Category: Careers

Discover what it’s like to love where you work

Head of the Class: Q&A with Justin Kierstead

Justin Kierstead knows what it is like to grow with a company that helps you succeed. As someone who joined PSA a little over three years ago, his newest role as the Director of Recruiting & Career Development positions him to lead agents — new and experienced — to the next level. Justin tells us a little bit about himself and what he loves most about being a part of the PSA family.

What do you love about your newest role and why?

I joined PSA as their Director of Marketing in January of 2019 after coming from an office manager role in the industry. I jumped into leading our internal and external marketing efforts right away, educating our agents (and sometimes myself!) on our marketing tools and resources. Getting in front of agents and helping them use these tools and resources to enhance their business was one of my favorite aspects of my job. 

When an opportunity opened up to transition into recruiting and career development, I saw it as an expansion of the education efforts I’d already been heavily involved with. I love supporting our agents and educating them to become better today than they were yesterday. 

One of our primary goals as an organization is to exceed our clients’ expectations. If I can assist our agents in achieving that level of success with their customers, there’s great satisfaction in that for me!  

What sets our training apart?

At Patterson-Schwartz, you don’t have just one person teaching you real estate; you have an entire organization working together to educate you. Whether it’s me, our office managers, our seasoned sales associates, or our administrative staff; there are SO many people invested in doing all we can to create a robust learning environment for our agents. 

Our new agent education program includes a Q&A session with productive PSA agents from across the company and at different levels of experience
Best advice for someone new to the industry? Students in pre-licensing classes?

Don’t try to become a real estate expert overnight, and don’t reinvent the wheel. There’s already a proven method for success, just lean into that process, and leverage your past experiences to complement your journey. 

Also, don’t be a “secret agent” — share your journey with your network. Don’t be afraid to get in front of people while you’re still learning. There’s always someone here to assist you when opportunity arises! 

For those in pre-licensing, there’s no doubt you’ll be given a LOT of information. My advice is to stay dialed in during your classes, review the content on a regular basis, leverage exam prep materials, and take your exams as soon as possible once class is done! 

Do you have a motto that you follow for education/real estate or in general?

Your level of success is in direct proportion to the number of positive daily habits you create.

And always be a consumer of information. No matter how long you’ve been doing something, you can always get better, and there’s always more to learn! 

Ready to grow with us?

Justin Kierstead has been a REALTOR® since 2006 and is licensed in DE & PA. Throughout his career, Justin developed an extremely successful marketing plan and action guides for buyers and sellers in all market conditions. He is also deeply rooted in training and education from his years as an office manager. His professional style combined with his integrity and knowledge of the real estate business allows new and seasoned agents to learn first-hand from a “true professional”. 

Justin has a passion for life and helping others achieve success through learning. If you’re just as passionate about your real estate career, he’d love to chat! You can reach Justin at 302-239-3466, JKierstead@psre.com, or by clicking the button below. 

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What our agents & staff are saying #lovewhereyouwork

You might be curious — and may have even asked one of our agents — about what it’s really like at Patterson-Schwartz. With such remarkable retention of highly tenured agents at PSA, what makes an agent choose us on day one, day 7,300, and every day in between? We recently spoke with three agents and employees based in our Hockessin office. Here is what they had to say.

Why did you choose PSA?

Dan Logan joined PSA Hockessin in 2004 and is the leader of the Dan Logan Group. Voted Best Real Estate Agent in Delaware by News Journal readers every year since 2014, Dan and his team assist clients across DE, PA, and MD. His dog, Isabelle, is his constant companion and honorary team member, accompanying him on settlement & listing appointments

This is a company that redefines integrity. If they say it, it happens.

“My quest to find the right broker took some time. I was new, dressed in a suit, with a resume in hand. The first broker spent a fair amount of time telling me how great they were. The second broker cared nothing about what I might say or offer and tried to get me to sign a paper to join within the first five minutes. Feeling somewhat dejected, I tried the third broker: Patterson-Schwartz. Talk about day and night. I met with Joe Pluscht, the Sales Manager at the time, and he spent over two hours with me. He showed me all the numbers that I later learned he is so famous for, but, more importantly, I felt at home and at ease. Questions were asked of me, something I never experienced before.”  

“Joe is now the CEO and what I have seen is that his leadership style, ease of accessibility, and genuineness has clearly flowed throughout the organization. Joining this family was the best decision I ever made. This is a company that redefines integrity. If they say it, it happens.”

What sets PSA apart as a company? 

Gail Sawdon recently celebrated 15 years with PSA as a property manager and the assistant to the Director of Property Management. In addition to her portfolio of residential properties, Gail has managed properties for the National Park Service, Brandywine Conservancy, Winterthur, and Salesianum School. 

The company’s strong leadership has guided us through market downturns and we came out better and stronger.

“What I appreciate about working for Patterson Schwartz is the strong leadership and support. Even though Patterson Schwartz is a large company the owners are always accessible. If you see them in the hallway they always stop and ask about you and your family. The company’s strong leadership has guided us through market downturns and we came out better and stronger.”

What keeps you here? 

MaryBeth Tribbitt hit her milestone 25-year anniversary this year. She is the team leader for The Tribbitt Group and has handled virtually every type of home from small condos to large estates. MaryBeth is based in New Castle County, but grew up in Lewes and has extensive knowledge of the coastal areas of southern Delaware. 

The Patterson-Schwartz leadership never waivers in its support of its agents -whether it’s dealing with a difficult transaction, making career choices, or sharing personal situations, they are there for us!

“I am often asked why I – and many other agents and staff – have stayed with the Patterson-Schwartz organization for so long. Simply put, Patterson-Schwartz exceeds expectations on all levels. First of all, Patterson-Schwartz provides its agents with the finest tools and resources that enable them to grow their practices and hone their skills. The knowledgeable technical staff, the innovative marketing department, and the administrative and support personnel all work together to ensure agents are receiving on-going guidance and tutelage. The Patterson-Schwartz leadership never waivers in its support of its agents -whether it’s dealing with a difficult transaction, making career choices, or sharing personal situations, they are there for us! They acknowledge that we are all in this together and that our combined efforts make for a strong company with a well-respected presence in the industry and in the community. I cherish the many personal and business relationships I have formed at Patterson-Schwartz over the past 25 years, and I am looking forward to many more productive years with this preeminent company. Thank you, Patterson-Schwartz… it has been my pleasure to be associated with you!”

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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Real Local, Real People: PSA’s Angela Allen

Meet Angela Allen, the assistant manager of the Hockessin office and team lead for The Angela Allen Group! From assisting clients across Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland to patiently coaching new agents with business planning and education sessions, Angela knows the ingredients for success and applies it to everything she does. We sat down with Angela to learn a little more about her, what she does at Patterson-Schwartz, and why she loves her job.

How did you choose your career in real estate?

I have always had a love of real estate. When I was little, I would always take the paper flyer for the homes on the market in my neighborhood. I would study every fact about the home. Neighbors would see a “for sale” sign and they would call me to ask the price and details about the home — I was their go-to for real estate information! My husband is in the home building and land development side of real estate. He was the one that pushed me off the fence to get my license.

How long have you been at PSA?

I have happily been with PSA my entire career. I will be celebrating my 11th year in real estate in the fall! As a new agent, I was drawn to PSA for education as well as further career development training. The entire organization welcomed me with open arms and I felt like I was at home… at work!

What keeps you here?

The family-friendly atmosphere.  Everyone is cheering for everyone else to succeed. The management and office support are second to none.

Tell us what you love about your job.

I love helping buyers find their first home or maybe their dream home. I enjoy assisting sellers close one chapter and move on to the next one. As an assistant manager, I thoroughly enjoy the interaction I have with our amazing family of agents. Watching them succeed and celebrating the big and little victories makes me love my job!

How do you like to spend a relaxing day?

My ideal relaxing day is spent on my boat on the river with my husband and son.  With our phones attached to our hip, we are on call 24/7.  Being on the water is my way of decompressing. 

Ready to grow with us?

As you can tell, Angela believes helping and supporting others — whether they’re a client or a co-worker — is how we all succeed. If you’re intrigued by how you’ll be supported beyond your expectations, we’d love to chat with you about a career with Patterson-Schwartz!

About Us

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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A Homecoming Celebration: PSA Chesapeake City 1 Year Later

On her birthday in 2021, Amber Durand received a call from her former Patterson-Schwartz sales manager, Chris Cashman. As calls with old friends typically go, once the well-wishes were expressed, the two got to chatting. Amber, who then-managed her own boutique brokerage, told Chris she was looking for a change.  

Welcome home

Amber launched her real estate career in 2010 and spent ten years with Patterson-Schwartz as a member of the PSA Elkton and Newark offices. During that time, she successfully grew her business and established The Durand Group with a dedicated team of her PSA colleagues. Looking to expand into a different market, she decided to relocate her team to Chesapeake City and set up a shop as a small, independent brand with a different brokerage. 

“I was proud of what I had launched in Chesapeake City, but I was ready to take things to another level,” says Amber. When Chris called her, she was already entertaining partnership offers from two well-established real estate companies.  

“Talking to Chris, I realized I missed all of the good people and good systems in place at Patterson-Schwartz. He knew my style and history, and it wasn’t long before we were discussing a new opportunity to merge everything I had created on my own with the independent brokerage.” Summer 2022 will mark the one-year anniversary of Amber and the Durand Group’s return to Patterson-Schwartz. 

  • 2021 Ribbon cutting with Amber, her team, and members of the PSA family
  • Chris Cashman, Amber Durand, & Joe Pluscht
Patterson-Schwartz Chesapeake City Grand Opening Celebration August 2021 with Amber Durand

A thriving team 

Amber Durand and her 15-member (and growing) office have a diverse background and serve Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. They are a close-knit group with core members who have been involved since the beginning. Amber met her colleague, Dale Jackson, in pre-licensing school; the two quickly connected and joined Patterson-Schwartz as new agents together. Alison Adams was a team member with the Durand Group at PSA Elkton, and became Amber’s first independent agent to be hired when she opened her brokerage in 2019. And as often happens in real estate, Jill Lively was a former client who became a friend; she came onboard to assist with marketing & administrative support in 2014 before pursuing her real estate license with Amber’s guidance.

Amber likes to regularly gather the office for fun things like happy hours and community events, but she remains focused on creating career development opportunities for the Chesapeake City agents through sales meetings and “lunch and learn” workshops. She describes her management style as very hands-on and is eager to give her team an edge when it comes to the local market.

“Running my office independently, I find myself invested more than ever in the training and development of my agents,” says Amber. “I truly enjoy teaching and I pull a lot from my own experience. I want new agents to benefit right away from the knowledge I had to gain over years and years in the industry.” 

  • Patterson-Schwartz Chesapeake City decorated for Memorial Day 2022

Love where you live

Located off State Route 213 along the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, Chesapeake City features many historic homes, shops, galleries, fine restaurants, bed & breakfasts, and boating amenities. And while it is within easy driving distance of several large cities, the charming town maintains a “miles-away” feel.  

“I was instantly drawn to this little waterfront village and knew it would be an excellent place to grow my brand,” says Amber, who lives within walking distance to her office, serves on the Chamber of Commerce, and recently decided to run for town council. “There’s a lot of exciting development opportunities here along with a strong sense of community. Our office loves participating in local events like the Sip & Stroll, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and the car show.” 

Originally intended to be Amber’s personal residence, 327 Bohemia Avenue serves as her team’s home-base. The restored historic home, built in 1874, has an inviting front porch, first floor meeting and lounge areas, upstairs office space, and a detached garage that houses an inventory of lawn signage and a curated collection of home staging items. 

It’s as special and unique a space as the town itself.  

About Patterson-Schwartz

Patterson-Schwartz is proud to have Amber back as a member of the PSA family. We’ve been lighting the way home for over 60 years and are thrilled to expand our services in Cecil County with the help of Amber and her Chesapeake City team. 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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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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2021 Patterson-Schwartz Realty Alliance Sales Award Honorees

Like the year before, 2021 was anything but typical for the real estate world. Record-breaking home price appreciation, growing equity, low inventory, and reduced mortgage rates, paired with a very motivated buyer population, made for a super competitive and fast-paced housing market.

And in times marked by multiple offer situations and fierce listing competition (on top of pandemic concerns), a lot was demanded of our local real estate professionals. Agents had to be smart, highly attentive, and resourceful to keep up. And good agents found success without sacrificing care for their clients.

Well-deserved recognition

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

The Patterson-Schwartz agents and teams recognized for their efforts in 2021 make up the top 15% of our sales associates in the categories of Units and Total Dollar Volume. The qualifying amounts were 20 Units and/or Total Dollar Volume of $6,000,000.

The 2021 Realty Alliance sales awards are well-deserved, especially considering the year’s challenges. We are thrilled to congratulate the 75+ Patterson-Schwartz agents and teams for being recognized nationally for their outstanding efforts and accomplishments. These honorees epitomize our company’s dedication to providing superior guidance and service while offering exceptional knowledge of market conditions, and a commitment to represent clients honestly and professionally. 

We are incredibly proud of their efforts during these exceptional times.

2021 Realty Alliance Award recipients, listed by sales office:

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About Us

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

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PSA is among the nation’s Top 1,000 Power Brokers for 2021

RISMedia recently released the full Top 1,000 Power Broker Report for 2021. Now in its 33rd year, the report is real estate’s longest-running ranking of the industry’s most successful brokerages by sales volume and transactions.

This year’s rankings reflect the industry’s unwavering attitude to persevere and tackle challenges head-on, even amid uncertainty. As we sifted through the impact the of 2020 coronavirus pandemic here at home, Patterson-Schwartz focused on new ways to do business and remained steadfast in helping our clients buy and sell real estate.

According to the 2021 report, Patterson-Schwartz ranked #224 by volume with $1.4B+ sales in 2020, up 15.7% from 2019. By transactions, Patterson-Schwartz ranked #193 with 4,345 transactions in 2020, up 4.5% from 2019. Patterson-Schwartz appeared in the top 25% nationally for both categories. As a locally owned and operated brokerage listed among national brands, we are incredibly proud of the PSA family’s resilience, hard work, growth, and achievements that made our Power Broker status possible.

Click here to view the full report.

Locally Grown, Nationally Recognized

Headquartered in the town of Hockessin, Delaware, Patterson-Schwartz has been lighting the way home for 60 years. We are Delaware’s largest independent REALTOR® with nine offices and over 450 full-time Sales Associates. We offer a full range of services including residential home sales, purchase and rental; 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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2020 Patterson-Schwartz Realty Alliance Sales Award Honorees

Real Estate transactions during 2020 were certainly a bit of an adventure but, despite the shutdowns and restrictions, Patterson-Schwartz was able to adapt, thrive, and ultimately assist more clients with their homeownership needs in 2020 than in the previous year.  This accomplishment would not have been possible without the hard work and perseverance of our family of sales associates.

Realty Alliance Sales Award plaques were distributed to Patterson-Schwartz honorees in early March 2021

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

The Patterson-Schwartz agents and teams recognized for their efforts in 2020 make up the top 15% of our sales associates in the individual categories of Units and Total Dollar Volume. The qualifying amounts were 18 Units, and/or a Total Dollar Volume of $5,500,000.

A Commitment to Exceptional Service

The 2020 Realty Alliance Sales Awards are well-deserved, especially considering the year’s uncertain outlook and business challenges. We are thrilled to congratulate the 75+ Patterson-Schwartz agents and teams for being recognized at a national level for their outstanding efforts and accomplishments. These honorees exemplify our company’s dedication to providing superior guidance and service while offering exceptional knowledge of market conditions and a commitment to represent clients honestly and professionally.

2020 Realty Alliance Sales Award recipients, listed by sales office:

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