Brett Mulvey’s quest for quality of life has brought him full circle. This realtor’s idyllic childhood in Rye, New Hampshire instilled in him a profound sense of how life should be. Like many grown children, he answered the call of faraway places in 2003 to pursue higher education. But the lure of home proved too powerful to resist, and in 2007 he returned to the Seacoast to rediscover the lifestyle he so cherished.
Mulvey started a family in Portsmouth, but ultimately settled in his hometown of Rye, where in 2022, the Mulveys’ second home-buying experience proved to be the charm. They found a quaint home in the location of their dreams, nestled in a cozy cul-de-sac in the heart of town. The small, intimate neighborhood provides the feel of a close-knit micro-community, but its central location allows for easy access to schools, police and fire stations, and the town library. Even Mulvey’s office is within walking distance.
The neighborhood’s special touches of camaraderie resonate with the Mulvey family. The shared bus stop atop the hill offers parents time to bond while seeing their children off to school. These morning meetings often lead to a neighbor’s home for coffee and conversation. Every December, Rye’s annual Christmas parade runs directly by the same hilltop, bringing communal holiday joy. “We knew living in this house would be transformative,” Mulvey says, “but the transformation has exceeded our expectations. We have found a powerful sense of belonging here.”
As a realtor, Mulvey’s own experience has sharpened his focus on lifestyle when finding his clients a home. He brings this insight to Tate and Foss Sotheby’s International Realty, where he specializes in Seacoast New Hampshire and southern Maine luxury properties. His quest for quality of life has expanded to helping home buyers attain the same satisfaction he and his family have found.
Clients can search the Sotheby’s International website not just by location, but by lifestyle. Some home buyers seek proximity to family activities or community involvement. Others desire communion with nature and yearn for a secluded countryside setting, or a place near the shoreline, with its briny ocean air and enchanting vistas of sea and sky.
For Nate and Sharon Stevens, the need for more space compelled them to move from their Kittery Foreside property. They sought to stay close to the Foreside that was such an important part of their lives, while leaving behind its populous bustle. With Mulvey’s expert guidance, they found a home situated between charming Pepperell Cove and their beloved Foreside. The couple delight in the home’s waterfront location that affords them a spectacular view looking out through the mouth of Portsmouth Harbor. They savor the glorious sunsets and the eclectic parade of boat traffic.
Whitney and John Ross always planned to retire to the Seacoast. They dreamed of finding a home that would serve as a family compound for their visiting adult children yet also provide a quiet sanctuary for themselves. Mulvey found the Rosses their perfect haven just an eighth of a mile from lovely Wallace Sands Beach, where mornings bring panoramic sunrises and inspirational walks on the beach. The setting is also ideal for their annual family reunion.
Mulvey himself places immense value on hosting family, particularly during the holidays. “My wife, Courtney, and I both grew up in holiday-hosting households,” he says, smiling at the memories. “We wanted to give our daughters the same experience.” They now host Thanksgiving and Christmas annually. “Our home has a classic New England feel that is a perfect backdrop for traditional holidays,” he says. Even the home’s exterior, with its golden-yellow facade, adorned with red doors and green trim, evokes in him a palette of Christmas colors.
According to Mulvey, while lifestyle priorities differ from person to person, there is one common denominator: “People want to live somewhere they feel at home.” This dedicated realtor and devoted family man has discovered that home is truly where the heart is.
“We knew living in this house would be transformative, but we have found a powerful sense of belonging here.”