Penny's path to her career in real estate started with an internship in 1995. "I really enjoyed seeing people find a home they loved, but also seeing our clients sell homes at a fair price." Penny says.

Her commitment to helping people is a hallmark of not only her real estate career, but also her education and prior employment. Penny graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois, with a double major -- psychology and social work, with a minor in special education. Penny also worked as a drug and alcohol counselor out of college.

Penny's diverse skillset was tested as her kids were growing up, and she answered to the call of "Mrs. Rinehart" as a substitute teacher for a number of years. Faux finishing and decorative painting is something Penny enjoyed as well.

Penny loves staging houses for sale in Springfield, and she is taking the next step to get her certification in home staging. Home staging is preparing your home for sale by limiting or rearranging furniture, using accessories, lighting and color to highlight the special features of your home. Effective home staging allows the buyer to visualize living there, and can also help the seller get a better price for their home. Penny has already staged a number of homes in the Springfield area and has seen the positive effect on the selling price.

Her best real estate advice is that no matter whether its a sellers or buyers market, "homes that are priced properly for location and condition always sell quickly." She also notes "Too many people are drawn into the internet mortgage scams, and it causes problems at closing. Get financing from a known local lender to make sure that your loan actually closes."

To meet Penny, give her a call at 217-725-7898 or send a note to penny@springfieldsbesthomes.com.