Greg Gospe

Realtor/Broker
Richard Ballew Realty
360-609-2222
greggospe@gmail.com
www.vancouver-portlandhomes.com

How long have you worked in Real Estate?
I started in real estate in mid 2013 when I obtained my Washington license. In 2014 I added my Oregon license and have listed and sold homes in both states, with most of my business coming from Washington. I bring more than 25 years of sales and marketing experience to real estate, and it has served my clients well — I’ve been fortunate enough to help nearly 100 families buy or sell homes since I started.

What is your specialty?
My passion is in working with empty-nesters looking to right-size their home and lifestyle. I’m also certified by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission to teach first-time home buyer classes. I also have personal and professional expertise with relocations, having relocated here over 20 years ago. I’m a member of the Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS) and am one of the few agents in Clark County who is licensed in Oregon and is also member of the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) which serves areas North of Longview to the Canadian border. I work mostly with residential properties, but I have also have experience with commercial property listings and vacant land.

What is one tip you have for someone looking to buy or sell a home?
Once you’ve decided that you’re going to sell or buy, I strongly encourage you to take enough time to find the right agent. I recommend that you talk to a few agents, use reliable online reviews or ask friends who have sold or bought a home recently. Make sure you pick an agent who will communicate with you as often as you need them to and in a way that makes sense. An agent who does this well can remove much of the stress that comes with the sale or purchase of a home.

What is the most challenging/gratifying aspect of what you do?
A challenge is that the inventory of homes for sale is very low. That presents a huge challenge for buyers, not only to find a home, but also to successfully purchase it. For sellers, a median-priced home in this market can often get a huge number of showings and offers in a very short period of time. This can be overwhelming to anyone selling a home, especially if they haven’t sold one recently. The most gratifying aspect of what I do is when I formulate an offer strategy for my clients which results in their offer getting accepted. On the selling side, it’s equally gratifying to coach my clients on what’s likely to happen after their home hits the market and then, when offers are presented, to help them to select the one that best meets their needs.

What do you see in the future for real estate sales/prices?
I see interest rates continuing to to be mostly stable. Prices should continue to increase, although not quite as quickly as they have been, especially around the median price range in both Washington and Oregon. In short, there are simply more buyers than sellers. Fortunately for homebuyers, there’s an active market for new homes in our metro area. So while prices are rising, there are new neighborhoods and homes being added to our supply. The most important variable, however, is the number of people moving to our area. If that number remains as large as it has been, that will keep supply of homes very tight.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working? Hobbies, volunteering, family, fun?
I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling and photography. My wife Pam and I have four children who are either in high school, college or have finished college. Fortunately for us, they are close by, so we can see them often. I’ve also overseen the development and growth of the Hockinson School District, having been a school board member since 2003.

What do you like about living in this area?
I love the quality of life that the Vancouver area offers — the quality schools and almost perfect pace of life — along with the scenic beauty in our rivers, lakes and forests.

Anything else you would like our readers to know about you and your company?
I chose to work with Richard Ballew Realty because it’s a small, locally owned boutique brokerage that focuses on client service and can handle real estate transactions of any size. The way that we set ourselves apart is through service to our clients and excellence in representation for sellers and buyers of both residential and commercial/investment properties. I’ve been successful in this market not only because I’ve lived here long enough to understand the Pacific Northwest, but also because I have the perspective of someone who has relocated to the area. The bottom line is that I have the knowledge of a local resident coupled with the perspective of a seasoned traveler, which, in my view, is a great combination if you’re looking to buy or sell real estate in our area.