Simply the Best at Your Service

W

ithin every industry, there is a class of distinction, the cream of the crop. There are those who have proven themselves repeatedly and shown others they understand how to execute their responsibilities with excellence. And beyond reproach.

In El Paso County, the Elite 25 honors not only the dedication and excellence of El Paso County’s top luxury realtors, but also the commitment they give to their communities and their clients.

The Elite 25 celebrates the top 1% of realtors representing this area, serving as a referral network for real estate professionals in the luxury home market. Selection criteria are based on home sales in El Paso County, individual realtor sales volume and other factors.

The Elite 25 celebrates the top 1% of realtors, serving as a referral network for real estate professionals. 

These realtors bring decades of expertise to every transaction, ensuring clients receive exceptional service through the milestones, decisions and traditions that shape not just homes, but individual lives and their legacies. 

“We help people with the single largest financial decision they will make in their lives,” said Patterson Group Realtor Kevin Patterson. “It involves families, money and a fair amount of emotion. They need to have a trusted advisor who they believe in and who can assist them with a complicated process that they don’t do frequently.”

Through relationships, local involvement and a deep understanding of the region, the group helps build stronger neighborhoods, more connected communities and a city shaped by care, trust and long-term commitment. These realtors feel honored to be part of the Elite 25, and they enjoy the support and expertise shared among the group’s professionals. 

ERA Realtor Peter Olsen is president of Elite 25 and says he hopes to make a positive impact on the profession by emphasizing its value to consumers.

“It’s a really important time in our industry to show the professionalism and value of the industry,” Peter said.

Building Relationships

For these realtors, real estate isn’t about transactions. It’s about relationships. 

“It’s serving (clients),” said Platinum Group Realtor Marquesa Hobbs. “It’s not transaction-oriented. I’m here to help them through whatever life situation they’re going through. Sometimes they’re good, sometimes they’re bad. And so, when I think about how I can serve them, it’s how can I add clarity to the process? How can I make it easier?”

Broadmoor real estate expert Trish Ingels has one simple trick to ensure communication is at the forefront of every client interaction: when the phone rings, pick it up. With decades of real estate experience, Trish said her biggest nugget of wisdom she imparts to young realtors is the importance of making phone calls, rather than texting. 

“I like talking to people,” Trish said. “I talk to my people all the time so that they feel comfortable and they’re on top of what’s happening.”

Peter explained his customer-oriented mindset means walking clients through every aspect of the home-buying or -selling process. He personally prepares contracts, writes listings, takes home photos and videos, supervises home inspections, oversees showings and more, all to ensure his clients’ best interests are at heart.

For many Elite 25 realtors, clients become friends who ask for advice years after a transaction. Marquesa said she throws client appreciation parties and events, where past and present clients meet and make new friends. Whether it’s recommendations for Pilates or a babysitter, Trish said she loves to make and build connections for former clients even years after the transaction. 

Part of the client relationship is learning everyone’s unique needs, priorities and life situations, because that influences where and what they are searching for. A young family might want to be close to quality schools. Retired home buyers might value the slower-paced lifestyle of Colorado Springs’ westside, while outdoor enthusiasts might want easy access to hiking, nature and other recreational opportunities.

“Being a seasoned agent, understanding the different dynamics of the different parts of town, you can help advise your clients on where they might feel more comfortable and feel more at home,” Peter said. 

A Changing Landscape 

Elite 25 realtors have seen the character of Colorado Springs evolve as the city experienced explosive development and population growth, most concentrated in the northern and eastern regions. In 1990, the city’s population was just under 300,000, compared to nearly 500,000 in 2024 U.S. Census estimates.

That growth has led to new recreational, entertainment and job opportunities. But it’s also led to increased traffic, and the loss of the small-town feel of the 1960s, when the city’s population was less than 100,000. 

“It’s no longer the sleepy little town where you could easily park downtown and get around town in five to 10 minutes. I remember when Woodman Road was a dirt road and people rode horses on it,” Kevin said. “Now, we have an airport that serves 12+ cities nonstop, world-class healthcare and a variety of other benefits from that growth. We also have challenges in affordability, public safety and in transportation, but we need to seek new ways to make it easier for people to afford a home and to live in this community in peace.”

As long-time residents themselves, the Elite 25 know why the city has gained such popularity. They said they love the natural beauty, the proximity to hiking and outdoor activities and the relative affordability compared to cities such as Denver.

Service to Their Communities 

The realtors of the Elite 25 are also deeply involved in their communities through service to local nonprofits, schools, charities and community initiatives that strengthen Colorado Springs from the inside out. 

Peter has volunteered with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Habitat for Humanity. Patterson has served on boards for local hospitals, schools, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and the Economic Development Corporation. 

Marquesa partners with for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), which serves children and families in the foster care system. She is involved in Exodus Road, a nonprofit that raises awareness for and fights against human trafficking globally.

She also volunteers with different charitable organizations through the National Charity League, serves on the Board of the Colorado Springs Better Business Bureau and serves on the program committee for the Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce. 

Defining Success

Beyond sales figures and dollar amounts, the definition of success to these professionals comes from other sources.

“I operate from a space of gratitude and appreciation for life and its blessings,” Marquesa said. “I feel like that’s my role, that’s why we’re here on Earth, is to help each other and to make the path easier for those around us.”

“That’s why we’re here on Earth, to help each other and to make the path easier for those around us.”

Their formula equates to something many can relate to: it includes happy customers, a love for the profession and being surrounded by family and friends. 

“Success is being happy with your life. You just have to enjoy your day. You have to enjoy your blessings and what you have,” Trish said. “I enjoy getting to know people and helping people. I enjoy the positive feedback I get from that. It feeds my soul.”