Why Real Estate?
By: Maureen Griffin
I’ve been blessed to work with the Tara Stark Real Estate Group for a little over four months now. Friends and family are always asking, “How are you liking your job? Is the housing market really as hot as it seems?” The simple answers are: “Love it!” and “Yes, yes it is!”
But if you’re interested, I’d love to share the details that are truly the “Why Real Estate?” answers for me.
Q: “How are you liking your job?”
A: In just over four months, I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many satisfied clients we have served at Tara Stark Real Estate Group. Right off the bat, we were planning a client appreciation event, celebrating and giving back to those who have blessed us with their loyalty in their real estate needs. This wasn’t an ordinary client party, it was important to Tara and our team to nourish their souls, encourage their spirit and infuse fun into their evening. “Party with a Purpose: An Evening of Celebration, Motivation and Inspiration” featured motivational speaker, Drew Myers and TX Country Artist, Josh Weathers. It truly was an engaging evening and we’ve already had clients share their “life list” with us and their promise to #liveonpurpose.
What we do truly is congruent with what Tara told me at my interview, “We’re not simply helping people buy and sell their house…we are walking alongside them as their life transitions.” That is what I love most about my job. I love being in the journey as our client moves from their starter home to one large enough for a family, or another who has decided to downsize and transition their home to a new family who will start their legacy in it. Real estate really is all about relationships!
Q: “Is the housing market really as hot as it seems?”
A: Yes! But…don’t let that scare or deter you! A strong market is a good thing, it means there is a market for your current home and for your next home, there is an equally motivated seller who is trying to get into their better-fit house. It’s like that theory of success begets success; now is definitely the time to get into the best-suited home for you because the market is moving swiftly, and negotiations aren’t wasting time. In short, it’s a buyer’s and seller’s market.
So, what are some things you can do if you’re ready to start looking? First of all, work with a trusted Realtor. You want to be represented by someone who will negotiate strongly in your best interest for both the sale of your current property and the purchase of your next house. You may have heard of “buyer’s agents” or “listing agents”; we’re experts in both. Our track record of overwhelmingly satisfied clients is evident in our referrals. It is the highest compliment we can receive, when we receive a call and it starts with “John Smith is my friend and he said you did an excellent job selling his house and getting him into his new one. We’re wanting to move also and would like to come meet with you.” We know Mr. Smith has put his reputation on the line for ours, we are grateful for his trust of us in taking care of his friend.
Next steps? We’ll walk you step-by-step in the process, keeping your priorities forefront. We have strong relationships with other professionals you will need along the way, from mortgage lender, appraiser, inspector and any other service your home may require. People do business with people they trust, we operate the same way. Our trusted partners demonstrate the integrity and client-focused commitment we expect of ourselves.
So “Why real estate?” I guess I must go back sixteen years to answer that question. It hit me recently, the biggest life-move I made was to leave family & friends in order to move somewhere with an affordable quality-of-life, and specifically the ability to buy a home. Where I grew up became much too expensive for many. So, in 2002 I visited DFW after extensive research on our economy and housing market. The southern-hospitality, sunshine and family-centered culture was a big plus too! But life is about the big picture and the ability to combine all our must-haves into a setting that will allow us to meet those goals. Buying my first home is a memory I will always cherish. I had a great real estate agent who listened to my needs and worked diligently to help me reach my goal. My agent politely advised me when I was making a “rookie mistake” and guided me in the best long-term investment route. I loved my home, I loved my neighborhood, I loved the process and my agent who made it about me and my needs, I loved my agent. Now I have a chance to be part of a team that creates that experience for someone else, and that, is what I truly love about “being in real estate” and more specifically, being part of the Tara Stark Real Estate Group team.
