TopTwin Cities Real Estate Agents

Real estate in MN is the story about homes and about the people and the families that live and love in them. It is also about the real estate professional helping a family sell or buy a home and whether it is their first home or their last, the agent has a golden opportunity to become a hero in their narrative. Here at the Minnesota Property Group, we have a few heroes! Talking about them, even bragging a little bit, is the favorite part of my job as the content creator.

Five uniquely talented professionals came together as a team with one common goal; providing the best service by treating each client like a member of your family. (This paid off in July 2016 with being recognized as "America's Best Real Estate Agents" by Real Trends, a designation given to less than 1% of agents and teams nationally.) We already heard from Joe Houghton, the RE/MAX Results agent that leads this team. He is the one prominent reason this group is the best. It is his vision and plan that moves the team forward and inspires them to grow and reach their full potential not only as individual agents but as part of the team.  The four other reasons this team is extraordinary are members, Derek Irving, Mike Milne, Andrew Klinkner and Paul Mcquire who make up the strength of this great team. Here are their stories. 

Derek Irving

My real estate story is one of gratitude. Reflecting on this past year made me very happy. Going into 2016, my fourth complete year in real estate, I was very optimistic and inspired to have my best year to date. I set big goals because I believed if I worked hard they were definitely achievable. It was so gratifying to reach two out of three major goals, with the third being very close! A pleasant surprise was to find that many of my leads were repeat clients or personal referrals which validate for me that I am doing something right. 

It’s a given that we all need to make a living, but I feel so lucky because I love what I do to earn mine. When I work with a family, finding them the right property and share in their excitement of buying that dream home, I’m proud to be part of their story.  Sometimes it is difficult to pull a deal together and there are obstacles to overcome along the way but when I see kids walk into their new home for the first time I really do feel like a hero and it is part of the reason I am in this business.

My most gratifying story of the year was the sale of my Grandmother’s home.  The process of closing on her home began 2 years ago.  We had one buyer who backed out, one bankruptcy, and many little potholes in the road along the way to the closing.  The ending was bittersweet with the passing of her husband and my grandfather, but we persevered and sold it this December. The tears in my Grandmothers eyes when the family surprised her for a drink and celebration was evidence of a long and hard battle that was finally over.

Another personal reward for me this past year was helping a friend start his career in Real Estate with a spot on this team.  Sharing my knowledge and experience with a new teammate and seeing him land that big client or close on that difficult sale he worked so hard for is personally validating and makes me feel I am giving back what was shared with me when I started in this business.  With the help from our patient and generous team leader and the support of the rest of the team, he is going to turn out to be a great agent.  

With interest rates predicted to rise this year I realize the market might be a little different but I am still optimistic that is has room to grow and I intend to grow with it. For 2017 I set some substantial goals for myself again. Part of my confidence in being able to achieve them comes from the inspiration of the team. We engage in friendly competition with each other, all set lofty goals and push each other to work towards them. All the great clients I was fortunate enough to work with this past year and these gentlemen I call my teammates are truly the best part of my real estate story and one I hope to be telling for many years!

Client Recommendation

"I have recommended Derek to others and will continue to do so. He spent a lot of time with us as we looked for the home we purchased and gave us great feedback on things that would or wouldn't work for us. During the process, there were several issues, mainly with our lender, and Derek represented us well and ensured that the deal was completed and we were able to purchase the home we now love. He followed up with us on paperwork, kept us well informed on deadlines and closing dates. His connection with people was apparent as he got us the best deal possible on the house we bought. " - A. Hunbuni

Mike Milne 

My real estate story is one of appreciation. This past year completed my third in real estate and by all accounting it was fantastic! Every transaction brings a new situation and challenge. This is the opportunity that allows me to evolve in this business. I’m inspired to learn and improve because I know this will result in better service for my next client as I help them with the purchase or sale of a home.

What I love most about my work is that each person I meet has their own unique story, and it is truly an honor to be part of their next chapter. Nothing feels better than knowing you are making a positive impact on a client's home purchase or home sale. Being a hero is awesome!  Who doesn’t want to feel like one right?

Another reason I love my work is being a member of this team of good-hearted and dedicated people. They are always there to support you every step of the way, and given the pressures inherent in this business, it is a definite benefit.  In Joe, I have a team leader that generously shares his knowledge and experience. He is a great motivator, inspiring me to grow in the business. Who doesn’t want to get better? I never want to be described as mediocre, I want to be great!

Given the market situation for the last 2 years, Realtors need to be aggressive in all aspects of pulling a deal together. There is a high level of urgency to not only find the right home but to see that property as soon as it hits the market.  You have to be prepared to put offers together quickly and advise your client on how to be in a position to close the right deal. This urgency has certainly made me a better Realtor but I also realize it must be tempered with patience.  Serving the best interest of my client is something I will never sacrifice for expediency. My motto in this business: my goal is not to sell my client a house, but to help them find their home. That is what motivates me in every transaction.

My goals for next year are quite simple. First to continue to love my work and be true to myself and my clients. Learn more, care more and focus on a dedication to providing the best customer service on the planet.

Client Recommendation 

"My wife and I had Mike help us sell our home. He was very helpful and worked with us to make sure we had the home priced right and ready to sell fast. He did a great job handling negotiations with the buyer’s agent and made sure the sale went as quick and as smooth as possible. I would highly recommend Mike to anyone buying or selling their home. He is always generous with his time and was extremely knowledgeable about the market conditions. Buying or selling a home can be stressful, but I wouldn't know because Mike made the process easy and fun!"

Andrew Klinkner 

My story is one of wonderment. From the perspective of my career, 2016 was even more than I ever could have imagined. December 31st is the conclusion of my second full calendar year as a Realtor and I am so blessed to have achieved the goals in 2016 that I set to reach in 2019. My motivation is my great customers. That opinion is often verified by the lenders I work with who frequently tell me, "Your clients really are nice people". Being a firm believer in the law of attraction, every day I am inspired to do my best for those that have entrusted me to help them with the sale or purchase of their largest asset, their home.  

While I love being part of the stories of the people I serve, I want them to be part of my story as well. Part of loving my job not only includes finding my clients their dream home, but grabbing dinner, or sneaking in a happy hour or even bringing them into my home. This Christmas my wife and I shared the family holiday with a young couple who relocated from New York that I helped with the purchase of their home. We knew they had no family here and so asked them to join in our Christmas morning shenanigans! We have also gotten to know so many clients through house warmings, invitations to weddings, pictures of newborns arriving in the mail and laughing the night away at dinners. To say that I feel lucky, blessed or fortunate would all be understatements.

Because I was able to help clients buy and sell 25 homes all around the Metro area, 2016 was a very successful year for me professionally. I feel like I am finding my strengths in learning as much as I can about real estate with every additional transaction. I am one of the Twin Cities realtors that goes to all home inspections because not only do I want to be there for this client, but because it will add to how I can provide service to subsequent buyers in evaluating a prospective home purchase, but I can also help sellers to prepare their properties for sale to the pickiest buyers. Because I think one's perspective is important in this business, I try to put myself in the shoes of the other party involved in the transaction.

A large part of what inspires me generates from our team, the Minnesota Property Group of RE/MAX Results. Following the lead of Joe Houghton, we continually strive to offer a superior experience to our clients because we know that is what we would want if the roles were reversed. Our meetings, support, and continuing education, peppered with some healthy competition push this team to levels that most only dream about. To me, that is further validation that the people you surround yourself with are part of your personal and professional evolution. I couldn’t imagine a team with a better group of people.

In terms of 2017, I could not be more excited to get things rolling. My goal, and it's a tall order, is to help my clients buy and sell 50 homes this year. People have heard me mention my 2017 goal a few times over the last month and they all ask "how can you possibly double your past year?" In my office, I've got a sign that sits on my desk. It reads "Work hard and be nice to people". I am confident that if I continue to refine my systems, continue to educate and better myself, and most importantly continue to work hard and be nice to people every day that I can accomplish anything.

Client Recommendation

"Andrew is wonderful! Throughout our home buying process, he was always quick to return my many calls and emails and his extensive knowledge put me at ease. Thanks to Andrew, my fiancé and I are in the home of our dreams, in the perfect location because Andrew knew what we wanted, wouldn't let us settle and delivered on his promise to find us a home that is a perfect fit. He even negotiated a great deal for us! Andrew made home-buying easy and I would recommend him to anyone." -Alexandra and Bryce

Paul McGuire

My story is best described as one of unlimited potential. In April of 2016, I joined the Minnesota Property Group Team and I am loving it so far.  Team leader Joe Houghton, along with the other guys have been really great and helpful in getting me up to speed and have contributed in a large part to making this a rewarding experience. Not only is it beneficial to throw ideas out there, but to provide advice on new situations. Real estate is a competitive business and without the mentorship a team provides, it can much more difficult to succeed.  One of the things that impressed me from the beginning was the exceptional service each member gives to their clients. Hard work, dedication to exceeding expectations and positive attitude sets the tone for this team and I believe is one aspect that sets them apart from others.

One of my greatest professional joys of the past year has been my work helping first time buyers fulfill the American dream of home ownership. It reminds me of when I bought my first home and the excitement I felt signing the papers at the closing. My goal is to help make that happen for others and ensure that it is the most positive experience possible. To that end, I plan to work on expanding my base of knowledge and experience in the coming year.

The market parameters are always changing and with interest rates on the rise, 2017 will be no exception. I want to be ready for it. It is my goal to work with a wide variety of buyers and sellers both. First-time buyers, repeat buyers, sellers, and investors. The more transactions I can be involved in the more I will learn and be able to take that experience to the next level in my professional growth. My 2017 plan is to continue to grow my business, expand my knowledge base, and provide exceptional customer service at all times under all circumstances. If I can stick with that, my business will grow. Word gets around you know!

Client Review

"I am a first time home buyer and I did not know what to expect. Paul was very knowledgeable about the entire process and all of his recommendations, from home inspector to lender were either better priced, or more responsive then options my wife and I found ourselves. His knowledge of the market and patience throughout the summer were extremely pleasant surprises. My wife and I were also looking for someone we felt comfortable making a decision with. Paul did a tremendous job of providing professional and personal opinions which were greatly appreciated. His personable attitude made everything about this experience memorable"