When her husband, Bruce, landed a new job in the NASCAR industry, Patty Bender sought the help of local real estate magazines in her October 1998 search to relocate to the Lake Norman area. “With each one that I was interested in, I called a Realtor about the specifics of a home,” she says. “But no one returned my calls,” she says. “I thought, ‘I can do this business better.\\\" One week after relocating to Charlotte, Patty started real estate school and took a job with the agency that sold her the home. Since then, she’s sold more than $40 million in real estate and has helped dozens of clients make their relocation moves a smooth and stress-free transition. Born and raised in the Hershey, PA, area, Patty worked for the Hershey Foods Corporation — the largest confectionary company in North America — for ten years, serving as the first woman to trade commodity futures for the company. Patty’s experience and market knowledge allow her to share and educate her buyers and sellers — from first-time buyers to experienced investor clients. Patty is one of the top-producing agents in the Lake Norman area. Patty and Bruce live with their Brittany, Jake, and enjoy free time at their mountain property. On warm summer days they enjoy riding their Harley.