Alexandra Ewell is a third generation Sedona-based realtor.
That move not only paved the way for a career for him but for his wife and three daughters, who all obtained their real estate licenses. Though DePoe did not live to see his granddaughter, Alexandra Ewell, follow his lead, today, Ewell is a full-time realtor for Coldwell Banker Realty in Sedona, the same office he once owned.
As a third generation agent, Ewell covers the Sedona, Camp Verde and Cornville market and surrounding areas.
“A lot of my childhood was driving through Sedona neighborhoods with my grandparents and my mom and looking at houses and critiquing them,” said Ewell. “It was really fun and I have a lot of fond memories. I felt like I grew up as a realtor.”
Ewell worked with her mom for a long time and learned a great deal from her. “She’s really knowledgeable about real estate and it definitely helped me understand the terminology, technical terms, styles of construction, foundation, roofing and styles,” she said about her mother, Lauren DePoe.
DePoe is the association executive for the Sedona Verde Valley Association of Realtors. “My dad loved Alex and her daughter, Arya, very much,” she said. “He would be so happy to know she’s followed in his footsteps.”
Ewell says one challenge she had was establishing credibility, especially as a young agent. “At the time, I was only one of three realtors under 30 and other agents were older, tenured and very experienced, so I had to really work hard and try to appear as the good agent that I was.”
Coach counselor and artist Caitlin Flynn says Alex helped her with letting go of her emotional connection to her home when she wanted to sell. “Alex said something that gave me relief. She said that selling a house is like becoming a supernova. Pressure builds up and then you’re set free to a new life. Alex is a very deep person, savvy and very diplomatic. “
Explaining how each transaction is different, Ewell says her success is about guiding and protecting her clients. “Be it legal liability, purchasing a home that is a money pit or a home that might break their finances, it’s important to be that problem-solver. I have to be creative and it really gets my brain working.”
“Alexandra Ewell may be a little short on age but she is tall on knowledge and ability,” said Coldwell Banker Realty Associate Broker and Branch Manager for Village of Oak Creek and Sedona Ronald Volkman. “She is a natural problem solver who pulls solutions together time after time when others would give up.”
Integrity is very important to Ewell and she believes that having a driving force that is grounded in integrity is key. “You want to be compensated for the work you put forth but ultimately it’s not the goal. I like to have a connection with my clients and I always come out of a sale with a new best friend or somebody I can have dinner with.”
“I always enjoy working with Alex,” said Home Inspector General Ryan Palmer. “Not only is she very knowledgeable about real estate, but it’s clear that she cares for her clients and goes above and beyond to make sure they are taken care of.”
The accomplishments of John DePoe are still evident in Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, where a street carries his name. “My grandfather helped to build and develop Junipine Resort, the Canyon Portal which is now Canyon Breeze Restaurant, along with several other properties in and around Sedona. There’s so many reminders of him. He even diversified and was into solar and wind power for a while.”
Another influential person in Ewell’s life is her grandmother, Mary Kay Depoe, who served as director of the Sedona Head Start Program for 41 years and retired in 2019. “She’s very inspiring and still involved in so many projects and serves on several boards. She has a lot of energy and I love the fact that we share the same birthday.”
Ewell obtained a degree in literature from Arizona State University with the intention of getting her master’s degree to teach at the college level. “I didn’t want to live in Phoenix anymore and real estate kept calling me. I love Sedona and the small town feel of familiarity, plus it’s so beautiful and there’s amazing food, hiking and, lately, so many fun events. Many of my school friends have stayed. It’s a hard place to leave.”
Alex is married to Izaak, a vacation sales agent with Diamond Resorts. The couple has an 8-year-old daughter named Arya. FBN
By Ronnie V. Tierney, FBN
