Kevin Schubel

Real Estate Broker
RE/MAX equity group
360-936-7277
www.TeamSchubel.com

How long have you worked in Real Estate?
9+ Years. I received my license in December of 2006, and almost immediately watched the market, and economy, decline.

What is your specialty?
My specialty is adapting. Buyers, Sellers, Short Sales, First Time Buyers, New Construction, Investments, Flips, the market is always changing so knowing how to do everything has benefited me a lot.

What is one tip you have for someone looking to buy or sell a home?
For Buyers, get pre-approved with a lender before you start looking. You might end up teasing yourself with something you really can’t afford yet if you start looking first. For Sellers, a good thorough decluttering of your home will go a long way. Also, if you’re planning on selling and buying again, make sure you’ve discussed your logistical options with your REALTOR® before listing!

What is the most unique property you’ve listed or sold?
I’ve listed a 900 sq ft, 2 bed, 1 bath house with 3700 sq ft of attached garage space! I also sold an old historic house in Washougal that the Railroad Tracks actually crossed through and the owners would have to wait for the train to move to enter/exit the property. Always fun!

What is the most unusual thing you’ve encountered while working in real estate?
There have been many! I once showed a home that was a virtual barn INSIDE the home. Dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits, a huge snake, all inside the house! The chickens were openly walking around in the family room and one started pecking my leg as we walked through the front door.

What is the most challenging/gratifying aspect of what you do?
Even the “easy” ones can be challenging. However, every single transaction is gratifying. Placing keys in the hands of first time buyers is always a huge reward. Helping someone actually buy that “dream home” they’ve always wanted. Helping sellers navigate the logistics of selling and buying again and watching it work out smoothly. These are just a couple things that make me love my job. On top of all of that, many clients have become friends that I will have for the rest of my life, nothing can top that.

What do you see in the future for real estate sales/prices?
I figured prices would continue to increase through 2016 as, historically, the entire economy usually stays fairly strong during an election year. I will admit that I didn’t anticipate the market increasing as quickly as it has this early into the year.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working? Hobbies, volunteering, family, fun?
My wife, Katie, and I have a 1.5 year old daughter, Parker, who happily gets a lot of our time. Whether it’s reading books, walking the neighborhood, or her signature dancing/singing videos, she’s always keeping a smile on our faces. I am also very lucky to be surrounded by a lot of family here locally and a great group of friends.

What do you like about living in this area?
I was born and raised in Vancouver and I’ve never had a desire to leave. I love being a short drive to so many different parts of our state that offer so many unique activities and adventures. We’re an hour to Mt. Hood, two hours to the Coast, driving distance to Canada, state parks, or more desert type climates….so much to do!

Anything else you would like our readers to know about you and your company?
It would be wrong of me to not mention my late father, Lyn Schubel, who passed away in November of 2015. My father was in the Real Estate industry for 36 years and known by almost everyone. I was very fortunate to have him as a mentor. Looking back on my early years, I now know that I had a very accelerated learning curve and it was all due to him. There are still times I instinctively grab my phone with intentions of calling to run an idea by him. However, as good as he was in Real Estate, he was a better father. We spoke about business a lot but the conversations, and wisdom he shared about everything else in life are what I will miss the most. We all still miss him.