"Deep into middle age we bought our first house, ever, hard by the harbor in Camden, Maine, in 1997...a retirement target, a joy long deferred, a responsiility happily undertaken.
And in all that collection of hopes and emotions Camden Real Estate, and in particular Jim Heard, were present and forthcoming, alert to our unique needs that lay alongside our peculiar, delayed
purchase, And being so alert, Jim not only helped us identify questions we should ask, and must have answered, in the purchase. In many particulars mentioned and succinctly described, Jim laid
the ground work for us to understand the fashion in which the purchase opened to us the bright prospect of living in the Camden community---to be sure, engaging its demands as a property
owner and taxpayers, but in a wider sense understanding the nuances of the rich array of activities and energies in the sub-communities that make up the town of Camden for the home owners
and richly blessed residents we became."
Asked about his workstyle, Jim Heard says, “Work? Is this work? This is the most fun I've ever had, of anything I've ever done."
He's been in securities and banking, and “this has always been the way... my clients turn out to be friends... we click on something. On politics, on cultural issues, on humor.” That helps Jim read what people are looking for, to translate it into the reality of the housing market so their vision of their life here can snap into focus. “That comes from living here awhile, having to understand what it's like. Coming here myself, and having to get to know people and get to know my way around.”
Jim came to Maine with a dream too. “I wanted to live in a small town. I felt that then I could contribute whatever I had to contribute. And I've been able to do that. Pretty amazing!” He's served on town committees, on the board of the YMCA, as president of the Chamber of Commerce, as founding member and president of the West Bay Rotary Club. He was instrumental in bringing an indoor ice rink to the area. (Don't ask him about U-Maine hockey unless you have a lot of time on your hands.)
Relationships and connections are key for Jim. “I like to help people find their home, and feel at home. I like to be the ombudsman, to introduce them to people, get them connected, help them become a part of the community.”
Why Camden Real Estate? “There isn't anywhere else to work in town if you're in this business. It's run differently. The relationships in the office are important.” The emphasis on a higher level of service matches his own. “I like to take time with people; I like to ask the questions, dog the details, to have it all together so it's easy for them... what's the buzz word? Seamless.”
Jim's raised four children here so he's seen the community through their eyes as well. He calls Camden and the surrounding towns one of the last unspoiled places in the country. “For all the bumps and grinds, and for all the other places in the world there are, I can't imagine living anywhere else.”
James I. Heard may be contacted at jim@camdenre.com
or at Camden Real Estate (207) 236-6171.
