Realtor® Heather Swanson: Passionate About Florida’s Environment
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – “Florida has a lot of raw land; however, we can’t use it all for housing – we must take a balanced approach to development and conservation,” says Heather Swanson, a broker associate with Campus to Coast Realty, based in Gainesville. Her concern for that balance is one of the reasons she chose a career in real estate in 2005. That, and her desire for flexibility so she could balance work and family, especially as a single mother.
Swanson moved from Key West and had no local connections before settling in Gainesville. "I didn’t know a soul,” she recalls. “My family was in Connecticut, Oregon and Arizona.”
However, she leaned on her background in advertising and marketing, spending her early days without listings using various methods like a local real estate channel to inform the area that she was a local Realtor. “We had a local real estate channel back then when TV was analog. Most people would put their listings up, but I didn’t have any, so I promoted myself,” she says.
Swanson is one of 20 Realtors in the first class of Florida Realtors® Board Certified Professionals, a new endorsement for Realtors who have reached the pinnacle of their profession and fulfilled leadership, education and skill-based achievements over the life of their real estate careers.
Her determination is evident in her approach to her profession. Continuing education is key to her approach. "I got my broker’s license, became a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) certification, and I continue to add to the alphabet soup,” she says, joking about the designations behind her name. “The more I know, the better I can serve my customers."
From land to sea, Swanson believes that we must protect and preserve Florida’s environmental assets, specifically its raw land and waters. Swanson’s contributions to her community include efforts to improve water quality. Through various initiatives, like spring clean-up projects, she has demonstrated her commitment to ensuring a better environmental future for Gainesville.
Her involvement in the community beyond her environmental work has significantly shaped her career trajectory. From attending her son’s sports events to serving on boards, she has deeply entrenched herself in the fabric of Gainesville. Currently, Swanson plays co-ed soccer and is on the board of the local adult soccer league. These engagements have not only helped her grow a local business but also strengthen the trust of her community in her services.
In her community, the organizations, Girls Place and Family Promise hold a special place in her heart as they focus on children's welfare. She believes, "If the kids don’t have strong backgrounds, then they’re not going to be strong adults."
Her focus on supporting the youth of Gainesville echoes her broader philosophy on the environment and real estate: Investing today for a better tomorrow.
Swanson’s passion for Florida's environment and the community she serves is palpable, but so too is her love for her family. Being a single mother, she knows the significance of creating a stable foundation for her son, ensuring he grows up aware of the importance of community service and environmental stewardship. "The values I instill in my son today will shape the community leader he becomes tomorrow," she says.
Contributing positively to a community she calls home is important to Swanson. She knows that homes are more than just walls and roofs. They’re the future memories of families, the anchors of communities, and the guardians of the environment. “Let’s protect them, value them, and pass them on to the next generation with pride," she says.
For Swanson, Florida's environment isn't just a passion—it’s a way of life. And with every sale, every community initiative and every personal connection she fosters, she's writing a legacy of positive change for the area she calls home.
Florida Realtors® serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research, and legislative representation to 238,000 members in 50 boards/associations. Florida Realtors® Newsroom website is available at floridarealtors.org/newsroom.