Richards & Ayer Real Estate Florida                January, 2024-Present

Broker/Owner. Opened second generation Richards & Ayer firm in Florida following in the footsteps of my father, Anthony Ayer from his firm on St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands.

Notary Public-statewide

Florida Mentor-statewide

Real Estate Educator-Firm Level Statewide

Living Vogue Real Estate Sarasota                   November, 2023-

Personal invitation to closed firm by owner, Mark Coppens a high end luxury agency in Sarasota

• Lead Mentor

Align Right Realty Riverview                           June, 2020-November 2023

• Invited by Lisa Tackus, Broker, to join a renowned agency in the Tampa Bay market.
• 2022 Agent of the Year-sales
• 2023 Second in sales
• Mentor/Leadership
• Firm Instructor
• Sold over 20 million in the past three years
• First time homebuyer expert
• VA expert (beat multiple Tidewater initiatives – appraisal)

Weston Group                                                 June 2019-June 2020

• Award winning REALTOR and Top Producing Agent
• Signature Division Agent
• Equestrian Property Specialist

Experience

• Licensed since 1998 in Georgia, Florida and the US Virgin Islands
• Banking, Finance and Property Paralegal Womble Carlisle Sandridge & Rice Atlanta, GA
• Co-Owner and Selling Broker of multi-million dollar real estate firm- Century 21 Richards & Ayer Associates (a commercial and residential real estate firm in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands)
• Centurian Award Winner-given to less than 2% of Century 21 Agents worldwide and to agents who generated more than $7.5Million in sales
• REALTOR and Broker Associate for Living Vogue Sarasota
• REALTOR and Broker Associate for Align Right Realty Riverview
• REALTOR and Sales Agent for Weston Group
• USPAP Appraisal Reviewer
• Contracts Instructor for Firm
• Real Estate Instructor for Firm
• Mentor
• Professional Equestrian and Team Member US Virgin Islands Equestrian Team
• Member and participant Pan American Games Equestrian Team, 1992, Havana, Cuba
• University of Delaware Volleyball team member

EDUCATION

• University of ALABAMA - Corporate Financial Management
• Georgia Real Estate License
• Florida Real Estate License
• Florida Broker’s License
• US Virgin Islands Real Estate License
• US Virgin Islands Broker's License
• American Institute of Paralegal Studies - Certified Banking Finance and Property Paralegal
• Institute for Integrative Nutrition - Certified Health Coach
• USPAP Appraisal Review Certification course

Professional Associations

• Greater Tampa Board of REALTORS, Member
• Florida Association of REALTORS, Member
• National Association of REALTORS, Member
• Past President St Croix Board of REALTORS
• Past Vice President St Croix Board of REALTORS
• Past Secretary St Croix Board of REALTORS
• Past Board Member Virgin Islands Territorial Association of REALTORS
• Past Committee Member National Association of REALTORS

CLIENT/CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS:

From: Dr Scott Reader 

Riverview, FL

I wanted to write a review because our real estate agent Linda Hawes, was absolutely incredible.  She is extremely focused on her client, she answers the phone ANYTIME you call her and ALWAYS goes the extra mile.  Linda helped us find our dream home and she made sure every single thing was perfect.  We lived several hours away and she made sure to come by while the inspection was going on as well as doing the final walk-through for us since we were not able to be here.  She delivered a BEAUTIFUL home that we are SO proud of.  If you want "CLASS A" service, my suggestion would be to call the Weston Group and ask to speak with Linda Hawes.  We were so blessed to have her as our REALTOR and will forever be grateful for all the times she went out of her way to make sure that everything was taken care of so we could move in feeling excited versus stressed.  Thank you so much Linda!

From: Nicole Gray  (first time homebuyer)

Temple Terrace 

It is my pleasure to recommend Linda Hawes as a real estate agent for any individual or family searching for a home.

Linda helped me find my first home and made the process of being a first-time home buyer worth the ride every step of the way.  She was always available to answer any questions I had.  She was on top of all contracts, negotiations, calls and emails.  I would recommend her a thousand times over as an agent!  Anyone looking to sale or buy a home she is the one to call!

Moe and Syed Rodriguez  (First Time homebuyers)

Lithia, Florida

What can I say?  From the moment we met Linda, she made us feel like we were her number one priority!  Always available.  Went above and beyond to find us our perfect home! (within our budget!!) (In a fancy neighborhood! haha).  We can't say enough what a trustworthy, honest and all-around great person she is!  The transition to new homeownership from renting all our lives was flawless!  Linda worked wonders to make our dream come true.  Thank you, Linda!  From the Rodriguez family!!!!!!

Valerie Reader

Riverview, FL

Linda Hawes is the most amazing REALTOR my husband and I have worked with...We have sold and purchased many homes but have never been so elated as we were with Linda....This lady works 24x7 for her client...She answered almost every time I called, and if she could not answer she called me back within 5 minutes.  Linda is a Gem and you should feel very lucky if you retain her as your realtor.  Just to let you know, months after we purchased our home, Linda was there to remind us of documents we needed to send for Homestead Exemption, etc.  Linda Hawes goes above and beyond what one would consider excellent service!

John and Jacyln Carrion  (VA Buyers)

Lithia, FL

Linda Hawes has been beyond amazing in our home buying process.  Extremely knowledgeable, found us the perfect home in an extremely competitive market and top sought after neighborhood.  An expert in her field and an overall amazing human being, working with Linda is a MUST for anyone looking to buy a home.  She made the process so amazing from start to finish!  Thank you, Linda, for finding us our dream home!!!!

John and Cathy Oleon

Colleyville, TX

We recently used Linda for our search in moving from Texas to Tampa. She was a referral, and we immediately were impressed by her knowledge of the market and area.

During our search, Linda was always available to FaceTime a house, set up an appointment and talk about the area. She went through many homes with us virtually and then spent three days with us looking at homes in person. On the final day, she got us into a home at the last minute which was not the " one" but across the street from the one we bought one week later. 

Her communication skills are excellent, she worked us through several issues on the house we did buy and acted like a part of us during closing. I cannot say enough about how she eased this transition for us.


Best regards


John and Cathy Oleon

Jaclyn Carrion for William Carrion Closing (VA buyers):

Ok, I have to brag a minute on Linda Ayer Hawes ! She helped not only our family find a home. But helped my in laws close on their home today. When I tell you this woman is sent straight from heaven, I mean it! She went above anything I have ever seen a realtor do before. From her knowledge, connections to her care and consideration of every detail. If you need a realtor, Linda is 100% THE BEST!!! 

Tim and Barbara Bland (First time homebuyers/VA)

Linda Hawes is the best!! She will do everything and more to make the sale happen. If you don't know something, ask her, she is always there for you. This was our first and she did 100% what we couldn't do. Thank you Linda and we will always appreciate what you did for us. Much thanks to you. Barbara&Tim Bland

Elizabeth Cur and Kyle Gray (First Time homebuyers) 

Dear Linda, 

Thank you so much for all of your help! We are so grateful for all of the hard work you've done to find our dream home!! We are endlessly grateful to have you as our agent and couldn't be happier with the way everything worked out!! We greatly enjoyed working with you in finding such a beautiful home that met our needs. 

Elizabeth & Kyle

Just to write a few words about Linda Hawes, Realtor is pretty hard to do.  She jumped in on our spontaneous idea to look at a house, and really helped us to make good decisions in our journey to find a forever home that we love.  Linda is very knowledgeable on our area and helps you find the home that meets your needs.  She also has a great personality that made our experience fun, which was really helpful when we all know how stressful buying a home can be!  Truly, you just can’t go wrong if you choose Linda Ayer Hawes as your realtor!

Cindy Ho’omalu 
 

To whom it may concern,

I had the pleasure of working with Linda Hawes during my recent transition from Texas to Florida for my career. My mortgage broker tried to set me up with a local realtor that was recommended in his company’s system. After a brief phone call with her I decided I wasn’t trusting her with this huge decision as she was lackadaisical and pessimistic about my chances of getting the home I was looking for during this highly competitive real estate environment. I went to my long time boss and friend to see who he recommended because he had just bought a home in Florida. He sang praises of Linda’s authenticity, work ethic, and “can do” attitude. That was exactly what I needed to get a home in the area. 

            Once Linda knew what I was looking for she began working diligently to keep me up to date on new properties in areas I might be interested in. One home came on the market that was water-front and had a very desirable view. After weeks of looking, I knew instantly that was the home I wanted. However, I had little faith that I was going to get it just because the market was so competitive at the time, and I had been in similar situations in the past. In my prior experience, I missed out on a huge opportunity because I was unable to get ahold of my realtor and the property went under contract with somebody else very quickly. Luckily Linda listened, and slowed me down even, to make sure we were making the appropriate offer. We had an offer submitted within the hour. The home ended up getting multiple offers the first day it was listed so I again didn’t hold my breath. During the wait period Linda went the extra mile by meeting with the HOA director to get as much information as possible for me. She also partnered with my lender to make sure the sellers knew how interested/qualified I was. They helped inform me on how I could improve the offer to better stand out. I took their advice and made the adjustment to the offer. Fortunately, the sellers took the offer the following morning and we got the property under contract. Through the process of the walkthrough, inspection, and closing Linda worked tirelessly to keep the ball rolling. Since I was all the way in Texas, she was very courteous in videoing the home, nearby area, and even the whole drive to my office so when I booked a flight to walk the property personally I was already well aware of the surroundings. 

            Fast forward to now, I’ve officially moved to Florida and couldn’t be happier. Any time somebody comes into my home they immediately say “Wow, what a view!” I can say with confidence if I wouldn’t have worked with Linda, I would not be in this home today. To say that she went above and beyond would be a huge understatement. I have plans of investing in real estate in the future and wouldn’t consider using any other realtor. I highly recommend anybody looking for a home to Trust Linda as your realtor.

Sincerely,

Austin Snyder

Carmen and Leo Kump

What can we say about Linda Ayer Hawes-It was a pleasure having her as our realtor 

She is the type of person you want in your corner when you are looking for a home. We arrived in Florida from New York on 9-6-2022 and already closed on our home as of 10-11 -2022 she and the team made that happen .

Going through her own ordeal with hurricane Ian she still drove to Brandon Florida to make sure our home was okay.

So if you are ever looking for a home in Florida Linda Ayer Hawes is the agent you want.she even blessed our home that is how beautiful and kind she is and let’s not forget professional.

Thank You Linda 

REVIEWS FROM REFERRAL PARTNERS

Erica Berkebile, REALTOR®

Keller Williams Realty DFW Southlake

Cell - 682-888-8049

berkebile@kw.com

EricaBerkebile.com

I have known Linda for years on both a professional and personal level.  She is a person who consistently exhibits so much care, compassion, attention to detail, and drive to make sure the right thing is done for her clients, family and friends.  

You would be hard pressed to find another agent who puts so much love and attention into her real estate business and always puts her clients front and center.  There are times in the real estate business when a transaction isn't smooth or doesn't go well yet she fights for what's right for her clients and ensures they are protected.  

For these reasons and so many more, Linda will always be my #1 go to agent in the Tampa area.  Every referral I have sent her way has thanked me profusely for the introduction and loves working with her.  She's a rare gem who will make sure you get the experience you deserve!

Received this review from a fellow agent whom I did a deal with. It was an uphill battle but we persevered. He was terrific to work with and we made it happen!  

"Linda is a knowledgeable agent. She showed a willingness to go the extra mile for her clients. It was a pleasure working with her." -Jim O'neill

Kimberly Wolfman 

Wolf Real Estate 

Georgetown Texas

512-913-1282

Linda Hawes is the best blend of being a consummate professional, as well as being warm and personable. I was seeking a realtor for my niece who served our country as a Marine and who loves horses and wanted a place to live her dream of having horses. Linda listens, stays in constant communication during the entire VA approval process from start through closing. She is an excellent negotiator and knows her area and has many professionals in her tool kit. She led my niece to the perfect property while keeping her within her budget. My niece recently told me I have everything I have ever wanted.  Thank you Linda for helping our Marines dreams come true, and would not only refer her and recommend her to others but I use her again in a heartbeat! 

Danielle Lopez

Dallas, TX

It is my absolute pleasure to recommend Linda Hawes as a real estate agent.  I am a referring agent in Dallas, Texas and I had a client who was searching for a new home in the Tampa, Florida area.  I was fortunate to come across Linda on Facebook and after speaking with her, I knew she was the right agent for the client.  She got to work right away!  She did not waste time with homes that were out of the client's price range or not in the line with her needs.  She was a master with contract negotiations and came up with a great deal that was good for the client and made the Seller happy as well.  Throughout the homebuying process, nothing escaped Linda's attention when it came to the property for sale in the area.  I found Linda to be a highly attentive agent, returning phone calls and emails the same day.  She is also highly personable with an engaging personality.

I am pleased to recommend Linda Hawes to anyone looking to buy or sell a home.  She is hands-down the best in the business in my opinion and if we ever need to refer a client again, she will be our first choice in real estate agents.

I recently referred clients to Linda leaving Atlanta and moving to the greater Tampa / St. Petersburg area. They found a home quickly based on very specific criteria and closed. The entire time, Linda kept me up to date with how the transaction was going. What a relief to know they were receiving such great service. Referrals can sometimes be a shot in the dark and worrisome; NOT with Linda. With years of real estate experience, you are in good hands!

Eileen Hill, Realtor

Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners, North Gwinnett 

 678-761-1146 | eileenhill@kw.com

4878 Manhattan Dr.
Buford, GA 30518 

www.EileenHillHomes.com 

As a fellow realtor, Linda is my go to for all my customers looking to buy in or near Tampa, FL. area. She is an absolute pleasure to work with, with great results, and extremely knowledgeable.

Tawanda Purdie

EXP Realty  

REVIEWS FROM MENTEES:

Ask me how Linda became my Mentor, my Broker Lisa Tackus could not remember who she assigned to me. At my onboarding she asked me, "Did I assign a mentor to you" and I said yes I think its Linda.. I am pretty sure you were not assigned to me...  a voice inside my head told me to say your name. 

Linda I cannot begin to say how blessed I am to have you as my mentor and guide through this journey in real estate.  The kind of skills knowledge and expertise you have been sharing have been key in my professional development.

Your positive attitude, enthusiasm and the fact that you take such pride in all our wins just makes you so so special.

I remember how many times I've felt overwhelmed and yet after having spoken to you I have felt a sense of calm. So many self-doubts you have helped cease. 

In the Indian culture we equate teachers to the divine. Because knowledge is divine and so the one that imparts it is our connect to that divinity. Thank you for being my divine guiding light Linda. God bless you with much much success. You absolutely deserve it

Best regards

Shira Bhagavatula 

To Whom It May Concern:

I’m writing this reference letter on behalf of Linda Hawes.  I have so enjoyed having her as my Mentor.  When I first was setup with ARRR, they had not assigned me a Mentor.  They asked who I thought I would like to be paired with?  I always looked on the leader board and saw several people that were doing great and I thought I would want to work with one of them.  Well, it just so happens that Linda had just joined ARRR and was also getting set up with the Mentor program.  It was suggested to me that Linda would be my Mentor, they felt we would be a good fit, so this is where our story begins.

I was Linda’s first Mentee.  My first impression of Linda, was that she was very knowledgeable of the Real Estate industry and had so much experience.  She just knew so much and it was well ingrained in her mind.  I loved how, I could ask her any question and she would have a response back to me so quickly; and if she didn’t know, she would say give me a couple of minutes and I’ll have it for you.  She was always so encouraging to me and always would uplift my spirits and say “you got this girl”.  I loved her straightforwardness and her mannerisms.  She wants you to be the best at what you’re doing and her directness when needed, helped you to be the best that she knew you could be.  

I also love her inner spirit.  Her willingness to let you see how she too can get inundated from our world of real estate.  Even with that, she still would be there for me and her other Mentees.  She showed me how to run your own business and still help out others along the way. She always told me to remember to take time for yourself, as tomorrow is another day. She is truly one of the best Mentors at ARRR.

I am so glad that Linda was assigned to me.  I know wholeheartedly that I am becoming successful in my new career, because of the pathway she showed me.  Her passion and work ethic she has showed is just the kind of agent I want to strive to become.  Thank you for all you have taught me.

Sonja Knowles

Linda Hawes was introduced to me as my real estate mentor a few months ago. In the few months that she has mentored me I have learned years worth of knowledge and tips. In the beginning of my career, I was nervous about how to start my business and if I was doing the right thing. Not only did Linda guide me and teach me the way but she also pushed me and motivated me to be the best realtor I can be . As a realtor herself, her busy schedule never got in the way of her mentorship and teachings. She always and I want to emphasize on always, puts everyone’s needs before hers and that’s what makes her a brilliant realtor and a one of a kind mentor. I can’t thank her enough for everything she has done for me and my business. -- 

Joan Burow

Realtor