For more than 30 years, Jennifer Ruud-Johnson has been a broker in Seattle and the Eastside, including all of King and Snohomish counties. Born and raised on Lake Washington, she grew up watching and learning from her mother, who designed and built homes on Mercer Island alongside her father. “As a child, I often tagged along to weekend open houses, helping vacuum, polish and prepare homes for visitors,” she recounts. “My mom was my first mentor and inspiration.”

Real estate runs through Ruud-Johnson’s father’s side of the family as well. Her paternal grandmother, Grace Ruud, opened Magnolia’s first real estate office. “With this legacy behind me, I’ve proudly carried forward the tradition, serving clients with the same dedication and heart that shaped my upbringing,” she shares.

With a personal passion for historic and character homes built in the 1940s and earlier, Ruud-Johnson has experience with all types of properties and transactions, utilizing the deep market knowledge that comes from a lifetime in the area. She especially enjoys educating buyers about the second-home market. She is known among sellers for her effective, standout marketing plans. Her staging business, which she opened in 2008, showcases client homes through top-tier photography and expert staging.

Buyers and sellers alike appreciate Ruud-Johnson’s ability to negotiate on their behalf while maintaining a smooth, collaborative transaction. Meanwhile, colleagues laud her professionalism, ethics and expertise. “I’m solutions-driven, persistent and backed by a trusted network of vendors,” she reports. “I also take pride in being always available.”

When she isn’t helping clients, Ruud-Johnson enjoys traveling, boating and playing Scrabble as well as spending time with her grown children and grandchildren and 89-year-old mother. She supports the Humane Society and Jubilee Reach, an organization that provides holiday gifts for those in need.