Description
VanValkenburgh & Wilkinson's reputation for representing exquisite properties began with owners Richard and Nancy VanValkenburgh and their work in historic preservation efforts of North Alabama. Historic properties, often considered "square pegs" to round holes, require specialized marketing with special care, so VanValkenburgh & Wilkinson's success in this area began to attract homeowners with unique and extraordinary properties. As Charter members of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's real estate program and participation in REALTOR organizations at the state and national level, VanValkenburgh & Wilkinson has the expertise to handle your referrals with professionalism and finesse.
As an agent with the company, Sarah Lauren Kattos utilizes her love for the "Rocket City" in her daily work with buyers and sellers in North Alabama. While introducing a prospective buyer to the area, you will undoubtedly hear Sarah Lauren, a seventh generation Huntsvillian, explain the history of that area or the "local's" take on the fun to be had there. Her study and interest in how Huntsville grew from the "King Cotton" era to the "Rocket City" of today helps her to connect the dots for newcomers trying to understand the abundance of Antebellum in the midst of a city full of Boeings, Teledyne Browns, Northrup Grummans and biotechnology companies. Her in-depth knowledge of local perspective has given Sarah Lauren a reputation for promoting not only the area's real estate offerings, but comerce as well. She gives Huntsville history presentations for the Chamber of Commerce "Connect" class for young professionals, as well as their Leadership, Bridges and Focus classes. These talks are designed to help its participants discover North Alabama's uniqueness as well as feel more knowledgeable and at home. The programs quickly expanded to the Junior League of Huntsville and the Residency program at the teaching hospital of Huntsville's UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) campus.
Sarah Lauren's work in helping some of the Californian newcomers who have come from Stanford University to work with Huntsville's own Hudson/Alpha Institute of Biotechnology is also scheduled to be featured on HGTV's "HouseHunters" show in the coming months. She was also thrilled to give a local tour of Huntsville to the contributing writer of Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, a magazine that later named Huntsville the "Best City in the Nation" for 2009.
When asked why she loves selling real estate in North Alabama, Sarah Lauren says, "What I do is more than just finding the perfect house. I get to help people connect with the gorgeous scenery, the people, schools, healthcare/service providers and more. A good REALTOR not only looks for homes, but also helps the client get established in the community. Thankfully, North Alabama gives me so much to work with! My love for North Alabama makes it a joy to do my job!"
Graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from Birmingham-Southern College, a private liberal arts college, in 1995
Accredited Buyer Representative
Certified Residential Specialist
Graduate of the REALTOR Institute
Associate Broker of VanValkenburgh & Wilkinson, REALTORS
Awarded "Distinguished Young Woman" award by Girl Scouts of North Alabama
Named "Up and Coming Young REALTOR" by the Huntsville Times, 1999.
Active with the Junior League of Huntsville, Connect program, Gothic Guild, First United Methodist Church, Blossomwood Elementary P.T.A., Morris Elementary volunteer, Historic Huntsville Foundation, WEDC-Foundation, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of North Alabama, 2nd Mile Development, Children First and the American Cancer Society - among others.