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
PSA Individuals by Transactions Sides (Out of 26):
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.
Keeping pace with an ever-evolving local market is important, but finding reliable information can be a challenge. Patterson-Schwartz understands this challenge and is pleased to announce a new partnership with CloudCMA and Homebeat, leaders in the home valuation tool industry.
What is a CMA?
A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) is the term real estate professionals use when they conduct an in-depth analysis of a home’s current worth based on the prices of similar active, pending, and sold properties in the area. Real estate professionals present a CMA to their clients to help them determine a price when listing a home or making an offer to buy a home.
CloudCMA provides our sales associates with the real-time data and innovative tools necessary to guide clients through crucial price-related decisions. When it comes time to list your home for sale, you can depend on our sales associates to provide the very best CMA reporting and personalize it to you. In the meantime, how can you stay informed on the market and begin to understand the true value of your home?
A local real estate expert is your best resource
A flood of websites out there promise an instant value for your home, but, in reality, they are rarely accurate. There are so many factors that contribute to a property’s value that these online models overlook, including the property’s condition. Only a licensed real estate professional familiar with your area can give you a true idea of what your home is worth. In that regard, you should avoid relying solely on a website to determine your home’s value, but understanding local housing trends is a great place to start.
On the fence about selling? Try Homebeat!
Homebeat through Patterson-Schwartz allows you to regularly check the sales activity of the homes around yours. As a Homebeat subscriber, updates about your neighborhood’s housing trends are emailed to you at the frequency of your choice. Each report includes properties in your neighborhood with MLS and market data, and refreshes automatically with the most recent listings and sales information available.
When you’re ready to consider selling, a Patterson-Schwartz sales associate can upgrade your Homebeat to a comprehensive CMA and deliver it to you in the method you prefer: in-person, electronically, or video chat. The knowledge and personal care of our local experts paired with the innovative reporting data from CloudCMA will help you list your home with confidence in any market. To keep your finger on the pulse of the market, get started with Homebeat today!
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 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.
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.
In late February 2022, Danielle Ward and Linda McKinnon of Patterson-Schwartz Elkton donned their winter gear and headed out into the elements for a good cause. The air may have been cold, but hearts warmed at the sight of hundreds of individuals running into the frigid Northeast River to raise money for local youth programs.
Left to right: Top individual fundraiser Jake Schweible with Linda McKinnon, Alex Ward, and Danielle Ward.
A chilly but beautiful day filled with music, food, and fundraising
Photos from Ice Splash 2022 at Wellwood Yacht Club in Charlestown, Maryland.
The annual Cecil County Ice Splash fundraiser is just one of several events Danielle and Linda support as part of their work with the Special Olympics Cecil County (SOCE).
Fitness, Fun, Friendship
As the mother of a child with special needs, Danielle Ward has been active with Special Olympics as an athlete parent for several years. About a year ago, Danielle asked Linda to help with a SOCE fitness day at a local park.
That day about ten kids showed up, as they did every week, to play with hula hoops, take a walk around the park, and otherwise stay active on a chilly day. Linda was touched by the friendships the participants made, and the fun they shared.
Linda and Danielle have been making a difference together ever since.
“Working with Danielle for many years, I have had the pleasure to get to know her amazing family, including her son, Alex,” says Linda. “He is such a special young man, and the stories he tells will keep you laughing. Both of her children and her husband help organize the [Special Olympics] activities and treat every athlete as though they are their own family. It is a blast spending time with them and so fulfilling.”
Creating Opportunities to Grow
The mission of the Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and competition for individuals age eight and older with intellectual disabilities. They believe sports give these athletes continuing opportunities to grow mentally and socially through activities that help them improve physical fitness, gain self-confidence, and discover new abilities and talents.
Less than a year after first volunteering, Linda joined the SOCE management team alongside Danielle. Recently, the two friends have been working to increase volunteer and athlete activity.
“This once very active organization seemed to lose strength over the past few years,” Danielle says of Special Olympics Cecil County. “In 2021, we began to build it back up by sponsoring seasonal activities like basketball, softball, bocce ball, and health walks, and monthly activities like bowling. In the last month, we hosted a winter dance and sponsored an athlete at the regional competition in Florida. Watching these athletes have fun, compete, and make friends is such a joy. Alex loves being with his friends, no matter the event.”
Alex Ward posing at the 2022 SOCE Winter Dance (Cecil Whig photo by Carl Hamilton)
Jake Schweible with his Ice Splash 2022 award for Top Individual Fundraiser
Special Olympics Cecil County athletes
The Sons of the American Legion’s annual Cecil County Ice Splash raises money for local children and youth programs, including Special Olympics. Patterson-Schwartz was a proud sponsor of the 2022 event alongside Danielle and Linda. To learn how you can get involved in future efforts that benefit the Special Olympics of Cecil County, reach out to Linda or Danielle or click here for more information.
Together we can light the way to a better tomorrow
The PSA Foundation was created in 2001 and supports numerous local charities and organizations whose causes are close to the hearts of the Patterson-Schwartz family of sales associates, employees, and friends. We invite you to learn more about how Patterson-Schwartz is giving back to the communities where we live, work, and play, and to connect with us when you’re ready to partner with a local real estate expert.
The Elkton Sales Center of Patterson-Schwartz is conveniently located along the Route 40 corridor. Established in 2008, this full-service office has a family of local experts proud to serve the real estate needs in Elkton and the surrounding communities of Cecil County, Maryland.
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:
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.
On December 1, 2021, Patterson-Schwartz family members from across the company came together to celebrate the holiday season as they have in years past: at a favorite local venue decorated with hints of the company’s signature brand, a Toys for Tots donation bin filled to overflowing, and laughter and good cheer ringing throughout the halls.
But this year’s celebration was an extra special one.
Not only was it the first company-wide gathering after a year-long hiatus due to safety concerns, but it also took place sixty years to the day the company was founded.
There is so much of which to be proud, grateful, and optimistic about as we look back on the year leading up to this significant milestone.
Patterson-Schwartz 60th Anniversary ice sculpture, photo by David Heitur
Exceptional times, exceptional service
In 2021, we were honored to serve the residential real estate needs of approximately 4,593 individuals and families, transferring ownership of properties valued over $1.6 Billion in total. During a year that fluctuated between feeling close to normal and far from it, our team worked diligently to meet every challenge and deliver exceptional service. We are grateful for our amazing agents for going above and beyond, a dynamic leadership team at the helm, and a dedicated support staff who keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.
At the heart of Patterson-Schwartz is an engaging company culture of support that translates into caring about each other and the causes close to the hearts of our colleagues and friends. Now in its 20th year, the Patterson-Schwartz Foundation has generated over $1,360,000 in donations to local organizations since its inception.
But as the last year proves, we don’t just give back, we show up.
The Patterson-Schwartz Successful Start and agent education programs continue to evolve, and we are thrilled with the results of our efforts to provide valuable business-building resources for both new and seasoned agents. Over the past year we launched a refreshed training program for new agents, introduced new tools and technology, and hosted coaching workshops, team meetings, and celebrations, both in-person and online.
Today Patterson-Schwartz is home to a sales team and corporate staff of over 550 strong and ten locations that stretch from Brandywine Hundred, into Eastern Maryland, and down to the Delaware Beaches.
Our Successful Start 100 Days to Greatness program begins a new session in late January 2022, and has more than twenty participants enrolled. Plans are in motion to launch new and improve existing business and marketing tools for our sales associates. And, as always, we are hard at work creating fresh ways to reach buyers and sellers.
Whatever the future brings, Patterson-Schwartz remains committed to serving our customers, the local industry, and the communities we call home with the integrity and passion for adding value established by our founders.
Cheers to sixty years and the bright future ahead!
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.
Experts anticipate the real estate market will see a flurry of activity this winter, and that’s great news for today’s sellers. If you’re planning on listing your home, there’s no need to wait until the spring for better conditions – today’s real estate market is already heating up.
Buyers Have Warmed Up to the Idea of Purchasing This Winter
The past 18 months brought about significant lifestyle changes for many of us, including the rise in remote work, job changes, and even early retirement for some. For many people, it’s prompting a search for their next home now rather than waiting for warmer months.
Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), points out how this winter may see a significant number of sales:
“Compared to other past winter seasons, this winter season’s sales activity will be stronger. . . . This winter, there will be more sales compared to pre-pandemic winters going back all the way to 2006.”
You might be wondering: what does strong sales activity mean for you? It means there are likely to be more buyers active in the market this winter – far more than more normal, pre-pandemic years.
In the same article, Danielle Hale, Chief Economist for realtor.com, puts it in these simple terms:
“Sellers can expect to see plenty of buyers.”
The more buyers there are in the market, the more likely it is your home will get noticed. That can lead to a multiple-offer scenario or a potential bidding war. Receiving multiple offers on your home means you can select the right offer and terms for your situation – so you can truly win as a seller when you list your house this winter.
Bottom Line
If you’re thinking about selling your house, you don’t need to wait until the spring. Buyers are ready now. Connect with one of our local experts to discuss why selling this holiday season could be the gift that keeps on giving. Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate been guiding home buyers and sellers since 1961.
Source: Keeping Current Matters, December 2021. The information contained, and the opinions expressed, in this article are not intended to be construed as investment advice.
Q&A with Dave Iliff, Habitat volunteer coordinator for PSA since 2007
In late September 2021, a group of Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate sales associates took a break from selling homes to help build them. It wasn’t the first time members of the Patterson-Schwartz family put on their hard hats and tool belts for Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County, but it was a notable one. This most recent volunteer effort marked the first on-site Build Day since the pandemic restrictions set in early 2020 were lifted.
September 2021 PSA Build Day Volunteers from left to right: Logan Kidwwell, Mary Corcoran, Ketia Dukes, Jeff Whitaker, Nick Rybinski, Sonny Reeves, Dave Iliff, Karen Burke, and Vicki Feeney.
No one could be more proud to be back building homes than Dave Iliff. This Patterson-Schwartz Hockessin sales associate has been coordinating our local volunteer efforts for Habitat for Humanity since 2007.
Hey Dave, how did Patterson-Schwartz get involved with Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County?
I remember PSA got involved in a one-time Habitat for Humanity Build Day, and I think a year or so may have passed, but I still vividly recalled the joy I felt volunteering that day. I thought it would be a great thing for us to become more involved on a regular basis.
I have organized about 20 volunteer efforts over the years. And, even though we don’t do it for the recognition, I was proud to accept the Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Partnership through Volunteerism on behalf of Patterson-Schwartz in 2019.
Who benefits from the services that Habitat provides?
Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County builds affordable, well-constructed homes and provides interest-free loans. The homeowners-to-be, who are often trying to overcome hardships, are provided with financial education and required to work on the sites and help with the fundraising events. There is a great sense of achievement in the work they must do to qualify, and lives truly change with the help of Habitat.
I remember attending the groundbreaking and dedication ceremony of a site at Walnut Ridge in 2015. It was raining, and a young single mom who was to be one of the new homeowners gave an emotional speech at the podium. She spoke about where she had been in her life and how grateful she was to have her own home and a fresh start for her family.I will never forget that day and how she spoke from the heart. I think everyone present had tears in their eyes. I was grateful to be there for it.
What is the job of a Habitat volunteer?
As a volunteer on Build Days, you don’t necessarily need to have any skills in building. There is always something for everyone to do, and Habitat for Humanity provides all of the tools necessary for each build phase.You can even learn some new skills while on the job!
It’s not all about building. We have also volunteered with a Habitat for Humanity program known as “A Brush with Kindness,” which helps communities restore their homes and common areas. The jobs associated include anything from painting and landscaping to repairing screen doors, weather sealing homes, and more.
Why is it good to volunteer on Build Days?
In addition to helping the local community and contributing to a worthy cause, volunteering is fun! You really get to know your colleagues and fellow build mates. This last group consisted of a lot of newer PSA faces from across the company as well as some repeat volunteers. The work really appeals to everyone, and we had a great day making memories.
I have seen real passion and dedication in the people who fulfill the Habitat mission, and they are a great organization with which to partner. Whatever the job, our volunteers come away from the experience feeling inspired and proud of the work they’ve accomplished.
2013 Brush with Kindness
2015 Build Day- warehouse visit
2016 Build Day
2017 Build Day
Dave Iliff with Kevin Smith of Habitat
2018 “Womens Build Day”
Together we can light the way to a better tomorrow
The PSA Foundation was created in 2001 and supports numerous local charities and organizations whose causes are close to the hearts of the Patterson-Schwartz family of sales associates, employees, and friends. We invite you to learn more about how Patterson-Schwartz is giving back to the communities where we live, work, and play, and to connect with us when you’re ready to partner with a local real estate expert.
It is no secret that today’s consumers often begin their search for a home online. And now more than ever, a robust and effective online strategy is vital for connecting with home buyers. At Patterson-Schwartz, we employ a vast array of online marketing efforts to increase our listings’ exposure, and we’re excited to announce a new animated format from our digital ad partner, Adwerx Enterprise.
Enhancing the digital experience
In 2018 Patterson-Schwartz began a partnership with Adwerx Enterprise, an industry leader in digital advertising automation. With the Adwerx platform, digital ads for new Patterson-Schwartz listings launch when a property is publicly listed during the all-important first week that a home hits the market and receives the most attention. Combined with sophisticated retargeting technology, these ads follow local home buyers around the web and appear on popular websites such as ESPN and the New York Times and social media sites like Facebook and Instagram.
“Patterson-Schwartz focuses on using superior tools to market their listings, and we have helped them engage online buyers and cost-effectively advertise on websites alongside big brands,” says Nathan Kainz, Enterprise Account Management, Team Lead at Adwerx. “But we know the real estate industry is competitive and are always looking to enhance the ability to grab the attention of consumers.”
An innovative partnership
Developed to stand out in the digital environment, Adwerx Motion combines the effectiveness of targeting listing ads with the power of motion to create content that reaches more prospective buyers and increases the visibility of each listing. This new feature allows display advertising to be animated using HTML5 technology – an ad type proven to drive higher engagement and improved click-through rates.
“When we were approached by our account representative to be one of the first brokers to launch Adwerx Motion ads, we didn’t hesitate to jump on board.
“The ability to upgrade our automated listing campaigns to an animated design creates another opportunity for our agents to impress their sellers and win the listing presentation. Adwerx consistently enables us to provide value to our agents and their clients by helping their listings stand out in a highly competitive environment.”
Justin Kierstead, Marketing Director of Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate
About Us
Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate is Delaware’s largest independent REALTOR® with ten offices and over 450 full-time Sales Associates. We offer 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.
If you’re trying to decide when to sell your house, there may not be a better time to list than right now. The ultimate sellers’ market we’re in today won’t last forever. If you’re thinking of making a move, here are four reasons to put your house up for sale sooner rather than later.
1. Your House Will Likely Sell Quickly
According to the Realtors Confidence Index released by the National Association of Realtors(NAR), homes continue to sell quickly – on average, they’re selling in just 17 days. As a seller, that’s great news for you.
Average days on market is a strong indicator of buyer demand. And if homes are selling quickly, buyers have to be more decisive and act fast to submit their offer before other buyers swoop in.
2. Buyers Are Willing To Compete for Your House
In addition to selling quickly, homes are receiving multiple offers. That same survey shows sellers are seeing an average of 4.5 offers, and they’re competitive ones. The graph below shows how the average number of offers right now compares to previous years:
Buyers today know bidding wars are a likely outcome, and they’re coming prepared with their best offer in hand. Receiving several offers on your house means you can select the one that makes the most sense for your situation and financial well-being.
3. When Supply Is Low, Your House Is in the Spotlight
One of the most significant challenges for motivated buyers is the current inventory of homes for sale. Though it’s improving, it remains at near-record lows. The chart below shows how today’s low inventory stacks up against recent years. The lighter the blue is in the chart, the lower the housing supply.
If you’re looking to take advantage of buyer demand and get the most attention for your house, selling now before more listings come to the market might be your best option.
4. If You’re Thinking of Moving Up, Now May Be the Time
If your current home no longer meets your needs, it may be the perfect time to make a move. Today, homeowners are gaining a significant amount of wealth through growing equity. You can leverage that equity, plus current low mortgage rates, to power your move now. But these near-historic low rates won’t last forever.
Experts forecast interest rates will rise. In their forecast, Freddie Macsays:
“While we forecast rates to increase gradually later in the year, we don’t expect to see a rapid increase. At the end of the year, we forecast 30-year rates will be around 3.4%, rising to 3.8% by the fourth quarter of 2022.”
When rates rise, even modestly, it’ll impact your monthly payment and by extension your purchasing power.
Bottom Line
Don’t delay. The combination of housing supply challenges, low mortgage rates, and extremely motivated buyers gives sellers a unique opportunity this season. If you’re thinking about making a move, reach out to one of our local experts to chat about why it makes sense to list your house now. Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate been guiding home buyers and sellers since 1961.
Source: Keeping Current Matters, September 2021.The information contained, and the opinions expressed, in this article are not intended to be construed as investment advice.
