Suzanne Sharkey is back on Real Estate Connections, and this time she is taking us into the “quiet side” of real estate: creative finance.

In Episode 24, Suzanne talked about distressed homes, renovation, integrity, and turning overlooked properties into beautiful homes. In this follow-up conversation, Mary and Suzanne go deeper into how some real estate deals come together when traditional financing is not the right fit.

Suzanne explains what creative finance means, why traditional lending does not always work for every situation, and how hard money, private money, seller needs, and off-market opportunities can all become part of the conversation. She also makes it clear that while creative finance can sound exciting, it requires strong ethics, trusted professionals, transparency, and a deep respect for all parties involved.

Mary and Suzanne talk about hard money lenders, private money, using funds from an IRA, distressed properties, foreclosure pressure, buying with existing debt in place, helping sellers avoid worse outcomes, and why real estate investors need solid people around them.

One of Suzanne’s most important reminders is that the first step is not asking, “How can I benefit from this deal?” The first step is asking, “What does the seller need?”

This episode is a helpful conversation for anyone interested in real estate investing, distressed property, private lending, creative finance, off-market deals, family property challenges, or understanding what happens when a standard mortgage or traditional sale is not the answer.

Please note: this conversation is for education and discussion only. Creative finance, private lending, foreclosure situations, and investment decisions require qualified legal, financial, tax, and real estate guidance.

Guest Bio

Suzanne Sharkey is a fourth-generation real estate investor and developer who buys and renovates homes throughout the North Shore of Massachusetts, Southern New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. She specializes in untangling complex real estate situations, creatively buying distressed properties, and bringing neglected homes back to life with care and integrity.

Suzanne is the founder of Creative Elite and is passionate about making real estate more approachable by sharing her experiences openly and building a network of high-integrity professionals. Her work centers on creative problem-solving, ethical investing, thoughtful renovation, and helping people find real solutions when traditional real estate options do not fit.

Guest Links

Instagram:
 https://www.instagram.com/suzanneksharkey

Company:
 Creative Elite

Send us Fan Mail

This episode is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.

What happens when an aging parent needs to move, but no one knows where to begin?

In this episode of Real Estate Connections, Mary Foerster talks with Nicole Ramer, founder and owner of Organized Haven and home to Safe Moves for Seniors Polk. Nicole and her team help older adults and their families navigate organizing, downsizing, aging in place, senior relocation, estate cleanouts, and home transitions with confidence, compassion, and peace of mind.

Nicole explains why a senior move is not just a physical move. It is a life transition.

Mary and Nicole discuss the emotional weight of sorting through decades of belongings, the stress that can arise between parents and adult children, and why families need to begin these conversations long before a crisis. Nicole shares how her team uses space planning, careful listening, organizing systems, and compassionate decision-making to help seniors decide what will fit, what should be passed on, what can be donated, and what truly matters.

This conversation also explores the reality of aging in place, chronic disorganization, hoarding, cognitive decline, long-distance caregiving, and the overwhelming number of decisions that can come with every object in a home.

Nicole also shares the mission behind Safe Moves for Seniors Polk, which helps older adults who cannot afford move management services but still deserve safety, dignity, and support.

Whether you are helping an aging parent, thinking ahead for yourself, downsizing after decades in one home, or supporting clients through a major life transition, this episode offers practical guidance and a deeply human reminder: downsizing is not about living with less. It is about making room for more freedom, safety, peace of mind, time with family, and confidence in what comes next.

Nicole Ramer is the founder and owner of Organized Haven, home to Safe Moves for Seniors Polk. For more than a decade, Nicole and her team have helped older adults and their families navigate organizing, downsizing, aging in place, senior relocation, estate cleanouts, estate sales, donation coordination, and home resettling.

Nicole is a nationally recognized speaker, educator, and advocate for proactive aging. She is also the author of Caring Through Clutter: How Caregivers Can Create a Safer, Simpler Home for Their Loved Ones, Chapter 2 of Aging in Place Conversations: The Caregiver’s Edition. Through her work, Nicole helps families begin important conversations before a crisis arises and supports older adults through transitions with dignity, compassion, and peace of mind.

Guest Links

Website:
 www.organizedhaven.com

Safe Moves for Seniors Polk:
 www.safemovesforseniors.org/lakeland

Facebook:
 www.facebook.com/organizedhaven

YouTube:
 https://www.youtube.com/@organizedhaven

Instagram:
 www.instagram.com/organizedhaven

LinkedIn:
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/nramer/

Send us Fan Mail

This episode is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.

What if the right home is not just about square footage, location, or price?

In this episode of Real Estate Connections, Mary Foerster sits down with Amy Moeller, a realtor, designer, entrepreneur, and creator based in the Greater Cincinnati area. Amy brings a thoughtful and deeply personal perspective to real estate, helping clients think beyond the basic checklist and consider how they actually want to live in a home.

Mary and Amy talk about preparing a house to sell, neutralizing and staging a home, and why buyers need to imagine their real daily life inside a space before making a decision. Amy shares why she asks clients questions like: How will you live in this house? Where will you sit with your coffee? Where will everyone go when they need space? Will this home support your life, your relationships, and your next chapter?

The conversation also explores downsizing, especially for empty nesters and adults in the second half of life. Amy and Mary discuss why smaller is not always simpler, why everyone still needs space of their own, and why the decision to move should not be based on finances alone.

Amy also introduces her new work through Growing Happy Souls and her upcoming course, Surroundings Matter, which helps women create peace, clarity, and purpose in their homes. From decluttering and room planning to reimagining unused spaces, Amy encourages listeners to see their surroundings as a reflection of the life they are creating.

This is a thoughtful conversation for anyone considering a move, preparing to sell, rethinking their space, or asking what they want the next chapter of life to feel like.

Guest Bio

Amy Moeller is an entrepreneur, realtor, designer, and creator based in the Greater Cincinnati area. She studied Interior Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, received multiple patents for an invention, and has written and taught a decorating course for homeowners. Amy is also launching three digital courses in 2026 to guide women in creating a life they love. She uses her background in design, entrepreneurship, creativity, and real estate to help clients make thoughtful, personal, and practical decisions about home and life.

Guest Links

Website:
 https://www.amymoeller.com

Additional Link:
 https://tinyurl.com/2bhvhbxe

Instagram:
 https://www.instagram.com/helloamymoeller/

Send us Fan Mail

This episode is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.

What does it take to turn a neglected property into a home someone can be proud to buy?

In this episode of Real Estate Connections, Mary Foerster sits down with Suzanne Sharkey, a fourth generation real estate investor and developer who buys and renovates homes throughout North Shore Massachusetts, Southern New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

Suzanne is the founder of Creative Elite and specializes in complex real estate situations, distressed properties, creative acquisitions, and thoughtful renovations. Her work focuses on breathing life back into neglected spaces while building a network of high-integrity professionals who believe they can do more together.

Suzanne shares how real estate runs through her family tree, beginning with a grandmother whose investments helped shape Suzanne’s understanding of property, security, opportunity, and legacy. She also talks about her mother’s career in real estate and how watching her serve clients helped Suzanne understand both the beauty and the difficulty of this work.

Mary and Suzanne discuss Suzanne’s current renovation project in Nashua, New Hampshire, and the real-world decisions that come with renovating a home well: permits, contractors, tile choices, cabinets, budget limits, quality materials, and the concept Suzanne calls “affordable luxury.”

This conversation also explores creative finance, subject-to transactions, foreclosures, auctions, hard money, family lending, and the unconventional real estate deals that do not always fit inside the traditional MLS box. Suzanne explains why she is drawn to complicated situations and why distressed sellers often need customized solutions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

At its heart, this episode is about integrity, relationships, problem-solving, and the belief that real estate can be both profitable and deeply human.

What You Will Hear

• How Suzanne became a fourth generation real estate investor
• The role Suzanne’s grandmother played in shaping her real estate mindset
• How Suzanne’s mother influenced her understanding of service and clients
• Why traditional real estate roles did not fully fit Suzanne’s personality
• What creative finance means in Suzanne’s work
• Why distressed properties often require customized solutions
• How foreclosures, auctions, and off-market opportunities differ from traditional MLS listings
• Why Suzanne is drawn to complicated real estate problems
• The story behind Suzanne’s Nashua renovation project
• What “affordable luxury” means in a renovation
• Why material choices matter when renovating a home
• How to compare contractor quotes intelligently
• Why the lowest bid is not always the best choice
• How Facebook contractor groups help Suzanne find qualified tradespeople
• Why Suzanne believes in ripping out work and doing it right when something is wrong
• How family support helped her finish a difficult project
• Why relationships matter in real estate entrepreneurship
• How community helps investors avoid isolation

Suzanne Sharkey is a fourth generation real estate investor and developer who buys and renovates homes throughout North Shore Massachusetts, Southern New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

As the founder of Creative Elite, Suzanne specializes in untangling complex real estate situations, creatively buying distressed properties, and breathing life into neglected spaces. Her work includes unconventional acquisitions, foreclosures, auctions, creative finance opportunities, and renovation projects that require thoughtful problem-solving.

Suzanne describes her renovation style as “affordable luxury,” choosing quality materials and finishes that elevate a home while remaining within reach for real buyers. She is passionate about making real estate more approachable by sharing her experiences openly, fostering a network of high-integrity friends and professionals, and helping people do more together.

In this conversation, Suzanne shares how her family legacy in real estate, her love of problem-solving, and her belief in connection have shaped the way she invests, renovates, and builds community.

Instagram:
 https://www.instagram.com/suzanneksharkey

Send us Fan Mail

This episode is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.

What if the people you are thinking about are not thinking about you because they are busy worrying about themselves?

In this solo episode of Real Estate Connections, Mary Foerster reflects on a memorable scene from Buffy the Vampire Slayer that reveals something deeply human: most of us assume people are focused on us, judging us, or thinking about what we are doing, when in reality, they are usually thinking about their own worries, fears, and lives.

That realization leads Mary into a thoughtful conversation about connection, isolation, the pandemic, business relationships, old friendships, former clients, personal notes, phone calls, and the simple but powerful act of reaching out.

Mary shares how the pandemic reminded many people of what truly matters and how her own podcasting journey began through connection with Mary Elliott and Mary McCauley on Married to Real Estate. That experience eventually helped shape Real Estate Connections, a podcast built around the belief that relationships open doors.

This episode is a reminder that connection does not have to be complicated.

It can be a call.

A note.

A message.

A birthday greeting.

A “you came to mind today.”

Whether in your personal life, your business, or your community, reaching out can create meaning for someone else and strengthen the relationships that matter most.

What You Will Hear

• The Buffy the Vampire Slayer scene that sparked Mary’s reflection
• Why we often assume people are thinking about us
• How that assumption can limit us
• What the pandemic revealed about isolation and loneliness
• Why connection became more important after the world slowed down
• The story behind Married to Real Estate
• How relationships became central to Mary’s business and podcast
• Why your existing network may be your greatest resource
• The value of reaching out to old friends and former clients
• Why personal notes still matter
• How one phone call can bring joy
• Why relationships open doors personally and professionally
• Mary’s challenge to reach out to one person today

In this solo episode, Mary Foerster reflects on the importance of human connection in life, business, and community.

Using a memorable episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a starting point, Mary explores how often we hold ourselves back because we assume other people are focused on us or judging us. In reality, most people are consumed with their own thoughts, worries, and lives.

Mary connects this idea to the isolation many experienced during the pandemic and to the regrets people often express near the end of life: wishing they had been more themselves, worked less, expressed their feelings, stayed connected with friends, and allowed themselves to be happier.

She also shares how podcasting, real estate, personal outreach, client relationships, handwritten notes, and reconnecting with people from the past have reinforced one of the central beliefs behind Real Estate Connections:

Relationships open doors.

This episode encourages listeners to reach out to someone today — personally, professionally, or in their community — and remember that a small gesture can have a meaningful impact.

Send us Fan Mail

This episode is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.

What happens when you make a big move after divorce, hoping for a fresh start, only to realize the new place does not feel like home?

In this episode of Real Estate Connections, Mary Foerster talks with Amy Bolduc, host of the Grounded in Maine podcast, about sustainability, relocation, starting over, and the courage it takes to keep searching for a place that truly fits.

Amy shares how her journey from Maine to southern Virginia, and eventually back to New England, was shaped by divorce, affordability, remote work restrictions, her desire for more land, and her dream of building a life closer to gardening, food preservation, and community.

She also talks about why “proof of concept” is helpful when considering a move, but not always realistic for people with limited resources, pets, family responsibilities, or an urgent life transition.

This is a conversation about much more than real estate.

It is about how we decide when to take a leap, how we respond when a move does not go as planned, and why telling people what you are looking for can open unexpected doors.

Amy also shares her personal approach to sustainability: you do not have to be perfect. You simply have to care for the piece of the world you occupy and do the best you can with the resources you have. 

What You Will Hear

•  What sustainability means to Amy 
•  Why sustainability does not require perfection 
•  How Amy started gardening, making jam, and preserving food 
•  The story behind Grounded in Maine 
•  Moving after divorce and needing a fresh start 
•  Why Amy moved from Maine to Virginia 
•  What she wishes she could have done before the move 
•  The value of a “proof of concept” move 
•  Why affordability can make trial moves impossible 
•  Buying a home after only a short visit 
•  Why the right property can matter as much as the right house 
•  The dream of farming, land, tiny homes, and intentional community 
•  Solar panels, composting, community solar, and practical sustainability 
•  Why sharing what you need can lead to unexpected opportunities 
•  How relationships can open doors during a move 

Amy Bolduc is the host of Grounded in Maine, a podcast featuring open conversations about sustainability, food, gardening, community, homesteading, practical climate action, and how people show up for the world.

A self-described wannabe farm girl, Amy currently lives in Maine with her dog and two cats. She loves cooking, baking, gardening, preserving food, birdwatching, and learning from people with different experiences and perspectives.

Amy’s sustainability journey grew from gardening, food preservation, volunteering at an organic farm, and launching a jam business in 2020. She started Grounded in Maine in 2022 as a place for honest conversations about creating a better future through everyday choices. 

In this episode, Amy shares her own relocation story, including moving after divorce, purchasing a home in Virginia, realizing the area was not the right fit, and returning to New England while continuing to search for a more sustainable, community-centered way of living. 

Grounded in Maine Podcast and Website
 https://www.groundedinmaine.com/1952444

Instagram
 https://www.instagram.com/groundedinmainepodcast_?igsh=cjMyYzhqem9ucmxi&utm_source=qr

Send us Fan Mail

This episode is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.

Moving an aging parent is rarely just about boxes, trucks, and logistics.

It is about memories, family roles, downsizing, difficult decisions, safety, health changes, and the emotional work of letting go.

In this episode of Real Estate Connections, Mary Foerster talks with Ryan Hegarty about what happened when a moving professional had to help move his own parents.

Ryan has spent more than 16 years in the moving industry, but he says helping his parents move twice gave him a much deeper understanding of how exhausting and emotional a transition can be for families. He shares how his parents first moved from their longtime Waltham home into a smaller apartment and later moved closer to Ryan and his family in Billerica.

Ryan explains why the physical move is often the easiest part. The harder work can be decluttering, deciding what to keep, preparing a home for sale, navigating health changes, packing, managing timelines, and helping parents feel respected throughout the process.

Mary and Ryan also discuss the role of move managers, professionals who help families coordinate downsizing, sorting, packing, organizing, moving day, unpacking, and settling into a new home. Ryan explains why this support can be especially valuable when adult children are trying to help aging parents without becoming overwhelmed themselves.

This episode is for anyone helping a parent move, considering downsizing, preparing for assisted living, moving closer to family, or trying to understand how to make a major transition feel more manageable.

• Ryan’s personal experience moving his parents twice
• Why moving parents can shift family roles quickly
• The emotional side of leaving a longtime family home
• Why downsizing decisions can feel overwhelming
• How health changes can accelerate a move timeline
• Why the moving truck is often the easiest part
• How adult children can become partners instead of pushers
• What a move manager does
• How move managers support downsizing and senior moves
• Why professional movers and move managers work well together
• What can go wrong with DIY moving solutions
• When portable storage containers may or may not make sense
• Why listening is one of the most important service skills
• How moving companies build trust with clients
• Why families should plan before a move becomes urgent

Ryan Hegarty is the Director of Residential Sales at Olympia, a full-service moving and relocation company. He has been with Olympia for more than 16 years, beginning his career on moving crews before transitioning into office and leadership roles. Today, Ryan helps clients plan local, interstate, and complex residential moves with a focus on communication, problem-solving, and reducing stress during major life transitions. Olympia identifies Ryan as its Director of Residential Sales and notes that its moving consultants work directly with clients to understand needs and create detailed move plans.

In this episode, Ryan shares the personal experience of moving his own parents twice, first from their longtime family home in Waltham and later closer to family in Billerica. His perspective offers a rare combination of professional moving expertise and firsthand understanding of the emotional realities families face when parents downsize or relocate.

Olympia

Website: https://olympiamoving.com/

Send us Fan Mail

This episode is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.

In this solo episode of Real Estate Connections, Mary Foerster shares two YouTube channels she believes are especially helpful for people thinking about buying a home, preparing for retirement, improving financial confidence, or making sense of long-term care costs.

First, Mary recommends How to Buy a Home with David Sidoni, a consumer-focused resource designed to help future homeowners understand the homebuying process, challenge common myths, and make a step-by-step plan for purchasing a property.

While David’s work is especially focused on first-time homebuyers, Mary explains why his content can also be useful for anyone trying to better understand real estate vocabulary, mortgage calculators, credit preparation, affordability, and long-range planning.

Mary also shares why she has become a fan of Erin Talks Money, a YouTube channel focused on personal finance, retirement planning, long-term care, retirement spending, investing, and financial decision-making.

This episode is not financial advice. It is a resource-sharing conversation for listeners who want more information, better questions, and greater confidence as they make decisions over time.

What You Will Hear

• Why Mary recommends David Sidoni’s How to Buy a Home
• How parallel planning can help future homeowners
• Why mortgage calculators can be useful but incomplete
• How credit, income, savings, and timing affect homebuying decisions
• Why real estate vocabulary matters more than people think
• Why Mary recommends Erin Talks Money
• How to think about retirement spending
• Why long-term care planning can feel overwhelming
• How personal finance education can reduce fear
• Why planning one step at a time matters

Resources Mentioned

How to Buy a Home with David Sidoni
 Website: https://howtobuyahome.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HowToBuyAHome

Erin Talks Money
 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@erintalksmoney

Send us Fan Mail

This episode is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.

Can Massachusetts homeowners now build an accessory dwelling unit on their property?

In this special episode, originally recorded for Married to Real Estate at Westford Community Access Television, Mary Foerster and Mary McCauley interview Massachusetts State Representative James “Jim” Arciero about the state’s new accessory dwelling unit law and its potential impact on homeowners, families, municipalities, renters and real estate investors.

The Massachusetts Affordable Homes Act made qualifying accessory dwelling units available by right in single-family zoning districts. Under the statewide law, an ADU may be located within a home, attached to an existing residence or built as a detached structure on the same property. State law generally defines a qualifying ADU as being no larger than 900 square feet or half the gross floor area of the principal dwelling, whichever is smaller.

Representative Arciero explains why the state changed the previous approval system, how long special-permit processes could take, and why legislators viewed ADUs as one tool for addressing Massachusetts’ housing shortage.

The conversation also explores the people who may benefit most from ADUs, including:

• Older adults who want to age in place
• Families caring for relatives with disabilities
• Young adults struggling with housing affordability
• Homeowners seeking rental income
• Families interested in multigenerational living
• Investors looking for additional housing opportunities

Mary, Mary and Representative Arciero also address some of the more complicated questions surrounding ADUs, including septic capacity, local permitting, construction costs, public safety, neighborhood concerns, owner-occupancy requirements and the role of individual cities and towns.

Massachusetts began allowing qualifying ADUs by right statewide in February 2025 following the 2024 Affordable Homes Act.

In This Episode

• What qualifies as an accessory dwelling unit
• What “by right” means for Massachusetts homeowners
• Why the previous special-permit process created barriers
• Who may benefit from building an ADU
• How ADUs can support aging in place
• Housing options for family members with disabilities
• ADUs as potential sources of rental income
• How Massachusetts is responding to its housing shortage
• Attached, detached and interior ADU options
• The statewide 900-square-foot standard
• When a local special permit may still be required
• Septic system and Title 5 considerations
• Construction costs and financing resources
• Public-safety benefits of legal, permitted housing
• Community concerns about density and neighborhood character
• Commercial-to-residential property conversions
• The future of ADU construction across Massachusetts

Guest Bio

Massachusetts State Representative James “Jim” Arciero

James Arciero is the Massachusetts State Representative for the 2nd Middlesex District. He has served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives since 2009 and represents Westford, Littleton and part of Chelmsford.

Representative Arciero previously served as House Chair of the Joint Committee on Housing and played an important role in conversations surrounding housing production, accessory dwelling units and the Massachusetts Affordable Homes Act.

He is a graduate of Westford Academy and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and a Master of Public Administration from Suffolk University.

About the Co-Hosts

Mary Foerster

Mary Foerster is a real estate professional and the host of Real Estate Connections, a podcast focused on real estate decisions, housing transitions, aging in place and the professionals who help people navigate important life and property changes.

Mary McCauley

Mary McCauley is a Massachusetts and New Hampshire real estate professional and one of the co-hosts of Married to Real Estate. Her work combines real estate expertise with a strong commitment to the Westford community.

Episode Credit

This conversation was originally recorded for Married to Real Estate at Westford Community Access Television and is being shared as a special episode of Real Estate Connections.

Send us Fan Mail

This episode is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.

Have you ever dreamed about moving somewhere new, only to wonder if you're chasing a destination or a feeling?

In this episode of Real Estate Connections, Mary Foerster welcomes relocation coach, corporate executive, and Moving For Smarties founder Mariette Frey for a fascinating conversation about the emotional side of moving. Together, they explore why so many people dream about relocating, how to determine whether a move is truly right for you, and the hidden psychological factors that can influence life-changing decisions.

After moving 20 times in 24 years across six major U.S. cities, Mariette developed the FRED Framework, a practical decision-making process that helps people evaluate major life transitions through four key pillars: Finances, Robustness, Ecosystem, and Dreams.

This conversation goes far beyond real estate. It explores identity, grief, community, purpose, retirement dreams, and how to create a life that aligns with what matters most.

In This Episode

• Why people often chase feelings instead of locations
• How to know if a move is truly right for you
• The difference between vacation thinking and relocation thinking
• Why community matters more than many people realize
• The hidden grief involved in moving
• How identity shifts during major life transitions
• The FRED Framework for decision making
• Why testing a city before moving can save costly mistakes
• Moving after retirement and creating a new chapter
• How to reduce stress during a relocation
• The power of re-parenting yourself during transitions
• Why moving home can sometimes be the best move

Mariette Frey is an award-winning corporate executive, certified life coach, podcast host, and relocation expert who has guided thousands of individuals through major life transitions. Known as "the guide people call when they're at a crossroads," Mariette helps people navigate relocation decisions, career changes, lifestyle redesigns, and identity shifts with confidence and clarity.

Having personally moved 20 times in 24 years across six major U.S. cities, she developed the FRED Framework, a structured decision-making process that helps people evaluate finances, resilience, community, and long-term dreams before making major life changes.

Today, Mariette shares practical tools and emotional intelligence strategies through her Moving For Smarties platform, podcast, coaching programs, and educational resources.

Connect with Mariette Frey

Website
 Moving For Smarties

Instagram
 @mariettesonthemove

LinkedIn
 Mariette Frey LinkedIn

YouTube
 Moving For Smarties YouTube

Send us Fan Mail

This episode is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.