“Boomerang buyers, or those who underwent a foreclosure or short sale between 2007 and 2012, are finally making their comeback,” says Leah Wolfe-Kraemer, Managing Broker with Realty ONE Group – Goodyear in Goodyear, Ariz. For more information on current real estate trends and secrets for success, read the following interview.
Leah Wolfe-Kraemer
Managing Broker
Realty ONE Group – Goodyear
Goodyear, Ariz.
Region served: West Valley
Years in real estate: 10
Number of offices: 1
Number of agents: 135
Best advice for new agents: Don’t be a secret agent. Your success in this industry is directly correlated to the number of people who know you’re in real estate.
Favorite real estate app: Videolicious.
Describe the current consumer confidence climate in your area.
Consumer confidence dropped in 2014, but as millennials and boomerang buyers continue to enter the market, consumer confidence is steadily improving. In stark contrast to the markets of 2008 – 2013, nearly 90 percent of our current closings are traditional, non-distressed sales. Homes have equity once again, which certainly increases seller confidence.
What is the most significant trend positively affecting your business?
Boomerang buyers, or those who underwent a foreclosure or short sale between 2007 and 2012, are finally making their comeback. Folks who had previously been apathetic about the benefits of homeownership are once again in the market to buy their share of the American Dream. And sellers with equity plus motivated buyers equals real estate nirvana.
How are you preparing your agents for the future of real estate?
During our ONE-on-ONE coaching sessions, I help my agents assess their current business systems, and then make adjustments as necessary. Staying in tune with the market helps agents stay ahead of the curve. Preparation for survival during any market shift is challenging, but not impossible. Understanding the individual strengths and weaknesses of my agents, along with evaluating what they’re doing to consistently secure new business, is crucial to their continued success.
How does your company stay flexible and current?
Flexible and current are understated terms for the innovative and progressive initiatives and tools that come from Realty ONE Group. Our corporate headquarters keeps a pulse on the market and consumer profiles to ensure our agents are equipped with the knowledge and resources to wow their clients. Our agent-centric focus motivates us to develop unique training opportunities such as ONETalks, fast-paced, informative sessions with top talent and REV UP, an intense coaching program for newly licensed agents who wish to jumpstart their careers. Combine all of this with a fun, energetic and collaborative culture, and Realty ONE Group careens past flexible and current to become revolutionary.
In what ways do you see your market evolving throughout 2015?
I anticipate the market will remain steady through the first quarter of 2015, peak in spring, and then ride that momentum through summer and fall. Despite the lull we experienced throughout most of 2014, the Cromford Report reveals the greater Phoenix area still saw a 3.4 percent appreciation in home values. As consumer confidence and demand increase, activity and pricing will follow. I suspect 2015 will become the most balanced real estate market we’ve seen in a decade.
For more information, visit www.realtyonegroup.com.
