Cora Carleson, Mat-Su Broker in Charge

Currently in the position of Broker in Charge of the Wasilla office, Cora did not start out in the real estate industries but rather as a staff illustrator for a children's book publishing company. Illustrating from home allowed me to work, but not leave my children everyday to go to work, being home with my kids was very important to us. After several books, visual aid packets and other graphic art projects were completed, Cora began to work designing plans for her husbands company, Carleson Homes and Development Inc. Little by little, getting more involved in the family business and as the kids grew to productive teens, working for the construction company evolved into a full fledge family affair. In 1992 she reluctantly gave up illustrating moving into the real estate full time. The move was easy, so many of the skills that were used in illustrating, I could use marketing real estate and I wanted the opportunity to explain to people why the building was designed the way it was since I designed it, I knew what those reasons were and I couldn't wait to share them.

Management came easy. With the construction company, 5 boys and 1 girl at home and planning/executing large charity events, managing people was just another aspect of the everyday job.

That was 14 yeas ago and since then Cora has become a licensed Realtor, then a broker, has a Certified New Homes Sales designation. She still teaches several real-estate and real-estate investing classes, along with classes on selling and marketing new construction. You can't beat having a husband for a builder - the experience that has offered is a wealth of information on costs, supply and demand and other economic factors that I wouldn't have known had been married to an Astronaut!

Cora resides with her husband in Palmer, has grown children and has been blessed with three grandchildren, is active in the community and her church and still finds real-estate, building and Alaska fascinating!