Cover Story: Mark Brewer – Real Assets, Inc.

“Large enough to be professional, Small enough to be personal.”
 

 Mark Brewer doesn’t have an off switch.   His engine is always running in overdrive and he is almost always thinking about one thing - real estate. As principal broker/president of Real Assets, Inc., in Fayetteville, Brewer oversees a growing business that has expanded from residential real estate to commercial, property management and construction. Like the Northwest Arkansas community, his company, and affiliated businesses have seen dramatic growth.

          In nearly 25 years in the business, Brewer has built companies based on one simple philosophy and that is relationships. “I can look back and recall families I helped get into their first home and today I am helping their children and grandchildren buy and sell their homes,” Mark says. “Almost every transaction I have been a part of was either the beginning or because of an existing relationship. It is more important than the house or the land or the price.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  He bought his first trailer when he was just 17 and enjoyed everything about it, from scraping together the down payment to taking the keys for the first time to improving it and selling it for a profit. He recognized right away the power of real estate and the need it fulfilled.

            “I started to attend the U of A but I was too excited about getting into real estate and couldn’t wait so I jumped right in with both feet. I was young, but I learned an awful lot at a young age.”

            He learned from veterans of the industry and through many successes and failures. He also dedicated himself to learning through professional and continuing education, eventually attaining the Graduate REALTORS Institute (GRI), Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR) and the (CRS) – Certified Residential Specialist designations. He served as Arkansas state president of CRS in 2005.

            “You have to stay current with education and trends within the industry to offer customers the best service. I have always viewed education and professional designations as tools in providing great service and counsel to my clients. The CRS designation and professional requirements that go along with it really help to increase the professionalism of our industry.” His sales production puts Brewer among the top REALTORS in the state. He is a life member of the multi-million $ club and reached the heralded level of Diamond with the Metro Board of Realtors. He personally closed more than $21.7 million in 2005. His company had transactions totaling more than $40 million. He has coined the phrase “large enough to be professional, small enough to be personal.” Even though his sales put him among the elite, he remains down to earth and humble in his relationships.

 Brewer built his residential business through the 80s and into the 90s when he began to diversify into property management and commercial projects. The boom in development along I-540 has been nothing short of phenomenal and his knowledge of the area from childhood gave him insights as his customers looked to capitalize on the market. His early ventures into the commercial segment included coordination of the property purchase and development at I-540 near the Wagon Wheel exit, and subsequent sale of portions of the property.
The location captures the essence of rapid property valuation in Northwest Arkansas. The original 22 acres were purchased for $380,000 in 1995 and 20 of the remaining acres recently sold for $2.5 million.

          “Commercial just keeps getting more exciting around here. It seems that not a day goes by that a new purchase is announced or a new development gets underway. This industry has recognized the great value properties in the area offer for both development and investment.”

Along with the residential and commercial growth has come an influx of new residents into the area. Brewer saw the potential in property management two decades ago and has steadily increased his holdings to include rental homes, apartments and commercial properties. Property management has also required increasing his staff to include sales agents, office staff, property managers, maintenance and construction. His team can handle virtually any project from massive remodel to repairs to landscaping.

            The newest segment of Brewer’s business is new home construction. He entered this market slowly and gradually over the years; increasing his company’s project workload from remodeling to general contracting. MAB Builders, his construction company, started with spec homes in several communities under development and has expanded to develop entire sections of new neighborhoods. Another company he owns, Brewer, Inc., takes new neighborhood development projects from the planning stage through platting and construction.

          “Doing new home construction right requires experience. I am very pleased with our progress over the years, growing from spec houses here and there to offering complete development solutions.”

            He has hit upon a segment in new construction that he believes will drive the next phase of many developments. He cites a glut of available new and recent homes in the $250,000 - $400,000 segment. Homes in this niche have been over-built in recent years and a market slowdown, along with increasing mortgage rates, is leaving many of these properties on the market and often empty.

            Under the expertise of his construction foreman, Eddie Haddock, Brewer is now building homes in the 1,700 – 1,900 square-foot range with prices from $150,000 to $180,000 in Greenland, Springdale, West Fork and other communities. This market fits very well with the demographic makeup of Northwest Arkansas. He plans to soon introduce new homes in the 1,300 to 1,500 square-foot range and priced at $150,000 and below. This plan is a definite departure from most builders who have been increasing the size of their homes in recent years. 

            “I know this market pretty well after 25 years and I can see that new home prices are going to have to come down in order for many first-time homebuyers and young families to be able to afford them. We are meeting the demands of a changing market with our models.”

            The elements of Brewer’s comprehensive plan for his businesses come into focus. His commercial property division can locate and coordinate the purchase of land. His Brewer, Inc. and MAB Builders companies can take the land from dirt to developed and the sales associates of Real Assets market the properties. He and the team at Real Assets work closely with brokers and REALTORS from across the area in selling properties. All agents are welcome to visit any homes listed by Real Assets.

            “We want the agent community to know we have plenty of inventory of homes immediately available for purchase and move-in and more in the pipeline. We have great relationships with many, many real estate professionals and look forward to working with them on both ends of the deal. Anyone is welcome to give me a call at any time to learn about our properties.”

As his businesses have grown, Brewer has kept his eye on others in the industry. He knows he has to work a little harder and a little smarter in order to remain competitive in an industry dominated by large corporations with franchise locations and builders with hundreds of properties under development in communities across the state and the nation.         

One way he has competed is to attract the very best talent available. His team of REALTORS represents a vast array of expertise and talent, from agents new to the business to seasoned professionals who have been with him several years.

          “I am only as good as the people around me,” Brewer adds. “Whether it is construction, repairs, commercial or residential sales, my team must be the very best. I am always looking to expand my sales force with experienced agents and those new to the industry who are looking to do what it takes to invest their resources and time in order to succeed.”

          He spends a great deal of time training his sales associates and encouraging them to attain professional designations and be active in the Metro Board or REALTORS.
He invests in their success by marketing properties through advertising in various mediums and networking other REALTORS and affiliated professions. “If there is one thing I can teach agents it is to build relationships constantly. And never let a relationship fall apart over something that can be corrected. You never know when you will need to call upon that relationship to help you in the future.”

          Another aspect Brewer encourages everyone within his companies to do is find balance in their lives. The demands of real estate can be taxing and take up valuable time away from family, friends or activities needed to recharge the batteries. Brewer finds the time to enjoy his passions of sports cars, travel and being a master-rated SCUBA diver. Even when he’s away from it all, Brewer still revs his engines to enjoy life to the fullest.


Contact Mark Brewer at (479) 521-MARK;  email mark@realassetsinc.com.   On the Internet, visit www.realassetsinc.com.