St. Johns Real Estate Team Menton & Ballou

by Debbie Gaylord

​A few years ago two of the top St. Johns Real Estate Agents, George L. Ballou II and Lisa Menton had an idea that would change the trajectory of their careers forever.
    Each of them were leading agents at Watson Realty in St. Johns and their plan centered on joining forces, leveraging their combined forty plus years of experience and individual success to create a full-service real estate team.  Together they would harness the area’s growth and mentor other realtors on a level they never imaged.  Their ultimate goal was to provide  clients with unprecedented market exposure, and access to the problem-solving skills of the best in the business.
    George and Lisa began by developing a team of independent, strong agents and dedicated themselves to nurturing their success.    They said that one important aspect as they grew was to find Realtors who did not specialize as buyer’s or seller’s agents but were able to work with both.  When a team-member is faced with a challenge, the team is there to assist.  Therefore when you hire the Menton Ballou Group you are getting a full service real estate experience.  They also have a people who work behind the scenes on administrative tasks to help keep things organized and allow the agents to focus on building relationships and serving clients directly, without distraction.
    The success of the Menton Ballou Group is their ability to give listed customers unprecedented exposure through marketing combined with access to the entire team when it comes to problem-solving.They have had remarkable success with this formula and continue to be the top producing team at Watson with nearly $40 million in sales this year alone and this is projected to continue to increase in the future.

Lisa Menton

​Lisa Menton is a resident of St. Johns Golf and Country Club where she lives with her husband and daughter. She became a Real Estate Agent not long after moving to St. Johns over a decade ago. In the early years, she specialized in helping people relocate to the area.
     “I built upon that success with my personal experience of relocating to North East Florida.  I know the challenges and stress that comes with moving your family.  Real Estate allows me to help others with this transition to find not a new house, but a new home.  I can't imagine doing anything else.”
    Her success in real estate is the direct result of the knowledge she gained in the business world. Prior to becoming a Realtor ten years ago, she spent 17 years with Merrill Lynch and financial brokerage firms in Canada.  This was crucial during the  recession.
     “I understand the corporate world, I understand systems and their importance in streamlining business. That is the approach I take to my real estate transactions. That leaves time for what is truly important, getting people/families settled in their new communities, and putting down roots.”
    Lisa is an expert at studying the market and navigating it for her clients. “The ever evolving real estate market is a challenge for people in the best of times.”

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George L. Ballou II

​     Real estate has always figured heavily in George's life. He was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio where he attended Cincinnati Country Day School and the University of Cincinnati while majoring in accounting. He later raised his family on a farm near Batesville, Indiana for over ten years along with our horses, goats and Mastiff dogs.  He says it was a great life but when he transitioned from the world of banking to Real estate a series of opportunities lead him from Ohio to Vermont and Maine before relocating with his wife to the St. Augustine/Ponte Vedra area.  He currently is a resident of Nocatee in Del Webb Ponte Vedra, a community he loves.
    George attributes his success to his understanding of the market and the relationships he builds with clients.
    “My skills start with being a good listener and finish with being a tireless advocate of my customer’s and client’s desired real estate goals through the closing and beyond.”  He says  his key inspirations are his granddaughters, the little girls in his life who call him GaGa! It also helps that his wife Jamie Ballou is a team member. His "twenty-four/seven" work schedule reflects the fact that he loves what he does.

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The Menton Ballou team consists of Alexis McDaniel, Jamie Ballou, Lisa Menton, George L Ballou, II, Jody Steele, Stella Alexander, John McClure, Dave Kenyon, Melissa Naldzin, David Carter. For information about the team or to work with them visit www.mentonandballougroup.com