Kristen Lee isn’t just a dedicated realtor with a personal touch, she’s also a handmade jewelry expert and native Korean speaker.

Kristen’s first career was in the fine arts. After graduating with her BFA in 2003, Kristen started her own company designing and crafting east-meets-west inspired, sterling-silver jewelry. When she had her second child, Kristen knew that she needed a larger income, but didn’t want to lose her flexible schedule. Almost immediately, she thought of real estate. Kristen’s love of (home searching) and her husband’s career in construction made the real estate business a no-brainer for this family. Kristen completed/earned her real estate license while pregnant with her third child.

Being bilingual is a definite advantage, Kristen says. She takes pride in serving the Korean community of Howard County. “Many of them have lived here a long time, but still struggle to communicate; especially elderly people,” Kristen says, “I show respect for them.” Those points of connection are so important. At home, Kristen speaks both English and Korean with her kids so they can communicate easily with their own grandparents.

Because of her Korean language ties, Kristen works with a lot of friends and relatives. She’s very comfortable around them, which translates to her other clients; it puts them at ease. “It takes more work, but I treat clients like family,” says Kristen. She’s lived in Howard County for 24 years now and Kristen is always telling her clients about top trends in the area. “I go through the details; I leave personal touches,” she says. Personal touches like special notes for her successful sellers: “Congratulations! May your new journey be bright,” she writes to one client.

As a Korean agent at The Bob and Ronna Group, Kristen knows that she fills a certain niche. But that doesn’t stop her from being just one of the team. “Whenever I have a question, they have an answer,” Kristen says, speaking of Bob and Ronna. While their door is always open, Kristen says she never has to ask Bob and Ronna for much. “They’re always offering help, even before I ask,” she says. And they share her values: “Bob and Ronna treat customers as their top priority,” says Kristen. At the office, “It feels very much like a family,” she explains.

In her free time, Kristen loves traveling and enjoying the outdoors with her husband and three kids. They visit their beach home in Delaware every summer.