Chamber Member of the Week: The Greater Owensboro Realtor Association
The Greater Owensboro Realtor Association boasts over 250 primary members and more than 100 affiliate members. The association adheres to a strict code of ethics that emphasizes professionalism and a strong commitment to the industry, colleagues, and the public.
The local association is a part of the larger state and national associations, which feature 12,500 and 1.5 million members respectively. CEO Jacyln Graves said the group also advocates for various issues within the community, specifically home ownership.
“So many community members don’t own homes but have the ability,” Graves said. “I’m proud of our realtor members and the network they’ve created. They ease the process for the buyer and all parties involved.”
April is Fair Housing Month, and the association has a fair housing panel that will participate in a Zoom panel with nine other associations on April 13 to discuss related issues. The panel and the assoication strive to ensure everyone has opportunities to own a home and is not discrimnated against.
“Fair housing advocacy focuses on creating a more inclusive real estate environment, protecting individuals with disabilities, minorities, and more,” said association president Michelle Wiesman. “We want everyone to have the same opportunity to purchase or rent a home.”
The organization meets quarterly for updates and has various events each year for education, networking, and socializing. Affiliate members consists of attorneys, home inspectors, closing companies, mortgage lenders, and other ancillary professionals.
“It’s very important to have a realtor because we advocate for fair housing and property rights, and have a thorough understanding of the real estate community,” Wiesman said. “A lot of people think it’s easy and they can do it themselves, but they may not know all the legal ins and outs. Our realtors are educating themselves all the time on issues that are relevant to the business.”
The Kentucky association is approaching its 100-year anniversary, with the local charter not far behind it. They are working together to commemorate the occasion, sharing their missions with the community.
“We provide an additional level of professionalism to better serve the consumer – we exist to serve our clients,” Graves said. “The home-buying process should be an enjoyable one. It’s a big purchase that can present some challenges, but our realtors do this every day and are here to help.”
President-elect Devin Taylor said the association is much more than just listing and selling homes. He said they pride themselves on partnering with several nonprofits in the area, and giving back to the community through various means.
In today’s evolving real estate market, Taylor added that the association must work as a team now more than ever to meet the needs of their buyers. As the demand for homes continues to increase, Taylor said it can take up to four to five offers to land a deal.
“Interest rates have gone from as low as 2% to over 5% in recent weeks, which will have a huge impact on the market, but there is still an inventory storage,” Taylor said. “I don’t see things slowing down anytime soon.”
To learn more about the Greater Owensboro Realtor Association, visit their website here.