Coastal real estate firm hits 300 homes sold plateau for 2016
For the second consecutive year, the Oldfather Group of Ocean Atlantic Sotheby's International Realty, with offices in Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach and Lewes, is the top real estate firm in Sussex County in terms of buyer represented sales. The firm, for years one of the top producers in southern Delaware, recorded 192 transactions in 2016 where an Oldfather Group agent represented the actual buyer in the transaction. This was a 16 percent increase over 2015's record-setting totals, again good enough for the top spot in Sussex County. The company also recorded 300 real estate sales for the year, ranking second in southern Delaware. This total includes sales where an agent from another firm sold a property that was listed by the Oldfather Group.
"As a team, we set a goal for 2016 to help 300 people buy or sell a home in Sussex County, and we're extremely excited that we were able to reach that goal," says Dustin Oldfather, chief executive officer. "Our belief is that if we combine caring, attentive service, the best coaching in our industry, and cutting-edge marketing, we can improve the lives of our clients. We hope to impact even more lives in 2017."
The 300 sales recorded by the Oldfather team accounted for more than $100 million in volume, which also ranks among the top firms in southern Delaware in that all-important category. In addition to the extraordinary amount of coaching and training that the Oldfather Group provides for its agents, the firm also prides itself on its partnerships and alliances. One of the most important of these is with the Seattle-based Zillow Corp., the internet's most successful and widely used real estate portal. Oldfather has spoken frequently at Zillow events, and the company has even featured the firm in its publicity efforts on more than one occasion. Because of this unique and valued relationship, the Oldfather Group racked up 168 five-star Zillow reviews for 2016, composed and written by valued and satisfied clients.
"It's very important to us that each of our clients walks away from his or her real estate buying or selling experience happy and satisfied," says Oldfather. "Once you're a member of the Oldfather Group family, you remain one for life. We hold client appreciation events throughout the year because we want to see our clients and continue being a resource for them, as well. It's incredibly gratifying to hear the joys that our clients are experiencing in their 'second acts.' While our marketing is second to none, at the end of the day, knowing that our clients repeatedly refer us to their family and friends is the greatest compliment we can receive. That's why we get up in the morning.”
Other highlights of 2016 for the Oldfather Group include a more than 100 percent sale price to offering price ratio, a 99.3 percent sale price to list ratio and a 20 percent faster home sale rate compared to other firms in Sussex County. This is based on data provided by Broker Metrics, as well as by the Sussex County Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service.
Top Oldfather Group agents for 2016 include Dustin and Mariya Oldfather, who together amassed 72 sales totaling more than $28 million; Adam Linder, whose 35 sales totaled more than $12 million; and Celia Benjamin, who recorded 25 sales accounting for nearly $7.5 million in volume.
