Small businesses across the country have only recently recovered from the economic crash of 2008. And this is especially true for real estate. It was the year subprime mortgages and foreclosures permanently entered the daily conversation. A year earlier, Jeff Knipe had launched Knipe Realty in Portland, Ore., with a small staff and ambition to become a trusted source in residential real estate. Facing the downward spiral, he kept his team focused on powering through.
“When homeowners are overwhelmed with financial stress, and the market is a series of short sales, it can be tough to power through without feeling defeated,” says Knipe, owner of Knipe Realty ERA Powered. “But instead of backing out and surrendering, I realized that my faith in real estate—and the belief that homeownership is critical for a community to thrive—would inspire us to challenge the tough times successfully.”
In the last decade, Knipe’s persistence has helped them grow from one office to four offices with 235 agents serving the Portland metro area, Salem, Vancouver and beyond. To further accelerate its growth, Knipe joined ERA Real Estate to access its valuable resources and technology. Following $600 million in sales last year, Knipe is eager to boost profitability and productivity across his offices.
“The excitement here is unmatched. Our affiliation with ERA is well timed with our 10th anniversary. Our journey and growth to date is a testament to teamwork and our deep ties within the communities we serve. The affiliation with ERA will only further propel our growth,” says Knipe.
“Jeff is passionate about real estate, and he’s an excellent brand ambassador for ERA’s culture of collaboration and innovation,” says Simon Chen, president and CEO of ERA Real Estate. “In just a couple of months, Jeff and his team have been able to take advantage of ERA’s platforms, specifically Zap. They’ve skillfully combined it with local market knowledge and tried-and-tested marketing strategies to boost agent productivity and maintain retention, which has netted big wins in the Pacific Northwest.”
For Knipe Realty ERA Powered, the power of technology goes beyond its features and functionality. Working in tight-knit communities, the real test of technology is its ability to add value to every interaction between the agent and their clients. Zap offers accurate lead generation, which helps match the right agents with clients, and eventually, their dream home.
“I always tell my team to lead with a servant’s heart,” says Knipe. “We play a significant role in shaping our community. The dream homes that we help our clients find are the stories that make our job worthwhile. We’re intimately involved in helping families and individuals make one of the biggest decisions of their life. Whether it’s connecting a family with the right home that fits their budget or helping a young couple establish their first major investment together, it’s a responsibility that we don’t take lightly.”
“Jeff’s view of technology aligns with ERA. We see technology as a vehicle to do the heavy lifting for his agents so that they can use their time listening and talking to their clients and truly understanding their needs,” concludes Chen. “And that concept mirrors ERA’s culture, which emphasizes collaboration within our network and the deep connections we’ve built and continue to support with our brokers.”
For more information, please visit www.era.com.
Zoe Eisenberg is RISMedia’s senior content editor. Email her your real estate news ideas at zoe@rismedia.com. For the latest real estate news and trends, bookmark RISMedia.com.
