When Lonnie Skalicky drives down a street, he sees so many dreams that he made come true.

That's what realtors do: turn dreams into reality.

That's what Sterling Real Estate has done for a quarter of a century.

In fact, when Lonnie Skalicky, broker/owner, was asked to recall a significant milestone in his career, this is the one he shared: "A little girl of a couple, whom I had helped buy a home, saw me and jumped into my arms and thanked me for getting them a new home. It was very heart-warming."

Making house-dreams come true has been the order of the day for Sterling Real Estate for 25 years.

The anniversary will be celebrated May 27, 28 and 29 with an open house at the firm's headquarters, 1426 First Ave. SW in the Sterling Shopping Center.

All former and current realtors and realty firm employees will be invited, but the special guests will be those people -- buyers and sellers -- whom Sterling Real Estate has assisted for the last 25 years.

The Sterling Real Estate history goes back to Howard L. Jensen of Albert Lea, the firm's first owner.

Jensen and realtors Judy Nolan, Lorraine Ericksen (deceased), Conrad Schaefer and Gus Gunderson pioneered Sterling Real Estate in 1978.

"The real estate climate in Austin was excellent at that time," said Skalicky, who called upon administrative office manager Ruth Arons for historical fact-checking assistance. "The Hormel Foods workforce was high, interest rates relatively low and houses were moving."

Two years later, Skalicky, a native of Blooming Prairie, joined the firm, which grew to 10 salespeople.

Arons is the latest in a small handful of front office personnel, that has included Cheryl Crews, Deann Poorman and Karen Seymour, who worked for the firm for 16 years before retiring.

Ten years after Skalicky joined the firm he purchased the business from Jensen.

"That was 1990 and interest rates soared to as much as 18 percent," Skalicky said. "You couldn't even find anyone who would sell for a contract-for-deed. It was tough on realtors."

At the time, Skalicky had ascended through the ranks of the Austin Jaycees to become the state president. The Jaycees organization was near and dear to Skalicky and inspired him to encourage all future sales associates to "network."

"I've always encouraged our sales people to join a club or organization or church or some other community endeavor," he said. "I think it's important to network that way and to communicate with people and in part to give back to the community."

Skalicky weathered the slow economy of the early 1990s, but watched six salespeople leave the firm.

Three of the departures, Skalicky proudly noted, opened agencies of their own: Mike Steichen, Larry Bunker and husband and wife team, Gary and Audrey Wencl.

Among other Sterling Real Estate agents, who have gone on to success with other firms include Nancy Ulwelling, Mary Lou Olson, Sheila Powell, Ted and Mary Stuhr, Dawn Taylor, Bruce Whiteaker and Brad Gorman.

When the economy turned around in the early 1990s, so did the real estate market in Austin. By then, Skalicky had become one of the few certified appraisers.

Two years ago, his son, Aaron, joined the firm.

Today, the firm's associates include Mary Lindgren-Gorman, Mary Keenan, Jerry Keenan, Ed Young, Peggy Young, Darlene J. Gorman, Mark LeVasseur, Larry Seiver, Virginia Milton, Ed Louden, Sue Espe-Stark, Dayami Fournier, Richard Carlson and Bill Engel, as well as Lonnie and Aaron Skalicky.

Broker/owner Skalicky -- bolstered by Aarons' words -- said the firm's sales associates' experience and constant networking inside the firm with regular meetings and continuing education and outside the office with clients -- are assets of Sterling Real Estate.

"We enjoy golf outings, family picnics, go bowling, celebrate birthdays and do a lot together," he said.

And Skalicky said he preaches and practices honesty, in all that Sterling Real Estate representatives do.

"If you don't have an honest office, you won't stay in business for 25 years," he said.

Computer technology has made it easier and more efficient, mortgage lending has gotten more creative, first-time home buyers aren't automatically rejected by lenders thanks to government subsidized programs and state representative law protects both sellers and buyers in all transactions.

But Skalicky realizes how competitive the real estate business is. When he starts listing the realty firms who have left Austin, including franchises like Century 21, ReMax and Coldwell Banker, the list literally becomes too long to mention all.

Skalicky was also the first among local firms to recognize an opportunity. He hired Dayami Fournier as a bilingual sales executive.

Thus, Sterling Real Estate is able to assist the growing number of Spanish-speaking home buyers in Austin.

As the firm prepares to celebrate a silver anniversary, the real estate climate is again excellent in Austin.

Interest rates hover around the 4.5 to 5 percent mark, the demand is strong, lenders are positive about being able to help home buyers and the Multiple Listing Service and Austin Board of Realtors are aggressively promoting the city and marketing their services.

In other words, on the eve of a silver anniversary, Skalicky can say "The realty business is good.

"It never gets boring," he said. "Maybe, getting people out of fixes they get themselves into is as rewarding as anything in this business. That and making people happy with an enjoyable transaction over a house. They're both very satisfying in this business."

For information, call 433-1833 or e-mail newhome@smig.net or log on to www.realtor.com/austinmn/sterlingrealestate

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com