Thank you for visiting my Bio page, This website and my others continue to be a great way to reach out to my past clients, friends, and, of course, to people I have yet to meet. Believe it or not, this is also a great way for me to stay in touch with my family (which is spread out from Florida to Virginia!)
After graduating from American University in Washington, DC, I went into banking and ended up managing a branch office for the then Citizen’s Bank & Trust. Just prior to that I had been a bank teller – this is where I met a man named Urban Donnelly (he changed the course of my life). Urban managed a real estate company in Aspen Hill at the time and was a customer of the bank. Urban gave me information on how I could obtain my real license and helped me through that process. After obtaining my license I joined his firm on a part time basis. Later he became a Top Producing Realtor with Long & Foster in Silver Spring, and I moved on to associate with Long & Foster in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
My Mom, Dad, Sister, and I visited the Outer Banks on vacation every year for many years during the late 60’2 and early 70’s. In the early ’80’s my Dad, Charlie, remarried and relocated to Kitty Hawk with his wife Pat, and later (in 1985), I moved here. I was soon followed by my sister, Jeanne, and her husband, and then by my Mom, Jan. I like to call it a “mass exodus” to Carolina … no more Beltway mania!
During my real estate career here on the Outer Banks, one of the questions I am often asked is how I came to be known as “The SANDMAN.” In the late ’80’s, I was working with some folks who were looking at Oceanside Lots in Duck, a sandy dune area. The wife turned to me on the spur of the moment and said “You sell sand … You’re the Sandman”! I kind of liked it and have used it ever since. And boy has it worked! People I talk too sometimes cannot remember my real name, but they remember “The SANDMAN.” This was never more obvious to me than when I called a fellow REALTOR® at his home to discuss an offer. His 12 year old son answered the phone … when I asked for his Dad, and told him my name, “John Leatherwood,” he responded …” oh, the Sandman!” I got a chuckle out of that.
I believe that my success, in addition to my continuous efforts to provide superior marketing, sound advice, and personal service, is due to my commitment to my clients. Whether someone is purchasing an Oceanfront property in the $3M plus range or a home in the $400,000 range, I want that person to receive the very best service in the market. It must be working, for I have received so many nice REVIEWS from past clients.
I love to take short trips & to explore new places. Trips with my adult children (1 son and 2 daughters) are awesome. Enjoy the beach, bicycle riding, motorcycle rides & the occasional 9 holes at the Pointe or Carolina Club courses. One day I would like to ride across this great Country of ours (and back!) and see what I see. I always had a plan to do this with my “brother from another mother” Dave Filler – my lifelong best bud.
I also enjoy a good book. About 2004, I began to do some writing of my own. This was a cathartic process for me which ended up morphing into a book which I titled: “Man Alive – What it Means to be a Man of God”. The front cover footer reads: “For Men Only – Prompting the Hearts and Minds of men to The Path for a Life of Excellence”. ISBN# 9781498490986. It is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble - release date of 12/13/16.
I continue to be blessed in my work which I still very much enjoy. I get to meet so many interesting people each year. It is a good thing when a person really enjoys what they do because then even though it is work (which can be challenging) … it is never boring!
Please contact me with any questions. I look forward to being of service to you one day with your real estate needs here on the … OUTER BANKS of North Carolina.
