Suzanne Watson

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

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.