Phil Castle, The Business Times

Cindy Ficklin has spent the past two decades concurrently pursuing careers as both an educator and real estate agent. She combines those passions in her latest effort: a book she’s written and published to provide what she considers important information to homebuyers, particularly first-time homebuyers.

Her primary motivation? “To help and educate the public,” says Ficklin, an associate broker with Coldwell Banker Distinctive Properties based in Grand Junction. The book can help prospective buyers avoid costly pitfalls, she says, especially at a time when real estate laws and regulations are changing.

The book, titled “The Smart Way to Buy a House For First-Time Homebuyers,” is available in Kindle and paperback versions on Amazon. A book launch is set for 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 14 at Bookcliff Country Club, 2730 G Road in Grand Junction. The event is open to the public. Copies of the book will be available.

Ficklin draws on nearly 20 years of experience in the Grand Valley real estate industry. She was named salesperson of the year at Coldwell Banker Distinctive Properties in 2020 with more than $22 million in sales volume. She was honored again in 2022. In 2023, she received the International President’s Elite Award for ranking among the top 1 percent of the 100,000 Coldwell agents worldwide.

Ficklin says she closed $8.5 million worth of real estate transactions in the second quarter of 2024 alone, one of the biggest quarters for sales of her career.

Ficklin says her mentor, the late Sharon Vaughn, was known for saying, “Be honest, trustworthy and work extra hard for people, and you’ll always have a heck of a business.”

Before she transitioned into the real estate business on a full-time basis, Ficklin worked as a teacher and principal in Denver and Grand Junction. In the Grand Valley, she worked as assistant principal at Chatfield Elementary in Clifton and then high school principal for the Division of Youth Corrections.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with double majors in management and markeeting. She holds two master’s degrees in education and educational leadership.

Ficklin says it was difficult leaving teaching and working with students, but discovered she also enjoyed real estate sales and working with clients.

Ficklin says she drew on her experiences in real estate in writing a book for homebuyers. The 15 chapters in the book cover such topics as selecting real estate agents and lenders, inspections, appraisals, due diligence, seller concessions, insurance and closings.

Every chapter includes what Ficklin says are horror stories to detail what could happen if homeowners don’t avoid pitfalls in the home buying process.

She stresses the importance of interviewing real estate agents and checking the references of past clients before signing a contract with an agent. She also stresses the importance of meeting deadlines so the earnest money that accompanies an offer isn’t forfeited.

Problems also can arise, Ficklin says, when homebuyers sign a contract with one agent, but then work with another agent to make an offer a home — a listing agent, for example.

It’s important as well for homeowners to keep apprised of new regulations and laws changing real estate transactions.

While higher interest rates on mortgages and uncertainty have slowed real estate activity in Mesa County, demand remains strong, Ficklin says.

People continue to relocate to the Grand Valley, she says, because they discovered they can work remotely while also enjoying what she says is the best outdoor recreation in the world.

Moreover, the Mesa County economy is far more diverse and, therefore, resilient.

Ficklin also serves as a hearing officer on the Mesa County Board of Equalization and Abatement, making recommendations on property valuation appeals.

She’s working to complete a doctoral degree in psychology.

And she’s writing more books in what’s billed as her Cindy says series — including a book on selling homes she says can help sellers realize tens of thousands of dollars more on their transactions. “It will make a big difference.”

In addition, Ficklin says she plans to write books to help teachers and parents of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

For now, Ficklin continues to combine her passions for education and real estate to help her clients buy and sell homes.