The first time the old real estate adage “location, location, location” clicked with Kelly Zuger is still fresh in her mind, even though she’s been in the business for 20 years. “I moved to Madison Park from Redmond in my 20s and had so many questions about the difference in prices between the two areas,” Zuger remembers. “I learned about old money and real estate and new money and developing areas.” The revelation lit the spark that ignited her real estate career.

The combination of growing up in a family-owned mortgage business, her experience in retail and airline customer service, and her continued fascination with changing Seattle neighborhoods made real estate a natural fit for Zuger. She enjoys working with all types of clients, especially those who are new to the area. “I love transplants and neighborhood matchmaking,” she says.

A founding member of Ensemble, Zuger describes her work style as casual and confident, and she credits much of her success to her ability to connect and read people quickly, which serves her well in relationships with clients and negotiations with fellow agents. “I want to know my client, who they are and what motivates them,” she says. “I want to stay in touch, and ultimately I want to help clients build wealth through real estate.”

Though she knows the entire area well, Zuger always enjoys the opportunity to work in the Eastside, her old stomping grounds. She says she is also particularly interested in West Seattle these days and is currently working to create a West Seattle chapter for the Special Olympics.

Away from business, Zuger makes time for golfing and live music. Recently, she was able to travel to Europe and Africa for the first time, a trip she says she could only dream of in her early years as an agent.