Meet Siera Stevens | Real Estate Agent

We had the good fortune of connecting with Siera Stevens and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Siera, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I was working as an interior designer when we decided to buy our first house. Navigating the process of buying a home was terrifying. We didn’t have anyone that was going to help with our down payment. It was just us, with our little savings, trying to enter the housing market in Denver. After the rollercoaster of buying, pregnant during COVID, I was so proud to have our house. I feel more settled having roots and knowing that our mortgage will never go up. We also House Hack-rent out our downstairs to offset our mortgage.
Although I will always love residential interior design, selecting beautiful tile and finding $40K sofas was not satisfying what called to me. My best skills in the design world were client interactions, getting to know the families that I worked with and truly understanding how a space needs to function to fit each individual family.
When I became a real estate agent, I knew that I had found a field that really combines my skill sets. I love looking at houses and understanding the market, I love negotiation and high stress navigation, but more than any of that, I love advocating for people and learning their stories. I love illuminating a path toward home ownership and finding creative ways to make sure that it isn’t an overwhelming financial decision. Buying property is one of the surest ways to build generational wealth and many people who can take the steps towards that goal, don’t realize that it can be available to them. As I have forged my path in this industry, I have also become involved in investment real estate. I love that my business can have these two sides, one is focused on very close relationships with people who are making huge decisions in their lives, and the other is very fast paced, numbers based and negotiation heavy. I know that each side helps me to be my best on the other side, adding the human element to investment deals and adding cunning for my residential real estate clients. I believe that business is always personal, and I am so lucky to have my own business, where my principals can guide my practices. I just ran the Colfax Half Marathon as a fundraiser for the Rose Andom Center for Domestic Violence. This kind of outreach and crossover between my life and what I believe is important, and my business is what I always imagined being an entrepreneur should be.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I moved to Boulder from Miami when I was seven. Those first few years in South Florida created a deep love within me for art deco architecture and lush green colors. Learning and loving design and architecture has been my passion from the start. Growing up in Boulder, I adored the brick buildings, evergreens, aspen trees, and the rust backdrop of the flatirons. Attending a groundbreaking ceremony for a modern home, built on the side of the mountain, just above Chautauqua, was one of my most formative memories.

People have always been the most important part of my life and my first degree was in journalism. I believed that I would be the next Gloria Steinem, learning people’s stories and relating to the human condition together. Graduating college the first time around, during the recession in 2010, ended up being an opportunity for me to embark on an era of adventures. I lived in China and taught English for three years. I saw the majesty that is La Sagrada de Familia in Barcelona. I went to South Africa to count ships at Umhlanga’s whalebone pier. I also rode the tallest elevator in the world, and a 4 x 4 through the desert, in Dubai. The fabric of our lives is woven from experiences. A love and endless curiosity for the spaces that we inhabit, has been a common thread throughout my life, informed by these adventures and guiding me to discover the fabulous career path of real estate.

Real Estate is a perfect match for my skill set. Bartending and traveling developed a keen sense of community and ability to relate to people from all walks of life. Working in insurance taught me how to negotiate in high stress environments. My years in the interior design industry have been an ideal set-up for real estate. I come prepared with in-depth construction knowledge, space planning expertise and experience listening to clients and learning about their specific needs. Establishing my family here in the Denver Metro area has prepared me with a deep understanding of how different families create function and design that works best for them. I know and love this housing market, these neighborhoods, the people and the community. I have traveled far and wide to find out where home is, and I love to guide people through this part of their journey with confidence and always, with a sense of humor.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love this city! Here we go. We would start in the Highlands go to breakfast at Wendell’s. Then we would walk Tennyson, where they have four consignment stores, oh my heart! Second Love, Yogi Exchange, Clotheshorse and Feral. Then we could walk Sloan’s Lake, which is one of my very favorite places in the city. For lunch we could go to Postino, where the design and food is amazing. I would probably take us to the Denver Art Museum after that. They have a Mexican chair exhibit right now where you can sit on everything! They also have some of the most amazing architectural features in Denver with $150K glass panels on the new Gio Ponti wing. They also have a biophilia exhibit which is included in general admission and very worth it. That night, we would cook dinner. It was a crazy day.

Next day, let’s go to the mountain. One of my favorites is the Georgetown Loop. It’s not too far, it’s relaxing and beautiful. We would probably visit my mom, who lives up there and come back down for dinner in Rhino at Barcelona wine bar. Before we eat, we could walk the murals and have photo shoots everywhere.

We could not miss the Botanic Gardens! When I moved home from China years ago I spent time volunteering there and wanted to be a docent at one point. It’s a magical place and the arboretum is always there if unexpected weather hits. There is also a gorgeous sculpture exhibit there right now, vibrant, whimsical and colorful. Dinner would have to be Cart Driver. I love this spot. It feels like a chef owned restaurant, delicious and cool, but not pretentious.

Other spots we couldn’t miss, the parks: Cheesman Park, City Park and Wash Park. City O City, Weathervane for coffee.
Yoga on the rocks and Nurture. Meow Wolf of course.

Are you writing a things to do in Denver article based on all of the answers people give for this? 🙂

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many people! Is the goal to decide on one? My community of friends and family is the only reason that I have been able to accomplish my goals. Without the support of them, none of my success would be possible. I did fundraising for the Rose Andom Domestic Violence Center because I believe that they saved my life. My best friends were unwavering support, as well as my mom and sister. Now, my partner and my two children (two and six) are my inspiration for wanting a better future and wanting to support families that don’t have as many resources, like ours was. I have a mentor in real estate who helped me understand what was possible. My community of women and mothers keeps me sane everyday! Yoga practice, meditation and running keeps me grounded. I also have 12 years sober and without that support, and the self care practices that keep me grounded, I would not have the life that I have. I am eternally grateful to the web of human interaction and don’t believe that any of us can survive without each other.

Website: https://www.sierastevens.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siera-stevens-600974168/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/siera.stevens

Image Credits
Sarah Pfister (crouching down and at the fence) and Teri Fotheringham (personal photo with me, curly red head)