Scott Combs

Broker
Real Living, The Real Estate Group
360-904-2966
ScottCombsRealEstate.com

How long have you worked in Real Estate?
Nearly three decades. My career began in 1986 when there were just 400 licensed agents. Today there are 1,400.

What is your specialty?
I manage the entire process for my clients, from the first inquiry all the way through closing. I believe real estate today is so complex that people need agents who are willing and able to apply everything they know at every step in the process. I don’t pick and choose when it comes to size – from mobile homes to estates and acreages. It is hard work and I love it.

What is one tip you have for someone looking to buy or sell a home?
Hire a seasoned agent who answers their phone and has a proven track record of managing the entire process. Real estate today requires the assistance of a tough, shrewd, experienced, solution-minded negotiator. No one deserves to be handed off from person to person.

What is the most unique property you’ve listed or sold?
On the listing side, in 1993 I was working with a builder/developer that was building the first development in Fishers Landing. There were no roads in yet (Fred Meyer was not even there yet) and with no office, and only a plat map and price sheet, I sold four homes in a single weekend out of the back of my car! I ended up selling 30 homes that month!
On the sales side, an out-of-town family had their heart set on living in a certain neighborhood but there were no homes for sale. So, we sent a letter to the 300 owners of homes that met their criteria. Sure enough, we found three people who were open to selling. Within days we had a deal in place.

What is the most unusual thing you’ve encountered while working in real estate?
I was getting ready to show a couple’s property while they were out of town, only to discover that their kids had thrown a crazy party. From then on, I made it a policy to arrive in advance of the prospective buyer just in case something isn’t right.

What is the most challenging/gratifying aspect of what you do?
It’s all about helping people make wise choices because home ownership is one of a family’s largest investments. I enjoy working with first time homebuyers as well as long-time residents who are ready to make a change such as downsizing after the kids move on.

What do you see in the future for real estate sales/prices?
With interest rates under 4 percent, I believe we are in for another great year in real estate. I am concerned about the lack of home inventory for sale, so we’ll likely see appreciation in home values.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working? Hobbies, volunteering, family, fun?
I love coaching little league baseball and golfing at Tri-Mountain or Lewis River. I enjoy traveling with my family to Cabo several times a year. We like helping support our schools and local charities.

What do you like about living in this area?
I happily left California at age 8, and have lived here ever since. We’re so close to everything, including the coast, mountains and lakes. We love watching our region grow up as a thriving community to live, work and play.

Anything else you would like our readers to know about you and your company?
Our company is part of Real Living, the Real Estate Group, led by Chad and Hollie Sessions. Real Living is a fresh, fast-growing brand in this region, although it is well established around the country and the industry leader in client satisfaction. Real Living consists of only proven agents who are significant producers operating in a community-minded culture.