What Our Customers Have to Say

Karla VanEman

As always, we had another great experience in selling our home with Karla! It was my 3rd time and would use her again.

- Gregg & Lori Wenner

Not only did Karla sell our house in less than 30 days. She was always a consummate professional! We are 110% satisfied with American Way Realty and would recommend Karla to anyone!

- Dan & Kathleen Luckett

The first time I contacted Karla, we talked about my dad's house. This was a very emotional time for me, my brother, who lives in Chaska MN, had been down only a couple times over a 2-1/2 year period. Karla was very forth right, told him what the economy was all about, answered every question my brother asked. Including some of his doubting questions. My brother said he was very satisfied with Karla and trusted her, as I did! Our dad's house sold in 11 days. WOW! I was very happy but sad as well. Thank you to Karla.

- Mary Ann Jovaag-Wolle

We had a wonderful experience with American Way Realty. Karla gave us a no nonsense price and plan for our house which we think helped it sell faster. She also helped us through a tough negotiation process and quick hunt for our new home. I was always impressed with her knowledge and ability to keep the process moving, while making sure we were informed. We would recommend American Way to anyone!

- Chris & Naomi Mortensen

I now fully understand why Karla Van Eman has a thriving business and luck has nothing to do with it. Karla is a true professional who put my needs first, which means returning calls after hours & even going out of her way to keep me informed. She is a first-class troubleshooter, is very pragmatic & knows the industry (local & otherwise) forwards & backwards. I trust Karla Van Eman's knowledge & skill and recommend her in a heartbeat. She does not disappoint.

- Cynthia Pope

We felt that Karla was very honest and expressed her honest opinion, no matter what, and we respect that and liked that. Karla knows what she is doing in the real estate business. The buyers of our home had Mike Johnson for their realtor - he was a very kind person to deal with as well. We would go with either Mike or Karla in the future and would definitely recommend them to friends.

- Nicole & Tony Adams

Karla and her agency was very good to work with and very thorough. The entire deal went quite smoothly and Karla and her office were a pleasure to work with. They all went the extra mile to make sure both parties were satisfied. I'm very happy with the job Karla and her office crew did.

- Larrie L. Gray

We can not express enough the superior quality of assistance we received while purchasing our property in Mankato. Karla went over and above the normal assistance and we appreciate it so much. Karla always adapted to our schedule and being from out of town that was very helpful to us. After the closing the service did not stop, we still received assistance, how great was that? Thank you to everyone at American Way.

- Maynerd & Darlene Rauk

House sold great - little time! Wonderful realtors, Karla Van Eman and Steve Buckholz.

- Tom Mertesdorf

Personal circumstances forced me to sell the house. The help of Real Estate Agent Karla Van Eman was great. Not only professional but also personal, like a friend. I did lose my house and that hurts but I also met great people who helped me in my situation.

- Jan Kremer

Karla was great at helping me find the perfect house. She has a great personality and is tender hearted. After leaving my abusive marriage, she had great empathy and truly helped me find a house for me and my children where we feel safe. I will recommend her to all my friends and everyone that works with her is blessed because having someone who cares about their job is rare these days.

- Joann Meyer

The entire team at American Way was very helpful. The pictures on the website were changed with the seasons, we were always informed of activity and at the closing Karla's knowledge and experience made things happen on time and efficiently. We would definitely recommend American Way.

- Dan & Kathy Gjerde

To the whole staff at American Way Realty and to Karla Van Eman our agent. Our family would like to say Thank You! Selling our house in these difficult times made a bad situation more bearable. Her knowledge of the housing market and her "go get 'em" attitude reassured our family things would be fine. We sold our house and Karla and her staff made the process go unbelievably smooth. When the time was right to buy we gave Karla a call and she gave us all the options we needed to get back into a home. Again her knowledge and her staff's professionalism made the process a very enjoyable one. We now live in Janesville with great neighbors and a beautiful home because of Karla and her great staff. Not enough good things can be said of the way we were treated by Karla and The American Way Realty staff.

- Matt Monshaugen Family

Karla helped us find the perfect home! She was so easy to work with and was a very resourceful person. She was very professional, but at the same time, very personable. Thank you Karla for all your hard work. We will be happy to work with you again if the need arises in the future. This time, we will have you sell our home & also help with purchase. We will be happy to refer friends and family to your wonderful services. Thanks again!

- Mike & Kim Gerogiana

Thank you so much for providing professional, punctual services in our recent home purchase. Ms. Karla Van Eman's advice was timely and on target. She understands the essential nature of timing, as it relates to making the most important purchase. I heartily recommend American Way Realty for you home buying needs.

- Calvin P. Johnson

We've had great experiences in both selling and purchasing homes with Karla and American Way Realty. Karla is extremely knowledgable of the area and of all things related to Real Estate. She worked hard for us and stayed dedicated through some difficult negotiations. Her staff was also very friendly and great to work with. We would definitely recommend American Way Realty to anyone buying or selling a home.

- Jim & Kammy Wilde

The expertise of Realtor Karla Van Eman provides clients with an all-encompassing course of action to selling and buying property. Her standing across the local real estate discipline is proof of her professionalism and drive to give her clients financial satisfaction in their dealings. Karla has served as our realtor in several real estate transactions and we would not hesitate to work with her again. Her career and awards are verification of a first rate realtor.

- Claude and Anita Seigler

If you want your house to sell Karla gets it done. She's honest and will let you know what the market will handle. She doesn't mess around. She is realistic.

- Jane & Joseph Osborne

Not having been in either the selling or buying home market for 34 years, all the terminology, hidden costs, market analysis was very foreign to us, but Karla Van Eman was very thorough with listing and selling our home.

- Janine Jordan

The receptionists you have in your office did an excellent job (answering our questions or relaying a message to Karla) Gave us always a fair time limit when there was a showing. Thank you Karla Van Eman.

- Jim & Bev Barth

Karla Van Eman knows the market and knowing what price to set the property at is very beneficial. Her customer service is second to none. Karla and her office staff make the entire process go smoothly.

- Keith Wiste

We were totally pleased with the service we received on the sale of our house. The home was shown to prospective buyers who were truly interested in our style of home. The showings were always known to us in advance and we were kept informed of the comments of prospective buyers. The house was sold within the time of the original listing. Thanks! Karla Van Eman

- Alice Thavis

Karla is a real professional - Our purchase couldn't have gone better.

- Bill and Marge Montag

I highly recommend Karla Van Eman as a realtor. She is very knowledgable in real estate sales, easy to contact and who works hard. I will work with Karla again the next time I'm selling or buying a home.

- Christina Neyers

American Way Realty made our home purchase and move to North Mankato a pleasant experience. We have only praise for the good work the agency did for us and recommend it without reservation. Karla Van Eman, our agent was hardworking, caring, thoughtful and fair.

- Jim & Kay Ackil

We have had Karla sell two of our homes and purchased one with her. We have appreciated her advice and the speed of the overall process.

- Bryan Lamont

Karla Van Eman tried very hard and had many showings on my property.

- Ruth Gag

Karla Van Eman was great! Showed our place a few times and sold it in about 2 weeks. Karla kept us posted on everything, but never bothered us. We would recommend her and her company to anyone.

- Lorraine Lundin

Sold in a timely manner. Had many showings. Karla Van Eman was very pleasant to work with.

- Lorraine Olson

I was very pleased with the way my home sale was handled and the short amount of time before it sold. I was told at my first visit with Karla Van Eman what she felt I should ask for it. It sold quickly while the house next door was over priced for its condition and is still unsold. Karla has a lot of experience and it shows in the way "her houses" move!

Karla Van Eman is one of the busiest realtors in the area yet she always made me feel as if I was her only client - giving me all the time I needed to feel comfortable with my decision.

- Jennifer Ackil

Karla's office staff were very helpful and courteous anytime I had a question or concern. Karla did a great job of getting my house sold for me at a tough time & I cant be more thankful for that. I appreciated all the great work everyone at American Way did and I will be calling in the near future when it is time to get back in a house.

- Mark Zenk

Mike Johnson

To any respective home buyer: This letter comes to you with the most heartfelt appreciation and satisfaction any new home owner could express. My fiance' and I began talking about buying a house the early part of this year. We met Mike Johnson of American Way Realty and immediately felt a strong sense of trust. We spoke with him casually over the next few months, but didn't take any aggressive action. He kept us updated on the newest housing market information and interest rates, but was never pushy. That was an attribute I greatly appreciated since we didn't know if we were ready to take such a huge step in our lives. After finding a few houses we liked online we contacted Mike and he worked around our very busy schedule in order for us to see them. While viewing the houses he was very good about giving us helpful advice for what we should be looking for and what we should avoid. Mike made us feel like we were the only couple he was working with. He was available and made accommodations to meet our every need. We viewed him as not just a realtor, but a friend. He had a genuine way of making our home-buying experience extremely stress-free. Mike was truly right by our side every step of the way. For us, being first-time home owners, we still can't believe how quickly and smoothly the entire process went for us. There are not words to express how grateful we are that we had him as our realtor. I give MIke Johnson the highest recommendation and would anyone looking for a highly efficient and reliable real estate agent to contact him.

- Chad Guentzel & Arica Otte

Whenever we need Mike Johnson, he was always available. He followed through on everything and went above and beyond the norm. We will highly recommend him to any future clients.

- Richard and Barbara Towner

I found Mike Johnson to be very knowledgable and pleasant to deal with, in addition to being very prompt and helpful. I feel very comfortable recommending Mike to anyone in the Mankato area. He has a professional, friendly and low key approach which I greatly appreciate.

- Mary Myers

Thank you for the exceptional service we received in our recent real estate transactions, Mike Johnson continued to impress us thoroughly throughout the entire process. We appreciated his practical approach, his help with all the details and his sound advice. We have recommended his services to those we know who are looking for an exceptional real estate experience!

- Bill and Sonja Kruger

Thank you very much for the outstanding service you provided for me. Mike Johnson exceeded all of my expectations, by his knowledge, commitment, hard work, kindness and follow up. I am looking forward to our future business transactions.

- Alena Markham

Mike Johnson was an invaluable resource dealing with tenants, city officials, contractors and the buyer's agent. Mike managed all of the issues that came up and kept me informed throughout the process. I will recommend him to anyone that is looking to buy or sell real estate.

- Orlin Plath

I just wanted to let you know what a pleasure it was working with Mike Johnson as we planned our move to Mankato. We enjoyed his approach to the process and his focus on meeting our needs. It was clear Mike really went beyond the call of duty. We have already recommended him to friends and acquaintances and plan to continue to do so.

- Andrew L. Reeves, MD

Thank you doesn't seem to be nearly enough, but again we thank Mike Johnson so much for his patience with two inexperienced (but successful) home buyers. We can say that it has been quite a ride and an enjoyable one. Things we learned are: "Everything's negotiable" and "Time is of the essence". We hope you know how much Mike has made a difference in our search for our first home.

- Wayne and Tina Echstadt

Mike Johnson is truly amazing! As I was planning to move from Ohio to Mankato, Mike scheduled 11 home visits in four hours and by the end of my first of two days in Mankato he had closed the deal by 11:00 p.m. The second day he arranged the home inspection and by the time I left town, everything was taken care of, far exceeding my expectations. I really appreciated his thoroughness, his ability to listen, his great advice and friendship. He made the stressful task of home buying an enjoyable experience.

- Kurt Dershem

Bonnie Kruger

As always Bonnie is great! She truly cares about her clients. She treats them with respect and gives them the type of service she would expect if she were buying or selling her own home. I would recommend Bonnie to my friends and family!

- Emilee Sacia

Bonnie was great to work with. She was attentive to our needs and helped us find the perfect home. She was there every step of the way and made our home buying and selling experience stress free!

- Aaron Hatanpa & Jessica Hill

Bonnie Kruger is so wonderful! She always picked up and answered my phone calls every time. She is great!

- Lisa Nguyen

Bonnie was amazing. She knows what she is doing and helped us through the whole process. She told us how to stage our home and was there to answer questions at any time. We sold our home before the sale sign was even in our front yard. We couldn't have asked for a better experience in selling our first home.

- Kyle & Samantha Loing

Bonnie sold the house in record breaking time! She did a great job!

- Her friend forever, Bob Pothast

Bonnie was fun to work with when looking for our first home. She was prompt, energetic and excited to help us. She knows the Greater Mankato area well and made it easy for us to attend our showings. We are so excited to be in our first home and have Bonnie to thank for it! Thank you.

Hard to believe people work harder than Bonnie Kruger.

- Terry Davis

I live in Arizona so Bonnie Kruger was actually the agent selected by my mother (LaDonna Boettcher) for the sale of her home. This was done based on the recommendation of her friend. I was concerned about my 80 year old mother signing a contract in my absence but after I arrived and met with Bonnie, I had no further doubts about the quality of the agent chosen. Bonnie proved to be absolutely wonderful! She was knowledgeable, energetic, positive and sensitive to our needs and requests. Best of all, she was able to sell the house within a week of my arrival!!! She expedited all aspects of this sale so when I had to return to Arizona four weeks later; all paper work was completed and signed. We feel that Bonnie went above and beyond what one would expect of a real estate agent. She brought us lunch and a housewarming gift on moving day, then personally delivered the proceeds from the sale and drove my mother to the bank to deposit the check. Thank you to Bonnie for taking such good care of my mother and for the support she gave me through this process. Obviously we would highly recommend Bonnie to everyone for their real estate needs.

- Pam Barry

Bonnie "The Animal" Kruger is our agent. Its the second house we've bought and we have referred other people to her so we must like her. She is great to work with and puts up with my crap. Kudos to her professional demeanor. We will be back again. Thanks Bonnie.

- Sean Webb

Very good. Everything went great! Bonnie Kruger was our agent.

- Creighton & Ramona James

I really enjoyed working with American Way and with Bonnie Kruger, both in the search for my new home and in the sale of my old one. Everyone I dealt with at American Way was very helpful and I always knew that when they said something would be done, it would be done RIGHT NOW, not "eventually" or when they got around to it. That sort of attention is reassuring when dealing with something as important as a home purchase or sale.

- Charlie Peil

Paula Smithson

Our agent, Paula Smithson and experience with American Way was great! We wanted to sell our home quickly and came to an agreement on the best price with our agents help. She helped us in our new home search and quickly found a perfect match. She understood what we were looking for and narrowed our search. She was great through the closing of both homes. She helped us work out the best deal for us. We would definitely use her again! We sold our house in a down market in only one month! Thanks Paula!

- Kristin Landgraff

Paula Smithson has great customer service. She went above and beyond her responsibilities as our realtor - our move went smoothly!

Paula Smithson was fabulous to work with! She was very informative and efficient! She always responded quickly to my emails or calls. Paula was sure to make it a point that she was working for "us" and not for anyone else. Her experience and knowledge made the stressful home buying process much more enjoyable and painless. Thanks to her and the whole team. We'll be going w/ Paula on any future home purchases!

- Amy Olson, Brandon Viland & Tyson

Paula Smithson took her time to explain the home-buying process to us. She was very patient with us as we looked at several houses. She made sure to point out the faults as well as good points of each house. I would definitely recommend Paula to any home buyer, especially a first - time home buyer as we were.

- Alison & Lance

We recommend highly both Karla Van Eman and Paula Smithson.

- Bruno & Marian Wilinski

Excellent service, very professional. Paula Smithson was always available and answered any question I had. Made purchasing a home easy. Worked for what I wanted and not what she wanted to show me. I was very pleased with my experience in purchasing my new home.

The decision to sell our family home, the home we had built, was a very difficult decision. Paula Smithson and American Way Realty helped calm our fears and take the emotion out of our decision. Paula told us what to expect. She took the time to understand our needs and gave us good advice. We are grateful to Paula for making the best of a difficult situation . Our home sold in a couple of months, when others suggested it would take over a year.

- Al A. Macius

Paula Smithson was wonderful to work with. Her hard work, honesty and the respect that she showed towards us was much appreciated. Her schedule was flexible and could accommodate to meet our needs. As first time home buyers, we feel very fortunate to have been taken care of from the first home we saw to the closing on the house we purchased. We HIGHLY recommend Paula.

- Josh and Kristi Ringen

Our process of finding a home in Mankato when we lived 400 miles away was daunting. We traveled many weekends to look at homes, but knowing Paula Smithson would be there each time made it a lot easier. She was very professional and gave us a lot of her time. We did find a lovely home and she even helped greatly with closing. I give American Way and Paula an "A" for a job well done.

- Stephon D. Horvat

We have listed several properties with Karla Van Eman. Karla was knowledgable and honest in her assessment of our homes. There was fast turn around which we appreciated. We also purchased a home after moving back here. Paula Smithson helped us find a home. Paula was helpful and we could trust her experience in our purchase. All of our closings have gone smoothly. We love the "Start packing" motto because it is true!

- Ruth and Bob Little

Steve Buckholz

Steve's product knowledge was great. He really knows the Mankato area and market.

- Dave Sundstrom

We had a great experience with American Way for our first and second homes. Steve Buckholz was always available and helped us when any problems came up with our home sale or purchase. He went above and beyond what most realtors would do for you! We would definitely recommend American Way!

We liked Steve's style - no hard sell. Steve Buckholz was sooo patient and we happily spent more than planned as a result. Steve is a great realtor!

- Jay and Marilyn Ryan

Thank you so much for all your help in finding a home. Steve Buckholz made the experience a great one and we will never forget it. We will be happy to recommend you to friends and family who need a house. We will work with Steve in 5-7 years when we decide to move.

- Nicole and Justin Sandmann

The thing that stands out in my mind is how easy it was. I had never bought a house before and Steve Buckholz made it easy.

- Janet Rose

I liked Steve's style - informed, attentive, not overly zealous, low key with enthusiasm. He always returned my phone calls even when trivial.

- Connie Rundquist

Steve Buckholz was easy to talk to, he explained things in a way that was easy to understand. He worked hard to sell my property, not just list it.

- Darrell Thomas

Steve Buckholz is a hard working, honest man and someone who loves his family and his job.

- Bob and Terri De Gezelle

Things moved very fast, our home sold quickly. Steve Buckholz knew his business and took care of all problems and questions. The office staff was also very pleasant to work with.

- Karen Johnson and Rick Smith

Steve Buckholz is a great guy to work with. He even raked the yard for us at our new place!

- Jan and Keith Kramer

Cindy Florine

It was very nice to work with Cindy Florine. She knew the details about the house, showed interest in our needs and is enthused about her job. She is the most professional agent we have worked with.

- James & Rhonda Vianene

Cindy was referred to us by my sister and nieces. We heard she was a “go-getter” and worked hard. She lived up to that description. She kept us informed continually and was very honest. It felt like we knew Cindy right from the start. She’s warm, friendly and caring. She’s not only a Realtor but a friend forever. We have recommended her to everyone we know looking to buy and sell.

- Paula E.

We found Cindy after we saw one of her many signs on a house. After checking with former clients of hers that we knew we gave her a call. She had a very straight forward approach which we appreciated. We would absolutely recommend her.

- Joel and Cindy W.

The first time I met Cindy I had a very positive first impression. She was referred to me by a friend. She understood my “vision” in my new home, especially my family needs. We really enjoyed working with her and would work with her again in the future.

- Ann D.

Cindy was recommended to me by a family member. She is really observance. I will recommend her to a friend in the future.

- Lynn R.

We really liked how Cindy was honest and very helpful. She responds back properly to phone calls and emails. We will recommend her in the future.

- Justin and Erica

Cindy sold us our house in 2002. When we decided to sell, we called her again. She has a very pleasant personality, was never “pushy” and offered us complete support. We were completely satisfies and she gave us immediate and constant attention. We highly recommend her!

- K and D

Cindy was great from the get go. She kept me informed, gave me great advice and was there every time I needed her. I sincerely want to thank Cindy for all she did. It was a difficult time yet she made it go very smoothly.

- S.G.

No B.S.

- RS

We chose Cindy as our Realtor because of her knowledge of Mankato and she understood what we wanted. She never pushed us to make a decision and was very patient. We valued that Cindy helped us look in different price ranges without ever pushing the higher.

- S.A.

We heard about Cindy through mutual friends-a good recommendation. She is so friendly and sincere. One great gal.

- R.F.

We liked Cindy's willingness and dedication to help us in every way. We would definitely recommend Cindy. She made us very comfortable with the transition.

- K&D

We chose Cindy because of her reputation. She worked hard to market our property and we were really pleased with her service. She went out of her way to make sure we were satisfied.

- J&CJ

We chose Cindy as our Realtor because she was honest & straightforward and cared about what we wanted. We would absolutely recommend her. She is solely responsible for finding us our home. We are very grateful.

- LL and SS

We had 3 different Realtors talk to us! We liked Cindy best. We liked her personality and willingness to help.

- J.L.

We had a home for sale in Mankato but live in Arizona. We met Cindy on a weekend. She went through the paperwork in detail and we contracted with her to sell the house. Not only did she sell our home, she assisted with contacting people to clean, do yard work, perform locksmith duties and she negotiated with tenants. This was far beyond her responsibilities to us. We found her of honorable character and honesty. She kept us informed and updated as needed. I highly recommend Cindy Florine.

- B&H

We chose Cindy as our Realtor because we knew she would work hard to sell our house. She cares about what she does and we appreciated her frankness and honesty. We enjoyed working with Cindy. She delivers what she promises.

- V.H.

Cindy was honest, helpful and had excellent follow through. She was excellent to work with-one of the best Realtors we' ve dealt with. Absolutely recommend her.

- T.A.

Cindy made me feel like an individual rather than just another house deal she was pursuing. She had time for me and my cares and concerns whether it was morning, noon or night. She was great!

- H.D.

This young lady did an outstanding job for us. My sister and I highly commend her for a job well done.

- J.K.

Cindy was thorough, knowledgeable and friendly - a delight to work with! She was available at all times to answer questions, help in any way and there for general support and encouragement. She combines her knowledge of real estate with her wonderful people skills to make selling a home easier.

- J.H.

Cindy was very helpful throughout the entire process and was always available when we needed her. She made buying our 1rst house very easy and comfortable.

- E.J.

I wanted to drop you a line and thank you for the outstanding job you did when my wife and I were looking for a home. You didn't waste any time and showed us only houses we were interested in. Because of this we found a home we absolutely love.

- J.K.

Cindy was always prompt and very professional. As a longtime Mankato resident she knew the city well. She's upbeat and sees possibilities in everything. She makes recommendations when asked but never said " I think you should do this or that" unless we wanted her advice. We like her as a person as well as a professional.

- NGS

We would recommend Cindy in a heart beat. Cindy has established an excellent reputation, she's personable, realistic and focused. We could not have received more service or a better outcome than we got with Cindy Florine.

- S.B.

Dear Cindy: Thank you for the exemplary work you did in selling my Mother's home in Mankato. Your personal attention to the specific needs of our family and your professional expertise made for an easy transition for all involved. I know that a situation such as ours where a home owner is confined to a nursing home can be somewhat complicated and the sentimental attachment of an elderly person to a home can be an obstacle. However, your depth of understanding and caring made it a pleasant experience and one that gave my Mother and I confidence in our decisions. Thank you again for your professionalism and your personal touch. It is without hesitation that I would recommend you to any individual or family seeking to sell or purchase a home knowing that they would be treated with the caring respect that you offer.

- P.R.

Dear Cindy: I wish to offer my thanks and sincere appreciation for the work you did in selling my home. My employment has required my relocation three times in the past eleven years. While moving is never easy you made my most recent experience easy. While I appreciated your professionalism and candid manner, I am especially grateful for your willingness to tend to my home and it's sale while I was nearly 100 miles away. Your expertise, confidence and personal touch made this a pleasant experience. I would recommend you to anyone selling or buying a home without reservation. My very best wishes for continued success.

- J.C.