Relocation Regrets & the Unique Green Bay Market – Brooke Baenen
On this episode of The Closing Table, we sat down with Brooke Baenen!
To watch the full episode, check it out on YouTube below. In the meantime, here’s a summary of the conversation…
Here’s what you missed from Brooke Baenen…
The conversation starts with Brooke talking about the time she attended St. Norbert College and pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government, and later a Master’s degree in Political Science with an emphasis on Public Policy from Marquette University. Her initial career goal was to eventually work with the United Nations.
When she graduated, she worked as a grants administrator for the city of Green Bay, managing federal funding for housing. She worked with various organizations to help create affordable housing. However, after getting married, Brooke transitioned to a different area of housing, building custom homes with her husband’s family construction firm. Despite this career change, she still remained connected with the non-profit organizations and charities she worked with.
After 10 years, she, unfortunately, went through a divorce and had to find a new career path that allowed for more flexibility with her kids. A friend convinced her to become a realtor, leveraging her knowledge of the housing industry. She began working with Keller Williams before eventually moving to eXp, where she worked with investors and agents. Throughout her various career paths, Brooke maintained her passion for helping others and making a positive impact on the world.
Next, the two talked about her time and what it was like working with family. She describes her experience as great, especially with the flexibility it provided her as a new mother. She enjoyed learning and working with her father-in-law, but it did get tough toward the end of her marriage. Nevertheless, she still has a close relationship with her ex-husband’s family.
Brooke also shared what she has learned from her experience in the construction business, which has helped her in her real estate career. Specifically, her knowledge of new construction and remodeling has allowed her to better explain the features of a property to potential buyers.
Kevin then shared some insights about the Brown County February Real Estate statistics, revealing that on average, most homes were sold under list price, despite the inventory being lower than demand. When asked about the main factors causing selling prices to drop, Brooke explained that Green Bay is a fast-changing area, and the inventory is extremely low, which is making it difficult for buyers who have been looking for a while to find a home quickly.
Moving on to the topic of buyer’s remorse, Kevin mentioned some interesting statistics from a survey conducted by Home Bay, which showed that three out of four Americans had regrets about relocating last year, with the number one regret being a tie between not moving to a bigger place and missing their previous home. To prevent such remorse, Brooke emphasized the importance of getting to know her clients’ needs and preferences and showing them as many houses as they need to see before making a decision. She also stressed that she does not pressure her clients and even offers double moving if there is a time constraint.
Kevin then asked Brooke about her participation in a program called 75 Hard, which is a 75-day mental toughness challenge that includes a strict diet and exercise regimen, reading non-fiction, and taking progress photos. When asked about why she started the program, she mentioned that she wants to prioritize her physical and mental health and that her friend encouraged her to start the program to overcome her tendency towards analysis paralysis. She also discussed the importance of setting an example for her kids and not giving up on her dreams.
The conversation wraps up with Kevin sharing a quote from Mark Twain, “The two most important days of your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Brooke believes that the ‘Why’ is an ongoing process of self-discovery. For her, it is about continually looking for her purpose and never giving up on the journey.
Check out Brooke Baenen:
https://www.facebook.com/brookekwaterski
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090374265230
https://www.instagram.com/brooke_baenen/
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