Crystal Beach, Texas, March 26, 2015: Swede’s Real Estate is celebrating a milestone 60th Anniversary this year. Established in 1965 by G.I. “Swede” Smith, Swede’s Real Estate was the first – and for many years, the only – real estate company on Bolivar Peninsula. Swede was a colorful character, known to nearly everyone and famous for his no shoes, no shirt working style. He initially opened Swede’s Real Estate in the back office of Swede’s Store at the corner of Crystal Beach Road and Hwy 87, later shifting operations to the downstairs of his beach home. In the 1980’s he sold the business to Judy Manning. Anne Willis, who Mr. Swede had encouraged to earn her real estate license years before, purchased it in 1995. Anne has been an active community member—serving as President of the Bolivar Peninsula Chamber of Commerce for 25 years; instrumental in the creation of the Texas Crab Festival and the Lighthouse Krewe. Swede’s Real Estate now manages over 200 properties and is well-known up and down the coast for it’s service and selection. Many of today’s customers tell us their grandparents rented from Swede’s. While these days we insist our employees work in shirts and shoes, our tradition of friendly customer service continues as we serve a new generation of Bolivar beachgoers.
Anne Willis, who Mr. Swede had encouraged to earn her real estate license years before, purchased Swede’s Real Estate in 1995.
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Remember Swede so well. He was a character, but what a wonderful one and he fit in so well with the free-spirit of Bolivar Peninsula. I know things have to change, we’re going to become more “urbanized” and “upscale.” But so much is going to be lost in the process. Still, we’ll always have our memories of Swede and the Lands and other wonderful families from the past.
Our family has rented from Swede’s for over 40 years. We have had a couple of glitches over the years, but Swede’s always came through for us. Their customer service is wonderful. We will never use another real estate company. When I win the lottery, I will call Swede’s to find me a beach house to buy, not just rent!
Happy Anniversary!