Today we’d like to introduce you to Anneliese Lightfoot.
Hi Anneliese, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The honest version of how I got into real estate actually starts with me doing something most agents probably hate to hear—I sold my own home as a For Sale By Owner.
And to be fair, I don’t think I did a terrible job. But that experience opened my eyes in a way I didn’t expect. I got a firsthand look at why so many homeowners feel frustrated with the process, and also how, without the right strategy, a lot of money quietly gets left on the table.
At the time, I wasn’t thinking, “this is my entry into real estate.” I owned a salon and had been in that business for about seven years. But even then, I was already wired to think a little differently. When I moved into my second salon space, I wanted to update the flooring, and my landlord wouldn’t offer any kind of credit toward the improvements. That didn’t sit well with me.
So instead of asking for permission, I decided to buy my own building.
My husband and I purchased a commercial property and spent nearly two years renovating it ourselves, pouring just about everything we had into it. There were definitely moments where we questioned our sanity. We used to joke that if things didn’t work out, we might end up living in the building. But little by little, it started to come together.
That experience changed the way I thought about money, ownership, and long-term wealth. I became a little obsessed with understanding real estate; how it works, how people build wealth through it, and where people go wrong.
While I was on maternity leave with my second baby, I decided to take the real estate course and get licensed. At the time, it wasn’t even about becoming an agent. My plan was just to use my license to invest for myself and be strategic with commissions.
But once I got into it, something clicked.
Real estate gave me a way to combine everything I naturally lean toward; business, strategy, creativity, and working with people. I’m an entrepreneur at heart, and this felt like something I could truly build and shape into my own.
Looking back, it wasn’t one big decision that led me here, it was a series of small ones. But every step, even the messy or uncertain ones, pushed me in this direction.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, and I don’t think this is a business that ever really feels “easy,” no matter how well things are going.
Real estate can be heavy. You’re not just managing transactions, you’re carrying people’s futures, their money, their timelines, and a lot of emotion that comes with it. And that weight doesn’t really turn off.
What surprised me the most is that being busy isn’t necessarily the stressful part, it’s the responsibility that comes with it. When you have multiple clients depending on you at once, it’s not about worrying that things will fall apart… it’s the awareness that what you’re handling actually matters in a very real way for each person involved.
I’ve had nights where I wake up thinking about a detail in a contract or a decision a client is making, not out of panic, but because I genuinely care about getting it right for them.
That’s the part people don’t always see. But it’s also what’s shaped me the most. It’s forced me to take my role seriously, be incredibly intentional, and show up at a higher level for the people who trust me with such big decisions.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
List with Lightfoot is really just a reflection of how I think about real estate.
I’ve never been someone who’s comfortable doing things just because “that’s how it’s always been done.” A lot of this industry runs on the same playbook, and I’ve always been more interested in figuring out what actually works, even if that means trying something different.
I tend to work really well with unique properties, because they require more thought. You can’t just plug them into the market and hope for the best. You have to understand who the ideal buyer is, how they think, and what’s going to make that property stand out to them. That’s where I spend most of my time, figuring out the strategy before anything ever goes live.
My background in business and marketing definitely shapes how I approach things. I look at every listing like it’s its own little business. How do we position it? Who are we trying to reach? What’s going to make someone feel something when they see it? And then we build everything around that, from pricing to presentation to marketing.
I’m also very serious about protecting my clients’ best interests. There’s a lot that can go wrong in a transaction, and I don’t take that lightly. I’d rather have honest conversations and do things the right way than just push something through.
I’m probably most proud that my business doesn’t feel cookie-cutter. It’s built on being thoughtful, a little unconventional, and focused on outcomes, not just activity.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I’ve always had a high tolerance for risk, but I think that started earlier than real estate.
I grew up working on hot rods with my dad and even drag raced as a teenager, so I’ve always loved a little adrenaline. Risk doesn’t scare me. But at the same time, I’ve always had a strong sense of responsibility, which I know sounds a little contradictory.
For me, the difference is understanding the consequences. I don’t take risks blindly, I think through them. I look at the upside, the downside, and what I’m willing to sacrifice to make it work.
Because in my experience, the best “risks” usually aren’t that risky, they just require a level of discomfort most people aren’t willing to choose.
When my husband and I bought our first investment property, it wasn’t glamorous. It meant saying no to a lot of things, no new cars, less spending, working harder to make sure everything was covered. It was a conscious decision to be uncomfortable for a period of time in exchange for something bigger long-term.
That’s how I think about risk in general. I’m willing to bet on something if I understand it and believe in it, but I’m also willing to do the hard, sometimes uncomfortable work that comes with it.
I think a lot of people avoid risk because they’re trying to avoid discomfort. But for me, that’s usually where the opportunity is.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://listwithlightfoot.com
- Instagram: @annelieselightfoot
- Facebook: @coastalhomeadvisor
