Category: Accolades

At PSA we love celebrating each other’s success

Celebrating Excellence: PSA Agents & Teams are Tops in Delaware

We are thrilled to announce that eight of our finest agents and teams have made the prestigious RealTrends Verified rankings! This incredible achievement places them among the top 1.5% of approximately 1.5 million real estate professionals nationwide.

What Makes This So Special?

The RealTrends Verified rankings are the gold standard in real estate, measuring closed transaction sides and closed volume for 2023. The year’s tight housing market resulted in fewer agents and teams qualifying compared to the previous two, making it no small feat to earn the recognition as top performers.

Our Stars Shine Bright

Our 2024 honorees have proven their mettle time and again, consistently delivering outstanding results for their clients and businesses. Their innovation and dedication set them apart in the industry, and we couldn’t be prouder to have them on our team.

Insights from Our Top Agents & Teams

We asked our RealTrends Verified designees what delivering exceptional service to their clients means to them and how they navigate the challenges of the real estate market. Here’s what they shared about their experiences and the inspirations behind their achievements:

Victoria Dickinson of Victoria Dickinson & Associates, beautifully articulates the importance of personal connections: “In today’s tech-driven world, real estate thrives on personalized interactions, with exceptional customer service being the key to success. While technology aids in efficient information gathering, prioritizing long-term partnerships with buyers and sellers remains paramount.“

John Zacharias of PSA Ocean View, shares his passion: “I live vicariously through my clients when I help them buy and sell their beach house. The excitement and joy is contagious and it drives my desire to succeed in my career if not for me then for my clients!”

Matt Brittingham, leader of the Delaware Shore Properties team, highlights the human element in real estate: “Real estate and real estate agents are unique in the sense that all the new technologies help assist with the process; however, the personal/human engagement far supersedes anything else. Without personal contact, the industry would fail to exist.“

Kate Bianchino of PSA Greenville, underscores the importance of professional integrity: “Strong negotiating skills, attention to detail, up-to-date market knowledge should always stand beside integrity, ethics and transparency. I believe that thoughtfulness, honesty and consideration need never be compromised in professional dealings.”

Steve Crifasi, a veteran in the industry, reflects on the timeless fundamentals: “Over my 50 years of real estate there have been many, many changes in technology, marketing, social media, etc., but the basics never change. I take pride in giving exceptional personal service to my clients in order to build confidence & trust. That quality never changes no matter what market we are in!”

Chris Patterson, another agent with incredible tenure, emphasizes the rewarding nature of the profession: “Having worked at Patterson-Schwartz for 47 years as an agent, I have experienced all types of market conditions. The support of and from within the company has been invaluable. It has been extremely gratifying helping people with one of their most valued possessions—their home.”

AnnMarie Germano of the AnnMarie Germano Group, expresses her gratitude and
commitment: “We are so honored to be recognized this year and grateful for our clients, the support of Patterson-Schwartz, and
fellow co-broke agents. We look forward to growing and servicing the needs of our buyers and sellers with the highest attention to value.”

Team Landon, a team out of PSA Newark, highlights their commitment to client satisfaction: “Because we strive to exceed expectations, the majority of our business comes from repeat clients and referrals. We are grateful and appreciative that our continued commitment drives our success from past to future generations.”

Congratulations to Our Top Performers

Our local brand and legacy of service are stronger than ever, thanks to these exceptional agents. They are ready to tackle any market challenge and continue to excel. Let’s celebrate their success and dedication to raising the bar in real estate!

Discover the full list of our top-performing agents below and learn more about the incredible individuals who make Patterson-Schwartz a leader in the local industry.

RealTrendsVerified– Delaware Rankings 2024

Individual Agents:Ranking:
John Zacharias (Ocean View)Volume #4 / Transaction Sides#14
Chris Patterson (Greenville)Volume #6
Kate Bianchino (Greenville)Volume #16
Small Teams:Ranking:
Delaware Shore Properties (Rehoboth Beach)Volume #3 / Transaction Sides #4
The AnnMarie Germano Group (Hockessin)Volume #4
Team Landon (Newark)Volume #8 / Transaction Sides #6
Medium Teams:Ranking:
Victoria Dickinson & Associates (Greenville)Volume #4 / Transaction Sides #9
The Crifasi Group (Greenville)Volume #9

About Us

Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate is Delaware’s largest independent real estate brokerage and offers a full range of services that include residential home sales, purchase and rental, relocation services, and property management. We’ve been guiding home buyers and sellers since 1961, and invite you to connect with us when you’re ready to partner with a local real estate expert.

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Celebrating the Best: PSA’s 2023 Realty Alliance Sales Award Winners

The Realty Alliance recently unveiled their annual list of top producers which honors residential sale professionals from across the nation for their exceptional performance.

We are thrilled to congratulate the 70+ Patterson-Schwartz agents and teams across the company who made the list for their outstanding efforts and accomplishments in 2023. These honorees represent the best of the best, and epitomize our company’s dedication to providing superior guidance and service in every market. 

The Patterson-Schwartz agents and teams recognized for their efforts in 2023 make up the top 15% of our sales associates in the individual categories of Units, Gross Commission Income, and Total Dollar Volume. The qualifying amounts were 12 Units, and/or a Total Dollar Volume of $4.5M.

Introducing our 2023 Realty Alliance Award recipients, listed by sales office:

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About Us

Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate is Delaware’s largest independent real estate brokerage and offers a full range of services that include residential home sales, purchase and rental, relocation services, and property management. We’ve been guiding home buyers and sellers since 1961, and invite you to connect with us when you’re ready to partner with a local real estate expert.

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By the Numbers: 2023 Year in Review at Patterson-Schwartz

As we reflect on 2023, we celebrate a year of tremendous growth, achievements, and milestones for our company. From welcoming new talent, celebrating anniversaries, and fostering education to better equip our agents and living our values by giving back to the community, we had an eventful year! Join us as we explore the numbers and stories that shaped 2023. 

In a grand style, we enthusiastically embraced our 72 new agents, igniting a buzz of excitement with 2,045 Likes and 874 Comments on our social media pages! Among this exceptional group, 33 experienced or returning agents made the decision to align with us, solidifying our status as the preferred destination for top talent in our marketplace.

But it’s not just about the numbers; it’s about the quality of our who’s here: 19 experienced agents chose to align with us, and we couldn’t be prouder!

This year’s 114 honorees counted 1,105 years of experience among them. Their dedication and commitment to PSA were met with an outpouring of support, garnering 1,348 Likes and 242 Comments on our social media pages.

PSA agents scooped up 2,421 hours of Continuing Education through PSA’s internal courses. That gets our agents even closer to renewing their licenses in 2024! 

Forty-two newly hired agents across 90% of our offices engaged 1,890 hours in new agent training. That’s 78.75 straight days! 

We’re immensely proud of our commitment to giving back. In 2023 we exemplified #PSAgivesback and #WeAreLocal through the PSA Foundation by supporting 40 different charities, and bringing our contributions to a total of almost $1.44 Million since the Foundation’s inception.

PSA agents and employees mixed and mingled all year long at our Mid-Month Mixers – a series of five fun-filled networking events across the state that brought together our PSA family and business partners along with local real estate industry professionals.

The Realty Alliance honored 82 of our agents and teams for their outstanding sales stats! They made us proud by representing all nine of our offices! 

Our own awards for excellence in sales and reputation, Top Producer and Five-Star Agent, were earned by 175 and 239 unique agents and teams, respectively. Way to go! 

Moving Forward with Gratitude

As we conclude our 2023 statistics review, we’re deeply thankful for the people behind our success. These numbers not only represent the PSA family’s unwavering dedication but also underscore the trust and collaboration that define our shared vision. Our agents bring dreams to life, guiding their clients through every step of their journey. To our valued customers and clients, you’re at the heart of this success, and we’re committed to exceeding your expectations in the coming year. 

To our dedicated agents and employees, you are the driving force behind our achievements. Your passion, expertise, and commitment to excellence set us apart in our local and national markets. As we look ahead to 2024, we’re excited to build on these accomplishments and reach even greater heights together. Thank you all for being an integral part of our journey, and here’s to a year filled with endless possibilities and even brighter horizons!

About Us

Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate is Delaware’s largest independent real estate brokerage and offers a full range of services that include residential home sales, purchase and rental, relocation services, and property management. We’ve been guiding home buyers and sellers since 1961, and invite you to connect with us when you’re ready to partner with a local real estate expert.

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Golden Opportunities: Reflecting on 50 Years with Charlie Schwartz

As a child accompanying his father on Saturday tours to a leader offering words of encouragement to up-and-coming agents, Charlie Schwartz, II, has made a lifetime study of real estate service with a personal touch. His stories are legendary, his wisdom unmatched, and his phone calls cherished.

To celebrate Charlie Schwartz’s remarkable 50-year milestone anniversary at Patterson-Schwartz, we sat down with him to learn the secrets to the company’s longevity and success and discover the anecdotes and lessons that have shaped his illustrious career. This Q&A session offers a golden opportunity to gain insights from one of our company’s true legends, who has not only witnessed the profound changes in the field, but has played a pivotal role in steering our company through these transformative years.

What do you believe sets the company apart in the real estate market, and how has it maintained its reputation over the years?

I think the key here is that we live in the markets that we serve and we serve the markets in which we live. Again, it goes back to the whole LOCAL theme. It’s not just an advertising slogan, we live it every day. You don’t have to go very far to talk to one of the owners of Patterson-Schwartz. It always tickles me when Chris Patterson and I are together and someone says, “There’s Patterson-Schwartz.” Well it may be Mr. Patterson and Mr. Schwartz; Patterson-Schwartz is a whole lot more. I want every one of us – our associates and our staff, from the most seasoned to the greenest – to think of themselves as Mr. or Ms. Patterson-Schwartz. That is the family aspect of the company. 

How has your father’s legacy influenced your approach to business, and what principles have you carried forward from him?

Not a day goes by that I don’t use one of his expressions or recall one of his parables! There’s a statement attributed to Winston Churchill about the USA: “America always does the right thing, usually after trying everything else first.” Dad and Bill Patterson’s philosophy was invariably to do the right thing first, even if it hurt to do so. The examples of this are legion and I’m sure that any of the industry veterans who worked with them could relate a story or two. The company stood behind buyers when a builder-client made off with the escrow money they were holding. PSA funded the deposits of those who wanted them and I acted as general contractor to finish the homes for those who chose that option.

Another illustration I’ll share in more detail. PSA was one of the first companies to offer a home warranty program for the purchasers of our sellers’ homes. The program was called Palace Guard. Palace Guard was new and its concepts were largely untested from an actuarial standpoint. For example, it asked for no deductible, nor a pre-inspection – the absence of one or the other are prescriptions for disaster in warranty business as we know it today.

Dad and Bill Patterson’s philosophy was invariably to do the right thing first, even if it hurt to do so.

PSA sold about 1,500 of these policies, which offered coverage for one year after the settlement date on certain appliances and systems. There were perhaps 900 still active when the Palace Guard insurance company went belly-up. PSA made the decision to back the remaining policies until they expired. I can remember my dad coming into the old Milltown office in the mornings and asking the lead secretary how many policies were still active as of that day and if there were any new claims that had come in. Standing behind the promises that our people had made proved to be very expensive, but it was the right thing to do. 

Charlie Schwartz (R) with his dad, PSA’s co-founder, Charlie Schwartz, Sr.
Charlie Schwartz &
Chris Patterson in 2021
The PSA family c.1986, getting ready to celebrate the company’s 25th Anniversary. Charlie Schwartz, II, in lower left corner. Charlie Schwartz, Sr., with Bill Patterson in the center.

Can you share a memorable experience or anecdote from your early years in real estate that shaped your career or taught you an important lesson?

There are many, some of which are unprintable. But let me start by saying that there are seven or so words (depending on how you treat contractions) that are critical to remember to use frequently in almost any profession setting I can think of, but most importantly in real estate: “I don’t know but I’ll find out.”

I’ll give you an illustration from early in my career. I was showing a newer split-level house in North Star to a Dupont engineering type when the subject of insulated glass came up as we were approaching the family room sliding glass door. Now I knew nothing about the R-value of insulated glass since it was just coming on the residential scene. As I slid open the door to step onto the patio beyond, the buyer asked, “How much heat loss is there through that door?”

What should I have said? You got it.

What did I say? “Do you mean when it is closed or when it is open?”

To paraphrase an old saying, it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than speak and confirm that supposition.

A Commitment to Excellence

Charlie’s 50-year journey with Patterson-Schwartz is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the enduring power of relationships. From humble beginnings with one office and a handful of agents, we’ve grown into a regional powerhouse with a footprint that stretches across Delaware, southeastern Pennsylvania, and Maryland’s eastern shore.

Our legacy of values, handed down by mentors, is a testament to the enduring spirit of PSA—a family built on cherished values and a commitment to excellence in all that we do. Charlie’s memorable anecdote about responding with “I don’t know but I’ll find out” exemplifies a profound lesson in humility and the value of continuous learning—an ethos that continues to drive PSA forward. As we celebrate Charlie’s remarkable 50-year milestone, we’re reminded that success in real estate, like any other field, hinges on a willingness to adapt and a commitment to excellence.

About Us

Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate is Delaware’s largest independent real estate brokerage and offers a full range of services that include residential home sales, purchase and rental, relocation services, and property management. We’ve been guiding home buyers and sellers since 1961, and invite you to connect with us when you’re ready to partner with a local real estate expert.

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Honoring America’s Best: 11 PSA Agents & Teams Earn National Recognition

RealTrends recently released the 2023 America’s Best Real Estate Professionals rankings, and Patterson-Schwartz is thrilled to announce that eleven of our best and brightest agents and teams have made the list! This remarkable achievement positions them as industry leaders, representing the top 1.5% of more than 1.6 million real estate professionals nationwide.

Now in its 11th year, the recent rankings measure closed transaction sides and closed volume for 2022. In total, over 27,500 U.S. real estate sales associates from every state are featured in America’s Best.

Each honoree earned their spot during another competitive year in our industry, surpassing production benchmarks and delivering outstanding service. We are proud of our local brand and service legacy that proves our agents and teams are prepared for any market challenge and only getting stronger.

Being recognized among the highest performing agents in the United States is a well-deserved honor for these hard-working members of the PSA family who continue to raise the bar in the real estate industry. Get to know them on the list below!

America’s Best – Delaware Rankings 2023

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Click here to review the complete list

About Us

Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate is Delaware’s largest independent real estate brokerage and offers a full range of services that include residential home sales, purchase and rental, relocation services, and property management. We’ve been guiding home buyers and sellers since 1961, and invite you to connect with us when you’re ready to partner with a local real estate expert.

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PSA Rises in Top Independent Broker Ranks, No. 1 in Del.

Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate is proud to be among the nation’s top brokerages in The RealTrends Five Hundred, an annual report published by RealTrends of the top 500 real estate brokerages in the United States. Rising to 66th nationally among private independent brokerages and maintaining the number one spot as Delaware’s leading locally owned and independently operated brokerage, Patterson-Schwartz closed 2022 with a total sales volume of $1,484,562,093 with 3,756 transaction sides.

Real People, Real Local

Patterson-Schwartz may stand out as one of the few locally owned companies in an industry dominated in recent days by big brands and franchises, but our connection to the community and its people is hardly a novelty.

For over 60 years, we have honed an ability to adapt and overcome market challenges by listening to, learning about, and anticipating the needs of our agents, clients, and industry. And as independent broker, we have the freedom to react quickly and efficiently to implement the methods and technology that best suit our unique market.

We’ve weathered good markets and bad with innovative marketing strategies, top notch tools and resources, and a supportive company culture that pulls from our collective experience and knowledge. And at the root of all our success is the hard work of our family of sales associates, staff, and leadership team who live and breathe what it means to be local and genuinely care for the people and communities they serve.

“I firmly believe that Patterson-Schwartz is about the people, the relationships, and the overall compassion that we have for each other and our customers. I’m proud of the culture that Patterson-Schwartz fosters. I’m proud that we truly are a local brand that gives back and supports the local community through its agents and employees. It is certainly unique in today’s world.” – Jason Giles, PSA Executive Vice-President, Brokerage Operations

Locally Grown, Nationally Recognized

Headquartered in the town of Hockessin, Delaware, Patterson-Schwartz has been lighting the way home for over 60 years. We are Delaware’s largest independent real estate brokerage with ten offices and over 500+ sales associates and staff. We offer a full range of services including residential home sales and rentals, relocation services, and property management. We invite you to connect with us when you’re ready to partner with a local real estate expert.

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Oh, What a Year! Wrapping Up 2022 & Looking Ahead

Whew! … The holidays are over, the resolutions have been made, and the new year is in full gear.

But before we venture too far into 2023, we want reflect with gratitude on a year full of growth, productivity, and community at Patterson-Schwartz (PSA).

Growth

In 2022, our agents showed up in droves for PSA-led marketing strategy sessions, home tours, continuing education classes, business planning workshops, and networking events. But our agents weren’t the only ones to get smarter through professional development, our CMA listing presentations did too. Especially in a shifting real estate landscape, access to on-going education and innovative tools is key to growth in any market and our agents took full advantage of both.

The PSA population also grew, in size as well as strength. In addition to welcoming 60+ new and experienced agents to our sales team, we had the pleasure of congratulating nearly 200 members of the PSA family on their noteworthy anniversaries (10+ years) last year. Our agents, staff, and leadership team possess a remarkable depth of knowledge, experience, and dedication that is a true testament to our legacy of service.

With so many brokerages looking to add to their ranks, we are honored by all of the talented and caring professionals who’ve made the choice to partner and grow with us. PSA remains dedicated to supporting you and your business.

Productivity

In 2022, we were proud to serve the residential real estate needs of approximately 3,756 individuals and families, transferring ownership of properties valued over $1.48 Billion in total. We also proudly assisted over 175 individuals and families through the leasing process to find a rental property. During every single transaction, our sales associates, leadership team, and dedicated support staff worked diligently to meet every challenge and deliver exceptional service.

And with over 75 sales associates and teams from across the company receiving recognition from the Realty Alliance for 2022 top sales performance, and a significant number of that population having earlier ranked nationally among America’s Best, we are confident saying we have some of the most productive agents in the business!  

Community

The PSA Foundation continues to be active and has contributed nearly $1.4 Million to local charities and organizations since its inception in 2001. In addition to giving back through our Foundation in 2022, the PSA community gathered around our peers to support a number of charitable causes, celebrate important milestones and achievements, and launch the Mid-Month Mixer — our very own series of networking events.

We value our family culture and always look for new ways to support and connect with each other and the areas and the industry we serve. Year after year, we are thrilled by what we can accomplish together.

What’s on the horizon?

2023 is already off to a great start, and our sales associates are here for it. The January calendar was dominated by sales meetings, next-level business planning sessions, our first Mid-Month Mixer of the new year, and the debut of our re-imagined and mobile-responsive online business and listing data management system (PS@NET) — a project our technology and in-house focus group worked diligently on for the greater part of 2022.

on left: New PS@NET demonstration at PSA Greenville; on right: January’s Mid-Month Mixer at Miller’s Ale House, Newark

The next few months will bring more new agents through our Successful Start program, back-to-basics marketing sessions for seasoned agents, and more opportunities to better serve clients and get in front of and learn from industry leaders and peers.

Markets change and bring new challenges, but our commitment to serving our clients, agents, and community with integrity stays at the same level of intensity as it did at our company’s founding. Cheers to over six decades strong and the bright future ahead!

About Us

Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate is Delaware’s largest independent real estate brokerage and offers a full range of services that include residential home sales, purchase and rental, relocation services, and property management. We’ve been guiding home buyers and sellers since 1961, and invite you to connect with us when you’re ready to partner with a local real estate expert.

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Best of the Best: Our 2022 Realty Alliance Award Honorees

At Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate, our sales associates are always working hard behind the scenes, navigating ever-evolving market conditions, and using their professional know-how to make homeownership dreams a reality. And in an uneasy year marked by low housing inventory, rising interest rates, and historic inflation, it was important to have a local expert to guide you through the buying and selling process.

Celebrating Success

The Realty Alliance is a network of North America’s elite real estate firms. Each year they identify the leading residential sales professionals for their exceptional performance.

The Patterson-Schwartz agents and teams recognized for their efforts in 2022 make up the top 15% of our sales associates in the individual categories of Units and Total Dollar Volume. The qualifying amounts were 16 Units and/or a Total Dollar Volume of $5,900,000.

We are thrilled to congratulate the 75+ Patterson-Schwartz agents and teams for being nationally recognized for their outstanding efforts and accomplishments. These honorees represent the best of the best and epitomize our company’s dedication to providing superior guidance and service in every market. 

2022 Realty Alliance Award recipients, listed by sales office:

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About Us

Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate is Delaware’s largest independent real estate brokerage and offers a full range of services that include residential home sales, purchase and rental, relocation services, and property management. We’ve been guiding home buyers and sellers since 1961, and invite you to connect with us when you’re ready to partner with a local real estate expert.

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Best of the Best: PSA Agents & Teams Rank Nationally

RealTrends recently released the 2022 America’s Best Real Estate Professionals rankings, and Patterson-Schwartz is thrilled to see some of our best and brightest agents and teams on the list!

Patterson-Schwartz agents & teams on America’s Best Real Estate Professionals list 2022

Now in its 10th year, the rankings consist of the top 1.5% of more than 1.6 million licensed real estate professionals nationwide in closed transaction sides and closed volume for 2021. In total, over 23,000 U.S. real estate sales associates from every state are featured in America’s Best.

As a local brokerage based in the second smallest state, seeing nine of our 500 real estate professionals make this nationwide list speaks volumes about our PSA family. Each Delaware honoree earned their spot during one of the most competitive real estate years in the state’s history. We are proud of our 60+ year legacy that proves we are prepared for any market challenge and only getting stronger.

Being recognized among the highest performing agents in the United States is a well-deserved honor for these tireless, resilient, and hard-working members of the PSA family. Get to know them on the list below!

America’s Best – Delaware Rankings 2022

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Locally Grown, Nationally Recognized

Headquartered in the town of Hockessin, Delaware, Patterson-Schwartz has been lighting the way home for over 60 years. We are Delaware’s largest independent real estate brokerage with ten offices and over 550 sales associates and staff. We offer a full range of services including residential home sales and rentals, relocation services, and property management. We invite you to connect with us when you’re ready to partner with a local real estate expert.

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Patterson-Schwartz is a Top Independent Broker, #1 in Del.

Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate is proud to be among the nation’s top brokerages in The RealTrends Five Hundred, an annual report published by RealTrends of the top 500 independent real estate brokerages in the United States. Ranking 71st nationally and maintaining the number one spot as Delaware’s leading locally owned and independently operated brokerage, Patterson-Schwartz had a total sales volume of $1,660,820,573.00 with 4,593 transaction sides in 2021. 

Rooted in Service

Patterson-Schwartz may stand out as one of the few locally owned companies in an industry dominated in recent days by big brands and franchises, but our connection to the community and its people is hardly a novelty. Opening in 1961 in a semi-detached Wilmington home with just 10 associates, Patterson-Schwartz now has 10 offices across the state and into Maryland, and is home to over 500 real estate professionals and staff.

We know this market. We are this market. We came from this market so there isn’t much locally that escapes our notice.

Charlie Schwartz, II, son of founder Charlie Schwartz, Sr.

For over 60 years, we have been honing an ability to adapt and overcome market challenges by listening to, learning about, and anticipating the needs of our agents, clients, and industry. We have weathered good markets and bad with innovative marketing strategies, leading technology tools, and a supportive company culture that pulls from our collective experience and knowledge. And at the root of all our success is the hard work of our family of sales associates and staff who dedicate themselves to providing exceptional service every day.

It’s because of this proud history and service legacy that Patterson-Schwartz is able to embrace an ever-evolving real estate landscape and remain a leader in our market. As an independent broker with a hyper-local focus, Patterson-Schwartz lives and breathes what it means to be a part of the communities we serve. We are committed to supporting local homeowners with the high standards of integrity and service established by our founders for years to come.

Locally Grown, Nationally Recognized

Headquartered in the town of Hockessin, Delaware, Patterson-Schwartz has been lighting the way home for over 60 years. We are Delaware’s largest independent real estate brokerage with ten offices and over 550 sales associates and staff. We offer a full range of services including residential home sales and rentals, relocation services, and property management. We invite you to connect with us when you’re ready to partner with a local real estate expert.

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