Barbour specializes in accessible homes and setting up a ramp is just one way the Cary Realtor helps her clients find a home that fits their needs.

Barbour recently spent several days showing Sharon Meyers and her husband, Bob, houses with wide hallways, lower countertops and open bathroom layouts.

"Karen really understands our needs and has been taking us to homes that are accessible for Sharon," Bob Meyers said. "She is very knowledgeable and it has been fabulous to work with."

The New Jersey couple found Barbour online, and she spent about 30 hours quizzing them about their needs and sending them information. All before they drove to the Triangle to look at houses. Bob Meyers said working with Karen has been a lot easier than other real estate agents he has worked with because she understands the features they need for Sharon and was already familiar with accessible homes in the area.

When she became a Realtor in 2007, Barbour wanted to help clients with special needs find their perfect home. Those issues can include aging clients, clients who use wheelchairs, families with a child with developmental disabilities and buyers who are deaf or hard of hearing. When she started showing houses, these clients made up around 10 percent of her business, but now make up more than 60 percent of her clients, about 25 families each year.

"I saw a need for accessible homes, not just for people who use wheelchairs but people who want to remain in their homes for the rest of their lives," Barbour said.

Most of the houses that Barbour shows her clients are not built specifically as handicapped accessible houses, but have bigger doorways, lots of lighting and open floor plans. She also looks for details such as levered door handles, which are easier to hold, and detachable shower heads, which are needed to accommodate a wheelchair or shower chair.

"People are often surprised to realize that accessible homes do not have to be sterile-looking. They can look like any home," Barbour said.

Working with clients

Barbour also works with people who are preparing for mobility issues. She is able to point out features that the buyer may not realize they are going to need. She also helps people wanting to stay in their home find contractors who can modify the home to fit their changing needs.

Barbour said the most challenging part of her job is there simply aren't enough houses that work for people with accessibility issues.

"We oftentimes can find a house that the buyer can get in with a ramp but would still need to widen doorways, which is an added expense," Barbour said.

When a client has enough lead time, a custom-built home is another option. She sometimes collaborates with local builder Lewis Sadler, who specializes in accessible homes.

Understands the need

As the mother of a son with autism, she also understands the needs of her clients whose children have developmental disabilities. These include a fenced yard or an open floor plan to easily supervise a child.

She often helps families new to the area with questions about the special education programs in local schools and finding a support group.

Her fluency in American Sign Language (ASL) and growing up with a deaf sister helps her when working with buyers who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Deaf buyers typically have to communicate with real estate agents through email, writing or a hearing family member, but Barbour is able to communicate with them using their own language.

Since those who use ASL need to see the other person to communicate, she helps her deaf buyers find open floor plans so they can easily see guests and family members.

Frank Zhang and his wife Emily Rong, who are both deaf and also have visitors who use a wheelchair, heard about Barbour through a friend.

"We decided to select her as our Realtor because she knew deaf culture and wheelchair accessible houses more than others," wrote Zhang in an email.

Both were impressed that Barbour hired an interpreter for both the closing and the inspection to make sure that they understood all of the details.

"It's very rewarding; it's not about the money. It's more about helping people find the right home that's going to work for them," Barbour said.