Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Holderby-Gersten.
Hi Lisa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Huntington West Virginia, my parents owned income properties and as a child I was exposed to all the aspects of managing rental homes and apartments. I’m sure that’s where that experience led to me to become a realtor later in life. Earlier in life, I had been a model, moved to New York city in the early 90’s and pursued a modeling and acting world. After modeling, I moved into healthcare, working with one of the top Plastic Surgeons in NYC, from there I went into Healthcare on the operational side, not a clinical setting and worked with National Company out of Texas managing ambulatory surgical centers and hospitals. During my tenure in the healthcare world-my love for animals, a serious health scare prompted me to go back to who I was as person. I have loved horses from the time I could talk, and that’s where my heart led me. I had adopted a Wild Mustang from Wyoming-I was living in NJ at the time, and that adoption changed my life forever. I wrote to children’s book about a Wild Mustang and finishing up on the 3rd one. In 2016, my husband and I were ready to leave the east coast and had been looking to buy a home but we were not sure where, we looked in 5 different states. We came out to Oregon (The Rogue Valley) to visit friends in the Applegate and feel in love with the area. In 2019, we moved and have happily become Oregonians. During Covid, I enlisted in a real-estate course and realized the corporate world was no longer me when I was able to finally breath because everything had shut down. I used my passion for helping folks drive my vision in to real-estate. So, I started a new business at 60, and I couldn’t be any happier. Today, when I’m not guiding clients through the biggest decisions of their lives, you’ll find me riding my horse, hiking Oregon trails, gardening, or spending time with my family. I’m passionate about my work, my home, my animals, and the people I serve. Real estate isn’t just a profession for me — it’s a way of showing up with integrity, heart, and a deep belief that every chapter of life deserves a place to unfold.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My journey hasn’t been easy, and I don’t pretend that it has. At 46, I was diagnosed with a serious illness — the kind of diagnosis that stops time and rearranges your entire understanding of what matters. Overnight, life became clearer, more fragile, and more precious. But I’ve never been someone who folds. I’ve always believed in meeting life head‑on, even when the odds feel impossible. So in the middle of a stage 3–4 cancer diagnosis, I did something most people wouldn’t even consider: I trained for and ran the New York City Marathon. Crossing that finish line wasn’t about athletic achievement. It was about reclaiming my body, my spirit, and my future. It was a declaration that I wasn’t done — not even close. That experience changed me. It stripped away everything that wasn’t essential and left me with a fierce clarity about how I wanted to live, who I wanted to be, and what kind of work I wanted to pour myself into. That clarity is what eventually led me to real estate. After surviving something that could have taken everything, I knew I wanted a life built on purpose, connection, and authenticity. I wanted to help people through their own transitions — the joyful ones, the complicated ones, the life‑changing ones. And I wanted to do it with the same grit and heart that carried me through my hardest chapter.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Real-Estate Broker/Writer?
My business is rooted in connection — to people, to land, and to the lifestyle that makes Southern Oregon so special. I specialize in horse properties, rural acreage, townhomes, senior transitions and the kinds of homes that require a deeper understanding of land, animals, and the way people truly live on their property. It’s not just a niche for me; it’s a lived experience. Horses have shaped my life, and that gives me an instinctive understanding of what equestrian clients need, value, and dream about.
I’m proud to be part of Windermere Real Estate, a company whose values align with my own: integrity, service, and a commitment to doing what’s right for the client every single time. Windermere gives me the tools, support, and reach to serve my clients at the highest level — but the heart of my business is deeply personal.
What I’m known for is the way I show up. I bring a blend of East Coast tenacity and West Coast groundedness. I’m meticulous with details, relentless in advocacy, and calm in the moments when clients need steadiness the most. Whether I’m evaluating a well log, walking acreage, or guiding a first‑time buyer through their first offer, I approach every step with care, clarity, and a genuine desire to protect and empower the people I serve.
What sets me apart is that I don’t see real estate as transactional. I see it as transformational. I’ve lived through reinvention, resilience, and starting over and that gives me a unique ability to support clients through their own life transitions. I understand what it means to uproot, to dream again, to choose a new chapter. That empathy informs everything I do.
I’m most proud of the brand I’ve built because it reflects who I truly am: warm, ethical, deeply knowledgeable about rural and equestrian properties, and unwavering in my commitment to my clients. My work is not about volume; it’s about relationships, trust, and helping people find a place where their lives can unfold with joy and possibility.
What I want readers to know is this: whether you’re buying your first home, selling a property with history, or searching for the perfect horse property, I’m here to guide you with honesty, expertise, and heart. My brand is built on one promise, I will show up for you fully, every step of the way.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I read a lot and one of my favorite inspirational books “The Pathway of Roses” by Christian Larson has been like a bible to me. I read a portion of it every morning. I start my day out with 10/10/10. 10 minutes of prayer/meditation, 10 minutes of reading something spiritual, inspiring and 10 minutes of journaling. I also listen to talks from Rev August Gold. and the book “A Course In Miracles”.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lisagersten.com
- Instagram: Lisaholderbygersten.realtor, lisaholderbyauthor
- Facebook: Lisa Holderby-Gersten Realtor
