If you are thinking about making the move to downtown, one of the first things you are going to need to do is find yourself a great realtor with experience in the downtown housing market. Purchasing a condo or loft in an urban downtown area is much different than purchasing a condo or town home in the burbs. For one, you are not necessarily buying just square footage; you are mainly buying the downtown urban lifestyle that will come with the purchase of a downtown unit. Since the downtown lifestyle is an important aspect of your purchase plans, it’s my opinion that the realtor you choose, should also reside downtown. Suburban realtors just don’t have the insight to help the downtown buyer pick the perfect unit for him or her, again this is just my opinion.

With the above said, this will be an initial installment featuring a downtown realtor. For realtors that live downtown and sell downtown, I’ve come up with seven questions that the realtor will be asked to respond to. Their answers will help give prospective clients insight on choosing a realtor that is right for him or her in helping them select and complete a downtown real estate transaction.

1. How long have you been a realtor?
2. How long have you focused on the downtown market?
3. What makes you excited about selling in the downtown market?
4. Why is now a great time to purchase downtown?
5. What are the demographics of your typical client who wants to purchase downtown?
6. If you could change anything about downtown to increase people wanting to live downtown, what would you change?
7. A short bio about yourself and family.

Our first realtor will be my personal realtor, Tina Johnson.

1. How long have you been a realtor?

I became a realtor in 1998 after directing a nationally acclaimed education program for the federal government for eight years and then managing/directing a homeless shelter education program for two years.

2. How long have you focused on the downtown market?

I immediately began focusing on the downtown market from day one of becoming a realtor as I was owner of a condo at the Plaza at the time. My Plaza condo became my very first listing. After listing and selling a large amount of downtown property I became Project Realtor for the WaterStreet Brownstone Project through it’s initial phase. I continued selling primarily downtown and worked very hard to open the Downtown Re/MAX skywalk office with the backing of RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts. I currently work in that office as well as I am the Project Realtor for 418 Liberty where I reside.

3. What makes you excited about selling in the downtown market?

I love selling downtown because every time I look around there is something new and exciting going on. Downtown Des Moines is extremely diverse and vibrant offering an emerging ‘it’ spot. Downtown Des Moines is the ideal locale for the urban sophisticate who thrives on energy and seeks out the unusual and intriguing. Living here you have shopping, entertainment and dining just outside your door. I love working together with clients to find that special space that fits all their desires. It’s easy to sell what you love and as those who know me best …I absolutely love living in Downtown Des Moines myself and make it my business to know my neighborhood and the people in it. It’s not “work” for me, it’s fun because I love what I’m selling and know all the reasons to love it. After living for over 10 years at The Plaza in 7 different condos; living in a 3rd floor loft at Brown Camp Lofts; living in an East Village Loft; and now in the luxury 418 Liberty building; I can truly say I’ve experienced it. Some people are meant to live in simple rectangles. Not me. I consider my life infinitely flexible, multi-dimensional and open. God I love our skywalk system!!!! What’s there not to love about selling downtown is the question!

4. Why is now a great time to purchase downtown?

Now is an awesome time to purchase downtown as there is such an enormous variety of money saving incentives being offered. Many of the projects offer a ten year tax abatement, for example; 418 Liberty offers the full ten year tax abatement and a buy back program as well, not to mention all the amenities that purely make your life simple without the extra costs. Everything is literally at your fingertips. Des Moines was featured on the Today show this morning when Real Estate guru, Barbara Corcoran, said Des Moines is the No.5 Real Estate Market in the country right now based on current job growth, home appreciation and that Des Moines is the ‘friendliest city in the U.S.’. I suggest also taking a look at: http://www.buynowdsm.com/why_buy_now/

5. What are the demographics of your typical client who wants to purchase downtown?

That’s what’s so fabulous about the downtown market…there really isn’t a typical client and there’s so many unique properties. Literally there is something for everyone and their individual unique needs. I love the diversity. I represent all types of people from students purchasing small one bedroom lofts while they attend Des Moines University or Drake, to well established very well known multi-millionaires, empty nesters who have just sent their last youngster off to college, young professionals, retired, families, single people, you name it, I’ve pretty much met them.

6. If you could change anything about downtown to increase people wanting to live downtown, what would you change?

I’d put back the downtown movie theatre, so many of us loved The Riveria, we need it back. I think it brings people together in a lot of ways, even if it’s just a smaller theatre like The Fleur Cinema with all of its uniqueness, I think something like the Fleur Cinema Downtown would do very well. I’d also love to see our downtown become more like Kansas City’s Plaza area, especially along our RiverWalk/Court District Ave. locations. People come from all over to go to Jordan Creek Town Center and their outdoor lake area beside Bravo. We need an area like this beside our river in the heart of downtown! Something else I would change would be that the city research ways to take better care of our homeless as this is becoming a growing concern especially in these difficult times. We literally have families on the streets with very young children. I think we need to come up with a better plan.

7. A short bio about yourself and family.

I was raised in small town Lamoni, Iowa and graduated from a very small private university, Graceland University. Downtown Des Moines has been the closest I’ve come to finding that “small town neighborhood” feel since I left in 1988. It’s exactly what I wanted for my girls. Needless to say I have raised my two girls downtown, they’ve grown up truly knowing the people around them as “neighbors” and with the skywalk system, bike trails, riverpaths, ice rink, library, science center, stadium, event center, river, gateway park, railroad tracks, civic center, etc…. we never felt like we were missing out, but rather as if we didn’t have enough time to explore it all. Our family consist of myself, my significant other Bob who owns Metro flooring and specializes in the Des Moines Urban residential and commercial spaces, his son Dan a junior at Johnston High who has randomly played guitar at downtown venues like “Blues on Grand” and “Jave Joes”, his daughter Chelsea, who is attending the University of Iowa, my daughter Stevie who works PT at our fav downtown restaurant Splash and is currently a senior at Roosevelt High and my other daughter, Sophie Opal, my lil third grader as well as our kitty Hootie. We have lived at 418 Liberty for about a year and a half now and absolutely love it and all it has to offer.

Just a bit about the business side of “T”.

I’m best known as “T…Your Downtown Gal” I’m a dedicated service oriented producer who specializes in meeting the real estate needs of today’s busy professional. I know the value of your time and can often be found working late into the night from my downtown home office or in the ReMax Skywalk office. I believe my experience provides my buyers and sellers with a unique advantage during these unpredictable real estate times.

After years of hard work, with the help of my Broker Rob Spearman, my idea of a downtown skywalk office with free internet cafe finally came to full fruition in May of 2007. I love my work there and enjoy creating a fun synergy between me and the 17,000 + who pass by our office each day. You might have seen me in my 70’s outfit two weeks ago for “Disco Inferno Day” or giving away free Iowa Chops Hockey tickets on game day. I’ll do just about anything to have fun and at the same time attract people to our three LCD screens boasting our listings and other information about Downtown Des Moines.

Meeting and helping to relocate people from all different parts of the world, each dynamic in their own special way, is my specialty. I consider myself an expert in the downtown urban real estate market. I cover a lot of territory, know the advantages to living in each of these downtown places, is a member of the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA), frequent the downtown shops, eateries, etc… and can help make your decision an easy and well planned one.

Millions of Dollars Sold! Awarded the ReMax International Executive Award in 2006, I have listed and sold a tremendous amount of real estate in my downtown urban neighborhoods. I am known as a dynamic marketing agent, widely known for my fun, informative downtown blogs on her personal website and am considered hands-down one of the best negotiators and residential marketers in Des Moines. That’s why I have been a consistent Top Producer since 1998, my first year named Rookie of the Year! I’m a go getter and will not let the grass grow under my feet! I am your Downtown Gal on the go and in the know!

Tina’s Links:

Tina’s MySpace

Tina’s Facebook

Follow Tina on Twitter

Liberty Condo Project Page

Tina’s Current Listings

You can also reach Tina at geturban411@gmail.com or at 515-314-5701.

closeAuthor: MulderDSM Name: Larry Bradshaw
Email: admin@livingdowntowndesmoines.com
Site: http://www.larrybradshaw.net
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