Chicago, IL (1888PressRelease)
November 06, 2007 - For many young people today, the dream of owning a home seems to be just that—a dream. However, the media is full of stories about a slow housing market. Who can benefit from this downturn? The only group that was pushed aside in the hot housing market a few years ago: first time homebuyers.
Ryan Gable preaches about this opportunity. Gable, who founded StartingPoint Realty in the Chicago suburb of Palatine in 2004, has made it his mission to educate and empower first time homebuyers to invest in a nest, be it condo, town house or single family home. Gable is closing in on $13,000,000 in sales, most of them to first timers.
“We’re the only real estate office in the Chicago metropolitan area whose resources are 100% dedicated to first time purchasers. We’ve actually turned down business because it didn’t fit our niche,” states Gable. “I started the business because I felt that first time home buyers were a neglected group and if we focused on education, integrity, and service, StartingPoint Realty would become the prominent real estate agency for first time buyers. Now, because of the preparation we provide to our clients, we are building a reputation for bringing qualified, educated buyers to the table. Our clients don’t get cold feet because they know what to expect.”
StartingPoint Realty holds at least two free home buying seminars a month. At least is held in Chicago and another in the suburbs. A mortgage broker is always in attendance at each seminar. Everyone is welcome to attend and there is no pressure to buy although, notes Gable, many attendees are surprised to learn that there are lots of creative financing options available to them. Seminar topics include credit ratings, pre-approval, roles of the real estate agent, how to search for properties, negotiation, signing the contract and closing. Gable comments, “Most of the people who come to these seminars are tired of renting, but they don’t know where to start. After learning about the possibilities, if they want to start searching, I’m here to help. If not, I’m always happy that they came and learned something. There’s no catch.”
Since nearly half of StartingPoint Realty’s clients are newlyweds, Gable offers an array of services geared to the bride and groom. He has set up a program that makes it easy for the couple’s friends and relatives to donate to a down payment fund. In addition, StartingPoint will also contribute if the clients bring a minimum of $1,000 to the closing table. He even has a registry card that can be mailed to wedding guests explaining the program.
First time buyers will find lots of information and resources at www.startingpointrealty.com where they can also sign up for a free monthly newsletter, The Elbow Room, “a guide for attaining space that you can call your own.”
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