WHEN IT’S TIME TO BUY A HOME
– a first home, a new home, a cozy cottage to retire in, a lakeside cabin for long Wisconsin weekends with family and friends – it seems as though there are almost as many real estate agents, lenders, and professionals to guide you as there are homes to choose from. How do you find the right person, with the right personality, to help you on one of the most important adventures in life? A great real estate professional knows how to make
things easy for customers: They let people know who they are and exactly what they’re all about. Cue: REAL ESTATE ROCKSTARS! These Chippewa Valley personalities are ready to get to know you and help you take those crucial steps toward homeownership, and they’re going to start by letting you get to know them. Find out how long they’ve been in the business, what their style is, and what their values are before you even pick up a phone. How easy is that?
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JERRY ANNIS + JANE SEYMOUR KUNICK • DONNELLAN REAL ESTATE
ABOVE & BEYOND TIGHT-KNIGHT TE AM PROVIDES PERSONAL TOUCH TO LOCAL RE AL ESTATE TRANSAC TIONS JERRY ANNIS & JANE SEYMOUR KUNICK DONNELLAN REAL ESTATE, 1720 HARDING AVE., EAU CLAIRE (715) 836-8080 JERRYA@ECDRE.COM JANEK@ECDRE.COM DONNELLANONLINE.COM
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downsizing after 50 years in the same house – Jerry and Jane sit down and explain the process to them, allaying their concerns.
ERRY ANNIS AND JANE SEYMOUR KUNICK ARE LIFELONG FRIENDS WHO TREAT EACH OTHER LIKE FAMILY –
and they think of their clients that way, too. The pair of Realtors at Eau Claire’s Donnellan Real Estate share a similar work ethic, admire each other, and are committed to doing what’s right for their clients because it’s the right thing to do. Jerry describes the duo as “servant souls,” to which Jane adds, “That’s what our mommas made us.”
“We take on these clients – especially sellers ‘SERVANT – as our family, and we SOULS’ treat them how we would treat somebody in our family,” Jerry explains. “If they need help, we do it.” “We were raised the same,” Jane adds. “We have a lot of the same values and morals. Neither one of us question needing to go above and beyond, because it’s who we are.” Jerry and Jane formed their strong bond growing up together in Eau Claire – a hometown they still love deeply. Their parents were good friends, and they attended school and church together. Years later, they became partners in the real estate business at Donnellan. They say their team approach allows for flexibility and full service for clients. Their friendly focus and attention to detail is ultimately good for
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“For us, it’s a lot of guidance and direction, and walking this path with these people step by step and explaining, ‘Well, here’s what’s coming next,’ ” Jerry says.
business: About 80% of the team’s clients are referrals, and many others are repeat customers. So what does going “above and beyond” mean? Sometimes, it’s literally means rolling up their sleeves. “The clients become your friends, and you do whatever’s necessary,” Jerry says. “We’ve power-sprayed decks. We’ve mowed yards. We’ve painted the inside of houses and taken stuff to the dump and Goodwill – which most people don’t expect out of a real estate agent.”
Claire. Jerry and Jane are always happy to sing their hometown’s praises, and that’s part of the goal of the podcast they launched last year, Eau Claire is Here, and You Should Be Too. Over the course of 14 episodes (and counting), Jerry and Jane have highlighted music, arts, and activities in Eau Claire, interviewed interesting locals, and pulled back the curtain on the local real estate market.
“And,” Jerry chimes in, “it’s nice to get out of the office!”
It’s a market that’s still buzzing, they say, though not as much as it was at some points over the past year. Instead of 15 offers, someone selling a home may get two or three, Jane explains. Sellers are generally still getting the prices they want, Jerry says, and interest rates are still historically low for borrowers.
Getting out of the office, after all, means hitting the streets of Eau
Whoever the client is – whether a first-time homebuyer or someone
“We get people saying, ‘Wow, you did what?’ ” laughs Jane. “But to us it’s just second nature to want to do what we can do.”
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“We talk about the market and make these searches,” he continues, “and at the end of that meeting they say, ‘I’m excited now.’ Buying a home or selling a home should be a happy time and an exciting time.” Jerry and Jane recently added two new faces to their team: Rod Elkin and Ayden Klafke. Both of the new team members are helpful, driven, detail-oriented, and personable – just like Jerry and Jane. Rod say real estate is both a hobby and a career. “I enjoy meeting and getting to know people and their story,” he says. “Listening to what people desire allows me to fine tune an individual’s preference and find that perfect fit.” “I have always had a passion working with people and houses,” Ayden explains, “so what better job than to be a Realtor? I would love to work with you to find or sell a home!” “Now we have a team of four people that have the same mindset and deal with our clients and our friends the same way,” Jerry adds. “We just wanted to be available and reactive to all the people that we work with.”
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C&M REAL ESTATE
FULL-SERVICE TEAM
C&M’S AGENTS CAN HELP YOU BUY AND SELL ALL KINDS OF HOMES – NOT JUST THE ONES THEY BUILD THEMSELVES C&M REAL ESTATE 6176 SANDSTONE ROAD, EAU CLAIRE (715) 861-1903 ADMIN@CANDMHOMEBUILDERS.COM CANDMREALESTATE.COM
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VER THE PAST YEAR AND HALF, THE PANDEMIC HAS REMINDED US HOW IMPORTANT HAVING A HOME REALLY
is – as a nest, an oasis, a safe place for you and your family. If you’re on the hunt for your ideal home in the Chippewa Valley, the team at C&M Real Estate can help. “You can tell when it’s the one, because their face is just lit up,” Jen Conaway, part of C&M’s team of Realtors, says of working with clients. “When you’ve found them that match, it’s really satisfying.”
social media audience for the properties they are listing – it doesn’t mean they are only selling C&M-built homes. As Andrews notes, “We’re Realtors, not sales associates.”
Matchmaking – in matters of the heart or the home – isn’t always easy, which is why C&M Real Estate relies on its team’s experience and extenHowever, because of the company’s sive relationships in the Chippewa strengths in both real estate and Valley to help with every step construction, many customers of the process. “I don’t think stick with C&M through there are too many other multiple home purchases. BUILDING people in town who can For instance, Conaway says, TRUSTING offer what we can,” says some customers step into BONDS Laura Andrews, another of homeownership by buying a C&M’s Realtors. twin home, build some equity, and then step up into a larger Because of C&M Real Estate’s relationship with C&M C&M-built home. Home Builders, sometimes people People buying C&M-built houses assume that the team’s Realtors can access an in-house design team only buy and sell C&M-built homes. that can help them make decisions That’s simply not true, explains to customize their homes just right, Conaway: C&M Real Estate is a fullwhile also keeping within a set service agency that can help folks budget. And whether customers are buying or selling any kind of home buying or selling, C&M-built homes in the Chippewa Valley. While being or not, the company’s size and experpart of the C&M family is an asset tise allows them to help match the – from giving the Realtors in-depth timelines of buyers and sellers and to knowledge of the local homebuilding even help folks find temporary housindustry to giving them a bigger ing if they’re between homes.
C&M Realtor Leslie Ische adds that C&M’s depth of experience in the Chippewa Valley real estate market means they know the professionals at banks, title companies, and other real-estate firms, which can help the process work more smoothly.
they are seeking.
“Trustworthiness is a big thing in real estate,” says Ische, noting that C&M focuses on transparency and responsiveness.
“Interest rates are still very good right now, so now is a good time to build,” Conaway says. She believes the Valley’s real estate market will continue to stay active: The community is beautiful, there’s available land, and many people are moving here as part of an exodus from larger urban areas, to get jobs in the medical sector, or to be closer to grandparents as they start their own families.
If you’re looking to buy or sell a home – or both – chances are you’ve heard about fast sales and tight inventories lately. “The last year or so is the hottest market that I’ve seen,” says C&M Realtor Brian Vitale. He cautions homebuyers against making rash decisions when the market heats up: Don’t buy a home based on emotion, Vitale advises, and make sure you’re truly happy with what you’re buying. Some house hunters – especially those who are also selling homes – rush their decisions, falling in love with the first or second house they look at, even if it doesn’t have all the features
“We really put the time and effort into identifying what they really need,” Vitale says. And while the temperature may be high, there are still good financial reasons to step into the market.
Whatever their reason for buying or selling, the members of C&M Real Estate’s team want their customers’ transactions to be as enjoyable as possible. “I think when people go with us, it’s going to be fun,” Conaway says. “We all have moxie. Our job is to put them at ease and make them smile along the way.”
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EXPERTS IN THE FIELD
TRILLIUM COMMERCIAL REALTY
COMMERCIAL DEDICATION TRILLIUM TEAM HAS DEEP EXPERTISE IN BUYING, SELLING, LEASING, AND MANAGING COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TRILLIUM COMMERCIAL REALTY 1119 REGIS COURT, EAU CLAIRE (715) 514-0201 INFO@TRILLIUMCOMMERCIAL.COM TRILLIUMCOMMERCIAL.COM
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HEN BUYING OR SELLING COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, IT REALLY HELPS TO HAVE THE EXPERTS IN YOUR CORNER.
In the Chippewa Valley, you’ll find those experts at Trillium Commercial Realty, where Scott Knepper, Cody Filipczak, and Jake Tanner have a combined 49 years of experience in all aspects of commercial real estate, from buying and selling to facilitating leases and managing property. Trillium is one of the few real estate teams in the Chippewa Valley that concentrates 100% on commercial real estate, which gives their clients a strong advantage. “Pretty much everything we help our clients with, we’ve done personally,” says Knepper, who – like Tanner – is a lifelong Chippewa Valley resident. During a recent conversation in Trillium’s office, Tanner recalled a phone call from a residential real estate agent wondering why a commercial property was priced the way it was. Tanner began asking questions: What do the leases look like? What about the property taxes? What’s happening nearby that might be impacting the property’s price?
“That’s when a lot of the Realtors who are not specialized in commercial real estate just say, ‘Hold on: I don’t want to deal with finding out who the property manager is, finding out who does the profit and loss statements, the operating statements’ – all those things that investors want to look at,” Tanner said. “That’s what we do, what we breathe every day.” Because of their expertise in commercial real estate, the Trillium team knows how to explain the financial picture for buyers looking for properties to locate their businesses as well as those looking to invest in real estate as a business. They frequently work with clients making what are known as “1031 exchanges,” in which investors who sell real estate can defer capital gains taxes by reinvest-
WHETHER IT’S BUYING, SELLING, LEASING, OR MANAGING, “EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, WE’VE DONE PERSONALLY.”
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ing in other properties. The market for such transactions is hot right now, Tanner said. They can also assist business owners who might want to move into new buildings but don’t want to own them, helping forge relationships between the business owners and investors who want to buy and lease properties. The Trillium team also has off-market connections, including access to databases of properties for sale that aren’t publicly listed, that allow them to act discreetly to connect buyers, sellers, and investors.
to national franchises. “It’s an exciting time to be part of commercial development in the Eau Claire area!” Filipczak says. “Focusing on the environmental impact, infrastructure, along with the economic and social impact is essential for a community’s success.” The team’s rich experience also means they know the region – and its real estate market – inside and out. “Our expertise gives us a pretty good idea of where it’s been and where it’s going,” Knepper says.
“You don’t always want to have a big sign in front of your place,” Knepper says of local business owners looking to expand or relocate. “We pair the people. We have investors who want to invest in local businesses.”
Ultimately, working in commercial real estate is all about building connections in the community, he says. This can mean helping clients see their dreams come true by buying or leasing a building, he says, or by helping them close a chapter of their lives and reinvest in something new.
In short, because of their vast experience and dedication, the Trillium team can serve as a one-stop shop for commercial real estate matters. They buy and sell everything from medical buildings to retail properties for clients ranging from mom-and-pop shops
When asked why he enjoys this work Tanner says, ““For me, it’s the thrill of not knowing day to day what’s going to transpire. It is the ultimate triumphant and humbling experience. Helping people is with their goals and dreams is what keeps it so amazing.”
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ELITE REALTY GROUP
CARING FOR COMMUNITY M A R Y F. R U F L E D T H A S 2 5 T E A R S O F E X P E R I E N C E I N T H E RE AL ESTATE INDUSTRY. HER KE Y TO SUCCESS? TAKING CARE OF OTHERS. ELITE REALTY GROUP 4410 GOLF TERRACE #125, EAU CLAIRE (715) 830-1001 INFO@MARYRUFLEDT.COM ELITEREALTY-WISCONSIN.COM ELITEREALTY-MINNESOTA.COM
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POSTER IN LONGTIME REAL ESTATE AGENT MARY RUFLEDT’S CONFERENCE ROOM DEPICTS AN ICEBERG WITH
the word “success” on it. Beneath the water are the words that loom beneath the surface – the keys to success: hard work, persistence, late nights, rejections, sacrifices, struggles, discipline, criticism, doubts, failures, and risks. That perfectly describes Rufledt’s approach to northwestern Wisconsin’s real estate market for 25 years. Through her hard work, grit, determination, and perseverance, she has remained one of the most renowned real estate agents throughout Northern and Western Wisconsin.
“For me, everyone has a role: in their family, in their office, in their personal lives,, and in their community,” Rufledt said. “Are you fulfilling your role, or are you just sitting stagnant? I choose to work at fulfilling obligations and creating new opportunities. If you are impacting somebody’s life in a positive way, or guiding others, that’s all you can do. Do what you love, and the rest will fall in line.” A passion for helping people sell their house and buy a new home – or navigate the investment property market – inspired Rufledt to pursue real estate. She remembers moving from rental property to rental property throughout her childhood, as her mother could never afford to own a house. Now an adult and real estate professional, Rufledt worked multiple jobs to eventually – at the age of 24 – purchase a home for her mother. (Though, Rufledt has owned property since the age of 20!) Like her approach with her own family, Rufledt works many hours to help many families across Northwestern Wisconsin research and make decisions that are ultimately best for their families.
“ARE YOU IN THE GAME OR ON THE SIDELINES?”
Though Rufledt’s dedication to her field may be mistaken as workaholism, she confesses the secret to her success is ensuring self-care is a professional priority. Taking care of her mental and physical health and well-being motivates her to impact her community in innovative ways – to support her community in the way it supports her.
And in a busy real estate market, that guidance is critical. High prices, a lack of trade employees enabling the construction of new homes, a lack of housing, and tough competition means finding a home can be pretty daunting nowadays. But Rufledt helps her clients navigate the challenges of the real estate market with perseverance, accountability, and determination. She especially em-
pathizes with hardworking business you in the game or on the sidelines?” owners who have worked hard amid And she is always looking for ways ruthless pandemic times, to continue to better herself and her real estate the legacy of their family name. practices through selling, buying, A professional herself, she and investing in her community. understands the kind of late “All the tools we need are nights that go into making CARING here,” she said. “Stop looking. a business successful. And FOR Go to your libraries and OTHERS she knows how having a online. Tap into some great strong support network is people that do self-care every critical to success. “I’m all day, and journal. If you want to about helping everyone do well,” live your best life, you need to give she said. “What is your purpose? Are to gain and heal to excel.”
ENRICH THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY
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ROYAL CREDIT UNION
FINANCIAL CHEERLEADER ROYAL CREDIT UNION’S BARB OAS HAS DECADES OF MORTGAGE LENDING EXPERIENCE, HELPING SE T YOU AND YOUR FAMILY UP FOR FINANCIAL SUCCESS approach to financial coaching, “is that there’s a lot of information online. But there’s also a lot of misinformation out there.”
ROYAL CREDIT UNION 419 N HASTINGS PL, EAU CLAIRE (715) 833-8282 BARBARA.OAS@RCU.ORG RCU.ORG/BARBOAS
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ARB OAS REMEMBERS THE DAY SHE WENT INTO HER LOC AL FINANCIAL INSTITUTION TO APPLY FOR A
pre-approval on a mortgage for her first home. “That’s when the loan officer just wrote everything out on paper,” she said, “and you met in person. I can remember he didn’t even make eye contact. He was asking us questions and writing it down. He was using all these terms – and I had no idea. I didn’t feel like it was a discussion.” HOME Once they got out of LOAN the office, she asked her EXPERT husband, “What did that word ‘escrow’ mean?” “Well, I don’t know,” he responded. “I was hoping you would know.”
Thankfully, Royal Credit Union points potential buyers to a homebuyer education class that offers a factual, easy-to-understand perspective on what going through the loan process looks like. As an added bonus: Firsttime homebuyers can receive a $100 credit for taking the class. Here are a few more tips from the seasoned financial expert:
1. CHECK OUT ANNUALCREDITREPORT.COM. Staying on top of your finances has never been easier! Use this official website to get your free credit reports from TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. You can see items on your report and verify their accuracy.
2. TAKE YOUR TIME. If you’re planning to take out a home loan, work with a trusted lender to help coordinate the timing and head off any issues early.
3. DON’T BE SCARED TO ASK QUESTIONS.
“And I try not to forget that,” she recalled. “Even though I’ve been helping people with home loans for many years, I try to remember what it was like to get my first home.” Throughout her 25-plus years of experience as a mortgage lender, Oas has helped individuals and families across the Chippewa Valley navigate down payments, closing costs, applying for pre-approval for mortgages, applying for construction loans, and ensuring their credit ratings are in a secure place. “The difference, nowadays,” she said of the modern
No question is a bad question, Oas said, as every financial situation is different and unique. “It’s one of the bigger things you do in life,” she said. “It’s different for everybody, and everyone’s comfort level is going to be different, too.” In the past year, Oas has coached local folks through the challenging housing market and helped them overcome financial crises – whether that’s losing a job, becoming self-employed, or having turbulent employment. She attests that it’s an incredibly emotional venture, as she often
helps guide people through refinancing their houses after divorce, during challenging times, and through various big life moments. Key to her success as a mortgage lender is the local support that Royal Credit Union has. Royal’s local team of processors, underwriters,
and other financial experts all work together to ensure every individual’s homebuying experience is seamless. “We’re such a local presence,” Oas said, “and that is what I truly feel is such an important part of our business. Royal is here to help you every step of the way.”
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