Shelman Realty new ERA affiliate

BONNERS FERRY — Shelman Realty is now affiliated with ERA Real Estate, with its familiar colors of “Shelman yellow” changing to red, white and blue.

Shelman Realty has served the Boundary County community since 1963. Co-owners Mark and Loralee Carey bought the firm in 2018 from Mark’s brother Steve Carey, who had purchased the brokerage from the Shelman family in 1991.

Mark Carey told the Bonners Ferry Herald that the affiliation with a national brand will give Shelman Realty the resources to better serve the community at a local and a national level and provide incredible training and marketing tools to agents.

Carey said the training will allow the company’s real estate agents to be on the cutting edge of changes in the industry and will be vital in continuing the services and experience they provide their clients.

“We are still going to be the same great people focused on the community,” he said.

In the past, Shelman Realty has spent a lot on advertising, but with the new ERA base they will have the opportunity for advertising to be seen in a national context and enter into a larger referral base, Carey said.

With this larger base, Mark said Shelman Realty will be able to help those moving in and out of the area find quality agents through their network. This also will result in a larger referral base for their luxury home market.

ERA has been around since 1971 and has expanded rapidly, Carey said. He added there are a number of affiliates in Montana and the brand is growing in Washington and Oregon.

The Careys said they have been approached several times to become affiliates of multiple brands due to the volume of real estate sold. They decided they would become an affiliate if they could continue to have their own reputation and maintain their values of honesty, integrity and community focus. All are things they said they have found in ERA.

“Mark and Loralee’s years of experience with a highly diverse clientele and portfolio from starter homes and move up buyers to high end and investment properties — have made them an invaluable asset to their community,” said Sherry Chris, president and CEO of ERA Real Estate. “As they enter the next phase of the company’s growth as an ERA affiliate, they have not only secured the firm’s future legacy for their son Isaac, they have also made a lasting investment in Bonners Ferry that will pay dividends for their clients for years to come. We look forward to supporting the firm’s bright future as part of the ERA family.”

Since buying Shelman Realty, the Careys said they have quadrupled sales and have five times the amount of volume and advertising.

The firm will stay in the family with Mark and Loralee Carey’s son Isaac eventually leading the company.

The Careys said they will continue the same great quality with more tools and in coming referrals at the luxury home market.

A native of Bonners Ferry, Mark Carey earned his real estate license in Oregon in 1984 and brought on Loralee Carey to be his assistant. The couple moved back to Bonners Ferry in 1993; Loralee Carey obtained her license in 2017 leading up to the purchase of the family brokerage. Mark and Loralee have also run a number of successful businesses over the last 40 years, including a housing restoration company.

The Careys said “Shelman the Big Foot” isn’t going anywhere and said they will continue their yearly events such as trunk or treat and Shelman’s Friends.