Relocating is a fact of life for most military families. Karin Zeigler knows because she lived it. “My husband was in the military, and we moved all over the world. We bought and sold real estate wherever we went, and I learned a lot.”
“I always wanted to go into real estate,” she says, but because she was busy supporting her career soldier husband, taking care of a growing family, and moving every few years – including a stint in Germany – she never pursued it. Instead, she worked for 30 years as a civilian employee with the army and so was able to pick up and transfer whenever her husband got new orders.
After the death of her husband, Lowell, Zeigler decided it was time to pursue the real estate dream. She retired and moved to the Olympia area. “I moved back here, because this is my home. The Pacific Northwest is where I grew up, and I decided to come back here.” In 2005 she joined Re/Max Four Seasons in Olympia and has forged a second career for herself working with a wide variety of clientele.
In six short years, Zeigler has earned a number of designations within the real estate community. In addition to being a licensed Broker, she is a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES), a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), and a Certified Investor Agent Specialist (CIAG).
She holds a special place in her heart for members of the military and enjoys working with service members moving to and from Joint Base Lewis/McChord. “I feel very close to the military because I’ve been there,” she says, but she also feels a kinship with buyers and sellers looking to transition into senior housing. “Since I am a senior, too, I decided maybe I could help other seniors.”
For her senior clients, Zeigler has one very important piece of advice: “Know what you’re buying into.” In addition to a mortgage payment, most senior housing communities charge monthly fees that, at first glance, may seem exorbitant. “Some places pay for everything – electric, water, insurance – everything. They do the maintenance. It sounds like a whole lot of money, but they’re paying for everything.” Other places do not cover monthly utility bills, but still charge a maintenance fee. In some communities, homeowners may own the home but not the property it is sitting on. When it comes to senior housing, “There’s a whole lot of differences out there in what you’re buying, ” warns Zeigler. She has studied the ins-and-outs and wants to help clients make informed decisions.
Because of her experience, Zeigler also knows how to connect clients considering downsizing with service providers who can help them. Whether it’s de-cluttering or deep cleaning a house to prepare it to go on the market, “There are lots of resources out there,” says Zeigler, ” you just have to do a little bit of calling.”
As a Certified Investor Agent Specialist, Zeigler also helps buyers wanting to purchase investment properties. With scores of sellers looking to short sell before defaulting on a loan, buyers have the potential to make money on properties they purchase for rental income, tax benefits, or even flipping. Zeigler warns that while short sales can be good deals, there are a number of pitfalls to watch out for.
Because she believes real estate investment is a great tool for those looking to diversify their assets, Zeigler hosts Investor Workshops to help potential buyers learn the process. In addition to providing real estate expertise, she brings in a Certified Public Accountant and a Mortgage Professional to help outline the pros and cons. “People want to invest, but they don’t know how. They don’t know what’s a good deal and what’s not. It sounds like a good deal, but it may not be.”
She emphasizes that she works with both buyers and sellers of distressed properties. “I get all different price brackets… manufactured homes to over-a-million-dollars homes.” She would much rather walk a potential seller through the benefits of short selling than watch them have to file for bankruptcy. “I try to help everybody.”
As always, she looks back on her own experiences, “When I bought and sold real estate on my own and with other real estate agents, I found that I can bring some value to people that don’t have that experience with moving a lot and what they want and what they’re looking for. I thought I could bring value to people and help them.”
She’s doing just that.
You can find Karin Zeigler here:
The Re/Max Four Seasons Office is located at 3009 Pacific Avenue SE, Suite 200 in Olympia, WA. Phone
360-870-6249, email: karinzeigler@remax.net.
