Realtor Spotlight | Melissa J. Ruff

Welcome back to our Realtor Spotlight! In this series of blog posts, we highlight some of our incredible realtor partners, both personally and professionally, to discover a little bit more about them and showcase their agencies!

In this spotlight, we meet Melissa from The Property Shoppe of Central Florida!

Melissa J. Ruff

The Property Shoppe of Central Florida

mjruff68@yahoo.com

1. Tell us about yourself (background/education/experience).

I was born, raised, and raised my three children in Pittsburgh PA. My career experience started at age 18 working at my father's construction company. I obtained my Pennsylvania real estate license when I was 22. I started in sales and worked in both residential/commercial real estate. I started my own transaction coordination business working from home to be more present for my family. In 2008, I obtained a BS in HR Management. After the "big crash," I got into property management and HOA management for a number of years. I moved to Florida in 2021 to chase after my grandson and obtained my Florida Real Estate license in 2024 to sell new construction investments. I'm pretty well rounded in most aspects of real estate and residential construction.

2. How long have you been a realtor?

Since Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, and Whitney Houston topped the charts!

3. What do you like most about living and selling real estate in Florida?

Living in Florida is like being on vacation every day! Florida real estate does not have a cyclical sales environment due to beautiful year-round weather which keeps everyone motivated to sell and purchase.

4. What advice do you have for anyone looking to buy or sell right now?

Find a good mortgage broker! Most people are not in tune with their finances, nor the opportunities available to purchase a home or investment property unless they are in the business. Before contacting a real estate agent to "look at houses," there is a learning curve understanding the financial opportunities available, the financial qualifications needed to obtain purchase funds, getting pre-qualified to obtain a loan, and the available options that allow you to "look at homes" and make a strong offer when you find the home of your dreams.

For sellers, make sure you know, or have a professional explain, the current real estate market in your area, the true value of your home, the costs involved in selling your home, and the path to negotiating the sales price for your home. For both buyers and sellers, financial education and understanding the current real estate market are the key factors for the sales process.

5. What three traits define you?

Optimistic

Outgoing

Disciplined

6. What would you be doing if you weren’t in real estate?

Traveling... I want to be exposed to educational adventures and eat different cuisines. My bucket list item is Italy, walking the cobblestone streets, maybe riding a bike, eating my way through each town. Eating at a cafe in Paris and visiting Croatia sounds pretty cool, too.

7. What is the most challenging and/or gratifying aspect of what you do?

All of the aspects to build and sell a house.

8. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

To be bilingual.

9. What are your favorite indoor or outdoor activities?

Cleaning, yardwork, and home improvement projects! Seriously, it's gratifying. Spending time with our kids is the most fun and enjoyment whether it's at our home, their homes, getting together to play pickleball, hit tennis balls around (I don't play), riding in the golf cart while they play, hanging at the pool, having cookouts, walking the lakes, dining out, cooking in or traveling. It's all about family.

10. If you wrote an autobiography about your life, what would you title it?

A Single Mother's Determination to Raise Successful Adults

11. In your opinion, what is the coolest design trend you are seeing in homes today?

Kitchen and baths. There are so many cool gadgets, accessories, and designs. Outstanding showers and hidden storage features in the kitchens are my favorites.

12. Where is your favorite place in the world to be?

At home with my love.

13. If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet?

Nicole Curtis from HGTV. If I could have a do-over, I'd love to have her skills and do what she does.

14. Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life and why?

Really had to think about that one! I'm a natural red head with spirit to boot! Raising three kids took grit and wasn't always pretty. I had to wear many hats... professional, mom, dad, maintenance person, salesperson, leader, caretaker, provider showing both soft and tough sides when required. If there's one actress that can look and handle those parts while multi-tasking in different environments, it would be Julia Roberts. She's got sass and cleans up well... that's me.

15. What are your top 5 favorite TV shows or movies in no particular order?

Love it or List It

Our Town

Fox News

Terms of Endearment

Steel Magnolias

16. What are your top 5 favorite bands/artists or podcasts to listen to?

Joe Rogan

Keith Urban

Morgan Wallen

Phil Collins

Andrea Bocelli

17. Where is your favorite place to eat?

Home

1961 - Lakeland

Harry's Seafood Bar and Grille - Lakeland

Frenchy's Rockaway Grill - Clearwater

The Urban Stillhouse - You've got to sit at the bar! - Saint Petersburg

18. What is the most unique property you’ve listed or sold?

My own rehabbed home. It was a 1950's cape cod on an acre of 50-year-old overgrown pine trees with a ham radio tower in the back yard. It took me six weeks to get the interior redone but seven years to remove trees, excavate, and install new landscaping. It was my passion for many summers and falls to improve but well worth it!

19. What is the most unusual thing you’ve encountered while working in real estate?

The fact that it's not uncommon for properties in Florida have a septic system. That is virtually unheard of in Pittsburgh unless you live WAY OUT IN THE COUNTY. The second unusual thing in Florida is that Sellers have closing costs and choose the title company. Just the opposite in Pennsylvania. Oh, last one...do you know what "Hand Money" is? Bet you don't. ;-)

20. Anything else you would like our readers to know about you and your company?

I'm not a salesperson. "Salespeople" have agendas to sell products, materials, and services. A home is not in that category. A home is where you live, find peace, love, laugh, and make memories. I am a real estate professional that can provide you with information and resources to assist you with your real estate transactions. In today's climate, education and the ability to navigate through the process of home/investment ownership is key to accomplishing your goals. I am the portal to information and assistance to guide and hold your hand through the real estate processes. I'm the advocate to get you from A to Z in the manner that is best for your needs, systematically, and as quickly as possible.

Thank you for letting us spotlight you, Melissa! It's always interesting to get a different perspective of real estate experience in different areas of the country. Also, it's always a pleasure to get to know our realtors on a personal level; and you are right, family is EVERYTHING!

Interested in being highlighted in an upcoming Realtor Spotlight? Reach out to our team for more information!