With a combined sixteen years of experience in Highlands County real estate, Steve and Janine are multimillion dollar producers who have built their business on excellence in customer service.  Among the top agents in Highland's County, this team truly personifies the RE/MAX slogan "Outstanding Agents, Outstanding Results".  Whether you are selling your property or looking for something new or different, Steve and Janine will work to bring a "Fruitful Conclusion" to your Real Estate needs! 

Steve has over 25 years of sales and marketing experience, and specializes in developing a proactive, effective marketing plan for the team's listing customers.  He is a graduate of ERA's elite Top Gun Academy and was awarded the exclusive Leader's Circle Award for outstanding sales and service results in 2004 and 2005 and was the top agent in the Heartland Broker's Council in  2005 and 2006. Steve is a member of the Highlands County Economic Development Council and serves on the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. Steve has an engineering degree from the University of Central Florida, and is a veteran of the US Air Force where he served in Viet Nam in airborne reconaissance. 

Steve and Janine live on Lake Placid (formerly Lake Childs) and are actively involved with waterfront property issues. They are founding members of the Lake Placid Lake Association, where Steve currently serves as Secretary and a member of the board of directors.  Steve also served on the Highlands County Water Advisory Committee.

Janine also has an impressive and successful sales background. And, she is a fifth generation Floridian with 35 years experience as a wife, mother and homemaker. Having supervised the family's 7 moves across the country, Janine is most knowledgeable in the problems and issues families face during a move.  She was the Relocation Manager for Highlands County from 2002 to 2007 at her previous brokerage. Janine has a degree in sociology from Merideth College.

So, whether you are buying or selling property, let TEAM FRUIT help you harvest the most from Real Estate.

Team Fruit specializes in all Highlands County real estate:

• Waterfront - With their knowledge as lakefront property owners and founders of the local lake association, Steve and Janine are "experts" in waterfront properties, both canal-front homes and property on area lakes, Highlands county's "Jewels"
• Residential
• Affordable Homes & 1st Time Buyers - Steve serves on the county's Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, and is knowledgable in programs for first time Buyers. Steve & Janine both understand the challenges facing first time Buyers, as well as Sellers of more moderately priced homes.
• Commercial & Industrial
• Business Interests
• Acreage & Vacant Land
• Agricultural

"Dear Steve and Janine, ...I can't tell you how much help you've been to us and what a pleasure it was to find real estate brokers who are both kind and fun. We look forward to seeing you when we get to Sebring. Best regards,"   Pat and Jean Hurd.

"Steve & Janine made the whole buying experience seem easy and enjoyable.  We found exactly what we were looking for in a 55+ community, thanks to their persistance.  We now feel like we've made a good by and good friends in Steve & Janine."  Lee & Sue Herriman

"Dear Steve: I want to thank you personally for making this transaction an easy one, and for stepping in right after our "bad deal". I have to say you are a true professional and would recommend you to anyone."  Cheryl & Ken Butler

"Steve was very attentive and sincere. He is the best Realtor I know of."  Donna Hudson

"Through the whole purchasing process, Janine kept us informed. I felt more like a family member than a client. Right to the end she ran to our rescue. The day we closed we could not get our A/C to work. When we called, Steve and Janine were over in minutes to help us fix what turned out to be a minor problem. That is what we call commitment and good customer assistance."  Rose & Bert Rodriguez

"Steve is an asset to the Real Estate business. He followed through on every transaction, making it simple for me."  Helen Dressel

"Steve was great! ...Organized, helpful and prompt. Janine was very kind and made the whole experience helpful!"  Andrew and Jill Horowitz

"We were very happy with our Realtor, Steve Fruit."  Ramon and Mayra Gonzales

"Steve was always there to answer questions and give information, even if it was not to his benefit."  Earl & Pat Krantz