As an incredibly successful husband and wife real estate duo, Chris and Kara Resop are globally known as The Resop Team. They bring a wealth of local Southwest Florida insight and an extraordinary work ethic to the brokerage. They have completed over 200 real estate transactions since 2015, surpassing $800M in sales, setting them apart as top agents at The Agency.
Born and raised in Naples, Kara had the fortunate opportunity to grow up in a beautiful community that offers a rare lifestyle seldom found anywhere else in the world. She obtained her real estate license while pursuing her degree and joined Coldwell Banker, where she helped manage a top-producing sales team and became highly skilled at bringing deals together.
Once Kara married her husband, Chris Resop, she committed herself to supporting his MLB career, spending the next decade traveling the country with their two small children (even living in Japan for two years while Chris played for the Hanshin Tigers). Kara continued to negotiate personal real estate sales during this time and helped fellow MLB families buy their forever homes.
Chris, also a Naples native, has been involved in real estate from an early age, having grown up in a family of agents and developers, but began his own professional career in baseball. Drafted by the Marlins after high school, he lived out his sports career to its fullest potential. Having played professionally for a total of 14 years, 8 of which were in Major League Baseball, he set down roots in Naples so he and his wife could raise their family.
Here, the power couple discusses with Haute Residence why they chose real estate and what they love about the Naples market.
172 Center St, Naples, FL 34108 - $10,495,000
Photo Credit: Sun Services
Why did you choose Real Estate?
Kara: As a child, I watched my parents work average jobs. They would save and sacrifice what they earned to invest in real estate to get ahead financially. I witnessed countless real estate transactions of all kinds throughout my life and asked many questions while watching my parents slowly but surely gain financial freedom. They would never have had this independence if it weren’t for their real estate investments. This was an inspiration for me.
As I got older, I realized what my parents had sacrificed for many years, and it greatly impacted me. I wanted my own financial independence and freedom, and I knew real estate could take me there if I were willing to make good choices and put in the time. With that in mind, I got my real estate license in 2005 (while still in college) and immediately went to work.
Chris: Real estate was something I grew up with. My parents both had their real estate licenses; my mom is a real estate paralegal and my uncles owned and operated real estate brokerages in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Bozeman, Montana.
My grandfather, a military Midwesterner, moved to St. Pete Beach in 1956 with my grandmother and their five boys. At that time, he had never been to Florida and knew no one. What he knew was ambition. My grandfather was a developer in Minnesota who decided to move to Florida because he was tired of the cold climate. Upon his arrival, he opened his own brokerage, Resop Realty. He was responsible for developing a portion of St. Pete Beach, including condos, apartments, retirement communities, and strip malls. My adult cousins, aunts, and uncles were mainly all realtors, and that family trend continues today. When I retired from my Major League Baseball career in 2014, it was natural for me to transition into real estate; it felt familiar.
What is one of your favorite client stories?
Recently, we were on our way to take our daughter to the barn for her riding lesson. On the way, we received a call from a couple looking to relocate. They let us know that they found us on Instagram and asked if we could show them properties in Naples. It turns out this lovely couple owned many businesses, and one of them happened to be importing and exporting horses. Coincidentally, we were just beginning conversations as a family about purchasing a pony for our daughter. Since meeting them, they've helped us broker a pony for our daughter, who is over the moon! We were so grateful for their help in navigating the purchase of her first pony. It was definitely serendipitous to connect with them. Not only are they our clients; but they've also become our friends.
Waterfront Estate - $9,995,000
What makes your market unique?
The Naples market is unique because of the wonderful weather, quality of life, and cost of living relative to other markets across the country. It's a safe community, perfect for families and/or retirees. Naples has beautiful beaches; it offers a laid-back tropical lifestyle and an abundance of outdoor activities; our schools are tremendous; we have world-class dining and shopping. Great health care facilities and easy access to our international airport—Naples offers all these amenities, and we personally feel blessed to call Naples home.
What is your biggest success story to date?
Kara: Every transaction is a success story. We are thankful every day. The properties and clients we represent today were once only dreams in our heads. We started full-time in real estate just eight short years ago... Today, we stand side-by-side proudly as we approach $1 Billion in sales. This wasn't an accident; it was done intentionally. We believe in dreaming big and taking action. Answering these questions reminds us of where we come from, where we are today, and where we know we’re going. It’s remarkable how far we’ve come. It’s amazing how the dots have connected and taken us full circle. When I got my real estate license back in 2005, I never imagined working alongside my then-aspiring MLB boyfriend to eventually go on to sell real estate as a husband and wife team.
We've had ups and downs along the way, which has brought us to the present, and our current situation and the opportunities we share are a blessing. No dream is too big, so we'll keep on dreaming.
For more information, please contact The Resop Team at 239-231-6164
The Resop Team represents the Olde Naples, FL real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of their listings here.
