Nice to Meet You
Val Burmester
Global Real Estate Advisor
Life before real estate!
I was born and raised in Wyoming and will forever be in love with the Wild West from rodeos to country music to Cowboy boots. After graduating from the University of Wyoming, I worked as a new reporter and assistant sports editor for the local newspaper which led me to Seattle more than 35 years ago where I came to Seattle to write sports for the Seattle PI. But, sometimes, plans were diverted, and I took a job setting up the radio broadcasts for the NHR Drag Racing around the county. Fun, but not my career path. The Entrepreneur in me kicked in and I opened multiple Coffee carts and an espresso catering business just waiting for Starbucks to buy me out. They didn’t. Life changed after I got married and had kids. Bored at home, I started a ceramic plate business. We took vintage photographs of surfing greats and ski icons from LeRoy Grannis to Coky Carroll to Warran Miller and placed them on dinnerware and cocktail plates creating custom pieces for wineries, ski resorts and gift shops only to have the retail market crash in 2007. That led me to getting my real estate license. I loved real estate and was already sharing houses with friends on the sidelines of the soccer fields long before I got my license, so my husband convinced me to make myself legal and get my real estate license. My first year, I was selected as Rookie of the Year and have consistently been in the top 1% of agents in the Seattle area for the past 19 years and I am still loving it!
What is home to you?
Home is where my heart is. It’s my security and a reflection of who we are as a family. For me, it begins at the front door from the potted flowers and welcome mat. An inviting front entrance sets the tone to welcome friends and family into our home. A space we created that is comfortable, safe and reflects our personal taste. We love to cook and entertain so the most important rooms are the kitchen and the outdoor entertainment spaces. You will find a lot of White in my house, inside/out, as I like neutrals from lighter wood plank floors to comfy white couches where I can add different colored pillows and pieces throughout the year to add to my seasonal moods. My yard is filled with color all year long – Hydrangeas are everywhere.
What other places would you move to?
Jackson, Wyoming of course! The Teto Mountain Range is a site to behold. The small-town life, the slower pace, the cowboy boots! I love the style of a modern/lodge home sitting on the golden Prairie with huge windows framing the backdrop of the Tetons. Someday, I’ll be back there.
A close second and third choice would be Nashville and Southern California.
Nashville is beautiful and I love the southern homes from the bricks to the natural surroundings and of course the country music. California beaches will always call my name. Many of our vacations were spent on the beaches of Southern California, so much so that both of our adult children ended up in California. Sitting on the beach at sunset with a cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc with my family is the perfect life!
What is your why?
To be a better version of Val every day! I aspire to be a better wife, mother, friend, business partner and realtor every day. I feel I made so many mistakes early in life and those choices used to haunt me. Today, those early life lessons now motivate me! I love my husband and children more than anything else in this world and if I can be a better me, then I can love them more and be present in their life challenges and their successes and we can celebrate them as a family.
Part of the Elite Sport Network
Elite Sport Network brings together a group of senior global real estate advisors affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty© to provide athletes, their families and staff real estate services tailored specifically to their unique lifestyle, providing them with highly specialized and completely confidential services to ultimately facilitate a seamless transition with regards to their unique real estate needs, all while allowing them to focus on their careers.
Felicia Delope
Broker
Life before real estate!
I grew up in California’s Wine Country, Sonoma County, where community, great food and wine, and beautiful spaces were just part of everyday life. After graduating from Sonoma State University, I started my career teaching in schools and after-school programs, which sparked a passion for helping others learn and grow. That passion naturally carried over into real estate in 2016, when I became the Director of New Homes, helping builders bring entire communities to life from the ground up. From branding and sales to handing over the keys on closing day, I realized how much I loved connecting people to their perfect space.
In 2022, I earned my California real estate license and spent the next few years supporting top-producing agents with their operations and client care. Recently, I made the move to Washington and joined the incredible Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty family. This new chapter is about helping clients find a place to call home here in the Pacific Northwest, and I couldn’t be more excited.
What is home to you?
Home is comfort and connection, it’s where life happens. It’s that feeling you get when you walk through the door and just know it’s yours. I love spaces that feel warm and full of life, a kitchen buzzing with family and friends, or a deck overlooking the water on a summer evening. When I’m not helping clients create their own version of “home,” you can usually find me paddleboarding, hiking, wine tasting, checking out new restaurants, playing pickleball, or (slowly!) picking up my golf game again.
What other places would you move to?
Growing up, I always felt a pull to the Seattle area, there’s just something about having the city, mountains, and lakes all within an hour’s drive that drew me in (so I am lucky to be living here now!). Living in Montana made me fall in love with mountain towns, and if I could do it again, I’d move to Bigfork - the rodeo there is not one to miss and the Flathead Valley is truly magical! I love the different architecture styles you can find throughout the state and different takes of a “cabin”. I’ve also always had my eye on Colorado, especially Steamboat, for that true mountain town vibe. Which is probably why Washington feels so much like home, you truly get the best of all types of living here.
What is your why?
It’s simple, I love helping people feel at ease. It’s all about connection, getting to know people, celebrating their big wins, and helping them feel excited about where they’re headed next. Honestly, I get the same joy in my own life: exploring new places, being on the water, or gathering friends and family for wine and good food. Home isn’t just a place, it’s a feeling, and I love helping people find that.
Personal Press
Lesson Learned: Build Your Business by Making Connections
Val Burmester—a former sports journalist turned award-winning broker with Sotheby’s International Realty—credits much of her success to her natural ability to connect people. A Seattle-based Senior Global Advisor, she has ranked among the Top 1 Percent of real estate professionals from 2007 through 2023. Burmester spends her days building relationships—forming networking groups, hosting gatherings over wine and food—because she believes that “being a connector” is foundational to growing her business..
What Does ‘Days on Market’ Mean? How Buyers Can Take Advantage
In the real estate game, many buyers understand that knowing a home's days on market (DOM) is absolutely critical intel. Why? Because the number of days a home spends on the market directly affects the price of a home. Plus, this information can be used to the buyer’s benefit to negotiate a lower price. Here's how!
Patti Payne’s Cool Pads: Richard Paxton’s Issaquah Highlands Modern Manse Lists for $6M
Richard and Jennifer Paxton listed their extensively renovated, modern Issaquah Highlands estate for $6 million, with Val Burmester of Windermere Real Estate serving as the listing broker. The 7,100-square-foot home, transformed over three years, features six ensuite bedrooms, seven bathrooms, an infinity pool, sport courts, and sweeping panoramic views, making it one of the standout luxury properties in the region.
Remodeled Contemporary Perched Above Seattle
This completely remodeled contemporary house is perched above Seattle in the desirable Queen Anne neighborhood, with stunning views of the city and its waterfront.
"From just about every room in the house, you have these picturesque views of the Space Needle and downtown Seattle," said listing agent Valerie Burmester.
Beyond Brokers Consulting Launch Connects Top Agents, Brokerages
Headquartered in Seattle and Miami Beach, Beyond Brokers Consulting serves clients nationwide, Burmester shared with Inman exclusively. The firm’s ultimate goal is to expand into markets that its sole client, Sotheby’s International Realty, has not yet reached.