160 2023 WWW. BESTOFMP.COM www. Bes tOfMP. com | www. Bes tOfMP. Vi deo | www. Bes tOfMPpodcas t . com A man wanted a new home back in 1957. His agent showed him a sturdy brick structure near the country club with seven rooms, a central fireplace and hardwood floors — all for only $19,000. He owned that home until he died 56 years later, having never questioned the integrity of the home or of the agent who sold it. Times have changed. With soaring inflation, cheaper building materials, smaller lots and fewer homes on the market, longtime Charleston Realtor Cynthia Williams said establishing buyer trust is “more important now than ever.” “My clients have to trust me and believe I am looking out for their best interests,” said Williams, owner and broker-in-charge with Lifestyle Real Estate. “For me, it is not about buying or selling them a home. It is about what their real estate needs are.” Educating the public and the real estate community is critical for Williams. She and her agents do continuing education every two years to stay on top of changes in the real estate industry. “We focus primarily on residential real estate,” Williams said. “And while some of my agents enjoy being the local neighborhood experts, I prefer being a generalist. I am educated in all areas, so I can explain the differences of each location.” Williams pointed out that while each of these areas carry their own appeal, they also differ in terms of pricing, size, availability, affordability and lifestyle. Williams will always discuss questions such as: • How would the current real estate market affect my purchase or sale? • How much more home for value would I have if I purchased farther from the beach? • If I am a seller, can I negotiate a lease back until I find my next home? • Should I buy now or wait for the market or interest rates to improve? • Should I buy for now or the future? • Do I want to live in my home forever, or is it an investment? • Is there a sweet spot where pricing and livability come together? “Pricing a home is based on several factors: condition, location, comparable homes, construction costs and need to sell,” Williams said. “Before I suggest a home, I collect all of this information and do my best to find a way to find the perfect home for the client.” Her approach hasn’t gone unrewarded. In 2021, at the height of the pandemic, Lifestyle Real Estate closed on properties totaling approximately $70 million. The same year, Charleston Real Estate Women’s Summit honored Williams as female broker-in-charge of the year. “As a small brokerage, this was exciting to see, as my company services all areas and all price ranges in the Charleston Trident area,” Williams said. “Out of 790 real estate firms in the Charleston area, we now rank in the top 100.” Williams got to where she is now by vowing to understand the market, and to never sell her clients a home she wouldn’t live in herself. It’s about knowledge and, more importantly, integrity. dwellings Cynthia Williams Building trust, brokering a lifestyle BY L . C . LEACH I I I
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