Ling Realty Making Moves With

By Cierra Craft

Dale Ling has always had an impulse to help others, a passion he exercised for years during his career in Finance. In 2010, he embarked on a career that allowed him to impact people’s lives even more—advising families and business owners on one of the most important financial decisions they will make as a Real Estate agent. As the broker of Ling Realty, LLC, Dale leads a team of 11 Plant City agents from their new office at 115 South Palmer Street.

In this feature, Ling chats with editor Cierra Craft about the Plant City real estate market and provides tips for buying or selling your property.

Taylor Clark

Taylor is a Plant City native and is fully immersed in the community as a member of several civic and charitable organizations. He is the head of the the local Masonic Lodge Turkey Creek #248 F&AM, a member of the Plant City Chamber of Commerce, The Plant City Noon Rotary, and Hillsborough County Cattlemens. Taylor has a degree in Finance from the University of South Florida. Before joining Ling Realty LLC. Taylor worked at the Plant City EDC that shaped his experience and knowledge in commercial real estate and development. Let him know how he can help in your next residential or commercial real estate transaction today!

Helene Raich

Helene Raich is a highly dedicated and experienced real estate agent with a passion for helping clients navigate the residential real estate market. With a keen eye for detail and exceptional negotiation skills, Helene has established herself as a trusted expert in residential transactions.

Elizabeth Gonzalez

I have held my real estate license and been part of the team at Ling Realty for about 7 years. In that time, I have been fortunate to work with buyers, sellers and even some commercial clients all over the state from Englewood and Sarasota to Daytona and even Ocala but my area of speciality is residential real estate in Polk and Hillsborough County. I have 3 children, ages 8, 6 and almost 1 and 1 fur baby, a boxer named Apollo.

Megan Cloud

Megan is a South Florida native, a mom, a wife, and a photographer. When she’s not working she enjoys spending time with her family and enjoying the outdoors. Her favorite thing about being in the industry is meeting new people and helping them find comfort in such a big milestone. - Move with Megan today!

Dale, tell me a little bit about yourself and how did you get into real estate?

I grew up in Bloomington, Minnesota, which is a suburb of Minneapolis. My parents are from a farming community in Southwest Minnesota (Worthington, MN). After high school, I attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, earning my Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Business Finance. The weekend that I graduated from college, I moved to Florida, and shortly after, I took a job with American International Group’s (AIG) finance office American General Finance. I was offered the Manager’s position at the Plant City office a year later and moved to Plant City just a few months later. I have lived in Plant City since 2002. My career in finance and mortgage lending brought me into a lot of real estate transactions, and that is when I fell in love with real estate. My Father was also a Real Estate Broker and opened Ling Realty, LLC in 2000. I got my Real Estate Sales Associate license in 2010 and my Real Estate Broker license in 2012. I took over as Ling Realty, LLC’s broker when my Father retired in 2016.

Tell us about the Plant City team at Ling Realty.

We have a fantastic team of 11 very active agents with a wide range of experience from 22 years to 1 year selling real estate in Florida. Our agents cover Plant City and surrounding areas, with many of our teammates born and raised in Plant City! We have grown from three agents to 11 in just the past couple of years.

Can you paint a picture for readers about the Plant City housing market as it currently stands? How has the market changed over the past year?

The sale prices in our Plant City market have stayed steady or slightly increased this year. With Lakeland and Tampa ranked among the top-growing markets in the United States, Plant City is also growing at a rapid pace. More than 1,000 people are moving to Florida daily, and thousands of new homes are scheduled to be built throughout Plant City in the next couple of years. Although this is the case, the inventory is still in line with the growth in our area. We also have seen a lot of growth of commercial businesses in focused areas of our city, which will continue to bring new jobs and residents to our community.

After numerous increases to the mortgage interest rates in the last year, they are starting to stay steady. The market has changed over the past year with the increase in rates and inflation, but the demand is currently still there for residential and commercial growth in our area. Rental rates continuing to increase has also made buying a home or business in our area a viable option.

Why are you passionate about your job?

There’s nothing better than helping someone find their dream home or to start or expand their business! As the broker, I am also very passionate about seeing my agents reach their goals and potential in their real estate careers.

What questions should buyers and sellers ask as they prepare to either list their home or purchase? Is now a good time to buy or sell?

For buyers, it depends on whether you have a home to sell. Marry the house and date the rate, but stay within your budget. Your own personal affordability should be the most critical factor. If you are not paying cash, then getting the financing (payment) piece figured out should be a top priority. Next, look at the location of the property and real estate trends. Choosing a real estate agent with experience to guide you through the process is extremely important.

Sellers have different goals. Whether they must move for a job or are looking to upsize or downsize, they must understand their home’s value and the market for the home they would like to purchase. Have a trusted real estate professional visit your current property to give tips on making your home more marketable. Selling a home now is different than even a year ago. There are still plenty of buyers, but be prepared for the home to be on the market longer, possibly, and assist buyers with some of their needs, like down payment and closing costs. Repairs are also becoming more commonly needed as insurance companies have tightened their standards.

Laine Perez

Laine Perez is Ling Realty’s agent serving the Sarasota/ Manatee/Venice areas where he was Born and Raised. He graduated from Sarasota High School and shortly after joined the United States Air Force where he served as a Crew Chief on KC-135 Aircraft and served multiple tours overseas in support of OIF and OEF. Real Estate has been as rewarding to Laine as serving the country and is happy to serve you in the Sarasota area.

Lindsey Crenshaw

Whether listing for sellers or working hard to get a buyer under contract, Lindsey Crenshaw loves the pure joy when everyone makes it to the closing table. Being a lifelong Plant City resident, a 2007 graduate of Plant City High, and now raising 2 small children right here in town, her knowledge of the area is imperative to her success. She feels strongly that kindness and communication is the key in her approach to business. A newer member of the Ling team, she comes highly motivated and ready to go to work for you!

Mikayla Miller

Mikayla Miller is a Dover native who first achieved her real estate license in 2018 while living in North Florida, and upon returning to Dover in 2021 she began helping clients in our area. She also uses her experience in marketing to assist with our social media pages. Outside of work, she enjoys the gym, boating and seeking the next adventure!

Christina Hall

Christina is a Plant City native and graduate of PCHS. She earned a Bachelor of Marketing degree from USF. Go Bulls! Christina and her husband Justin have two children, Adriana and Gaines. When they’re not working, you can find Christina and Justin entertaining both of their children!

Cindy Maher

In the vast and ever-evolving world of real estate, I have found my true calling. With a passion for properties and a keen eye for opportunities, I have embarked on a thrilling journey in the realm of real estate for over 21 years. One of the most gratifying aspects of my profession is helping clients find their dream homes. Guiding them through the process from start to finish. I constantly immerse myself in market trends, attending seminars and networking events to expand my knowledge and stay informed. However, my role extends beyond just transactions. Building lasting relationships with clients is at the top of my list. Whether it’s buying, selling, or investing, I am committed to you.

Elvira Romo

I’m a realtor bilingual in Spanish. My professional background in accounting and taxes brings a strong understanding of financial matters as a realtor. This knowledge helps my clients through the financial aspects of buying and selling their properties. I have been a realtor for almost 3 years where I’ve gained a solid understanding of the industry and developed skill set. Overall my diverse skill set and expertise make me a well-rounded and knowledgeable realtor.