Cumberland County

Jamie Benner & Gordie Holmes

Direct Real Estate can help anyone looking for guidance through the waters of buying or selling any residential, commercial or investment properties in any price range. With decades of experience, we have the local knowledge and connections to assist  you in a smooth transaction giving  you peace of mind. Meet Jamie and Gordie.

*Jamie Benner grew up in Northern Maine and spent many fond years as a child at her family’s camp during the summer. She enjoyed fishing, swimming, canoeing and exploring the woods where she and her brother built a fantastic tree house! It was the quintessential Maine experience in Aroostook County and cherished memories were made for a lifetime. Jamie was hand-picked out of a career in the service and hospitality industry by Gordie Holmes when he noticed how fond she was of the local community while serving at the famous Becky’s Diner. One event led to the next and he ended up mentoring her into Maine’s premier Realtor. In just five short years Jamie has contributed over 17 million dollars in smoothly executed property transactions – a vast transformation from pouring coffee and helping Becky’s be the icon it is. While going above and beyond to make buying or selling property understandable and simple, Jamie embodies the spirit and vision that we at Direct Real Estate proudly exemplify!

*My name is Gordon Holmes. I was just 26 when I decided that Real Estate was for me. I had been to college and the U.S. Navy. I had worked as a commercial fisherman. I needed to make a change that would be better for me and my family.

I studied for my real estate exams and passed with flying colors. That was in March of 1975. I couldn’t have been more pleased when I was offered a position at Peterson Realty, one of Maine’s largest firms in those days. I couldn’t wait to get started in the business. I thought they were kidding when they gave me my own office and desk!! All I had to do was sell houses and land and we split the commission between me and the office. I really expected to have to wash the boss’s car or, mow the lawns at the various branch offices to pay my keep.

During my interview with the hiring partner I noticed a plaque on his wall that said Peterson Realty Million Dollar Club. I asked him how he had won that plaque and he told me it was awarded at the company office Christmas party if you sold a million dollars worth of real estate during the year. I told him he should go order one for me and have my name inscribed on it now. He laughed at me and said that had never happened in the company’s history. He also awarded me my first Million Dollar Club plaque the following December.

I worked at Peterson Realty for twenty three years. I became a partner and eventually purchased the company in 1986. Then disaster struck, the real estate market collapsed and the foreclosure market dominated the commercial and eventually because of personal loan guarantees, the residential housing market as well. MY company was in great peril. The newspapers were page after page of public foreclosure sale advertisements. I remember sitting in my office saying to myself, “the market belongs to the auctioneers and they won’t allow real estate brokers to participate in the process. I’m going to change that.”

I called the state auctioneers office and discovered that an auctioneer’s license could be obtained for $10. I had $10 and I bought one. Eventually, with a full force marketing effort, I introduced Real Estate Brokers to the auction market. The auction houses were forced into paying fees to real estate brokers that brought and represented winning bidders to real estate auction sales!

There is nothing like a free market to make things work financially.

Nowadays we are back to a more conventional market and selling more real estate than ever. Give us a call and see what we can do to make your dream of owning a wonderful Maine cabin come true. In the past thirty five years I have accumulated in access of two hundred and sixty million dollars worth of lifetime sales. I’m thrilled to be involved with Maine Cabin Masters!