Realtor Gay Berge rides the waves of change

Gay Berge has been selling homes in El Dorado County for nearly 29 years. She is now selling to the grandchildren of her first clients. That says a lot about the trust she has built with buyers and sellers throughout the years.

Berge joined Re/Max in 1999 and moved into new offices at 3317 Coach Lane in Cameron Park in 2010. She works in partnership with her husband, Larry. “With Larry’s engineering background and my marketing background, we are very compatible,” she said.

Berge is a graduate of the Realtor Institute. She is a specialist in residential real estate and a Certified Distressed Property Expert. She is a lifetime member of the El Dorado County Association of Realtors and a past director. She is also a lifetime member of EDCAR’s Top Achievers, and belongs to the National Association of Realtors, the California Association of Realtors and the Council of Residential Specialists.

Larry Berge is a pilot and belongs to the General Aviation Experimental Aircraft Association. With an airport in Cameron Park, he serves other pilots who want to move to the area.

Gay and Larry will be married for 39 years this year. He joined her as a business partner in 1992. “Larry is my partner for life,” she said. “Larry’s participation brings more service to my clients. Our motto is, ‘Committed to each other — Committed to our clients.’”

Gay Berge has won many awards over the years. While she appreciates the recognition, she said, “Satisfied clients are my biggest reward.”

In the three decades since she started her real estate career, the market has had dramatic swings — major expansions and contractions, and trends favoring sometimes buyers, sometimes sellers. “Slow and steady wins the race,” said Berge. “We’re experts at what we do.” She never got swept up in the heady days of rocketing home prices, and never got discouraged when they fell below bottom.

Looking past the dismal days of 2007 and 2008, when foreclosures and short sales dominated the market, Berge said, “We noticed some changes in 2011. In June of last year the market here changed from a buyer’s market to a seller’s. 2012 was our best in five years.”

Berge said her Christian faith is important to her. “In life and in work I live by the Golden Rule.” She belongs to the Church of the Foothills in Cameron Park, where she is an AWANA leader. AWANA stands for Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed. During the months of September through April, she conducts weekly Bible study for children in third through sixth grades. This is her 23rd year. “Teaching the children is one of the most rewarding activities I do,” she said.

The family’s real estate business is expanding. Son Will helps with the routine work, such as changing property signs. Daughter Joy is working on her real estate license. They were young when Gay began her real estate career with Cook & Cook, and both children grew up with the business.

“Even though the real estate industry has changed dramatically with advanced technology people are still necessary,” she said. “They need guidance. Nothing replaces personal contact.“

Gay Berge’s Website, lberge.com, provides current listings and helpful information. Call her at 530-677-1536.