In real estate and the community By Jillian Chandler
“We live in North Idaho, and our local communities help to support our families, so it’s natural and easy for us wanting to give back,” shares Ben Geanetta, who along with friend Sean Cramer recently created a program that gives back to local communities in North Idaho.
Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Ben and his wife Jessica made the move to North Idaho in 2018, as they wanted to be in a small town to raise their children. He worked for a few real estate companies in Sandpoint before co-founding Elite Realty Partners with Scott Cunningham in 2022. Their mission is to deliver exceptional services, where the clients’ needs, expectations and preferences come first, and ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.
Sean moved to North Idaho in March of 2022 from Washington state, drawn to the area for many reasons, though primarily to be closer to family. “My wife Ashley and I were looking at where we would choose to raise our boys, and North Idaho checked our whole wish list,” he says. The move also brought them closer to Sean’s parents, who live in Sagle, and his brother’s family, who reside in the Selle Valley. Sean has more than a decade of experience in mortgage lending specifically and today is the VP Northwest Regional Manager of Highlands Residential Mortgage, a direct-to-agency lender committed to offering a wide array of competitive loan programs coupled with world-class service.
Sean and Ben were introduced to each other through fellow Realtor Whitney Pappas, who helped Sean with the purchase of his own home in the area. “Sean and I share a lot of the same values and vision,” Ben affirms. “One day, during one of our conversations, we ventured into our desire in giving back to our communities.”
In January of this year, Ben and Sean launched “Moves That Matter.” The basis of the program is simple: When a client closes escrow with Ben and/or Sean, they have the client pick a charity, and a $200 donation from each vendor involved is made on the client’s behalf.
Planning is underway to host their first—of what they hope to be many—community event. The evening will include a dinner and auction, with proceeds going to benefit area organizations and nonprofits. They are currently seeking gift basket donations and items from area businesses.
As of print time, date and location had not yet been determined, though it will be at a business in Sandpoint. Tickets will go on sale prior to the event and can be purchased by contacting Sean or Ben.
“During the dinner, the attendees will vote on where the proceeds from dinner and the gift baskets will go,” according to Ben. “The organization with the most votes will get 50 percent of the proceeds, second will get 30 percent and third will receive 20 percent.” For those interested in learning more about Moves That Matter and their upcoming event, Ben and Sean invite you to reach out to them today.
Ben Geanetta, Team Lead | Realtor
Elite Realty Partners
Licensing SP46682
208.400.6162
Sean Cramer, VP Northwest Regional Manager
Highlands Residential Mortgage
NMLS# 1100122
425.507.2865