Cheerful and open, yet utterly serious, Elle Seymour has blended theatrical verve with street smarts to build a successful career in real estate. From her cozy, art-filled offices in Solvang, she matches buyers and sellers, closing deals on ranches, land, and luxury estates with flair and a fierce commitment to excellence.

Seymour, who owns and operates RE/MAX Prestige Properties, has dedicated herself to providing "friendly, hometown service with uncompromising integrity,"a motto found on her website and office wall, and a credo that informs her life. When it comes to real estate transactions, she believes "if it's done correctly, everyone wins,"and whether a client is buying a mansion or a small shop, trust is vital.

"There is no excuse not to be honest 100 percent of the time,"she says with conviction. "A half truth equals a whole lie.

"I can be very diligent when it comes to details,"she laughs. "Maybe meticulous is a better word, but God is in the details. I don't care if you're Donald Trump, Adnan Khashoggi, or Minnie Mouse, it's the biggest investment you'll ever make."

Seymour grew up in Southern California, and originally earned her real estate license in 1980, after a nine-year hitch in law enforcement.

"I was a cop in West Compton on night shift,"she reveals. "I got drafted because of my physical agility and ability to get along with all kinds of people.

"I was a pom-pom girl at Pepperdine,"she explains with a note of disbelief, "and I was studying to be a drama teacher. Out of 108 [women] tested, I was the only one selected. My good attitude put me in harm's way."

So Elle Seymour, with her high spirits and cover-girl good looks, took to the mean streets, where "I was the wrong gender, the wrong color and the first time I got shot at, I thought 'Lord, why am I here?'"

The rewards came later, when she realized that she had changed attitudes, even saved some lives, and survived a raft of "life-impacting" experiences that remain with her to this day.

Since then, Seymour has renewed her love of the dramatic arts, performing in stage plays and musicals from Hollywood to Santa Barbara, and doing voice-over work.

"I've done lots of theater at the Lobero,"she elaborates. "I played Lt. Genevieve Marshall in 'South Pacific,' Arlen in 'Baby'&emdash;and had an outrageous role in 'Two by Two.' I actually sang an operatic aria!"

Elle enjoys singing so much that she, Nancy Swanitz and Carol Bridgeman perform locally at parties as the "McChoir Sisters" trio.

As a teenager, Seymour remembers driving up to the Santa Ynez Valley for the day, just to "walk around, shoot pictures of the horses,"and in 1976, she and her husband David bought property in Woodstock."

The Seymours never lived in Woodstock, but, instead, established a ranch on 27-acres in Santa Ynez, where they bred Peruvian Paso horses.

"Horses got us up here,"Seymour admits. "I still believe this may be the horse capital of the state, maybe even the country, because we have such a variety. Trakaner, Arabians, Thoroughbreds, Quarter-horses&emdash; so many different kinds."

In October of 2001, Elle Seymour opened her own real estate office, and when RE/MAX approached her in 2002, she wondered why they would be interested in such a small office.

"They said 'We've been watching you and we like the way you work,'"she relates. "'We think we have what you need to grow your business to the next level.' It took me until the summer of 2003 to sign."

"I couldn't be happier, more impressed with the support and caliber of people at RE/MAX,"Seymour says. "They have the best agents and I'm very proud that I'm part of what I feel is the best the real estate industry has to offer."

Seymour is also proud to be a part of RE/MAX's involvement in local charities. "Out of every closed transaction, a donation is made to the Children's Miracle Network in the name of the buyer or the seller," says Seymour. "Last year RE/MAX donated over 7 million dollars to the network."

Seymour attributes her continuing success in the competitive world of real estate to skills she learned on the beat, and to her commitment to integrity.

"I've learned to ask questions and shut up and listen to the answers,"she says simply. "I still look at my work as detective work. I listen between the lines and find what [people] want in the first place. I don't have to sell anything."

"I have a vision, a specific goal and a real passion to have an office where every agent is honest, conscientious, hardworking, gives 110% to their clients and wants to be part of a great real estate family. Real estate really is a win-win for buyers, sellers and agents when it is done correctly, and it can be fun!"

Summing up her goals and motivation, Seymour declares "My soul purpose in real estate is to help my clients achieve their goals and I take great joy in that. It can be a challenge, but I've never shrunk from a challenge.