REALTORS ON THE MOVE - 2024

2024 REALTORS ON THE MOVE

Do South® is proud to recognize the talents and dedication of local Realtors, Agents, and Brokers who are committed to excellence and consistently go the extra mile for their clients. Join us as we salute the incredible professionals who propel our region forward!

WORDS DWAIN HEBDA AND FEATURED REALTORS

A Do South® Paid Promotion

2024 REALTORS ON THE MOVE

Do South® is proud to recognize the talents and dedication of local Realtors, Agents, and Brokers who are committed to excellence and consistently go the extra mile for their clients. Join us as we salute the incredible professionals who propel our region forward!

WORDS DWAIN HEBDA AND FEATURED REALTORS

A Do South® Paid Promotion

Barbie Johnson

KELLER WILLIAMS PLATINUM REALTY

When it comes to real estate, Barbie Johnson of Johnson Realty Group with Keller Williams Platinum Realty in Fort Smith is second to none. Having created one of the largest and most successful agencies in the River Valley, there’s nothing about the buying and selling process she hasn’t seen.

“One of my favorite things about this business is the relationships,” she says. “I have clients whom I sold houses to in my very first year, 2007, and we are still the best of friends. I love people and I love the relationships that form with clients, other realtors, lenders and more."

Opening the local Keller Williams office in 2017 with twelve agents, Barbie grew the operation

to one hundred forty agents and the numberone spot in all industry categories.

“We invest in our agents, giving them the training and technology to deliver the best for our clients,” she says.

Now, the mom and uber-successful entrepreneur is branching out, sharing all she’s learned on the road to success, starting with her justpublished fourth book, SOZO Living

“SOZO means living the full, abundant life,” she says. “It’s about not settling for the so-so in any aspect of your life but being fulfilled and grateful every day of your life.”

NICK AND ELLIE GLIDEWELL

SAGELY & EDWARDS REALTORS

The husband-and-wife team, Nick and Ellie Glidewell, have been in the Fort Smith real estate industry since 2010 when they got their licenses within a few months of one an other.

The couple grew up in Fort Smith, each attending Greenwood High School. During high school, Nick began working for his family's business, Glidewell Distributing, a supplier of food, drinks, and novelties to convenience stores in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Ellie's first job after college was as a teacher at Lavaca Elementary School.

Since their marriage in 2003, they've shared their lives and home with a long list of best friends, also known as dogs. It's rare not to have at least one, and usually two, four-legged companions waiting for them to return from their workdays. Those companions have always been Shih-Tzus and Great Danes.

Lovers of the outdoors – whether it's a pristine nature trail or a Sunday drive through the lush byways of Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley – Nick and Ellie have never considered living anywhere other than Fort Smith. They share the fundamental values of home, family, and hard work, which have all helped them rise to the top of their chosen profession.

We’re a team that complements each other’s talents,” Nick says. “We both do different things well, but what we share is a commitment to the process and serving our customers to the fullest. We follow up on every single phone call and sweat all the details, crossing the t’s and dotting the i's. I think that’s the strongest indicator that this business will never fully be handled remotely. Something we tell our younger clients is that while technology is great and it makes some parts of the process a lot easier, you just can’t get the kind of hands-on service that we provide working through an app.”

Nick and Ellie place great value on helping others and being of assistance whenever and wherever possible. Nick believes this passion led him and Ellie to careers in real estate.

Of course, as anyone familiar with the industry knows, no set of values or passions will guarantee success in the ever-changing and unpredictable world of real estate. There are things you can only learn "in the trenches," a place the couple has been navigating for fourteen years. In that time, they've seen the market become so hot you could fry the proverbial egg on it. They've also seen it go through slowdowns, such as the one we're in now.

Higher-than-average interest rates have contributed to a significantly reduced inventory, with sellers hesitating to leave their homes and re-enter the market as buyers. However, those looking to buy homes are aggressive, scooping up listings often just days after they become public.

But while the real estate market seems to be on hiatus, Nick and Ellie are not. They remain at the forefront of the strategies and technologies that drive real estate in Fort Smith and the surrounding areas. This is because they know the real estate market is never truly stagnant: after a slowdown comes a boom, and with every boom, there's always a settling period afterward, and a good agent must be ready for every season. Each season brings people seeking advice and direction when entering a real estate transaction, and Nick and Ellie Glidewell plan to be here for the long haul, helping each step of the way.

When You’re Buying or Selling a Home, Everything Should Revolve Around You

Buyers: Learn about and visit only the properties that match your specific desires and budget. We’ll advise you on every move, every decision, every step of the way.

Sellers: Benefit from proven selling technologies like 3D Virtual Home Tours and stunning photo and web promotion. We pay for these strategies – not you.

Discover how simple and rewarding it is to buy or sell a home with Nick and Ellie Glidewell, Realtors who are 100% invested in your ultimate delight and satisfaction.

Call or visit:

(479) 739-6333

NickAndEllie.com

M c GRAW REALTORS®

Local market knowledge, a proven track record of results and an unmatched focus on customer service are just a few of the watchwords for McGraw Realtors ®, one of the fastest-growing independent real estate brokerages in the region.

“The McGraw Realtors ® difference is something clients love to experience,” says Principal Broker Susie Sparkman. “As we like to say, we are committed, we are loyal, and we are tenacious. We take the time to know our clients, providing individualized attention to meet their needs whether selling an existing property or buying their dream home.”

Started in Oklahoma, McGraw Realtors ® purchased Anderson Properties in 2020, giving the company a presence in Fort Smith and Greenwood. The company has quickly risen to become a preferred realty company, even gaining a Greenwood listing to be featured in this fall’s Showcase Home, built by L & L Development.

The brokerage’s concierge-level service and proven track record of success has led to new offices in rapid succession. A Hot Springs office opened in late 2020; a

northwest Arkansas presence followed in 2021 and in 2022 the company entered Benton, Siloam Springs, and Little Rock.

One of the things that sets McGraw Realtors ® apart is a support team that provides a range of services not found elsewhere, including marketing, administrative support and relocation services. Having designated individuals attend to these roles helps McGraw Realtors’ ® 830 agents systemwide focus on what they do best, on behalf of their customers.

“Our people know the local market inside and out, they have knowledge and experience and they work hard for our clients,” Susie says. “At McGraw Realtors®, our culture is the engine that drives everything we do; from how we recruit, train, and invest in our agents, to the way we serve our clients throughout the real estate process. Even as we have grown, and we have grown rapidly, we’ve never lost that hometown connection.”