Helping Military Families Find Their Dream Homes
By Judith A Habert
Photos Courtesy of Dee Butler and Christina Gonzalez
Teamwork isn’t just a concept when it comes to Danielle “Dee” Butler and Christina Gonzalez. They are the C & D in Team C & D Realtors. Together they work to make dreams of homeownership possible.
Dee was born and raised in a small town in upstate New York called Port Byron. “It was a small historical town along the Erie Canal. I was one of 86 in my graduating class. When it came to college, I decided to venture to Onondaga Community College in Syracuse instead of the local community college to widen my perspective as going to college near my hometown would be more like going to the 13th grade, with all the same classmates,” It was in her second semester at college that Dee met her soon to be husband, Ryan. One day out of the bluehe sprung on Dee that he would be leaving for Bootcamp in two months. Then it was changed to two weeks and then two days. “It was at this point that I told him I wanted to marry him. He went to Bootcamp and when he got back, we got married.” Following Bootcamp, he was deployed so we ended up not seeing each other until right before our first anniversary. Between schools and his first deployment we only lived together for 5 days before our first anniversary!
The couple moved on base, settled down, and had their two children Elesia and Corbin. The news came shortly thereafter that they would be stationed in Okinawa, Japan. So, with a six- month-old and a two-year-old, they packed up and headed to a new adventure far from home. It was at this point that Dee was faced with a shocking medical disorder. “I found out that my reproductive system was just shutting down. They didn't know why. I had been going back and forth to doctors. They sent me out in town to a specialist with a translator. They did all types of tests and as a result, they sent me back to the states early with the kids. We were sent to California, where more tests ensued, and they found that I had premature ovulation failure. They told me that I had a 1% chance of getting pregnant, but they sat my husband and me down and told us that if I didn't have some sort of hormone replacement therapy that internally at 23, I was 68 years old already. They suggested the need for a trainer, as well, because I was told if I fell, I could break bones.”
Dee was understandably depressed over the diagnosis, and this is when Dee’s husband, Ryan, stepped in and found a fitness trainer, a nutritionist, and a functional doctor and worked alongside Dee to improve her health and prognosis. The couple was determined to find a solution and Dee started noticing an amazing change in how she was feeling. “I realized how much it helped and decided that she wanted to take it a step further and started classes to become a trainer. She obtained her personal trainer’s license and went on to earn a certificate in Nutrition. She started her own business Body by Dee, in 2018 and has loved helping clients recognize the positive changes exercise and proper nutrition can make.
At the same time, Christina, a sixth-generation Californian was growing up with a father in the military. “My Dad is great and has always sought out adventure at every turn. He joined the Navy, right after my Mom and he were married. He decided that they should see the world.” Christina was born in Oakland, at what used to be the Naval hospital there, and she and her brother became the quintessential military brats moving all over as her Dad’s assignments dictated. “My Dad started on aircraft carriers as one of the crew up on deck, when he tired of that position, he decided to become a corpsman on a fast attacks submarine which included some pretty dangerous missions. Dad would come home for a few days and then be back out on his next deployment.”
The family at this point was given the option to transfer back home to California and be attached to the Marines or go to Cuba. "Mom had been extremely flexible over the years, but this time she really wanted to go back home where she had family. It was at this time that Desert Storm broke out and Dad was off to Okinawa to be with the Marines."
Christina’s mom worked on base, as do many military wives, and she had a co-worker who just happened to have a handsome son. It wasn’t long before Christina took notice of him. Having grown up with fathers in the military Christina and Hernan started hanging out together and before long, their relationship became serious. Christina was 18 when her Dad informed the family that his career would now be taking him to Washington and he had no intention of leaving her behind, she fought him and was told that unless she was married, she would have to come with the family. Two days later Hernan showed up with a ring, and as the saying goes, the rest is history. The couple started their family shortly thereafter and had a little girl. They both wanted a bigger family, but when that failed to happen, they decided to adopt. It started out with adopting one child and today Christina and Hernan are the proud parents of five, named in order of age: Katrina, Anthony, Kaden, Natalie, and Annie.
So how did these two women from different parts of the country and different backgrounds end up become partners in their real estate business? Dee shares, “One of my friends, Leah Pommerer, who ended up knowing Christina as well, introduced us. She was in real estate and suggested that it would be a great career for me to pursue. She felt the same regarding Christina. When Dee PCSed (permanent change of station) to California, Leah came out and introduced us. She realized right away that our personalities complimented each other. Since we both had children, and busy schedules, she suggested that working as a team would make life easier for both of us and also provide clients with a team that they could count on.”
There was one element that they soon found would not only make them into the fabulous real estate agents that they are today, but would also give them an incredible purpose in life. They would focus primarily on military clients. Dee’s husband Ryan is still active-duty military. He is a Chief Warrant Officer 2 in the USMC and is currently deployed. Christina’s husband is a first responder, serving as a Police Officer.
Christina adds, “You know, my husband and I were military kids. We both have a very strong sense of patriotism and there's just nothing like growing up in the military and going to the military ceremonies, seeing the flag and all the people dressed up in uniform. There's just nothing like that. I don't feel it in civilian life really the way that I did when we were growing up. And so, both of us had that very strong sense of what our history costs us, the sacrifices made and, and how hard it is on a family to live that lifestyle. So, even though we aren't still in that lifestyle, my husband decided he wanted to serve, not in the military, but as a first responder. He is a policeman. It is a very similar philosophy about life, working in a paramilitary organization. My kids are growing up with that same love of country.”
Their commitment goes even further than being specialists for military clients, their brokerage, Sand to Sea Properties, Inc. in Temecula donates $500 to the Semper Fi Fund when a client buys or sells real estate through them, or even recommends someone to their firm. Over the years, tens of thousands of dollars have been donated to continue to show their dedication to our military men and women who risk their lives every day to make sure each and every one of us is safe.
“Because we are veteran-run and operated. We work with a lot of VA loans. Because of that, we are also able to look at your purchasing choice, which is often dictated by your career. As a military family, a veteran, or both, we take into account how long will our client be here? Are they only going to be here for a certain amount of time? Because that means they might want to get a different kind of loan or set it up differently. We have the ability to educate our clients as we work with them, because been there done that, and we've worked through it. So, we can provide you with another agent in a different location that we vetted should your assignment take you out of state or out of the country. They already know what to expect from us, and we know what they will get from the agents we recommend. We know they are knowledgeable and able to do what is needed. We're not just going to hand you to somebody to get a paycheck. We're handing you to somebody that we trust.”
When you meet these two very special women you will understand why they are so popular with their clients. They really care about what they are doing and put the same care into their clients as they do their families. The ladies share, “I think that the empathy and love that we give to our children also translates into the caring and love that we give to our clients. Our clients are more than just people that pay us to help them find their dream home. If we ever get to the point where it's only about the money, then we don't want to do it anymore. It's about caring for them and helping them move forward in life. In a way that's in their best interests, not our best interest.”
There have been times when Team C & D had to tell potential clients that it is not time for them to buy a house. That it might make better sense to rent for a while until they get their financial life in better shape, or until things change in the market. If this is the case they will then help assist them in finding a temporary rental property. Besides these two powerhouse women, their team consists of a group of specialists who work together to look out for the financial health and fitness of their clients. This includes a financial planner, mortgage specialists, and even a team of home improvement experts. “We have clients who call us five years or more after we sell them their home to ask for recommendations for work needed around their home. It is so fulfilling to know that our cli- ents not only think of us as their realtors, but also as their friends.”
I asked the Ladies if there was one point that they wanted our readers to know about them. “I think we want them to know that we are here for them and that we’ve got them. When you work with us you are not only getting one of us, you are getting both of us. This means double the attention and it's not only that we are giving you the attention, but we also know how to give attention based on being military, based on being moms, based on being that support group for our whole family.”
Christina added, “If you need us, we will help you. And I think that's one of the things that when we say we got it, we really mean it. If you need an electri- cian, or a plumber, or a contrac- tor, we hook you up with the professional you need. We don't get anything from it, except for knowing we have helped you. And so, there's more to it than we are going to help you stage your house and take pictures. You can always call us and utilize us as a resource. We are happy to do this for our clients.”
As Dee shared, “I think what it all comes down to is this, with Team C & D Realtors, we listen, we focus on the success of our clients, and we value relationships over revenue.”
If you are looking for a team that will provide all the knowledge, patience, guidance, and care that is needed when taking one of the biggest steps in your future, contact Team C & D Realtors.
📧 TeamCandDRealtors@gmail.com
🌐 www.teamcanddrealtors.com
📲 (760) 612-1413
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