From an article posted in the Alexandria Times: This French mother/son team will warm your heart. Born in Tulle, France, raised in Grenoble, France, Martine met her husband, Robert, who is from Amsterdam, at American University while specializing on the Common Market (EU). Martine's real estate career began in 1992. She focused her attention on the NW quadrant of Old Town, Alexandria because of its diversity, and no one else was working this part of town. With her husband, she raised her children, Alexander and Stephanie, in the Parker Gray Historic District, where they all still reside. Born in the US, Alexander also has his French citizenship and speaks fluent French and Spanish, in addition to English. He graduated from St. Mary's college of Maryland. Alexander grew up in Real Estate. After college, he began helping his mother with her business and became a licensed in 2010. He partnered with Martine, and helped expand the strong base she created. The sophistication and dedication of Alexander is beyond his years. The pair stresses the importance of relationships and maintain lifetime connections with their clients. Martine and Alexander keep current with the real estate, and other markets, both nationally and internationally. The recipe for their success is their extensive knowledge of the markets around them, work ethic, persistence and honesty. Martine affirms, "This is not a job, or a hobby, it's a way of life...because we care." This pair advises buyers that real estate is the best investment. "Many people are surprised that instead of paying rent, the could own their own place and establish equity. There is nothing more exciting than a first time home buyer when they find the house they love." The Irmers advise sellers "buyers want to see a house that has been taken care of and loved. You don't always need to make huge renovations to make a home look good and inviting." Real estate can be as volatile as the stock market. Their informational knowledge keeps them informed, not just in real estate, but all that affects this market in the world. Now Martine and Alexander continue to cover the Parker Gray Historic District in Old Town and have expanded to many parts of Northern Virginia. The warmth one feels speaking with Martine is echoed in her son, Alexander. Certainly this is a result of their motto: "It's not about us, it is about you."