RESIDENTIAL Joe Tramonte Realty is your committed partner in assisting you in the purchase of your next home or selling your property. With over 15 real estate agents on staff, we are prepared to meet with you to view properties, offer a free, professional opinion of value or any other realtor duties that are needed to help our clients. COMMERCIAL With five licensed brokers, accountants and degreed professionals in-house, we have consistently been the leader in commercial sales and are proud to be the number one firm in commercial sales volume on the Island. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Our rental management division is well known for the efficient, professional and quality service we offer. With over 150 properties in our portfolio, we are very proud of our track record in property management services. JOE TRAMO JOE TRAMONTE REALTY 1802 Broadway, Ste 206 Galveston, TX 77550 409.765.9837 | TramonteRealty.com How We Started Since its inception in 1968, Joe Tramonte Realty, Inc. has offered premier customer service to both commercial and residential clients on Galveston Island. Founder Joe Tramonte always stressed to his agents the importance of knowing the Island real estate market and using that knowledge to offer exceptional service to their clientele. These attributes are upheld to this day by his son, VJ Tramonte, Owner/Broker of Joe Tramonte Realty, Inc. VJ continues to honor his father legacy by giving back to the Island community in a variety of public service roles, including: Recipient of Galveston Association of Realtors Joe Schlankey Service Award; Past President of Rotary Club of Galveston; Past Chairman of City of Galveston Planning Commission & Zoning Board of Adjustments; Current Board Member of the Membership Committee, Awards Committee of UTMB’s President’s Cabinet; in addition to numerous professional awards as a realtor and in recognition of his firm’s excellence.contents 1018 3444 53 What to do with a home office after going back to work What are the differences between real estate agents and brokers? Learn the pros and cons to open concept homes Design ideas to give your home a farmhouse feel The benefits of working with an interior designer Affordable ways to make homes more appealing to modern buyers 26 PLUS: Read about how local Realtors, interior designers and home professionals can help with your dream home. 4 | Living Galveston County | 2022H omeownership and real estate investment are well-recognized as effective ways to create wealth for you and your fam- ily. Whether you are looking for a first home, your dream house, a vacation home or an investment, Coldwell Banker TGRE is your best choice. Offering white-gloves service and superior local knowl- edge, TGRE is backed by the strength of the global Cold- well Banker network. Founded by Owner and Broker Tom Schwenk, TGRE is known for customer service and a commitment to clients as attested by the many happy customers who have taken the time to post five-star reviews. Schwenk is an award-winning Realtor who has owned property on the island since 1987 and became a full-time resident in 2001. He is the No. 1 in-town Realtor and a recognized ex- pert in historic homes. From historic districts, building codes and elevation certifi- cates, Schwenk is an expert in the intricacies of home- ownership that make Galves- ton so unique. “I always say those of us lucky enough to live by the sea, are lucky enough,” Schwenk said. “We are proud of our local knowledge and the ability to help people find their dream home on the island. We are known for our white-gloves service and work hard to make sure our clients are happy. We know when we have done a fantas- tic job when people return to us time and time again. I’ve had clients who have used me as a rental agent, bought their first home with me and then purchased their sec- ond home, when the growth of their family meant they need a bigger space. We are pleased to be partnering with Coldwell Banker as they have a global network and more than 116 years of history in the real estate world.” Schwenk was inducted into the RBAC National Realtor Hall of Fame in 2019 and is currently the Chair of Texas Realtors Political Involve- ment Committee. A former president of the Galveston Association of Realtors, he was named GAR Realtor of the Year 2015, and in 2021 received a Community Hero award from the Texas Asso- ciation of Realtors, recogniz- ing his commitment to the Galveston community. His team of 11 experts includes Realtors Alex Monteith, Brian Kuhn, Brian Schwenk, Carole Bell, Doreen Hughes, Shane McDermott, Suzanne McClere, Reid Nel- son and Robert Zahn. They all share his commitment to customer service, knowledge and expertise of the market. They all have roots in Galves- ton and are full-time Realtors focused on achieving the best results for clients. Behind the scenes are Director of Oper- ations Joe Schwenk and Di- rector of Marketing Shannon Caldwell who play their part in making sure homes are always open-house ready and marketed to as many poten- tial buyers as possible. Galveston is blessed with an incredible range of high-quality housing options from modern beach houses to modest cottages, magnificent Victorians to mid-century modern homes, bungalows and brick houses for family living or condominiums and downtown lofts for compact living and walkability. Schwenk loves giving back to Galveston and each year supports more than 50 community organizations, including Artist Boat, The Bryan Museum, The Railway Museum, Galveston Children’s Museum, Galveston Island Nature Tourism, Galveston’s Own Farmers Market, Gal- veston Historical Foundation, Galveston Island Humane Society, Ball High School, Galveston College, Moody Early Childhood Center, O’Connell High School, Satori School, NIA Cultural Centre, Absolute Equity, Turtle Island Restoration, Sea Star Base, The Downtown Partnership, Surf Rider Foundation, La Izquierda Surf and Music Fes- tival, Access Care of Coastal Texas, Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce, Gal- veston Sustainable Communi- ties Alliance, Better Parks for Galveston, Galveston Meals on Wheels, GISD Education Foundation and many more. Coldwell Banker TGRE: Your Galveston Experts PAID ADVERTISEMENT 6 | Living Galveston County | 20228 | Living Galveston County | 2022 A s a Houston and Galveston area Re- altor for more than 30 years, Jim Rosenfeld has built a reputation for integri- ty and outstanding profes- sionalism. Working with Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty provides Rosenfeld with the ability to utilize his vast experience, elite market knowledge and attention to detail to help a wide range of clients, from first-time buyers to seasoned investors to luxury home purchasers, to find just what they’re searching for. “Martha Turner Sotheby’s gives my clients a phenom- enal marketing and adver- tising advantage,” Rosenfeld said. “Our global visibility and stellar technology are unparalleled. For instance, we are able to extend our reach to the broader world- wide community, advertising listings in The New York Times, the London Daily Telegraph, the Wall Street Journal and many more pub- lications around the world.” Christopher J. Ford Cus- tom Homes builds homes in EVIA, Laffite’s Cove and other premier West End neighborhoods. Ford and Rosenfeld give clients incomparable service and a Jim Rosenfeld and Christopher J. Ford: A stellar custom home-building team PAID ADVERTISEMENT high level of professional- ism. This sixth generation BOI builder personally crafts and curates every home he builds. He is present at every building site, work- ing alongside his talented craftsmen and contractors. His homes are impeccably designed by the award-win- ning architect, Sam Gianu- kos, the owner of Creole Design. Along with Ford’ extraordinary craftsmanship, he offers competitive pric- ing. Rosenfeld and CJF are an exceptional team. Rosenfeld is a third-genera- tion Texan and proud home- owner in EVIA, one of Galves- ton’s flagship communities, as well as being the top-pro- ducing agent for buyers and sellers in the community. “EVIA is a phenomenal community, one of the newest in Galveston,” Rosenfeld said. “The homes are all architec- turally historic-inspired, so it resembles a 125-year-old his- toric district. As part of what’s known as the new urbanism concept, the community features a village center with a coffee and ice cream shop, a superb restaurant, captivat- ing “pop-up” boutiques, an outdoor amphitheater and a beautiful plaza area all bor- dering on the lake.” Rosenfeld has been recog- nized numerous times as a Circle of Excellence top pro- ducer at Martha Turner So- theby’s International Realty, and he is privileged to be a member of the Martha Turn- er Sotheby’s Hall of Fame for many years. In addition, he has been honored numerous times as a “Five Star Realtor” by Texas Monthly magazine. He has consistently been rat- ed five stars by both Trulia, Zillow and Realtor.com (two of the top global real estate search engines). While Rosenfeld covers all the island’s premier commu- nities from the beaches to the bay to high-rise condos, including Lafitte’s Cove, Pirate’s Cove, Pirate’s Beach and Sunset Cove, he also loves working with the is- land’s many historic homes. He and Martha Turner So- theby’s International Realty have been major underwrit- ers of the Galveston Historic Homes Tour since 2011. Rosenfeld is also an active member of the Menard Society of the Galveston Historical Foundation. As a member of the President’s Cabinet of the re- nowned University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, he also takes great joy assist- ing many new doctors at the university find their dream homes on the island. He donates a portion of each of his sales commissions to the UTMB School of Nursing. In addition to serving the Galveston and mainland ar- eas of the county, Rosenfeld is a certified SIRVA relocation specialist, assisting clients with relocations to and from the island and around the world. He is always enthusi- astic and extremely attentive to the needs and preferences of each and every client. Call Jim Rosenfeld today at 713-854-1303 or visit www.sothebys.realty to learn more. EVIA LAFFITE’S COVE SPANISH GRANT INDIAN BEACH© 2022 Sotheby’s International Realty. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark and used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated, except those operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. All offerings are subject to errors, omissions, changes including price or withdrawal without notice. Equal Housing Opportunity. Representing Galveston’s finest homes from list to sold! Jim Rosenfeld BROKER ASSOCIATE Circle of Excellence Award Winner Hall of Fame Member Texas Monthly Magazine Five Star Realtor 2012-2022 Trulia and Zillow Five Star Rating Certified SIRVA Relocation Specialist 713.854.1303 | Jim.Rosenfeld@sir.com NEW LISTING SOLDSOLDSOLD LAFFITE’S COVE | 13839 WINDLASS CIRCLE | 2,947 SF | $1.5+M LAFFITE’S COVE | LLP: $3.2+M INDIAN BEACH | LLP: $2.6M OFFATS BAY | LLP: $1.9M CONTACT ME WITH ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS. ARCHITECT & OWNER | SAM GIANUKOS EVIA, LAFFITE’S COVE & THE WEST END | PRICED FROM THE $500’s Stellar new construction. Mesmerizing lake, golf course and West Bay vista sites. Gourmet island kitchens. Grand downstairs primary suites. Colossal screened porches. Sparkling pools. NOTHING COMPARES.Next >