Balsam Realty Team

Our team has decades of combined experience in real estate transactions, property management, business, law and digital marketing. We all work together as a team for you and guide you through every step of the way.

We are proud members of the Greater Portland Board of REALTORS®, Maine Association of REALTORS® and National Association of REALTORS® and have earned the National Association of REALTORS® Green Designation, Price Strategy Advisor and Senior Real Estate Specialist designations.

 
 

Suzanne Watson, JD, Masters of Law

Designated Broker & Founder

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In the early 70’s, Suzanne bought an 1800’s row house on Capitol Hill in downtown Washington DC that had suffered a serious fire and had been condemned by the city. Over the next two years, she lovingly restored the structure, including an old staircase and brick fireplace, piece by piece.  This sparked her passion for real estate.

She sold residential real estate for decades between Washington D.C- Capitol Hill and Maine - after buying a 1600’s farmhouse in Woolwich in 1976. Once moving to Maine, she invested in mid-coast region commercial properties, using her skills in restoration to rebuild and preserve historic buildings.  She also owned and managed a number of multi-unit apartment buildings in the greater Portland area - all while working her way to serve as District Manager of four True Value hardware stores in Brunswick, Waterville, Augusta & Rockland, Maine - and earning her BA in Government and Political Theory from Bowdoin College.  

After earning her law degree and a Masters of Law from the University of New Hampshire School of Law, Suzanne worked in Boston and Washington D.C. with the U.S. Congress and White House on clean energy policy, extensively on the linkages between energy policy, environmental quality, and economic development issues. This work yielded a wide breadth of knowledge in energy-efficient technology and innovative green-building techniques.

After many years in DC, Suzanne returned to Maine full-time and opened her own real estate agency, Balsam Realty. 

Over the years, Suzanne has served in the following organizations and positions:

  • Advisor to the Maine Chapter of the National Building Performance Association (BPA)

  • E2 Tech Board Member

  • Steering Committee Member for Freeport Climate Action Now (FCAN)

  • Freeport Project Review Board, Voting Member

  • Economic Development Director, Town of Topsham

  • Independence Association Board Member

  • Oversight Committee for the Redevelopment of the Brunswick Naval Air Base in Brunswick, Maine

  • Founder and Executive Director of the Maine Environment & Energy Center (E2 Center), affiliated with Maine State Chamber of Commerce

  • Director of Office of Innovation, Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)

  • Maine Science and Technology Foundation

  • Senior Policy Advisor, New England States for Coordinated Air Use Management

  • Senior Policy Analyst, Northeast-Midwest Institute House and Senate Coalitions 

  • Director of Policy, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy

  • Historic Preservation Award, Town of Brunswick 

  • Freeport Community Center Volunteer

  • Tedford Shelter Volunteer

She is ready to put her extensive knowledge of buying and selling, sustainability, energy-efficiency technology, renovation/restoration expertise and property management to work for you - with an extensive knowledge of the mid-coast and greater-portland regions and strong desire to do the right thing for you, her client.

 
 

N. Kate Werner, BA, JD

Associate Broker, REALTOR® & Founder

Practicing law gave Kate the calm, assured demeanor to guide her clients through stressful and difficult transactions.  She brings that to everything she does as a REALTOR®.

Kate grew up in Maine’s midcoast and now calls Freeport (where LL Bean is located) home. She earned her Bachelor’s of Arts from University of Maine and University of Southern Maine in Political Science and Government - and then went on to earn her law degree at the University of Maine Law School. She has been a licensed Maine lawyer for 24 years.

Kate is a member of the Maine Bar Association, Elder Law & Real Estate Law Sections, as well as a member of the Greater Portland Board of REALTORS®, Maine Association of REALTORS® and National Association of REALTORS®. She has earned the National Association of REALTORS® Senior Real Estate Specialist Designation and is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® Senior Real Estate Council. She is also an expert in helping Veterans and Active Duty Service Members and is a proud daughter of a Vietnam veteran.

She has organized and run many successful charitable events, has tirelessly pursued the improvement of education in local schools, local arts & cultural projects and oversaw the donation of tens of thousands of dollars a year to the local Maine community through owning Azure Café, a restaurant run by her, her husband Jonas and her two children for 18 years, closing in 2020. She is also a website designer and graphic designer.

Kate has served in the following organizations and positions:

  • Citizen of the Year (together with her husband), Town of Freeport

  • Carol Kaplan Community Annual Service Award (together with her husband), Freeport Community Services

  • Maine State Restaurant - Good Neighbor Award, National Restaurant Association

  • Business of the Year - Maine Disability Rights Center

  • Business of the Year - Freeport Merchants Association (now VisitFreeport)

  • Freeport Community Annual Thanksgiving Dinner (Founder and Volunteer, 17 years running)

  • Meetinghouse Arts, Vice President, Board of Directors, including Chair of Development & serving on Finance Committee

  • Friends of Yarmouth Playmakers Board Member

  • Academic & Creative Education (ACE) (Founder, Freeport Educational Advocacy Group)

  • Freeport Merchants Association (now VisitFreeport) Marketing Committee 

  • Many National and Maine Culinary Awards

 
 

Jonas P. Werner, Bachelor of Science, Business & Accounting

Associate Broker, REALTOR®

Jonas P. Werner moved from Florida to Maine in 1991.  After graduating from University of Southern Maine’s School of Business, he joined Morgan Stanley’s team of Financial Advisors. 

As a serial entrepreneur, he answered his calling 5 years later when he and his wife, Kate, opened Freeport’s Azure Café, operating for 18 years.  The restaurant and staff have won many culinary, wine and cocktail awards including Lobster Chef of the Year, Maine Restaurant Association’s 2015 Chef of Year and Cocktail of the Year for their Basil Gimlet which has been imitated but never replicated.  

Jonas has been recognized for his dedication to his community: receiving the Freeport Community Service’s Carol Kaplan Award for Service and Maine Disability Rights Center’s Business of the Year Award, and has also been awarded VisitFreeport’s 2015 Person of the Year.  He proudly serves on the Board of Directors for Freeport Community Services.

Jonas is also passionate about acting. He has appeared in short films and theater productions in Maine, including Damnationland, the 48 Hour Film Project, and the very popular play Almost Maine for the Freeport Community Players.

Jonas lives in Freeport with his wife, two fluffy cats and spends his free time gardening, writing poetry, and walking quietly amongst Freeport’s beautiful flora and fauna.