Our June issue features the Little Rock home of Catherine and Dan Young. After much consideration, the couple chose to build new—Catherine, a local realtor, has a passion for helping Arkansans buy and sell property. In particular, she has an eye for envisioning the possibilities a space holds. Read on to learn more about her expertise and how she can help you find your dream home. | Sponsored Content
At Home in Arkansas: You haven’t always been in the real estate field. Tell us a bit about your early career. How did this lead you to discover your passion for homes?
Realtor Catherine Young: I moved to Little Rock in the summer of 2009. I had just finished graduate school and landed my dream job at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH). Through my tenure and various professional roles at ACH, I discovered I had a passion for construction. This led me to building my second residential home in the Chenal Valley area in 2015. As the story goes, life changes and a few years later, I was newly married and needed a new home to start a family. This led my husband, Dan, and me to build a custom home in the neighborhood he had lived in for 18 years. Through all of these experiences, I realized my continued interest in homes and residential real estate was more than just a hobby.
AH: How did you then make the transition to become a realtor?
CY: I met Brandy Harp, who is the principal broker for Jon Underhill Real Estate, through our involvement in the Junior League of Little Rock. She was chair of the development committee, and I served as her chair-elect. We formed a great friendship and stayed in touch many years after our time in the League. She was interested in growing Jon Underhill Real Estate and made a commitment to me that if I joined the brokerage, she would teach me the ropes. I knew if I left a wonderful and meaningful career to take a leap of faith, I only wanted to learn from the best, and the rest is history.
AH: As a realtor, what are some of the first things you ask and consider when a client contacts you?
CY: When I represent buyers and sellers, my first job is to listen. I want to learn as much as I can from potential clients by listening to their wants, desires, goals and expectations. Next, I ask a series of questions. For buyers, these questions are typically:
- Do you have school-age children?
- If so, where do they attend school?
- At a minimum, how many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need?
- Do you want newer construction?
- What is your price range?
- If you are financing your home, have you been pre-approved for a loan?
For sellers, I take time to understand their timeline for listing the home, find out when they purchased it and ask about any improvements made. For both buyers and sellers, my first question is always, “Are you working with an agent?” Real estate agents work so closely with each other every day; I always want to be respectful of another agent and their relationship with the prospective clients. Finally, I always want to have a clear understanding of my clients’ financial goals with buying or selling a home. This is most likely one of the biggest investments anyone makes, and I want to do my best to help them meet and hopefully exceed those goals.
AH: What do you feel sets you apart as an agent?
CY: Communication! Whether that is voice calls, text messages or emails. I tailor my communication to the clients’ preference. I work side by side with my clients through the entire home buying or selling process and even after we close. My personal goal is to develop a trusting relationship that lasts many years.
I also understand the ins-and-outs of home construction, because I have built homes. This knowledge enables me to give a solid professional opinion when a client asks me about the quality of a home’s construction and if I see any structural issues.
For the majority of people, a home is their biggest investment. I analyze the Little Rock real estate market regularly, so I can offer my advice on current market trends or fluctuations. This data and knowledge allows me to help my clients understand and come to a decision on what home is the best investment for them and their family.
Last, but not least, at Jon Underhill Real Estate, we have a licensed contractor who has a real estate license with our brokerage. This provides my clients access to the best contractor pricing if they need to make any repairs or changes to their home before we list or after closing on a purchase.
AH: As you mentioned, you and your husband recently built a family home (read the story here). How did this affect your views as a realtor? What did you learn from the process that you can take into account when helping others search for their dream home?
CY: Dan and I took a lot into consideration when deciding that we wanted to build our home. The first decision point for us was what the investment would look like financially. We were both on the same page that deciding whether to build or buy was contingent on which option made the most financial sense. Dan bought his original home in 2001. Seventeen years later, the value of the land where our current home sits had appreciated so much that financially, it made more sense to build.
In general, it is typically more expensive to build than buy, especially in today’s real estate market. Through the building process, I learned about the construction of a home and have a very micro-detailed understanding of what interior and exterior finishes and building materials cost. This expertise helps me every day, especially if I have a client who wants to make updates or repairs to a home. I am able to advise them on the best pricing because I have first-hand knowledge.
Interested in buying a new home or selling your current one? Contact Catherine at 972.897.9786 or catherine@jonunderhill.com to learn more about her services.
