The Picayune area has a new real estate office, DeVore Realty.

Owner and Broker Beth Ann DeVore said she became interested in homes and having her own business at a very young age through her mother.

As a child, her mother owned a linen and greeting card business. During the weekends she and her sister would help out around the store, and that responsibility grew as she entered high school and then college.

Another fun activity DeVore and her mother would embark on the weekends involved attending open house events, where they got a chance to see the interiors of other homes and gather decorating ideas.

She is originally from Pittsburgh, Penn., and has a background in a number of careers. She worked for more than 20 years as a funeral director, and worked as the assistant to the vice president of the Grand Casino for a time.

For the past four years she has been in the real estate business in D’iberville and Ocean Springs, and just this year gained her broker’s license and opened DeVore Realty at 1125 Highway 43 N., Suite J in Picayune. .

She enjoys helping people buy and sell homes because she finds helping and getting to know people fulfilling.

While helping a homeowner sell their home, she said it’s her way to help them move on to the next chapter in their lives. And while helping a family buy their first home, she gets a chance to experience the excitement they feel.

“It’s nice to come to work every day and feel happy,” DeVore said.

Currently, she is the only agent in the office, so she doesn’t have business hours. However she is available by phone when a client needs her at any time during the week. But soon, two agents will be joining her staff.

DeVore said that she appreciates the support the community has shown already, especially during the grand opening of the business.

She can be reached by calling 601-569-0408.