Originally from the Midwest, Rick fell in love with the Pacific Northwest while visiting friends on his way back to his U.S. Navy duty station in Japan. When it came time to transition out of the Navy, he chose to have all his personal belongings sent to the PNW, making it his new home. The region’s mountains, trees, rivers, lakes, deserts, and ocean—along with the endless opportunities for hiking, biking, and outdoor adventure—make it a truly special place.
Rick’s passion for real estate began in college when he worked for a house flipper in the late 1970s, a time when few people were in the business of flipping homes. That experience gave him the confidence to purchase his first home, a fixer-upper, for $32,500 in 1979.
Since then, Rick has been a strong advocate for homeownership, encouraging many of his younger friends to buy homes. He firmly believes that owning a home is one of the best ways to build financial security, a conviction he still holds today.
Beyond real estate, Rick has had a diverse and accomplished career. He spent a decade as a Regional Manager with GE in their specialty plastics division, oversaw all pastoral care at a large local church for more than 20 years, managed a 22-home development in Kirkland dedicated to foster-care families, and continues to run a nonprofit organization that he founded, People on Purpose.
As a broker with Windermere since 2018, Rick brings a personable and relatable approach to his work. His strong communication skills, technical expertise, customer service mindset, and negotiation abilities make him a dedicated advocate for his clients. He works tirelessly to ensure that every transaction—whether buying or selling—is a success.
Rick lives in North Rose Hill at what his family affectionately calls “The Kraker Kompound.” He and his family expanded their original four-bedroom, 2.5-bath home by adding another 1,600 square feet, creating a multi-generational living space with three additional bedrooms and 3.5 baths. For Rick, this unique living arrangement perfectly embodies the spirit of home—one that brings family together under one roof.
Rick founded a non-profit, People on purpose with his wife, Jennifer.
People on Purpose (POP) intentionally looks for opportunities to meet a need, lighten a burden, strengthen an individual or stabilize a family going through a tough time.
Sometimes the needs are just around the block and sometimes they are on the other side of the world. POP may be the source of the solution or we may partner with another organization to help meet a specific need.
