Opportunity exists in West Virginia, and some of the fastest-growing trends in the mountain state pertain to real estate. In 2021, national home sales increased more than 8% in total units sold from the previous year––the highest percentage increase since 2006.
Host, Jim Matuga, sat down with Ray Joseph, CEO of the West Virginia Association of REALTORS, Melissa Hornbeck, Broker at White Diamond Realty LLC, Steve Walker, Owner & Broker of J. S. Walker Associates, Inc., and Joshua Jarrell, Of Counsel at Steptoe & Johnson PLLC.
CEO, Ray Joseph, commented on the real estate opportunity in West Virginia, saying, “Real estate makes up 16% of the state’s gross product. Every new licensee is a new business. In 2021, albeit small, 400 new businesses were started in West Virginia.”
The West Virginia Association of REALTORS is one the largest professional organization in the state with a membership size of over 3,400 licensees and realtors.
The first part of real estate is the buyer. Seeing the growth of real estate firsthand in West Virginia, Melissa Hornbeck advised, “[The buyer] needs to prepare themselves on a number of levels. The more prepared they go into it, the more successful they’re going to be––and the more prepared they’ll be to handle disappointment.”
“To the sellers out there, consider paying it forward,” said Hornbeck. “Put yourself in the shoes of the buyer. Be patient, compassionate, and prepared.”
White Diamond Realty is a team of passionate real estate experts and serves the regions of North Central West Virginia and Southwestern Pennsylvania. Their distinctive approach focuses on presentation, process, and people to support sellers and buyers from start to finish
Another aspect of real estate is the employee. When considering whether a young person should enter into the world of real estate, Steve Walker commented, “We’re in the process of training five agents to join the company. If they can be economically sufficient for four to six months, believe in themself, and receive the right training, they can be effective in business and property.”
Real estate is a leadership-based and community-driven business. As West Virginia grows, so will its opportunities. As opportunities grow, so will the demand for real estate expertise.
To follow the panelists’ stories and to get a better glimpse of each company, visit www.wvrealtors.com, www.whitediamondrealty.net, www.jswalker.com, and www.steptoe-johnson.com.