Former Arizona Governor Jane Dee Hull once said “at the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of parents.” This can be seen especially at Olympia’s Van Dorm Realty, where second-generation owners Jeff and Diane Pust oversee several family teams including Bill Foppiano and daughter Christina Foppiano-Poole.
It’s been reported that “family businesses comprise 90 percent of all business enterprises in North America, and 62 percent of total U.S. employment.” The Van Dorm agency currently employs more than 100 brokers and embodies the ideal that “many family-owned businesses also have a greater interest in the people they employ and the communities they serve.”
A transplant from the Southern California software industry, Bill Foppiano changed careers soon after changing states. With encouragement from the Van Dorm agent who sold them their home, he entered the industry more than 20 years ago. Since then he’s brought an unflappable confidence to an industry where finding a large, rusted ship named the U.S.S. Cupcake on a property means calling in the Coast Guard and EPA for removal.
Daughter Christina visited her dad at open houses and property showings and quickly caught the real estate bug. Both have been with Van Dorm their entire professional career and now Christina’s one-year-old daughter, Kennedy, is following in their footsteps. She comes to office hours, charms her way through staff meetings, and shows houses alongside mom and grandpa. They agree that “one of the nice things Van Dorm promotes is brokers with family.”
Christina, a WSU grad, teamed up with her dad in 2007. She “joined at the toughest time” remembers Bill, “maybe the toughest time in Washington.” But they persevered and in April 2015 had their biggest individual month ever. They specialize in residential re-sale with 30-40% of properties in south Pierce, Mason, and Lewis counties.
The 2014 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers reports that “88% of buyers purchased their home through a real estate agent or broker—a share that has steadily increased from 69 percent in 2001.” Of those surveyed, 73% “definitely would use the same agent again.” This repeat and referral business is a focal point of the Foppiano team; says Bill “that’s helped out, especially during the lean years.” Because of their longstanding success, parents who bought homes from Bill now send their children to Christina for guidance.
Outside the office, Christina has been on the board of Morningside since 2008 and plays soccer on a local rec team. Bill is fond of golf, motorcycles, and the STP (his goal is 10 in a row, this year is #4). Everyone enjoys their family vacation property on Lake Chelan and sampling the fruits of their family-tree in the form of delicious Foppiano wines.
If a family team hired by a family team is right for YOUR family team, give Bill and Christina a call at 360-791-5006 (Bill’s cell phone) or 360-280-8734 (Christina’s cell phone). The Van Dorm offices are located at 1530 Black Lake Boulevard SW and are open 7 days a week. Someone is always on hand to answer questions, list available properties, and help you find your forever family home.
