Delivering world-class service on a local level
Photo by Adair Media Group
By Jillian Chandler
Paul Reizen started his professional career in Japan, where he traveled to after graduating college. He spent close to four years there, eventually becoming the international marketing director for a large electronics company. In 2004, Paul graduated from law school and began working at the District Attorney’s Office as a prosecutor, where he remained for nearly 15 years. In 2019, he became a Realtor here in Sandpoint and since 2020 has been one of the top agents in the local MLS. By late summer 2022, he started his own successful brokerage called 48th Parallel Realty, which was operating until he merged with PureWest Christie’s International Real Estate in January 2024.
Nedra Kanavel comes from a journalism background, first as an assistant editor and editorial writer for a USA Today daily newspaper in the Southeast and Midwest. She moved on to public relations, which began her professional journey with marketing. She decided to pursue real estate in 2018 and joined Paul at PureWest Christie’s International Real Estate in January 2024 as an Associate Broker.
Paul, Nedra and the entire PureWest Sandpoint real estate broker team are devoted to setting a new standard when it comes to exceeding client expectations. With two lawyers, a star journalist, psychologist, chemist, Northwestern grad and a veteran house flipper among their ranks, the team is brimming with talent. Their strength comes from their tight-knit culture and their willingness to use their respective talents to achieve their long-term vision — building relationships for a lifetime.
Q. Paul, what inspired you to pursue opening Idaho’s first PureWest Christie’s International Real Estate brokerage?
Paul: We had an amazing year serving clients in 2023 with 48th Parallel Realty, but I realized that to really provide maximum exposure for my sellers and buyers I needed a locally focused brand with an international presence. There was no better brand that fit my requirement than PureWest Christie’s International Real Estate.
PureWest is an independent brokerage and the largest brokerage by sales in Montana for four years running. Their partnership with Christie’s International Real Estate and Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (invitation-only network of the world’s market-leading independent brokerages) gives them a national/international presence beyond Montana and Idaho. With all the crossover business between Sandpoint and Whitefish/Kalispell, for example, this means we can open up a previously untapped pool of buyers for our local property owners.
Q. Nedra, how/when did you first connect with Paul? And what led you to join his team at PureWest Christie’s International Real Estate?
Nedra: Funny enough, my husband and I were seated across the table from Paul and his wife at a Pack River Tasting Dinner a couple years ago. Being such a small community, we inevitably connected for showings and deals since then. I have the highest respect for Paul — his work ethic, his value of family and his knowledge as a licensed attorney.
Bringing the highest level of marketing and customer service is something I take very seriously. Years ago, I thrived in a powerhouse boutique brokerage in the Carolinas that allowed me to do just that. When Paul shared his vision for a tight-knit team with remarkable luxury marketing tools at their disposal, I couldn’t resist.
Q. Can you tell our readers more about PureWest Christie’s International Real Estate?
Paul: PureWest Christie’s is built on a legacy of excellence and a longstanding commitment to relationships for life dating back to 1972. There's a reason PureWest has a reputation for real estate excellence, professionalism, and cutting-edge market savvy. As a Christie’s International Real Estate affiliate, PureWest is a premier real estate concierge brokerage specializing in prestige properties. We are dedicated to being the leading luxury real estate brand in Idaho and Montana. This is apparent in everything we do, from the quality of our properties to the integrity of our interactions. Our agents and brokers have years of successful experience in buying and selling prestige properties, knowledge of the marketplace, and a deep passion for these beautiful lands and community.
Nedra: What I love most about PureWest Christie’s International Real Estate is that they are two individually powerful brands and organizations. PureWest Real Estate not only provides an enormous amount of digital advertising for agents and clients, they also have a stellar home office staff. Add in the power of Christie’s International Real Estate’s remarkable client interaction platform and luxury marketing, it makes for a fantastic combination I’ve not seen before.
Q. What do you believe PureWest Christie’s International Real Estate will bring to the community?
Paul: We have many wonderful agents in this community, but we think as a brokerage we can bring so much more to the Sandpoint area than previously imagined. Professionalism and honesty are the cornerstones of our brokerage. They are two of the most important qualities I can think of, and they’re something we bring to every transaction. These values, plus PureWest Christie’s International Real Estate’s incredible marketing strength, ensure our clients receive the greatest exposure for their properties while delivering world-class service on a local level. We’re bringing close ties with the Christie’s Auction House to our community. We can help sellers with not only real property but their art collections as well. Those ties work both ways, and the Auction House staff and clientele are fully connected to the real estate side.
Nedra: I literally cannot sleep at night knowing that we are bringing unparalleled service and value to the Sandpoint area. Our team is shaping up to be a stellar group of individuals who place a high value on honesty and hard work and are dedicated to being genuine and trustworthy. We’re not only well versed in the intricacies of this market, we’re some of its highest performers. Buyers and sellers in this market can walk in our doors and know they will receive unparalleled service.
Q. What differentiates PureWest Christie’s International Real Estate from the other brokerages in the area?
Paul: In addition to the above, I think we have the best marketing and property exposure in the industry. On top of what PureWest does, Christie’s International Real Estate and Leading Real Estate Companies of the World both give us incredible reach outside of the area to help us sell homes faster.
Nedra: PureWest’s focus is on not only relationships within the real estate world but also the local community. They provide every agent with matching funds to contribute to the local charity of their choice, in addition to PureWest giving to various community organizations and events. We’re excited to strengthen North Idaho charities and events with those contributions.
Q. What do you enjoy most about being able to live and work in this wonderful community?
Paul: I love walking into the coffee shop or supermarket and always running into someone I know. Sandpoint is still a small town with great people and values.
Nedra: My husband and I love the natural beauty of everyday life here and the freedom and flexibility to raise our two young boys here.
PureWest Christie’s International Real Estate
108 North Third Avenue | Sandpoint, Idaho | PureWestIdaho.com
Paul Reizen: 208.610.1486 | Paul@purewestid.com
Nedra Kanavel: 208.610.4624 | Nedra@purewestid.com
