Lita Batho believes you should love where you live. Like other womxn entrepreneurs, she strives to make a difference doing a job she believes in. At present, she works at Keller Williams as a real estate agent.

Lita ensures she understands her clients and their vision as she assists them in choosing a house. She knows you’ll live in your home for a long time, so it’s important to her that you love where you live. After all, if you love your residence, you’re more likely to love life and everything within it.

Here’s an insight into Lita’s personality and the things that drive her:

1. If you could go back in time, what would you tell your 11-year-old self?

Keep that positive attitude. And yes, you can do anything.

2. What advice do you wish you had been given when you first started your business?

These relationships can last decades: get to know everyone you meet, be kind, and stay in touch.

3. What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned the hard way (in life or business)?

Listening is more effective than telling.

4. What do people always get wrong about you or what you do?

A big part of what I do as a real estate agent is negotiating and making sure each step of the process moves forward in a timely manner. A lot goes on behind the scenes of looking at homes and making offers, and it takes a lot of attention to detail and thinking through the strategy to make sure my clients have a stress-free process and achieve their goals.

5. What shifts did you make in life or business as a result of the pandemic?

The beginning of the pandemic felt like a nice, quiet lull with no one driving, families outside in the spring weather, and cooking at home.  As the pandemic went on, though, I am so grateful that most of the process of buying or selling a home can be done virtually (contracts, communicating between agents, title, and closing). Of course, I still cherish the time I get to show houses in person and finally hand keys to new buyers.  It helped me appreciate the time I do have in person with any client and the ability to work virtually.

6. What do you love about what you do?

I love getting to know clients and having their trust to facilitate a life change. I also love living in Portland, and by extension, helping others to get to know neighborhoods, the home styles here, and finding solutions for my clients to make their next move.

7. What is the best thing about doing business in Portland?

As a real estate agent, I love the region. It offers year-round gardening, outdoor recreation, and unique neighborhoods; there really is something for everyone.

8. What is one of your favorite things to do where you live?

I love our local restaurant owners and farmers. I like to support them by shopping at the farmers’ markets and eating (or taking out) from independently-owned restaurants. I also love day trips to the gorge or the coast, hiking, and neighborhood walking.

9. Who has been the most important influence in your life and why?

My mom had her own business (retail shops). To me, she was a great example of a small business owner and someone working on building a business.  I remember her advocating for herself with bankers and running the business when I was small, and I grew up in and around her stores.

10. Who do you help in your business?

I help home buyers and sellers transition from one situation to the next. I do this by connecting them with my trusted partners for lending, home inspections and repairs, and other services.

Sacred Fire Creative aims to let everyone know we can all make a difference. You don’t have to be special, above average, or anything else but you to make a difference. Members of Portland Connect Online show you that ordinary womxn can do extraordinary things that make significant differences in people’s lives.

In Lita Batho’s case, she’s ensuring every individual or family appreciates their house. Before practicing real estate, she had been a yoga teacher that helped womxn stay healthy and manage their stresses for over 19 years.