STEVE & KRISTA: The WIDNER Team's Profile

WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER! Papa Steve’s blue eyes light up as number 18 on the red team shoots and scores. “Goal!” he shouts, raising the hands of the giggling, little girl on his shoulders to cheer for her brother.

Steve—or Papa as he known to his seven grandchildren—never misses a game. He’s as quick to offer encouragement and advice after a loss as he is to offer high-fives and hugs after a win. It’s just a small part of why Papa Steve has come to be loved and trusted not only among his ever-growing family—currently four children and seven grandchildren—but in the sun-washed Southern California communities they call home. When he’s not cheering on the sidelines, Steve volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County, at Saddleback Church and for the Orange County Juvenile Probation Department.

When asked, he attributes what he calls “Midwestern family values” to his Michigan upbringing, and he chalks up his sense of service to his days in the United States Marine Corps. A Vietnam combat veteran, Steve was also stationed in Southern California in 1968 after returning stateside. He was enamored with the mild coastal climate and beauty of the surrounding mountains, often snowcapped in the winter, creating a surreal backdrop beyond the palm trees and rolling hills and canyons where he hiked. Orange County provided the perfect central location to San Diego and Los Angeles, and while on leave, Steve ventured to the cities and surrounding areas, immersing himself in the rich culture, natural beauty and myriad entertainment options. After experiencing all that the Southland had to offer, he knew he’d be back.

A DYNAMIC DUO-It wasn’t long after returning to Southern California in the ‘70s that Krista—the first of his children and current business partner—was born. “I knew this was where I wanted to raise my family,” he says. Soon after, Steve began his real estate career.

Today, Steve and Krista form Southern California’s top-producing father-daughter team. Not surprisingly, Krista shares her father’s active and involved lifestyle, and aside from being mother to two—Sienna Lynn & Garner McGraw, the grandchild most recently spoiled by Papa Steve—and loving wife to husband Gary, Krista plays in the Orange County Women’s Soccer League alongside younger sister Katie, is a member of the Orange County Chapter of Autism Awareness and donates to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Steve and Krista—along with the rest of the Widners—also happen to be avid fans of the Anaheim Ducks hockey team.

GROWING WHAT YOU SOW: A cornerstone of Steve and Krista’s personal philosophy—whether it’s family, community or business—is that you get what you give. That’s why they find time to balance their commitments and focus on each, but never lose sight of the big picture. “It’s about building relationships,” Steve says. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a friend, a family member, a client or any combination of the above. Once you plant that seed, it’s only going to grow if you nurture it. If you give it the attention it deserves, it’s going to weather the storms and bear fruit for many seasons to come.” This approach is the reason that many of the Widners’ clients not only remain clients, but become friends as well.

WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER-Steve and Krista take a personal interest in clients’ wants and needs. They take the time to listen to and address questions and concerns throughout all stages of the transaction, whether you’re buying or selling. With a master’s degree and a background in mortgage underwriting, Krista’s education and experience combine with Steve’s creative thinking and business savvy honed over 35 award-winning years in the industry to create an invaluable wealth of resources when it comes to your investment. And with a skilled team focused on your business, you can take comfort in knowing you will always have direct and immediate access to someone dedicated to you, whether you’re ready to close a deal or simply ask a question.