Jumping into a new career is always a risk, but Steph Crawford’s first year in real estate proved it was a wise move. Crawford, a real estate professional with Douglas Elliman, closed nearly $13 million in transactions, more than $20 million total when you count the additional $7 million in deals that she handled as an assistant broker. “I closed 15 deals, averaging a sales price of $1.3 million,” she reports. “I can only go up from here.”

As a Massachusetts native who’s lived in Boston’s South End since 2007, Crawford has experienced what each part of Boston proper and the suburbs has to offer its residents. Early on, she had a career in philanthropy at academic and health care institutions in the Boston area. “I started my career at Harvard, specializing in gift planning and tax law as it relates to estate planning,” she recalls. “I carried this skillset over to front-line fundraising and found early on that connecting with donors and building long-term relationships came very natural.” This experience made her transition to real estate ideal.

“In real estate, as was the case in philanthropic giving, making a large financial decision can be stressful and emotional,” she says. “For many people, this is a daunting proposition. However, I ensure that each of my clients is at the center of the process and that I guide them with my thorough knowledge of the market and strong negotiation skills.”

She works closely with buyers and sellers to learn what’s important to them in their home purchase/sale to ensure that they arrive at their desired outcome. “There is never a moment where my clients do not know what is happening in their home sale or search,” Crawford declares. “Whether it be marketing efforts, showings/open houses or events, they are always the decision-makers.”

When she’s not working, Crawford enjoys sailing, yoga and participating in triathlons.