Everyone can't make the claim that Shelley Wilcoxson can: She has been interested in real estate since she was 18. " I took a class at Lincoln Land Community College, and I really enjoyed it," Shelley says. She had worked at Osco and became a supervisor prior to her marriage.

Shelley's next few years centered around her two children, but she never lost touch with her love of real estate. When the kids went to school, Shelley was able to pursue her desire to become an agent in 1992, and then received additional education to obtain her broker license in 1997. Shelley notes "I've been with Dowd Sullivan Real Estate since I started, and I would not consider going anywhere else."

Over the years, Shelley has had some interesting sales experiences, but one was a bit of a nightmare. "The buyer's boyfriend, who was actually married to another woman, helped her purchase the home, " Shelley explains. "I had advised the woman not to pursue financing through the internet, but she was convinced that she was getting the best deal."

Shelley continues, "The day of the closing, the paperwork was not in place, and the boyfriend blamed me for the loan company's problems -- and he showed up at the closing in a bulldozer -- wanting to bulldoze my car!"

When Shelley is not showing or listing homes, she and her husband enjoy riding Harley Davidson motorcycles cross country. They belong to both local and national Harley owners' groups. Her own bike is a Heritage Soft Tail, and she enjoys going to Springfield's Charlie Parker's restaurant on the bike for what she describes as "the best breakfast in town."

"Charlie Parker's is like a 1950's diner in a quonset hut -- hard to describe really, but a not-to-be-missed place for breakfast in the Springfield areas.

To meet Shelley, give her a call at 652-5374 or send a note to shelley@springfieldsbesthomes.com.