Working through the housing crash in 2008, 2009 and other economic disruptions, such as the more recent COVID-19 pandemic, Melissa Camp has learned to navigate all kinds of real estate markets.

Camp is now the sales director for The Vineyard at Crescent Ridge. Prior to that, she worked as a senior global real estate advisor at Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty, where she said the best part of her job was the connections she makes with clients. Camp worked as a site agent, which put her in the unique position of working directly with buyers, allowing her to develop an emotional connection with them and learn more about why they’re in the market, she says.

“Most seller agents never get to understand what’s going on in their world that’s sparking a move. I get to really understand the psychology of why someone is making a move,” she said. “At the same time, my No. 1 priority is to professionally represent the seller and to be a liaison between the seller and the buyer.”

Camp began her real estate career in 2007, “when you couldn’t give condos away,” but that didn’t stop her from building her business and selling more than $1 billion in new construction in her career.

Fast-forward to 2021, when Camp was recognized for her back-to-back sellouts of One88 in downtown Bellevue and Insignia in downtown Seattle. Both developments were signature projects for Vancouver-based BOSA Developments. She’s also collaborated on The Gallery, Brix, Harvard & Highland, Olive 8 and her most recent role as sales director of the luxury condominium property on Alki Beach, Infinity Shore Club.

“I attribute my success to having strong relationships with brokers; they know me and know I’m in new construction, and they trust me,” she said.