From California to Pensacola: How Kim Taylor Found Home on the Gulf Coast
A Between Two Doors conversation with Pensacola Realtor Kim Taylor
Sometimes finding home has very little to do with a house.
That was one of the biggest takeaways from my recent conversation with Kim Taylor, a Realtor serving Pensacola and the surrounding Gulf Coast communities.
Kim’s path to Pensacola wasn’t exactly a straight line.
She started in the San Francisco Bay Area, moved to New York shortly after college, spent 24 years there, later relocated to Southern California for another decade, and eventually found herself searching for a more affordable place to build the next chapter of her life. Pasted text
A sister had moved to the Gulf Coast.
Her brother-in-law told her about a “sweet little town called Pensacola.”
So Kim came to visit.
And she stayed.
But affordability wasn’t the only thing that brought her here.
It was also the water.
When a Pandemic Changed a Lifestyle
During the pandemic, gyms and swimming pools in Southern California were closed.
Kim had grown up swimming, so she adapted.
She started swimming in the Pacific.
That turned into open-water swimming—and eventually became part of her identity.
When it came time to choose somewhere new to live, Kim knew one thing for certain:
She needed access to open water.
Ideally, salt water.
That made Pensacola a natural fit.
Today, Kim swims two to three times a week, often covering several miles in the Gulf. She described swimming in everything from calm green-flag conditions to rougher chop, and joked that she and her group are adventurous enough to seek out conditions many people would avoid. Pasted text Pasted text
That love of the water became part of her life here.
But it was only the beginning.
How Real Estate Found Her
Kim didn’t move to Pensacola intending to become a Realtor.
In fact, the idea came from her own real estate agent.
Before deciding whether Pensacola was truly the right place, Kim rented an Airbnb for two weeks, borrowed a car from her sister, explored the area, visited restaurants, experienced downtown, checked out the local lifestyle—and looked at around 40 homes.
Her Realtor, Jenny Rushing, noticed something.
Kim was analytical.
She negotiated well.
She paid attention.
And during the process of buying her own new construction home, Jenny told her:
“Kim, I need you on my real estate team.”
Kim’s initial reaction?
She didn’t want to be a real estate agent.
But six to nine months later, she joined the team. Pasted text
Sometimes the career finds you before you realize it.
The Mortgage Experience That Changed How She Works With Buyers
Before becoming a Realtor, Kim worked for a fully online mortgage lender during the pandemic.
She became licensed in 11 states and eventually became a single point of contact for borrowers all the way through closing. Pasted text
That experience taught her something important:
Mortgage conversations may begin with income, assets, credit and debt-to-income ratios—but if you spend enough time talking with people, you learn their story.
You learn what they are trying to build.
Why they’re moving.
What they’re afraid of.
What they want the next chapter of their life to look like.
Kim said those conversations naturally became relationships. Pasted text
That same relationship-first approach followed her into real estate.
Why She Loves Working With People in Transition
When I asked Kim what she loves most about real estate, she didn’t say houses.
She said:
Helping people who are in transition.
That might be someone moving across the country.
A military family receiving new orders.
A first-time buyer.
Someone downsizing.
Someone trying to get closer to the beach.
Someone looking for more land and privacy.
People often know they want change before they know exactly what they want.
Kim said part of her job is helping buyers discover what fits. Pasted text
That process starts with questions.
Where are you living now?
What do you love about it?
What don’t you love?
What do you imagine your next home looking like?
What can you realistically afford?
Then the goal becomes finding the right pocket of the market.
Pensacola Is Not One Lifestyle
One thing Kim emphasized is that the greater Pensacola area offers a wide range of lifestyles.
Someone who wants flip-flops and beach life may want to be close to the Gulf.
Someone looking for quiet or more of a country feel may gravitate toward Milton, Cantonment or Pace.
A buyer wanting turnkey new construction may look in yet another direction.
And military buyers may have an entirely different strategy—sometimes purchasing a starter home they may later convert into a rental when duty orders take them somewhere else. Pasted text
That’s why relocation isn’t just about sending someone a list of homes.
It’s about understanding the life they want to build.
Pensacola Is More Than a Beach Town
Kim also pointed out something people from outside Northwest Florida often miss.
Pensacola has a much deeper arts, culture and event scene than many people expect.
“If it’s the weekend, there’s probably a festival,” she told me.
Sometimes more than one.
She mentioned events such as:
- Battle of the Burgers
- Tall Ships
- Arts Festival
- Jazz Festival
- Crawfish Festival
- Seafood Festival
- Singer-Songwriter events
- Bands on the Beach
Bands on the Beach, in particular, runs regularly through much of the year and brings multiple generations together for free live music along the coast. Pasted text
That kind of community activity matters when someone is deciding where to live.
Because again:
You’re not simply buying four walls.
You’re choosing what happens outside them.
Realtors Do More Than Open Doors
Kim had a great description of a common misconception about Realtors.
She said consumers sometimes imagine Realtors as the “Vanna White of real estate”—someone who simply gets handed keys and opens doors.
The reality is much more complicated.
A Realtor helps buyers navigate inspections, insurance issues, negotiations, regulations, due diligence, financing coordination and all of the emotional ups and downs that come with one of the largest purchases most people will ever make. Pasted text
Kim described the Realtor’s role as protecting the client’s interests and being the level-headed person in a transaction that can become emotional very quickly.
That matters.
I’ve seen it from the lender side too.
A strong Realtor, lender and insurance professional communicating well can prevent expensive surprises and sometimes save a buyer thousands of dollars.
The House Should Sell Itself
One statement from Kim really stood out to me.
She said she doesn’t believe her job is to sell someone a particular house.
The house should sell itself.
Her responsibility is to help clients make good decisions, negotiate effectively and get through all the places where a transaction can fall apart.
And there are plenty of them.
Inspections.
Financing.
Seller emotions.
Buyer emotions.
Requests that get taken personally.
Negotiations that suddenly turn adversarial.
Kim believes empathy and rational communication are often what keep everyone moving toward the finish line. Pasted text
That’s a very different definition of sales.
It’s much closer to guidance.
What Actually Makes a House a Home?
I ask guests on Between Two Doors questions like this because I think the answers reveal more about someone than any résumé ever could.
Kim has walked through tiny condos near the beach and multimillion-dollar homes.
But when I asked what turns a house into a home, she didn’t talk about square footage or finishes.
She talked about community.
Knowing where your grocery store is.
Knowing somebody’s first name.
Having people around you.
Building relationships.
Finding your place.
Kim said newcomers need bravery because moving to a new city takes time—but what ultimately makes a home is the community you build around it. Pasted text
That may have been the best answer of the entire conversation.
Giving Back Through Impact100
Community isn’t just something Kim talks about.
She actively participates in it.
After moving to Pensacola, Kim discovered Impact100, an organization focused on supporting nonprofits throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Kim described a model in which members contribute funds, nonprofits submit grant proposals, volunteers review those proposals, and selected organizations receive substantial grants.
She said the Pensacola chapter includes more than a thousand women and described millions of dollars being directed into local nonprofit work. Pasted text
For Kim, it was another way to become connected to the community she now calls home.
The Triathlete Mindset
Kim has also been a triathlete for years.
She completed her first marathon at 38 and entered her first triathlon in 2009.
After moving to Pensacola, the local triathlon community became one of the first groups where she truly found her tribe.
She eventually served on the club’s board and now spends more time swimming and cycling while also encouraging younger athletes pursuing Ironmans, ultramarathons and other endurance events. Pasted text
The connection to real estate is surprisingly natural.
Kim said real estate transactions aren’t sprints.
They’re endurance events.
You prepare.
You settle in.
You work through obstacles.
You build relationships.
And ideally, you make a friend along the way. Pasted text
That’s not a bad philosophy for either real estate or life.
Home Is My Ohana
At the end of our conversation, I asked Kim:
After California, New York, Southern California, raising three sons, changing careers, traveling, competing in triathlons and eventually settling in Pensacola—
What does home mean to you today?
Her answer was simple:
“Home is my ohana.”
Home is community.
Family—whether related by blood or not.
The people you’ve built around you. Pasted text
And I think that perfectly describes Kim’s story.
She came to Pensacola looking for an affordable house near the water.
What she found was a home.
Connect With Kim Taylor
Kim Taylor is a Realtor serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Northwest Florida, including Pensacola and surrounding communities. Pasted text
Kim Taylor | Levin Rinke Realty
Website: kimt.levinrinkerealty.com
Facebook: Kim Taylor Realtor
And if you’re thinking about buying a home in Florida—or simply trying to understand what financing options might make sense for your next move—I’m always happy to help on the mortgage side.
Nate Carver
Host, Between Two Doors
Mortgage Loan Officer | ProLending Mortgage
NMLS #2004738
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