Chris Galyon & John Colgate

Owners/Brokers of the Live Northwest Team
Parker Brennan Real Estate
360.521.7565
360.989.6316
www.livenorthwest.com

How long have you worked in Real Estate?
We’ve been in the industry since the late 90’s/early 2000’s.

What is your specialty?
We specialize in both new construction (currently representing Kingston Homes, Urban Northwest Homes and Modern Home Design & Build) as well as re-sale sellers and buyers. Our team is made up of six licensed brokers who all have various areas of expertise. John and I are the dedicated listing brokers for all new construction and resale listings.

What is one tip you have for someone looking to buy or sell a home?
Act quickly. Though rates rise and fall daily the trend in the upcoming months and years will be rising interest rates. This is one of the most important aspects for a home buyer to consider. Though an appreciating market/increase in real estate pricing is also a factor, the interest rate will have a dramatic effect on a buyer’s purchase power and their monthly budget in terms of affordability of payment.
From a seller’s point of view the same rule applies. It’s a delicate balance to decide when to list your home. Currently the market is moving very quickly due to low inventory. This increases the ability for a seller to get top dollar for their home as well as experience less than average time on market. As interest rates rise this can potentially change this dynamic.

What is the most unique property you’ve listed or sold?
In 2007, I listed what I consider to be one of the most amazing homes built in the county. It was a French Chateau up in Battle Ground. The builder imported many of the features of the home from Italy such as the limestone staircase, solid walnut doors, crumbled travertine tile flooring etc. The thought that went into the architectural design, commitment to the European finish/feel and execution of the build was inspiring. I was proud to be a part of bringing it to market and have since worked with the builder on every project he’s worked on in Clark County.

What is the most unusual thing you’ve encountered while working in Real Estate?
A couple of years ago I was at a rural property for a home inspection and had set off the security alarm by mistake. I didn’t think much of it because we were so far out. Shortly after I was met at the front door by a sheriff with his gun drawn pointed directly at me. It was definitely a surprising encounter for both of us.

What is the most challenging/gratifying aspect of what you do?
Every day is a challenge! I don’t think people realize how much work goes into a single real estate sale transaction. Those of us who have been in the industry a long time hopefully make it look easy, however there is a tremendous amount of business development, transaction experience, trials and tribulations that shape the way we conduct our business and protect/engage our clients. Though challenging, it’s also the inspiration for why we continually try to do a better job. The gratification comes when we receive a testimonial from a client that raves about how our team has conducted themselves during their purchase or sale.

What do you see in the future for real estate sales/prices?
I wish I had a crystal ball. Thus far, our local market has shown strong signs of stability and yearly appreciation since 2012. All indications point to the fact that this trend should continue for some time. Market inventory is still very low. As long as this remains the case we should continue to see the trend upward. If supply increases, whether due to interest rates rising or say an increase in a seller’s equity position of their home due to the appreciating market, that can alter the trajectory of the market.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working? Hobbies, volunteering, family, fun?
We love to spend time with our families. It’s unfortunately something we just don’t get to do enough of. We both have kids and significant others that don’t see us as often as they should! In addition, we’re both lifelong musicians and avid golfers…but there hasn’t been much time for any of that lately.

What do you like about living in this area?
Everything. Access to the coast, the mountains, the abundance of fantastic golf courses, the rivers, the fishing and the weather. Further, I really enjoy the small town feel of Clark County. Our office is downtown Vancouver and I couldn’t imagine working anywhere else. I appreciate the ability to walk to lunch or a meeting, catch a concert in the park or head down to the river. I also enjoy the fact that I know many of the faces that I see walking down the street or in a restaurant. It reminds me of where I grew up on the east coast and gives a sense of community that I appreciate.

Anything else you would like our readers to know about you and your company?
We’re passionate about real estate and we’re passionate about helping people realize their dream of home ownership. It’s exciting to be in a business with so many moving parts and so many truly talented people. I hope that at the end of our career we leave this city/county a better place for our kids to raise their families.