Some people may get the impression that real estate is a cut-throat business, with agents scrambling over the top of one another to snag a client, or bullying their clients into making or accepting offers they are not happy with. If so, those people don’t know the agents at the Legacy Group and, in particular, Steve Hagen, a Listing Specialist at Legacy.
Steve’s passion is not about profit; it’s about people. Steve loves the feeling he gets when he can bring joy to his clients, and he is willing to go above and beyond to advise and advocate for them. To Steve, there is nothing more rewarding than the smile he receives when he hands the keys over to someone who has just purchased a new home, or tells a buyer that a sale was closed and recorded.
Steve didn’t start out his career in real estate, but, given that he’s been at it now for almost 30 years, it’s clear he has found his home in this profession. So much so that, not only does Steve represent Legacy Group clients who want to buy or sell homes, but he has been licensed to teach real estate classes for over 10 years, sharing his knowledge and passion with people trying to break into the profession.
Steve’s love of sharing what he knows does not end with his students. He is always eager to share his experiences and insight with all his team members at the Legacy Group. Steve is deeply invested in the idea of mentoring new agents, grateful for the fact that, in his own career, others stepped up to mentor him along the way. Despite decades in the real estate business, Steve believes there is always more to learn, and always more to teach. His goal for the Legacy Group is, as he says, to “raise the bar” not just for team members in his office, but for everyone in the profession. That’s because despite his years in the field, Steve is the consummate team player.
“No matter if we have been in business almost 30 years or just six months, we are all in this together.”
His sentiments express the overall philosophy at the Legacy Group, where the team is client-focused and dedicated to working collaboratively for the good of their clients.
Steve understands that homes are not just buildings, but are deeply connected to our sense of who we are. Buying a new home or selling an old one is a monumental task and one of the most impactful decisions that many people make. That makes representing clients more than just a job; it is a partnership to reach a common goal.
This is exemplified in some of Steve’s fondest moments in this profession, which date back to the housing crash over a decade ago. Many people suddenly found themselves underwater, with a mortgage debt higher than the price of their homes. Steve became an expert in short sales, working with banks to help sellers to relieve themselves of debt by selling their homes at a loss to the bank. In the midst of the crisis, Steve helped several homeowners to renegotiate their mortgage loans with the banks, saving their homes from foreclosure and enabling them to keep their homes instead of selling. To Steve, saving someone from losing their home was worth all the effort–even though it meant no sale! That sure doesn’t sound cut-throat.
Steve is able to keep things in perspective because he knows that life is more than real estate. In his spare time, he and his sons tinker with old cars in his shop, or he putters in his yard, mowing and edging his lawn to keep it looking sharp. And, when he gets the opportunity, you’ll find him heading out camping in his travel trailer to enjoy some campfire cooking.
Steve’s balanced perspective, his professionalism, and his compassion for others are part of why the Legacy Group is one of the premiere real estate firms working in Washington, Idaho, and Montana. If you need help buying or selling a home, get in touch with Steve and his team at the Legacy Group.