Realtor profile

Name: Karen Blackson

Company: Long & Foster Realtors

Address: 1675-F Reston Parkway, Reston, VA 20194

Phone: 703/668-1848

Fax: 703/435-2116

E-mail: karen.blackson@longandfoster.com

Web site: www.2rhome.com; www.hellofairfaxva.com

Year started: 1992

How did you get started in real estate? I took the principles class with Shannon and Luchs in January 1992 and passed the real estate exam in March 1992. I joined Town & Country Properties Inc. shortly thereafter.

How long have you been with the current company? Three years

Licenses and designations: Real estate sales in Virginia and Maryland; graduate, Realtor institute

Associations: National Association of Realtors, Northern Virginia Association of Realtors, Virginia Association of Realtors, Member Reston Chamber of Commerce.

Awards: NVAR multimillion-dollar sales club, 2004; NVAR top producer, 2004; NVAR multimillion-dollar salesclub, 2005; Long & Foster multimillion-dollar sales club, 2004; Long & Foster chairman’s club, 2004; Long & Foster president’s club, 2005

Greatest accomplishment in past 12 months: Receiving my graduate, Realtor institute (GRI) designation, which I completed in one year. The GRI program can actually be completed in a period of three years. It is a great accomplishment to have completed the entire program in 12 months.

What is your area of specialty? Hunter’s Woods area of Reston

Highest-priced home sold: $700,000

Most memorable house: I sold a very small condominium with the finest of details. It was very well maintained. It was the cutest one-bedroom condo. My client upgraded the carpet, fireplace, added recessed lighting, crown molding, a ceiling fan in the bedroom, paint, and it showed absolutely beautifully. I had sold it to him and he called me when he was ready to leave the area and I sold it for him, so I sold it twice.

Worst experience: I had a client who was selling his house and buying a new home. The buyer’s lender was very busy and could not get the loan to close by the settlement date. This delayed the purchase of my client’s new home. He had already scheduled the movers, he and his fiancee had already scheduled time off work and she was about to leave the country for vacation. She also was planning their wedding, just a couple months away. We tried, but the lender could not do it. I had to inform the builder of the new home of the situation and that we could not close on the new home because of the delay on the seller’s home. The issue escalated to the lending company’s vice president. We were supposed to be delayed a few days, but they were able to close the loan two days later. We were able to get the movers rescheduled, utilities to remain on and my client was able to sell his home and close on the new home before his fiancee left for vacation.

Age: 44

Family: Single

Pets: None

Education: Bachelor of science in business administration, Delaware State University (Dover, Del.), 1984

Community affiliations/ community service/ outside interests: Reston Chamber of Commerce; volunteer, Loudoun County Chapter of American Red Cross; volunteer, Reston Community Center Events; volunteer, Embry Rucker Shelter, Reston Interfaith; golf

Last book read: “The Nanny Diaries,” by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Last movie seen: “Madea’s Family Reunion”

What kind of car do you drive? Mazda Protege

What is your personal dream house? The Masco House 8370 The Masco mansion has classic Palladian styling. There is a grand hall with high ceilings and arched windows over French doors. It has five bedrooms, five full baths, four half baths, and a three-car garage. The front of the mansion is flanked with twin courtyards. It features a grand two-story marble foyer with double circular staircase; kitchen with Tuscan columns overlooking the family room; and a first-floor master wing with sitting room, fireplace, his-and-hers marble vanities and marble columns surrounding a raised Jacuzzi tub.