What People Say

 

Coasting on a Great
Investment
David S. Anderson

 

 

"As a real estate broker for the past 21 years, I know a good real estate investment when I see one.  I met Faye Brock through Certified Residential Specialists (CRS); she is currently Regional Vice-President, Region 6 (Ohio, Kentucky, and Michigan), and I am the State President for CRS Colorado.  This past Christmas, we went to the Wilmington area for a vacation.  While there, we talked with Faye about the real estate market in Coastal Carolina, one of the hottest in the nation right now.  Faye mentioned an investment opportunity that sounded too good to pass up.  An attractive beach-style home built on pile-ons was under construction, and had tremendous potential as a rental property.  Looking to expand my personal portfolio, I decided to make the investment. 

One of my greatest passions is cycling; it’s a sport with lots of analogies that apply to my industry.  Sometimes, negotiating and closing a real estate deal can be like climbing the Alps on a hot summer day—an all uphill battle.  Living on the other side of the country meant that I would need a strong and determined individual to do most of the difficult pedaling for me.  Of course, I turned to Faye.  She went above and beyond the call of duty to help us secure the proper financing; she oversaw the completion of construction; she even went to the county commissioner and the local power company when a non-functional meter held up the closing process.  Every time a problem arose, Faye worked very hard to resolve it; she knows exactly whom to call and keeps on top of every issue until it is completely resolved.  Faye even found a renter before our closing date!

We are pleased to own property in the Wilmington area, and because of Faye’s skill, we’re now coasting on a great investment and enjoying the ride!  We’ve already referred her to friends who also look forward to exploring all that Wilmington has to offer."

A Labor of Love Just in the Nick of Time
Wendy and Zachariah Barton

When Wendy and Zachariah Barton found out they were expecting their second child, they knew it was time to upgrade to a larger home that would comfortably accommodate their growing family.  Wendy’s mother is a CRS-certified realtor in Florida, so she offered to help the Barton family find a great real estate agent in North Carolina; naturally, Faye Brock’s name surfaced as one of the best.  But it was the Barton’s son, two-year-old Jamie who confirmed that Faye was indeed a great choice.  Little Jamie immediately liked Faye and decided to call her “Granny”.  His mother, Wendy, says:  “Faye’s not only experienced, she’s really nice.  My son absolutely loved her, and kids have that natural ability to pick up on the true essence of someone’s character.”

It didn’t take Faye long to find a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home with a nice backyard that would be perfect for this soon-to-be family of four.  Within less than a week, Faye had shown the Bartons the home they loved, and helped them to place an offer.  Turns out, it was just in the nick of time.  They closed on the house on a Friday afternoon and Wendy went into labor that night!  New addition Hunter, big brother Jamie, and Mom and Dad are settling nicely into their family home.

 

In Hot Pursuit of the Perfect First Home
Justin Wolfe

When investment representative Justin Wolfe decided it was time to buy his first home, he knew exactly what he wanted.  He contacted Faye Brock to start house hunting during the period when the Wilmington real estate market had reached its peak; average houses were being listed for top dollar and flying off the market in just a few days.  And Justin didn’t want average; he wanted his ideal house in a precise location that just happened to be one of fastest selling areas in Wilmington.

“Faye really listened to what I was looking for”, Justin says, “and she stayed on top of new listings”.  Due to market conditions, that perfect home didn’t materialize overnight.  For months Faye monitored new listings, combing them for properties that would appeal to Justin.  She faxed appropriate new listings to him regularly and he viewed a lot of them.  In fact, Justin even expressed interest in pursuing a few homes after visiting them and thinking about them for a couple of days.  But with the real estate climate at its hottest, even a day or two of reflection proved to be too late. 

About six months into their search, Faye called Justin about a “perfect house” in the exact location he desired.  The house had just been listed on the market that morning.  “We’ve got to move fast”, Faye explained.  “This is THE house and I don’t want you to lose it!” Justin visited the house that same day and he agreed.   He made an offer on the house the next morning.

A year and half later, Justin is still loving his home.  He’s glad he didn’t settle on something else earlier, despite the pressures of a hot real estate market, and thankful that Faye Brock had the patience and the persistence to keep working on his behalf until she found his version of perfection.

 

Retiring,
But Not Retired
Jon and Rita Reibman

When New Yorkers Jon and Rita Reibman started planning their retirement to North Carolina, they knew they would need a great real estate agent to help with the transition.  They turned to their son-in- law, who is also in the industry and on the North Carolina Board of Realtors.  He knew exactly who to send them to:  Faye Brock..

Jon Reibman has an adventurer’s spirit and a love of battleships.  Rita Reibman, a New Yorker born and raised, had some apprehension about leaving her strong family ties in New York, but felt that if she could find a place that was quaint but interesting with the stores she like to shop in, strong cultural offerings, and a rich history, she could do it.  All signs pointed to Southeastern Coastal Carolina.

The Reibmans flew down to Wilmington and Faye became their personal tour guide, introducing them to the area and getting to know their interests.  The Reibmans, who currently live in a large house on Long Island, said they wanted to downsize to a smaller, newly constructed home with only one floor.  That’s what you’re supposed to do when you retire, isn’t it? 

As per their instructions, Faye showed them properties that matched the criteria they had listed.  Nothing in these categories seemed to capture the Reibmans’ interest.  With her uncanny ability to read between the lines and understand what her clients truly want (even when they sometimes cannot express it themselves), Faye decided to go in a different direction.  “I know of this home that’s on the market due to a bankruptcy”, Faye began, “It’s not at all what you are looking for—big, two stories, not in the best condition –but I’d like you to have a look at it anyway…”

You probably already know how this stories ends.  It was love at first sight.  The Reibmans may be retiring, but that doesn’t mean they have retired the passion and vitality that inspired them to renovate and decorate their very own “Southern plantation”.  How’s that for downsizing?

Rita Reibman says:  “Faye is terrific!  Warm, friendly, knowledgeable.  She got to know us and heard what we truly wanted.   She answered every question we had, made us feel comfortable, and welcome.  Husband Jon Reibman agrees:  “Faye has been marvelous.  With the special nature of this sale, we encountered a few bumps and jiggles in the closing process, but she facilitated every detail beautifully.”

Thanks in large part to referrals from Faye, renovations on their new home are almost finished, and the Reibmans look forward to moving to the Wilmington area community in the fall of 2006.

 

It Works Both Ways:
Lots of Buying and Selling of Lots!
Dr. and Mrs. Douglas Newton

Greenville, NC residents Dr. and Mrs. Douglas Newton have been planning their retirement to the Wilmington area for a few years now.  A Greenville based REALTOR referred the Newtons to Faye Brock in early 2004, and Faye promptly began a search for a lot of land where they could build their retirement dream home. 

At that time, the annual growth rate in Wilmington had peaked at an unbelievable 38%, and lots in the area were selling faster than they could be cleared.  Eager to secure a site for their future home while there was still land to be had, the Newtons purchased a lot with many positive features and a few limitations. 

After buying the lot, they began the process of drawing up house plans for approval by the architectural regulations committee that governs building in that community.  This process revealed further limitations and restrictions that were inharmonious with the Newtons’ vision for their future home.

They again turned to Faye Brock, who assisted them in purchasing a more suitable lot and selling their initial investment.  Dr. Newton says: “We worked with Faye as both buyers and sellers.  For both types of transactions, she proved to be very thorough, hard-working, and forthright.  Although we didn’t initially expect to buy, sell and re-buy, we are very pleased with the final outcome.”

The Newtons look forward to the completion of construction on their new home and their upcoming relocation to the Wilmington area.

 

Plane Ticket: $437.00;
Meeting Faye Brock: Priceless
Jimmy Lechleider

 

"As a professional engineer, my job requires frequent relocation.  In December 1999, I accepted a job opportunity that required me to move from Santa Rosa, California to the Wilmington area.  I chose a CENTURY 21 agent to sell my house in California, and the Californian agent referred me to Faye Brock here in North Carolina. 

The transition from California to North Carolina was scheduled to happen very quickly, and I needed to work right up until the last minute.  This meant that I could only set aside four days to house hunt before starting my new job.  I bought a plane ticket and called Faye to let her know that I was on my way.  I was surprised and grateful when I learned that she had cleared her entire schedule to work exclusively with me for those four days.  At the time, I was single and unsure about what I was looking for in a new house.  Faye helped me determine what would suit my needs by showing me a variety of different house in different prices ranges.  Despite the short time frame, I never felt pressured, and we found a good deal on a nice house.

Fast forward a few years—I had married, and it was time for me and my wife to relocate once again.  The housing market was slow; in fact there were several homes in our neighborhood that had been for sale for months.  We listed our house with Faye.  She came over and gave us pointers on how to stage the house to highlight its features; she organized an open house with a flood of real estate agents, and she sold our home in less than two weeks!

During the next several years, my career moved me from Charlotte to Raleigh to Clayton, North Carolina.  There was just one problem:  Faye had set the bar too high!  We were so used to working with an exceptional agent that the other real estate agents just didn’t compare.  Sometimes, while buying or selling properties, I even called Faye to ask for her advice.  She was kind enough to always take my calls and answer my questions.

Two years ago, when we found out that my work was bringing our family to Wilmington again, Faye was one of the first people I called.  She helped us find a fantastic deal on a foreclosed property that we’ve been really happy with.  And, we plan on calling her again soon:  my wife says it’s almost time for an upgrade.

Faye has had such an impact on our lives that we no longer think of her as our real estate agent; she has become a family friend.  That plane ticket from California cost only a few hundred dollars, but meeting Faye Brock was priceless."

 

Now That’s Customer Service!
Randy Mercer

"As a First Vice-President of Sun Trust Bank, it’s my job to take care of my clients by safeguarding their investments and growing their portfolios.  One of the interesting fringe benefits of my work is that sometimes my customers show their gratitude by taking good care of me.  That’s exactly what happened a few years ago when one of my clients referred me to Faye Brock. 

Like Faye, I am also a North Carolina native (originally from Duplin County), currently residing and working in Burlington, NC.  I’ve followed the growth and trends of our state for years, and I was interested in investing in the Wilmington real estate market.  I contacted Faye to assist me in purchasing, and later selling, two properties to enhance my personal investment portfolio. 

I quickly learned that my banking customer had given me a very valuable recommendation; Faye was attentive, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable.  She has excellent communication and follow-up skills, and she was generous in sharing her own opinion and offering advice when I wanted it.  Most importantly, Faye approached decisions about my properties as if they were her own.  She took good care of me and worked to ensure that I would be pleased with the return on my investment. 

But the customer service part of this story doesn’t end there: Faye is now my customer too—customer service comes full circle!"