Roy E. Grimm, Ph.D Broker/President Sedona Luxury Homes

(& Athena, Licensed Buyer Brokers Mascot)

Roy is an ex-college professor, independent school headmaster, past President of the Arizona Association of Independent Schools, and former-Marine captain who, after twenty-five years in education, found himself drawn to a career in real estate. Always passionate about providing his clients with beneficial services well beyond those of conventional real estate agents, Roy soon committed himself to Exclusive Buyer’s Agency and ultimately bought the company. Along the way he honed his skills by earning a number of challenging designations, among them: Certified Residential Specialist, Certified International Property Specialist, and Certified Exclusive Buyer’s Agent – Master. He is a past Board of Directors member of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer’s Agents and helped design and taught the curriculum for its Certified Exclusive Buyer’s Agent course. Few agents in the nation can offer their clients Roy’s level of professional expertise.

One of the early leaders in Sedona luxury real estate, Roy was one of the founding members of the Sedona Luxury Real Estate Professionals, a group dedicated to raising practitioner standards in that market sector. He holds the Certified Luxury Home Specialist designation and is recognized by the highly-selective and prestigious Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate.  He is exceptionally qualified to assist buyers of Sedona and Flagstaff luxury real estate.

A native Arizonan who, in his characteristic contrarian fashion, grew up in New York, Roy moved to Sedona from Boulder, Colorado in 1991 and was the headmaster of Verde Valley School for five years before entering the real estate field. He truly loves the aesthetic, cultural, and spiritual qualities of Sedona as well as its wild natural beauty. He and his faithful Great Pyrenees, Athena, are often found hiking the extensive trails of the area and swimming in Oak Creek. He’ll be happy to tell you about his favorite spots.

A dedicated lover and patron of the arts, Roy is a board member of The Arizona Opera, Chamber Music Sedona, and the Canyon Moon Theater. He is also an art collector and a regular at Goldenstein Gallery art shows. As a member and officer of the local chapter of the Chaine des Rotisseurs – an international food and wine society – he enjoys introducing his clients to the gastronomic delights found in Sedona. Many of them later join the Chaine.

Roy is engaged to Julie Kershner, a prominent Realtor and luxury home specialist in Los Cabos, Baja, Mexico and makes frequent trips there for his ocean fixes. In turn, Julie, who also has an Arizona real estate license, spends much of her time enjoying the wonders of Sedona and working with Roy in luxury real estate here. Together they form an extraordinary team providing the ultimate in service to their clients.

» Comments from past and current clients.

E-mail Roy at roy@sedonaluxuryhomes.com

Julie Kershner, Certified International Property Specialist

The international stature of our firm was tremendously enhanced when Julie Kershner, from Los Cabos, Baja, Mexico and became a member of the Buyer Brokers Realy of Arizona family. She joins Roy as one of four Certified International Property Specialists in all of Northern Arizona. Julie also made Roy a very happy man when, recently, they became engaged. They now work together as a team both personally and professionally.

Julie comes with an impressive resume. Originally hailing from Iowa and Wyoming, she was licensed in Washington State and worked as a Realtor® there for twelve years before she gave up on the rain and followed the sun to Baja. There she managed the Prudential Real Estate office and became one of the most respected professionals in the region.  Julie was elected President of the Los Cabos Multiple Listing Association and recently served as President of the Association of Mexican Real Estate Professionals (AMPI) in Los Cabos, the Mexican equivalent of the National Association of Realtors. She is renowned for having developed an innovative education curriculum to be used by all members of the Los Cabos MLS.    

Aside from holding the prestigious designation of Certified International Property Specialist, she also earned the title of Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist, from the National Association of Realtors, as well as the TransNational Referral Certification from the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations (ICREA) and is a member of FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation.  Her affiliations also include the International Resort Symposium, and the Women’s Council of Realtors.  Working with Realtors® on an international basis allows her to serve clients in all parts of the world.  Julie and Roy maintain a second home in San Jose del Cabo and she continues her affiliation with the Los Cabos real estate market.  They travel there frequently to enjoy the marvels of Cabo and to serve clients.

Julie is an effervescent, smart, attractive woman who brings fun and joy into the lives of all who are lucky enough to know her.  She is also a consummate professional with a long list of very happy clients whose lives she has enhanced.  She loves the atmosphere, scenery, climate, and culture of Sedona and delights in helping our clients find their way home here.

E-mail Julie at julie@sedonarealestate.com

Ed & Laura Pennington, Exclusive Buyer's Agents

“Your representatives set very high standards for others to follow. I cannot say enough – or praise enough these two wonderful people [Ed & Laura]. I’ve experienced very few businesses run as smooth as yours.”

Laura Pennington — Residential Specialist & Feng Shui Master

When you first meet Laura Pennington you know that you’re in the presence of someone special who is going to make the experience of purchasing a luxury home in Sedona an extraordinarily pleasant, satisfying, and memorable one. Her natural inner and external beauty and grace are self-evident and her professionalism has impressed even the most sophisticated of our clients, instilling confidence and giving them a much appreciated profound level of comfort.

She brings to the Buyer Brokers Realty of Arizona family an extensive background in luxury real estate and interior design. A Feng Shui master, Laura has transplanted her own company, Sanctum Design, from New York to the felicitous setting of Sedona. Her extensive experience as an interior designer of luxuryl homes and businesses gives her an inspired sense of good taste and strong negotiation skills, which she applies to helping her clients find and secure properties at fair prices, securing their aesthetic and emotional needs as well as their financial ones.

“Ed & Laura have a very empathic style and I felt my best interests were continually addressed.”

A native of Rochester, NY, Laura is a graduate of the University of Buffalo and Rochester Institute of Technology. In her Sedona real estate practice she works with her equally impressive and gracious fiancé, Ed Pennington, whose background as a highly successful CEO and former Tucson real estate broker and developer contributes to making them one of the most dynamic teams in the business.

E-mail Laura Pennington

Ed Pennington — Land & New Construction Specialist

Ed Pennington’s first connection with Buyer Brokers Realty of Arizona came when he and Laura purchased an older home on one of the most delightful pieces of land in Sedona. They have since completely renovated the home, turning it into a veritable showpiece. One’s immediate impression of Ed is that of a thoroughly likeable and charming guy. The second is that of an exceptionally astute businessman; a great combination for a real estate broker.

Ed’s resume is impressive. A graduate of the University of Arizona, he has been a professional touring musician, built a number of successful businesses, and established himself as one of the top real estate agents in the Tucson area. In Tucson he helped create and market Finisterra, the premier high end development there. As the Number One land sales agent in Tucson in the 1980’s, he also taught land sales continuing education classes for other real estate agents. His deep knowledge of construction and land makes him invaluable to Buyer Brokers and our clients.

“Above and beyond...
Experts [Ed & Laura], even to the point of being able to answer foundation and building issues.”

Laura and Ed have established themselves as the top agents for land transactions in Sedona and the entire Verde Valley. They also have consistently ranked in the top three in homes and land combined. Since 2004 they have been the number one buyer's agent team in Northern Arizona!

E-mail Ed at: ed@sedonarealestate.com