Not your average firm
M.C. Real Estate’s ‘boutique brokerage’ approach allows agents to remain community focused and educated
Brothers Brandon (left) and Matt Marquard are second-generation owners of M.C. Real Estate, founded by their father, Michael, 25 years ago. Photo by KEVIN MCMANUS
M.C. Real Estate’s main office is located at 403 E. Washington St. in Medina. Photo by KEVIN MCMANUS
The Marquard brothers report the housing market here in Medina County is strong and sales prices have crept back to where they were more than 10 years ago. Photo courtesy of M.C. REAL ESTATE
M.C. Real Estate prides itself in not only serving clients as agents but as "true consulting advisors" there every step of the way, whether buying or selling. Photo courtesy of M.C. REAL ESTATE
M.C. Real Estate specializes in what it refers to as a “boutique brokerage feel,” which is specializing in this local market and knowing how to recommend clients to the right lending or inspection experts suited to the clients’ individual needs. M.C. Real Estate prides itself in not only serving clients as agents but as “true consulting advisors” there every step of the way, whether buying or selling. Photos courtesy of M.C. REAL ESTATE
M.C. Real Estate recently opened its newest office at 102 Main St in Wadsworth. Photo courtesy of M.C. REAL ESTATE
M.C. Real Estate also has a satellite office in Lodi at 216 Wooster St. Photo courtesy of M.C. REAL ESTATE
Matt and Brandon Marquard are well aware there are bigger names out there than M.C. Real Estate. They actually consider that to be one of their biggest advantages.
It is a philosophy that goes back to the Marquard brothers’ dad, Michael, a Realtor who settled in Medina when Matt and Brandon were just toddlers, though the Marquard name dates back to the late 1800s as a major building company in the region.
“He likes to say, ‘Always give back what you take out of your community.’ He was big on that before M.C. Real Estate and it continues to be a principle we adhere to as we evolve,” Matt said. “You need to be a part of that, and not by just saying it or putting it on your tagline. Your community will always take care of you if you take care of your community, and we have found that philosophy to be true for 25 years.”
When Michael began M.C. Real Estate 25 years ago – coming from a long career in real estate, which, at a time, included being a broker trainer and franchisor – he set it up so there wouldn’t be a parent company to answer to, so agents could keep their focus and involvement strictly within the communities they serve.
“One of the best parts is, we’re a local broker,” Matt said. “Our agents are the lifeblood of our business and it is paramount to us to ensure that we are only hiring the best. Our agents are the most important asset for us because they are a representation of us as an entity and are the ones out there on the front line and in front of the clients. That’s really how we’ve grown.”
A boutique brokerage
For M.C. Real Estate, an agent-focused business model makes sense, the brothers say, because most Realtors have a lot of the same tools in the way of the MLS (multiple listing service), various website access and standard real estate marketing for their clients.
The difference for M.C. Real Estate is its professional real estate staff is made up of predominantly full-time, highly skilled and trained experts in sales, marketing and negotiation and those skills translate into utilization of the community networks to match buyers and sellers in a way that sets them apart from the standard tools most others use.
It’s something the Marquards instill in their team, which includes three Medina County Board of Realtors past presidents and “Realtor of the Year” awards in Brandon, agent Rick Stallard, and agent Mike Schmidt, in addition to many other agents that serve in a variety of committees, boards of directors and other civic roles within the county.
Brandon calls it a “boutique brokerage feel.” Real estate is a local business and while a corporation may promote well on a national level, that doesn’t necessarily matter to someone selling their home over on Broadway Street in Medina or on High Street in Wadsworth. It’s also a matter of knowing how to recommend clients to the right lending or inspection experts suited to the clients’ individual needs. There is no one size fits all approach in today’s marketplace.
“Involvement not only makes them better at business, but it makes them a better neighbor,” Brandon said. “They get more interested in selling real estate when they’re an active part of their community … Ultimately, that transitions into somebody you would maybe call if you needed to buy or sell your home.”
“Nothing against the other businesses,” Matt added, “but in a way, they are just different. Decisioning and strategy are made right here at this table on a local level, to serve the local communities, not in a regional office or in another city of some parent company.”
It’s paid off, too, with M.C. Real Estate having recently opened a location in downtown Wadsworth, in addition to the headquarters in Medina and a satellite office in Lodi.
“Medina County is phenomenal in understanding how to treat local businesses. It’s far different than other counties in my experience,” Matt said. “It caters to advancing the principles and growth of small business. Our strength in our city/township leadership, economic development and chamber of commerce networks continue to advance the interests of local businesses and that only adds to our story.”
Expect expertise
In addition to maintaining a level of community involvement, M.C. Real Estate is continually encouraging its team members to continue their education and training whenever possible. You’re not just getting an agent; you’re getting what the Marquard brothers like to call “true consulting advisors.”
“They have the highest level of ability, professionalism, understanding of their role,” Matt said. “We tell our clients that while we can advise them about the paint colors or anything they need us for, ultimately the client is paying for it and have to live there, not us. What we can control, and what we can do as their advisor, is ensure that they get through the process with the highest levels of negotiating expertise by identifying leverage, navigating the pitfalls and “gotchas,” and working on their behalf at all times to make sure that they get the best deal they can with as little hassle as possible.”
Needless to say, there are many pitfalls possible when buying or listing, and avoiding those comes with experience. What helps make M.C. Real Estate unique is having more than one point of contact when it comes to business. Whereas Brandon is a licensed broker (along with three others in the firm), Matt is managerially licensed.
“It’s about identifying things that can happen throughout a sale because getting a contract on your listing sometimes happens very fast,” Brandon said. “You need someone who can identify what can happen inside a transaction. You need someone who can stay on top of everything, be proactive rather than reactive, and help to ensure that the process is running smoothly through inspections, appraisals, title and lending. That’s what they’re hiring you to do … to get you to the finish line.”
Timing is everything
While even experts can’t reliably predict what the economy will do, one thing is for sure: it is a good time to buy and sell, as well as be an agent. That doesn’t stop M.C. Real Estate from at least trying to keep ahead of market trends through affiliation with trade organizations locally and nationally, as well as researching constantly.
The Marquards report the market here is strong and sales prices have crept back to where they were in the height of 2005. Currently, the market is appreciating nicely, though there is a general lack of inventory.
There is still room for improvement, though. Inventory has become a nationwide issue, creating more of a seller’s market. But Brandon predicts that will level out.
“Real estate is a cyclical business, and functions best in an equilibrium state of buyers and sellers. Medina County needed that boom to return to a healthy market from the crash of 2008 and we think it will remain strong here due to the assets and desirability of the county to the housing market, no matter what the inventory situation,” Brandon said.
He added, “What it has done is boom our building market for new construction because of the resale not being as available. We have builders coming in to build new homes, and that’s great, even if that’s not your clients, because those homes will become resales at some point. More homes means more revenue for the county, continued improvement to schools and more people in the community.”
M.C. Real Estate is located at 403 E. Washington St. in Medina (330-723-9911); 102 Main St. in Wadsworth (330-336-7653); and 216 Wooster St. in Lodi. More information can be found at www.MCREohio.com.
It is a philosophy that goes back to the Marquard brothers’ dad, Michael, a Realtor who settled in Medina when Matt and Brandon were just toddlers, though the Marquard name dates back to the late 1800s as a major building company in the region.
“He likes to say, ‘Always give back what you take out of your community.’ He was big on that before M.C. Real Estate and it continues to be a principle we adhere to as we evolve,” Matt said. “You need to be a part of that, and not by just saying it or putting it on your tagline. Your community will always take care of you if you take care of your community, and we have found that philosophy to be true for 25 years.”
When Michael began M.C. Real Estate 25 years ago – coming from a long career in real estate, which, at a time, included being a broker trainer and franchisor – he set it up so there wouldn’t be a parent company to answer to, so agents could keep their focus and involvement strictly within the communities they serve.
“One of the best parts is, we’re a local broker,” Matt said. “Our agents are the lifeblood of our business and it is paramount to us to ensure that we are only hiring the best. Our agents are the most important asset for us because they are a representation of us as an entity and are the ones out there on the front line and in front of the clients. That’s really how we’ve grown.”
A boutique brokerage
For M.C. Real Estate, an agent-focused business model makes sense, the brothers say, because most Realtors have a lot of the same tools in the way of the MLS (multiple listing service), various website access and standard real estate marketing for their clients.
The difference for M.C. Real Estate is its professional real estate staff is made up of predominantly full-time, highly skilled and trained experts in sales, marketing and negotiation and those skills translate into utilization of the community networks to match buyers and sellers in a way that sets them apart from the standard tools most others use.
It’s something the Marquards instill in their team, which includes three Medina County Board of Realtors past presidents and “Realtor of the Year” awards in Brandon, agent Rick Stallard, and agent Mike Schmidt, in addition to many other agents that serve in a variety of committees, boards of directors and other civic roles within the county.
Brandon calls it a “boutique brokerage feel.” Real estate is a local business and while a corporation may promote well on a national level, that doesn’t necessarily matter to someone selling their home over on Broadway Street in Medina or on High Street in Wadsworth. It’s also a matter of knowing how to recommend clients to the right lending or inspection experts suited to the clients’ individual needs. There is no one size fits all approach in today’s marketplace.
“Involvement not only makes them better at business, but it makes them a better neighbor,” Brandon said. “They get more interested in selling real estate when they’re an active part of their community … Ultimately, that transitions into somebody you would maybe call if you needed to buy or sell your home.”
“Nothing against the other businesses,” Matt added, “but in a way, they are just different. Decisioning and strategy are made right here at this table on a local level, to serve the local communities, not in a regional office or in another city of some parent company.”
It’s paid off, too, with M.C. Real Estate having recently opened a location in downtown Wadsworth, in addition to the headquarters in Medina and a satellite office in Lodi.
“Medina County is phenomenal in understanding how to treat local businesses. It’s far different than other counties in my experience,” Matt said. “It caters to advancing the principles and growth of small business. Our strength in our city/township leadership, economic development and chamber of commerce networks continue to advance the interests of local businesses and that only adds to our story.”
Expect expertise
In addition to maintaining a level of community involvement, M.C. Real Estate is continually encouraging its team members to continue their education and training whenever possible. You’re not just getting an agent; you’re getting what the Marquard brothers like to call “true consulting advisors.”
“They have the highest level of ability, professionalism, understanding of their role,” Matt said. “We tell our clients that while we can advise them about the paint colors or anything they need us for, ultimately the client is paying for it and have to live there, not us. What we can control, and what we can do as their advisor, is ensure that they get through the process with the highest levels of negotiating expertise by identifying leverage, navigating the pitfalls and “gotchas,” and working on their behalf at all times to make sure that they get the best deal they can with as little hassle as possible.”
Needless to say, there are many pitfalls possible when buying or listing, and avoiding those comes with experience. What helps make M.C. Real Estate unique is having more than one point of contact when it comes to business. Whereas Brandon is a licensed broker (along with three others in the firm), Matt is managerially licensed.
“It’s about identifying things that can happen throughout a sale because getting a contract on your listing sometimes happens very fast,” Brandon said. “You need someone who can identify what can happen inside a transaction. You need someone who can stay on top of everything, be proactive rather than reactive, and help to ensure that the process is running smoothly through inspections, appraisals, title and lending. That’s what they’re hiring you to do … to get you to the finish line.”
Timing is everything
While even experts can’t reliably predict what the economy will do, one thing is for sure: it is a good time to buy and sell, as well as be an agent. That doesn’t stop M.C. Real Estate from at least trying to keep ahead of market trends through affiliation with trade organizations locally and nationally, as well as researching constantly.
The Marquards report the market here is strong and sales prices have crept back to where they were in the height of 2005. Currently, the market is appreciating nicely, though there is a general lack of inventory.
There is still room for improvement, though. Inventory has become a nationwide issue, creating more of a seller’s market. But Brandon predicts that will level out.
“Real estate is a cyclical business, and functions best in an equilibrium state of buyers and sellers. Medina County needed that boom to return to a healthy market from the crash of 2008 and we think it will remain strong here due to the assets and desirability of the county to the housing market, no matter what the inventory situation,” Brandon said.
He added, “What it has done is boom our building market for new construction because of the resale not being as available. We have builders coming in to build new homes, and that’s great, even if that’s not your clients, because those homes will become resales at some point. More homes means more revenue for the county, continued improvement to schools and more people in the community.”
M.C. Real Estate is located at 403 E. Washington St. in Medina (330-723-9911); 102 Main St. in Wadsworth (330-336-7653); and 216 Wooster St. in Lodi. More information can be found at www.MCREohio.com.
