KC and I have a combined 50 years experience in Real Estate.  It’s not exactly mathematically correct, but I think there is a certain truth to it: My experience + KC’s does add up to the sum of our collective parts.  We are a team.  We’re also part of the greater Keller Williams team.  At KW, team spirit is key—together we are more than any one of us alone. KC and I both firmly believe that.

I have been a longtime training coordinator here at the Southpark Charlotte KW office.  It’s important to be a mentor.  I was lucky enough to be mentored when I first entered the real estate field, and it’s an experience I will never forget: sitting down day after day with my office manager as he went over every aspect of the field: from buying, selling and finance, to the daily business of running an agency. Those mentoring sessions constitute the backbone of my real estate experience and gave me valuable lessons that I carry with me to this day.

My strengths in real estate?  I may be the best educated Realtor in the city. This year I completed over 40 hours of continuing education in relocation, market trends, contract changes, appraising  and broker in charge training.  In addition, I travel 4 times a year to our corporate headquarters in Austin Texas to brainstorm and network with our very top agents from across the country and learn better ways of helping my clients.  I do not have to do that--our industry only requires 8 hours of continuing education each year to maintain our licenses.    I am also highly analytical and approach my clients real estate as the one of the largest investments they have.  It is important that be guided by experts in the field, and I feel I am  an expert problem-solver.  Sometimes a home can be tricky to market, or a buyer may have specific issues that go beyond the scope of normal experience.  I welcome those challenges and pride myself on finding creative solutions no one else has thought of.

It’s a privilege to be a realtor in Charlotte.  Not only is the area beautiful, historic, and full of cultural, recreational, and educational pursuits, but we are experiencing a time of unprecedented growth as well.  Real estate is benefiting, with all markets booming: new homes, older homes, condominiums, retail, commercial...  It’s an exciting time, and KC and I are thrilled to be a part of it.

Of course we do have a life outside real estate.  I love to travel, although KC is more of a homebody.  I have a fascination for the American West.  Arizona is a Mecca to me.  I love to go there and get energized by the beauty of the mountains and the desert.  It’s breathtaking.  On the local front, we are new homeowners to a 67 year-old property that we’re both excited about. The renovations are always a work in progress.  I think sometimes KC thinks that someday this house will be finished, but one of the reasons we bought it is so I will have something to play with.  It will never be done!  (But don't tell him that...)   The garden is also a major focus. The Charlotte area is a forest by nature, and left to its own, would soon return to one.  Things grow great here, and gardening has become a major passion for me. 

We believe in giving back to the community.  KC & I are both involved in Habitat for Humanity and Urban Restoration.  We also—by our own initiative—have started a program to support the University of North Carolina-Charlotte (UNCC).  Any real estate business we receive from anyone connected with the school—teachers, students, faculty, alumni—we are donating 10% of our commission to the department from which the business came.  It’s KC’s and my way of giving back to our alma mater, which was so important to us.  It’s also a way to show support to the school, which we consider one of the crown jewels of the Charlotte community.  We think it’s under-appreciated and want to do our part to rectify that...

...KC on KC...

I’m a born and bred Charlottean.  I tease Eileen sometimes, because even though she’s been a Charlotte resident for 36 years, I’ve been here longer!  Charlotte is a great place to grow up.  I still remember playing in the woods in my old neighborhood, and riding our bikes everywhere as kids.  As I got older, I got a job ushering at the old Charlotte Coliseum—a bonus was I got to see all the events.  I’ve got great memories of going to the early races at the Charlotte Motor Speedway with my Dad.  Little did we know that it was the beginnings of full-blown Nascar-mania for the region!

I’ve always looked at Real Estate as an interesting field.  Even now, after 24 years in the business, it still feels fresh.  Think about it: Every day you meet new people and have a chance to help them find their dream home and invest in their future.  How awesome is that?  We’re also lucky here in Charlotte.  The city is beautiful; the climate is wonderful; the people are friendly.  I’ve lived here all my life and always had great neighbors.  It’s that kind of place.

My strengths in real estate?  I love people and I really want the best for everyone.  I will take the time and energy necessary to make sure our clients get what they need.  Many of our clients become friends, and a large part of our business is referred to us by past clients.  That only happens because we get the job done and our clients know they can trust us to look out for them. Many have come back to us over and over and they continue to refer people they know and care about.
  
I also approach this business from a practical standpoint.  You’ve got to keep that bottom line in the picture at all times. This is as important for the client as it is for us.  It’s easy to get swept up in emotion during a home transaction, but keeping a grip on the financial end is key.  The nuts and bolts are also important—the day to day details that add up to running a business.  Eileen and I share the same goal: to run our company like a well-oiled machine.

Any unusual transactions in real estate?  I once sold a former Nascar race shop.  You might think it was just a matter of transferring the title, but the EPA got involved and as far as jumping through hoops go--that one had everybody hopping!  I also had an investor client a while back who was legally blind.  Well, I’d take him around and show him the properties just like anyone else.  I took a lot of flak (gentle, of course) for showing houses to a blind guy, but it was a business relationship first and foremost.  He was a wonderful client, by the way.

I am a fan of the French fry… To me, this is the perfect food.  How about a loaded baked sweet potato as a side?  No seriously, there’s something about potatoes that I just L…O…V…E.  Eileen gives me a hard time, but I’ve got to have my potato fix or I’m one unhappy camper.   ...It’s probably a comfort food thing…

I like to say I’m the luckiest guy around.  I’ve been married to my dream woman for 3-plus decades, have a wonderful family and job, and live in a great place.  What more could a guy want?

...Eileen on KC...

I like the way we both assume different roles in the team.  I’m more out and about, scoping the field.  KC’s home base is the office-- the computers, the phones, the faxes and the support staff.    He’s the ‘Mr. Business’ part of the team.  We also have different roles in the kitchen—KC’s the chef (he was in the restaurant biz years ago), I’m the sous-chef!

 
I'd like to come back as one of KC's pets...  Life is good around here if you are a cat or a dog...  All three of our  animal friends are foundlings, and it was their lucky day the day they showed up at our house!  From Jake, who got kicked out of the house up the street, to Louie who was dumped in the parking lot of our office( that's him in the picture)  to Tiger, the cat who goes on the dog walks everyday with them, they really are our babies.  (PS: We’re not forgetting our ‘real’ baby, Bryan--who is all grown up with a baby of his own--Jack!)

...KC on Eileen... The Lady is a Champ.  She’s a visionary, a go-getter, the heart and soul of our team.  I can honestly say I would not be in this business without Eileen by my side.