EXIT First Realty is celebrating 15 years of success!

This past June, our office celebrated 15 years of business, and I couldn’t be happier. This milestone caused me to reflect on how different things were back then compared to where they are now—not just in the real estate industry, but also in the world at large.

For example, during the summer of 2006, the No. 1 hit single on the Billboard music chart was “Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira, George W. Bush was president, and low-rise jeans were the most popular fashion trend. 

In the real estate world, we were starting to see the early stages of a major housing shift. Mortgage rates hit a four-year high in July of 2006 by jumping to 6.79%. The average sales price for a home in that time had dropped by 3% to $243,000, and existing home inventories were 39% higher than the previous year.

Despite all that, my team and I decided to start our franchise, EXIT First Realty. I had been in real estate for years by that point, and I made sure to listen to more experienced experts than I. A year and a half after we started our brokerage, the housing market crashed, but our company prevailed. We knew what was coming and how to pivot our business model so that we remained successful. Actually, our business flourished during that time; the Richmond Association of Realtors ranked my team among the top 10 for sales volume and closed deals in 2006, and we’ve held that ranking every year since.

“We embrace accountability and understand

that we can always do better for our clients.”

So what are the keys to our success?

It starts with knowing the market. My team and I pay very close attention to what experts are saying and what the market is doing. We don’t have a crystal ball to predict the future, but we have learned how to notice little shifts in inventory, mortgage rates, and prices that can help us navigate changing market conditions. We share this information with our clients and create the best exit strategies for their needs.

We also look for opportunities to better serve our clients. That means listening to their needs and improving our level of service with every deal. We embrace accountability and understand that we can always do better.

The world looks very different now from how it did when EXIT First Realty started back in 2006, but with experience and knowledge, we know our team can help guide you through any market conditions and provide the best solution for your real estate needs.

If you have questions about the current market, are interested in buying or selling a home, or you’ve considered starting your real estate career, contact our team today. We look forward to serving you and your family now and for the next 15 years.