3rd Generation Real Estate Agent and Artist, Michelle Linton
Climb three sets of stairs to the top floor of a converted Red Cross building constructed in 1914.
As a third-generation woman real estate agent, President of the Board of Directors for the Northern Arizona Association of Realtors, former host of American Dream TV featuring Flagstaff, Arizona, a lover of snow sports, and an advocate of the arts, Michelle Linton is an artist herself.
Last Spring, part of the conversation I had with Michelle went a little something like this:
“Hey B, you’re working on a story set in Jerome?! I would love to host you at my place so that you can work on your book!”
“Seriously?! In Jerome? Yes, please! That would be amazing!” My heart literally burst with the sheerest joy.
Fast forward to this winter and thanks to Michelle, my dream came true: time in my favorite little town in Arizona. Due to a wonderful kindness, I snuck in four nights on the side of Cleopatra Hill working and researching in a self-lead writing residency before the next tenant arrived!
The honor and gratitude of being hosted in Michelle’s early 20th century apartment, affectionately titled The Wine Drinking Ghost, pulses deep in my heart. The name of the expertly decorated and well-preserved apartment came from a painting of a ghost holding a wine glass. What I didn’t realize until I arrived is that Michelle painted the ghosts in the apartment photos! In addition to the wine-drinking ghost, Michelle created a nude figurative painting of a woman hiding behind red hair, and other ghosts with mushroom hats and flower crowns.
Climb down from the mile-high town of Jerome to the Verde Valley floor and then head up to the crisp, clean air of Flagstaff at 7,000 feet—home base for Linton Real Estate and the hometown that Michelle and I share.
Although I moved away in 2013; we check in as the years flow by, share wisdoms gained with age and celebrate each other’s interests. In 2025, we will continue to connect over ghosts, being Scorpios, writing, art, and the landscapes that ignite our imaginations.
I fell in love with these paintings and I wanted to share them along with some of the new things she’s been up to.
The Ghosts
When I asked Michelle about her inspiration for the paintings, she told me that her first creation, the mushroom ghost, holds a special place in her heart, and it sparked a love for painting ghosts with flower crowns, blending Jerome’s haunting charm with its hippie vibe. She felt that living in the “blue zone” atop Mingus Mountain, surrounded by the contrasting sea of red in the Verde Valley, was the perfect place for her playful spirits to come to life.
I couldn’t agree more—her ghosts in white definitely came to life in my heart.
“Inspired by Jerome’s haunted history and vibrant artistic spirit, I began painting ghosts for my home here. The town’s businesses often draw from its ghostly lore, so I decided to lean into that—but with a twist. My ghosts are friendly and whimsical, often holding hearts or adorned with heart-shaped eyes.” —Michelle Linton
Small Town Life
The American Dream TV segments on Linton’s Real Estate’s YouTube page offer a sneak peak of Northern Arizona. If you’re interested in learning about local businesses, Michelle interviewed shopkeepers on San Francisco Street and travels up another 5k to Snow Bowl. You will get a look into the gastric experience at Shift Kitchen and Bar and an in-depth look at the many programs Mountain Sports participates in to help the region and support the environment. Which reminds me—Michelle uses upcycled frames (and sometimes the canvases, too) for all of her art pieces!
Three Generations of Women in Real Estate
“Real estate is in my blood—it’s our family business, and I’m proud to be the third generation of women real estate brokers in my family,” Michelle tells me when I comment that it’s cool she’s been a real estate agent since 2004.
She actually came into the industry by default, but it quickly became her passion. As I watch her educational videos about the prospects of owning a home, I can see that passion shining through. I walk away feeling like I understand things better. Michelle just has a way to make the process feel more accessible, and she partners with experts in her field to help educate clients and anyone interested in learning more. You can follow her on Instagram.
Michelle will step into the role of running Linton Real Estate in 2025. She says “it’s an incredible honor to carry forward this legacy. With 21 years of experience, I’m excited to lead with the same dedication and care that has defined our family’s approach for decades.”
Michelle shares the legacy that began with her grandmother in a short video. You can find Linton Real Estate’s listings on https://lintonrealestate.net/.
Jerome nears 150 years with a history full of hardship and perseverance, where small communities banded together to prevent fires from continuing to consume their livelihoods but struggled to live side-by-side. Things were often rowdy on the side of a sliding hill.
Life in the blue-zone:
The weather was unseasonably warm for December.
Thank you, Michelle, from my whole heart and soul!
These days were more than I could have expected and I am so grateful. For a sneak peak at some letters in my working title The Letters of Gwendolyn Shaw, visit the exclusive content page. The password is gwen.
“Real estate is in my blood—”
-Michelle Linton
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