Mike & Linda Owens

Real Estate Brokers, CNE, CDPE, SFR
Windermere Stellar
360-903-0642 (Mike, cell)
360-356-0094 (Linda, cell)
http://www.owensteam.withwre.com

How long have you worked in RE?
We are both on our second careers. Linda worked in the education industry for many years with her last assignment as a representative for the ROP program for Riverside County, CA. Mike spent many years in the paint industry leaving Parker Paint in 2008 from his position of VP Sales and Stores. We began our real estate career in 2009 with Windermere Stellar as the “Owens Team” and have grown to love what we do and working together.

What is your specialty?
Our specialty in housing is residential for buyers or sellers. Our focus when we entered real estate was to provide a service to our clients that went beyond the norm. With each client we go beyond what is expected in making sure that all transactions are handled with the utmost care, no matter if the home is $100,000 or $1,000,000. Our reputation matters to us and our clients deserve the best service possible.

What is one tip you have for someone looking to buy or sell a home?
Certainly the most important task in the beginning, if we are talking about buyers, is be sure to be pre-approved before you start the venture of looking for a new home. Being pre-approved sets our clients on the right path as far as the correct price-point to search in. Sellers should be selecting a competent real estate broker to help them understand their local market in pricing and marketing their home. We understand that buyers/sellers have a choice and that is why our goal is to help make their process as smooth and frustration free as possible.

What is the most unique property you’ve listed or sold?
So far we have not had a property with a ghost…but we’ve been asked if a listing we had was ever “occupied by ghosts.” For us it seems that each property and client/s is unique and equally interesting and rewarding for a number of reasons. Helping the first time buyer to the senior who is transitioning to a senior living community, and everything in between, has made the real estate business unique for us.

What is the most unusual thing you’ve encountered while working in RE?
While showing properties to clients in a rural area we happened upon an occupant sleeping in the master bedroom of one of the listings. Of course we always knock, ring the doorbell and shout out when we enter. The buyer was only 3 ft. from the bed when the sleeper was discovered. Our only objective was to get out without being shot! Of course, we did leave a card.

What is the most challenging/gratifying aspect of what you do?
Working with our clients is one of the most gratifying aspects of being involved in the real estate business. People are what makes this worthwhile; helping them move forward to the next part of their journey with buying or selling, we love being a connecting dot in the picture.

What do you see in the future for real estate sales/prices?
Clark County has shown very strong growth in the average sale over the past three years. 12.5% in 2013, 9.7% in 2014 and this year-to-date, 7.1%. Because our local inventory of homes for sale is so low we anticipate that we will see price increases hit between 7-8% again this year, and a possible slowing closer to the national average of 4%-5% for 2016/17.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working? Hobbies, volunteering, family, fun?
Real estate keeps us busy! However, we manage to slip in some fun and R&R when and where we can. Mike enjoys getting a line wet when he can. Being on the board of the Clark-Skamania Flyfishers group helped him to keep updated with the waters and fish runs here in SW Washington. Linda enjoys being a part of the Clark County Newcomers Club in the 18 hole golf group. We both enjoy a round of golf, when we can get that in, and Pickle Ball is our newest activity at Club Green Meadows.

What do you like about living in this area?
The green…the waters…the spring time colors…the people…the history…the limitless adventure possibilities…and the sun when it shines!

Anything else you would like our readers to know about you and your company?
Selecting Windermere Stellar was absolutely the best decision we could have made when choosing a brokerage for our real estate business. The caliber of the company, brand name recognition, professionalism of the brokers, ongoing education and ethics, cannot be paralleled. We are proud to represent Windermere Stellar as “the Owens Team.”