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NWMLS member Joyce Vanderpol, at 100 years young, is the “eldest” Managing Broker in Washington and most likely the United States as well! She’s been a Blaine resident for 51 years and a real estate professional for 37 years.
She was born alongside her twin sister in the then small town of Kirkland in 1924, joining a brother (a surviving triplet) and an older sister. She met her future husband, Nicholas, in the seventh grade, and years later they married after she graduated and he joined the Navy. He served for 30 years, during which time one of his deployments was to the Island of Guam, where they lived for two years. Joyce served as Secretary to the Commanding Officer of the Naval Air Station Agana, and has many wonderful memories from that time.
After 30 years in civil service, she obtained a two year Whatcom Community College certificate before transitioning into real estate. She worked under a broker for 2.5 years before opening and becoming a managing broker of her own office. About 25 years ago, Joyce started working with a contractor to build her first spec house. With a focus on design, materials, location, and what she believed buyers desired, she went on to build 10 houses in Blaine.
Joyce met Terry Conway 17 years ago when he brought a buyer to one of her listings. They hit it off immediately, eventually forming a cooperative brokerage business partnership that is still going strong.
She was an avid tennis player having been a member of Semiahmoo Tennis Club since 1994, as President for 20 years. She has played professionally in tournaments throughout the U.S. and was chosen by Wilson Sporting Goods to play in a team format competition Austria when she was in her early nineties. She won her first singles match in that event against a player from New Caledonia.
Joyce has maintained strong community involvement throughout the years, serving on Blaine’s Airport Commission, the Parks Commission, and 25 years as President of the Blaine Harborview Condo Association.
Joyce is dedicated to helping people find their dream homes and is an expert when it comes to real estate in Whatcom County. When asked what her favorite part of real estate is, she said, “Locating a house that makes the buyer happy.” Congrats Joyce!