ABOUT STEPHEN
I was born and raised in Eastern North Carolina. After college, I started a technology career which took me all across America. After a short run on a winning Congressional campaign, I saw an ad for a position with a vacation rental company on Hatteras Island and decided to drive across the state and interview for the job. I’ll never forget driving over the Bonner Bridge for the first time, and if you’ve driven over the bridges that lead to the Outer Banks, you probably remember your first time. For me, it was love at first sight. And for over 15 years, I’ve been exactly where I want to be – North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
My goal is to help people find that feeling here on the Outer Banks. Perhaps they see a beach house that’s love at first sight. Perhaps they want to sell and give someone else an opportunity to live the island life. Perhaps you’re an investor and you’re looking for a second home (and a nice place to vacation a couple of weeks every year). Whatever it is that draws you to the Outer Banks, I will put in the work to bring you here. It’s a great place to relax. It’s a great place to shop and enjoy our many restaurants. It’s a great place to not only spend a week, but spend a lifetime. And it’s a great place to raise a family.
I met my beautiful wife here on the Outer Banks, and we were blessed with our daughter 9 years ago. Together we live with 3 dogs and when we aren’t working we enjoy taking the boat out, fishing the bridges, spending time at the beach and golfing.
Buying or selling your Outer Banks home doesn’t have to be stressful. I’m passionate about what I do, and my goal is to bring peace of mind to sellers who haven’t had good experiences in the past, as well as giving first time home buyers a local’s perspective and guidance in the real estate market here. My background in technology, social media and marketing provides an edge when it comes to selling your home. My experience with project management allows me to guide buyers through the purchase of their dream home – from viewings to closing. I am a hardworking and tenacious advocate for you, and you can count on honesty and integrity when you work with me.
CORE PRINCIPLES
Expectation Setting.
The Outer Banks is unlike any other place on earth - a sandbar off the coast where most land is federally owned or managed. This leaves only a narrow area for homes to be built, and it is a competitive real estate market. Buying a vacation rental home also brings its own set of hurdles - honoring existing leases, choosing property management companies, and knowing how to interpret rental histories and projections. I want to know your goals and I want to help you realize them!
Honesty.
Some clients might say "brutal honesty" but you should know exactly what the pros and cons are when buying a home. It's the biggest purchase of our lives for most folks, and I will always tell the truth. I have had clients walk away from deals but my goal is not earning a commission - it's HAPPY CLIENTS! I will do everything I can to educate clients on our real estate market, the pitfalls and high points of vacation rental ownership, and help you end up in the beach house of your dreams.
Followthrough.
My goal isn't to help you pick a house and let you navigate the under contract-to-closing process on your own. I want to help you find the best vendor, lender, closing attorney and rental company for your specific situation. Everyone has different needs, I will put you in touch with the right people. And once you buy a home here on the OBX, you can call me for anything anytime - moving trash cans to the street, flying a drone over your house after a storm, I'm always here for you.
If there's anything I can help you with, please don't hestitate to drop a line. I love helping my clients find their slice of the OBX
I'll be working hard at the beach - so YOU don't have to!