisswa area, knowing everyone has its advantages. Bob knows which builders are reliable and which electricians are prompt. He knows which properties are about to come on the market, which lakes are the quietest and which golf course is best.

"When I met him," Diane says, "he took out a huge map and started telling me about each and every lake in our area. Which is amazing, considering we can count over 400 lakes right around us. He loves his own lake, Pelican Lake, like no other. But he can tell you about any lake around here ­ if it's sandy-bottomed, if the weeds are too thick, what the shoreline looks like. He has an amazing knowledge of the area."

Bob's family bought property on Pelican Lake in 1912, when the Brainerd Lakes area was just beginning to attract summering city dwellers. Hamilton spent his childhood summers here, and eventually made it his home in the early '70s.

"My family sold lots on the north end of the lake back in the 1950s for $1,200 each. Can you imagine?" Hamilton chuckles. "In 1927, my father rented our lakeshore cabin to Sinclair Lewis, who spent his summer writing the book "Elmer Gantry," which went on to win several Oscars as a 1960 movie. We still own that writing cabin. There's all sorts of history around here."

Diane Anderson left the Twin Cities and moved to the area after working in corporate sales. Diane specializes in the technical end of their work, working the Internet, updating the website daily, staying in touch with customers through the week. Her connections to the Twin Cities help their clients, most of who are from the Cities, make transitions and transactions smoother.

"I understand where our clients are coming from, and I understand what they need," Diane says. "It wasn't that long ago that I was looking for just the right place, and trying to navigate it all from the city. That can be hard work, and it's my job to make that easier."

It's this knowledge and this attention to detail that set Bob and Diane apart. "It keeps us busy!" Bob says.

Looking to strike up a conversation with Bob? Ask him about antique boats, says Diane. "He has quite a passion about that, too!"

Bob Hamilton Realtor Bob is a long time water enthusiast and enjoys sailing, boating, waterskiing and other water related activities. He is also an avid antique boat collector and annually is one of the sponsors of the Crosslake Antique Boat Show.   Contact Bob at:      Address: 10985 Hamilton Lane Pequot Lakes, MN 56472 Phone: 800-620-1642 Email: pelican@uslink.net