Dave Swenson grew up in the Minneapolis suburbs, the son of a piano teacher and a chemist. His love for music led him to study piano at North Texas State University, but life took a turn when illness brought him home. After some soul-searching, Dave enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving as a Teletype Technician from 1982 to 1986.

Post-service, Dave moved to Ft. Myers, FL, where he met his future wife, Marsha, while working in the wallcovering business. They married in 1988, and Dave earned his Associate’s Degree with honors before relocating to Sarasota. Though his dream of becoming an industrial psychologist didn’t pan out, he fell in love with Sarasota and launched his own wallcovering business.

In 1992, Dave pivoted to real estate, starting with Coldwell Banker before moving to Creative Realty, where he became Sales Manager, earned his Broker’s License, and eventually bought the firm. Over the years, he ran his own independent brokerage, became a franchisee with EXIT Realty, and later joined Atchley International Realty, which merged with Better Homes and Gardens. In 2019, he embraced his passion for international real estate as an owner at 1st Premier International Properties, and in 2022, he founded Suncoast Global Realty, where he leads a diverse team with a global reach.

A seasoned traveler who’s explored 94 countries and every continent (yes, even Antarctica!), Dave holds the CIPS (Certified International Property Specialist) designation, earned in 2019.

At home in Sarasota’s South Gate neighborhood, Dave and Marsha share their lives with Sunny the cockatiel and Flash the Betta fish. Dave also shares his piano talents through an active ministry at assisted living facilities, a passion that’s taken him on a musical road trip across the U.S.