Innovators In Our Community Women Owned & Operated, Family Business Taking 2020 by Storm

The Women Leaders of Desiree Callender & Associates, Realtors discuss their 2020 re-launch, their goals and aspirations, and the true of meaning of their slogan “We Are Here For You – 2020 & Beyond”

At the start of 2020, we had no idea that there would be so many life-changing events happening in our community and across the globe. In spite of all of the challenges that have occurred, there have been many positive aspects as well including the recognition and appreciation of local businesses that serve our community directly. One such business is Desiree Callender & Associates, Realtors. Desiree Callender and Charisse Callender-Scott of Desiree Callender & Associates, Realtors, don’t just sell houses. As a women-owned & operated, family business they are creating a legacy in which they educate and empower people in Bowie and the surrounding areas. “We moved to Bowie in the early 1990s and there was nothing out here. I remember vividly thinking, ‘Why are we moving out here?’ We were moving to a community with beautiful homes, but nothing to do there. Yet, so many years later we have seen so many changes; new development and the redevelopment of older communities. My mom [Desiree Callender] has worked in real estate for 40 years and she started her own brokerage in 2007. She initiated it because she wanted to do her own thing. She wanted to be a training ground for young realtors coming up to show them how she learned and how they can be successful in the business,” Charisse tells us, “When the real estate crash happened in 2008 she had to make an adjustment in her business and it was a learning experience for her because there was no traditional market anymore. She was very successful in REO (bank-owned properties) we went from traditional consumers to more corporate with the banks as our clients.” While Desiree successfully navigated the real estate market and all of its changes, Charisee worked in Journalism, Public Relations and Production Management.

“My background is in marketing, television, and business management. I worked in my field successfully for 16 years.

I grew up seeing my mom as a realtor. I didn’t really have a full understanding of what she was doing and thought she just “sold houses”. Then as a young adult seeing my mother in business, I saw this with a different lens,” Charisse says, “I went into news, started in the newsroom and never thought I would be working real estate. I want to educate and empower people. I felt like as a journalist I could do that. I couldn’t even watch and enjoy the work that I was doing with my family. I left and went into public relations and then moved to production management. It was a balance between the creative and the financial management aspect.

I still felt that I wasn’t engaged in my purpose to give back to the community through my work. I would volunteer with nonprofits, but my work wasn’t fulfilling in the way I needed too.

Desiree Callender Broker/Owner ABOUT US

Charisse Callender-Scott Realtor/Manager

Offer 40+ Years of Professional Real Estate Experience We are Independently Owned and Operated Since 2007 Specializing in Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties Bowie & Silver Spring Area & Community Specialists Serving Buyers, Sellers, Renters, and Investors Skilled Marketing Strategist & Expert Negotiators Detailed & Quality Customer Service Knowledge and Insight to Keep You Engaged and Informed Serving You Is Our Number 1 Priority

Mother & Daughter Award Winning Realtors | Prince Georges & Montgomery County Housing & Education Advocates

Office: 301-390-8244 | Desiree Direct: 240-753-5661 | Charisse Direct: 240-715-5138 | Web: www.DCARealtors.com

in an administrative capacity, filling in the gaps.’ My mother

turned to me one day and said, ‘Why don’t you get your real estate license? This can be our family’s legacy.’”

Charisse quickly found that working with her mother and serving families was the purpose that she had been searching for. She became the advocate that clients needed when approaching one of the most complex and significant

transactions in your life. “My first transaction was a short

sale for an older couple; a husband who was sick and his wife who was just trying to figure out what to do. I took the

lead on it and during the first conversation with their bank

I realized people in these situations needed an advocate. I realized that there were a lot of people that just don’t know what they need to do when working with the bank. My mom made the pitch about our family legacy and I never looked back. I am a full-time realtor. I received my first platinum that recognized me as a top producer in the county.”

“I knew that I could make an impact in people’s lives. Whether they are first-time buyers, first-time sellers, or

anywhere in the journey of homeownership what they really need in that moment is someone who can understand where they are and where they are trying to go. They need someone who can help them to get there,” Charisse says, “I always ask, ‘What is your long-term goal? What is your short-term goal? How can we help you get there?’ We always use that level of care with our clients. I have a lot of volunteer work that I do in the community and most of it stems on advocating for housing and education. I am on the council of Montgomery County Council of PTAs. I can provide insight on the community because I engage with people daily. I can get feedback and relay it to those parties and present testimony. I feel connected to helping and advocating for people. The perspective I have on this

business is that offering these services, helping people, and the community makes it a fulfilling

job to come to every day and it makes it truly worth it.”

In May 2020, Desiree Callender & Associates, Realtors have launched, “2020 & Beyond”. With the ever-changing market and current events including the increasing virtual landscape, Desiree & Charisse are looking at ways to best serve their clients. They are looking at the next generation of this business which includes growing their online presences, staying active and engaged within the community in the face of Covid-19, and being there for their clients. They are licensed in the State of Maryland, and have worked in many different counties with their bank clients. Charisse currently sits on the Prince George’s County Board of Realtors and on the legislative committee. Through this affiliation they are able to

learn about policies that impact consumers. “Another factor in our re-launch is how times have changed and how much things have changed. People have

For more information, call Desiree Callender & Associates, Realtors 2905 Mitchellville Road Suite 101, Bowie, MD Office 301.390.8244 DCARealtors.com Facebook.com/DCARealtorsMD unlimited access to information which can be detrimental. Having an experienced and knowledgeable realtor who is vested in their success in the process can be critical to the outcome,” Charisse says, “Also, having that connectivity with their lender, having a good title company and all of the team players to help get that transaction to closing. Before we move into the process, we do a buyer and seller education so they can see what to expect. It puts them in a better position. We make sure that we take the time to provide quality service and go above and beyond to make sure the clients’ needs are met.”

Desiree says, “[When working with us clients], will be informed. I think that an informed consumer is crucial. A house is one of the largest investments and people may have a little bit of information, but they don’t know what it truly means. We are there to help with that.”

At the end of the day, the vision of Desiree and Charisse is to educate and empower their clients and help them get exactly what they need. “If I go into a

home I want to feel just as confident as my buyer. We take

the time to get to know our clients, learn their goals and their needs, and how we can help them. It is a personalized and custom experience when you work with us. We form relationships that last,” Charisse says, “I am working with the children of people who bought their first, second, third homes with my mother. My mom sold their parents a home, and I am getting to work with the next generation of families who were served by Desiree Callender. It is such a fulfilling experience to help people and empower people.

Continuing that legacy of what my mom has set out to do. It is an honor.”

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