Spotlight on Patsy Garlinghouse – A Move Back to Kaua‘i Made Way For More Travel, Yoga & Work-Life Balance
Patsy Garlinghouse and her husband fulfilled a lifelong dream when they returned to Kaua‘i to renovate the Lihue home where her father-in-law was born and raised. Her husband’s grandfather first came to Kaua‘i in 1921 as an engineer for The Lihue Plantation Company. He left a large footprint on the island of Kaua‘i, building the charming, single-lane North Shore bridges and acting as chief engineer for the Nawiliwili Harbor Breakwater and its development as the first deepwater water port on Kaua‘i.
After raising their twin girls in Colorado and enjoying the mountain lifestyle, the dream of returning to Kaua‘i has been everything Patsy hoped it would be. “I love living near the beach and being able to see it every day,” she recently shared with us. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and living in landlocked Colorado, her life experience with beaches was mostly limited to inland lakes, including Minnesota’s Lake Minnetonka. Though she’s grateful to get back frequently to visit family along the waterways of her childhood, she’s enjoying the unique island lifestyle that Kauai has to offer.
While a beach lifestyle is still novel for her, Patsy’s real estate career has been a long one, spanning 11 years. The early part of her experience was gained at Colorado Landmark, a boutique real estate firm based in Boulder’s fast-paced, luxury market. She successfully closed more than 50 real estate sales transactions. Boulder’s market proved an excellent training ground for Hawai‘i, where Patsy is now getting started as a newly licensed agent in Hawai‘i.
Patsy Garlinghouse (center) with her two daughters to her right, at her daughter’s recent wedding.
Work-Life Balance, Travel & Yoga
Her career choice has been an ideal fit for a couple who loves to travel since it offers plenty of flexibility for time off and working remotely. A former United Airlines employee, Patsy has been fortunate enough to earn free flights and other benefits for life. “Consequently, we are very flexible and can travel on a whim when I’m not busy selling real estate,” Patsy told us.
Patsy met her husband during her freshman year at the University of Montana, Missoula – sealing her eventual fate as a beach-loving Kaua‘i resident. Together, they moved to Boulder, where she finished her degree in exercise physiology at the University of Colorado. Once an avid runner, she ran the Twin Cities marathon. Even today, her interest in an active lifestyle is reflected in her love for skiing, hiking, and a passion for yoga.
Patsy recently completed her 200-hour training yoga teacher training program after a lengthy, devoted yoga practice. “Yoga has brought me a lot of inspiration over the past decade. I find it grounds me and gives me time to reflect and be grateful for my life,” says Patsy. “It’s such a treat to live on a gorgeous island and experience a healthy mix of working and playing,” she added, describing the common appeal for many of a move to Hawaii. It’s also the refrain for many brokers and agents looking for a healthy work-life balance. That’s one of the reasons she was drawn to Hawai‘i Life – a company known to be “un-corporate”, where even full-time staffers are able to work virtually, shuttling to the company’s headquarters as needed.
When Patsy isn’t practicing yoga or traveling with Bruce, she loves a good book. She recommends “Grove Farm Plantation” by Bob Krauss, a well-written local history of the Hawaiian Sugar Plantation that’s full of their friends and relatives. Knowing the characters names and learning about how they fit into her family’s long history on Kaua‘i made the book especially meaningful.
Patsy with family and friends at Hanalei Pier, practicing a Norwegian ritual of sharing a toast to the the rising sun.
Patsy’s Approach to Selling Real Estate
Keeping it in the family, Patsy’s husband Bruce is soon planning to come on board as her real estate partner. He’s currently pursuing his Hawai‘i real estate license. She’s open to collaborating with other agents or perhaps even joining a team of professionals within Hawai‘i Life. “I love helping people navigate what can be one of the biggest purchases of their life, a dream home. My goal is to make the process enjoyable and as stress-free as possible,” Patsy added.
The Garlinghouses were excited about working with a local company with genuine aloha for Hawai‘i, its people and community. We asked Patsy about her approach to selling real estate, “My approach is to embrace the uniqueness of this island and to help clients find their own slice of paradise, by building lasting relationships with my clients that hopefully turn into lifelong friendships. In the process, it is wonderful to know I have the qualified team of experts at Hawaii Life here to assist me when needed,” Patsy shared.
Enjoying Kaua‘i sunsets was a part of Patsy and Bruce’s dream of moving to Kaua‘i where his family first planted roots in 1921.
Why She Chose Hawai‘i Life
“I wanted to join Hawai‘i Life for several reasons. I interviewed at other agencies and in comparison, I found that Hawai‘i Life was the most updated agency that I visited. I love the marketing that is offered here, plus the ability to get leads generated by the company. I think the energy is amazing and there is a vibrant, happy feeling in each of the three offices on Kaua‘i,” says Patsy. (Princeville, Poipu-Koloa, Kapaa)
Patsy added, “The culture at Hawai‘i life has a feel of being proud of the product they have to offer. I also take pride in my work and want to be part of a team that strives for being the best.” Patsy points to Hawaii Life’s lead generation strategies as one of the reasons she chose to work here, a benefit to agents across the state. Another was our digital and content marketing strategies – with a website that engages more than 3 million viewers each year, they’re unrivaled in the state of Hawai‘i.
To learn more about Patsy Garlinghouse and her Kaua‘i life, her real estate business or her listings, please view her webpage. You can email Patsy at patsygarlinhouse@hawaiilife.com or call her with your real estate inquiries at 808-634-1588.
Happy Aloha Friday from Kalapaki Beach.
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