DK on the KP: Inside Local Real Estate

Rob Vajko, KP News

The new office grand opening celebration on April 14. Photo: Rob Vajko, KP News

If you’ve driven through Key Center in the last few months, you may have noticed DK Property Management and New Beginnings Real Estate in what used to be the liquor store on the corner of Key Peninsula Highway North and 92nd Street NW. 

Both companies are owned and operated by Donna Lester, a longtime KP resident. “We’re glad to be on the main street,” she said.

The building is home to All Around Gutters, owned and run by Lester’s husband Matt of almost 25 years.

“We opened DK Property Management and New Beginnings in 2013,” Lester said. 

DK Property Management manages rental homes. While Lester is licensed to work anywhere in Washington, most of the properties she manages are on the Key Peninsula.

“I work with owners to get the renter in there, get a lease, get all the paperwork done,” she said. “I do inspections on the house before the renter moves in, collect the rent every month, pay the owner, keep an eye on the property. If you want to rent your house, I don’t care what it is as long as it’s not falling down and you’re willing to fix whatever is wrong with it.”

Lester said that “rentals go pretty fast once they come to the market.” She strives to keep properties rented with the least amount of turnover.

The Lesters, who have been married for 25 years, are longtime KP residents. “I’ve been out here for 25 years,” she said. “I raised my kids out here; my five grandkids have all gone to school and grown up out here and I love the KP.”

Lester also likes to give back through sponsorship. “We love the kids so anything to do with sponsoring children is something that we jump on,” she said. “We’ve sponsored the wrestling team out here for years; we sponsored baseball teams out here. We love to connect with the community.”