Kathy Lemons, a longtime real estate broker here, says she has launched an independent real estate agency in Spokane Valley.

The agency, Top Gold Realty, specializes in marketing residential properties in the Spokane area, and occupies 1,800 square feet of leased office space at 521 N. Argonne, Lemons says.

In addition to her, Top Gold has four full-time agents, she says. Lemons says she has 28 years of real estate experience and most recently was a broker with the Keller Williams Realty Spokane agency.

She says she expects the lagging residential real estate market will turn around soon and provide opportunities for the new agency to grow.