Susan E. Alvarado bought a four-bedroom, two bath at 1875 SW 17th St. in Boca Raton for $632,000 from Thomas Vittor and his wife, Norma, on May 2.

The Vittors paid $380,000 for the property on Aug. 2001. The 2,533 square foot house was listed for as high as $729,000.

Alvarado is a principal and founding partner at Alvarado and Bennett, a government relations consulting firm based in Alexandria, Va.

She previously held a number of positions in government relations, including stints in the Republican Senate as a floor assistant for assistant minority leader and Senator Ted Stevens (Alaska) and as the assistant for legislative affairs for George H.W. Bush while he served as vice president.

She also spent 10 years on the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors, a position she was appointed to by former president Ronald Reagan.

Alvarado received a bachelor's degree in political science from Ohio State University (1975).

Home sales in Boca Raton dropped more than 24 percent in 2007. The median sales price also dropped $31,000 last year, from $450,000 in 2006 to $419,000 in 2007.

Address: 1875 SW. 17th Street
Buyer(s): Susan E Alvarado
Seller(s): Thomas Vittor and Norma Vittor
Sale date: May. 2, 2008