About Lela

Lela Ashkarian, PA, ABR, CRS, CREN, GRI, e-PRO, C2X, SFR Your Florida Keys Real Estate RainMaker for Life Lela Ashkarian is a highly respected Florida Keys real estate professional with 29 years of real estate experience, more than $392 million in closed transactions, and a lifetime of service, leadership, and community commitment. Known for her integrity, market knowledge, strong negotiation skills, and client-first approach, Lela has built her career on one simple purpose: helping people make confident real estate decisions while creating an experience that is smooth, understandable, and stress-free. Before beginning her real estate career, Lela devoted years of her life to public service and defense-related work. She served 8 years in Korea and Japan with the Department of Defense, an experience that shaped her discipline, professionalism, resilience, and deep respect for service. After returning to the Florida Keys, Lela continued giving back locally, serving the community through the Monroe County Fire Department and the Marathon Airport. With 43 years in the Monroe County community, she brings a rare depth of local knowledge, personal connection, and trusted relationships that benefit every buyer and seller she represents. Since entering real estate in 1997, Lela has become known as a consistent top producer and a specialist in luxury, waterfront, oceanfront, beachfront, canal-front, and island lifestyle properties throughout the Florida Keys. Her expertise includes Marathon, Duck Key, Grassy Key, Coco Plum, Key Colony Beach, Cudjoe, Key West, and the surrounding Keys communities. Her professional designations include Accredited Buyer’s Representative, Certified Residential Specialist, Certified Real Estate Negotiator, Graduate REALTOR® Institute, e-PRO, C2X, and Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource, reflecting her commitment to advanced education and exceptional client representation. Her contact file also identifies her as part of Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate and notes her recognition as the #2 Team in the Marathon office / 3rd Keys-Wide, along with membership in the Coldwell Banker International President’s Circle since 1999. Lela’s business philosophy is rooted in service: “Together Everyone Achieves More.” She believes real estate is not just about property; it is about people, families, dreams, transitions, investments, and legacy. Her mission is to treat every client the way she would want to be treated, listen carefully to their wants and needs, explain every option clearly, and do what is right, not what is easy. Her listing presentation emphasizes her goal of creating a smooth, understandable, and stress-free buying or selling experience while providing exceptional service, respect, and a proven marketing plan. A forward-thinking and technology-driven Realtor, Lela has long understood the power of online marketing, professional exposure, strategic promotion, and targeted buyer reach. Her background highlights her use of extensive internet marketing, MLS exposure, specialized real estate websites, print advertising, luxury publications, virtual tours, email marketing, and advanced communication systems to help sellers maximize visibility and help buyers discover the right opportunities. Clients choose Lela for her decades of experience, servant’s heart, strong work ethic, and deep knowledge of the Florida Keys lifestyle. She understands waterfront values, boating access, investment potential, vacation rental rules, neighborhood differences, and the emotion behind finding the right island home. With calm confidence, skilled negotiation, market insight, and genuine care, Lela serves sellers, buyers, investors, and longtime residents. She does not simply sell homes; she helps people build their future in the Florida Keys, one relationship at a time.