Business Spotlight: Richie Vraux, Better Homes and Gardens

When it comes to buying and selling a home in the Lakes Region, generations have come to rely on the expertise and personalized service of Richie Vraux of Better Homes and Gardens, The Masiello Group, Maine’s Premier Team.  

Vraux, a Broker and a REALTOR®, knows exactly what needs to be done for his clients and believes that working tirelessly for those who seek his help is the primary factor for his long-term success.

“I am a fulltime broker with 25 years of experience,” Vraux said. “I help navigate every deal for my clients, either buyers or sellers.”

According to Vraux, his diligence and willingness to put in the extra effort sometimes required distinguish him from the competition.

“Lots of companies work Monday through Friday are encouraged to take the weekend off,” he said. “I work weekends and more when buyers and sellers are off. I am available when they need me to be.”

He’s proud of his work and Vraux says the secret to being effective in his job is listening and communicating.

“It’s all about satisfying people - both sellers and buyers,” he said. “In the years I’ve been doing this I’ve never had a bad review and have maintained a high level of professionalism.”

Working throughout Southern Maine but mostly in the Lakes Region, Vraux is an independent working for Better Homes and Gardens, The Masiello Group, out of their office located at 76 Tandberg Trail in Windham.

“I offer my clients, whether it be buyers or sellers, the best advice I can,” he said. “I offer advice to help sellers obtain the highest and best use for selling their property. For buyers I listen to their needs and wants and their price range, help them to become qualified and negotiate in their best interest.”

Vraux’s extensive knowledge of the real estate business, what properties are available, and his ability to help clients clearly grasp and understand all of the specifics and details of transactions, also are invaluable tools to those he serves.

“Communication is truly the key to building and sustaining a successful business,” Vraux said. “I make it a point to touch base with past clients for their recommendations. I’ve been successful in building a family of people who’ve bought and sold with me over the years. They have been the recipients of the personalized service I offer to all my clients.”

Vraux said he often tells his clients when a deal closes that it doesn’t end there. “I say to them that they’re not done with me; I ask them to tell their family and friends to see Richie Vraux when they need help with real estate,” he said.

The greatest misconception people may have about real estate are held by homeowners, who feel that they know the value of their home before they decide to sell, Vraux said.

“Sellers do think their properties are worth more than they actually are sometimes,” he said. “I do a thorough  comparative market analysis so that they can understand the competition out there.”

The pricing for his services is fair and reasonable. “Most REALTORS® follow a set commission of 6 percent,” Vraux said. “I am flexible depending on each property and conditions. I am in line with most REALTORS®.”

He’s also one of the first real estate agents in this area to offer cutting edge technology through Hommati Dynamic Visual Content, a service that features 3-D interactive tours, aerial videos, virtual staging and HD photography for prospective buyers and sellers.     

Vraux said that his greatest accomplishment is putting a smile on the faces of first-time home buyers as they move into their newly purchased residence.

A recent client gave him a five-star review saying, “Richie is by far one of the best real estate agents I have ever met. He has gone above and beyond and exceeded expectations. While this is our first home buying experience he worked closely with us helping us navigate one of the hottest markets in U.S history. He was able to get us into showings where we thought for sure they would be booked up. While we missed out on some houses due to better offers Richie stayed positive and continued to support us throughout the entire process. I would highly recommend Richie to anyone who is looking to buy or sell a property as he has connections in the real estate world that prove to be very helpful.”

To learn more about Richie Vraux and experience his exceptional services, call him at 207-317-1297 or email: richardvraux@masiello.com. You can also view his website at: richardvraux.masiello.com, where you will find many educational articles, see more testimonials and to sign up for Market Watch which will keep you in the know and up to date on the housing market and trends in your area. Also find him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/richardvraux <

Business Spotlight: Maine Pointe Lending

The foundation of any successful business is always outstanding customer service and that is precisely
what Skylar Welch of Maine Point Lending is striving to achieve. 

Welch, a residential mortgage broker, provides Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA and construction loan options for purchasing and refinancing homes and is the only VettedVA Lender in the state of Maine. She has the knowledge and experience required to navigate the complexities of home loans and has been recognized as one of the top loan originators in America. 

But for Welch and her business, Maine Pointe Lending, defining success is truly all about being someone that clients can trust to have their best interest at heart at all times and delivering exceptional and personable service to everyone that seeks her help and expertise.

“I truly care about my clients, and create a memorable and personal experience,” Welch said. “I also am able to close loans extremely quickly and am always available for my clients, who are the main point of the transaction. We make it a personal, stress-free, easy process with a local, reliable, friendly mortgage broker by providing lots of loan options, great rates and fast service.” 

According to Welch, what motivates her the most is genuinely liking what she does each and every single day. 

“For me, I work a lot of hours because I love helping people to get into a home and to change their life,” she said. “I’m local and I’m very responsive. I don’t work banker’s hours and many times we can obtain same-day approval where some loan applications at banks can take 60 to 90 days. My goal is to give those I work for a personal experience and no additional fees and lots of options.” 

She says everyone looking to buy a home should call Maine Pointe Lending first to be qualified for a loan prior to entering the real estate process. 

“Every single real estate agent will ask them if they have been prequalified. I can help them find the perfect loan program for them, what they are qualified up to, and most importantly help them find a purchase price that gives them a comfortable monthly payment,” Welch said. “They can then take this info back to their real estate agent and be completely prepared and ready to start the homebuying process to find their dream home. I also have been in the market for a long time and know all of the best agents in the area and can help connect them with the perfect fit to help them with the buying process.”

Maine Pointe Lending is a family
run, family built business. Owner
Skylar Welch and her family are
residents of Windham. PHOTO
BY CHARITY CLARK
PHOTOGRAPHY 

Welch launched Maine Pointe Lending in October and employs a staff of six after years of working in the business of loan origination. She says the employees of her new company constantly monitor the local real estate market and work with a variety of lenders to maximize buying power for all of their customers.

“We are always keeping up to date on all of the loan options out there, as well as market updates. Rates are currently at record lows, so it’s a great time to refinance and offering a super, easy streamlined refinance for veterans,” Welch said. “Because I am a broker, I am able to shop around to find the best available rate and program for the client.”

A licensed mortgage loan originator, Welch said Maine Pointe Lending has clear advantages that anyone looking to purchase or refinance a home should explore. “You’ll work with a mortgage loan broker and provide lots of options,” she said. “Our overhead is low and because of that we can offer lower rates. We have streamlined the paperwork and application process making it super easy and available digitally. We offer a quality, extremely responsive and personable experience. We are never trying to sell anything to anyone and want to simply help everyone find the best option. I want every client to feel like they are my only client.” 

Maine Pointe Lending is at 202 US Route 1, Suite 102 in Falmouth. Call 207-949-3568 or find them online at www.mainepointelending.com They’re also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/skyeclosesmaine/posts/1612565075590101?notif_id=1605205062864493&notif_t=page_post_reaction&ref=notif <

Business Spotlight: Northstar Mortgage Group

Since its founding in 2005, Northstar Mortgage Group has been dedicated to improving the process of
obtaining a mortgage and making it easier for those in Maine to realize their dream of owning a home.

Northstar is a broker so their focus is not one size fits all. They service the entire state and stay current in the real estate market to give clients the best possible choices for their family’s needs.

Leigh Gagnon, who co-owns Northstar Mortgage Group with her husband, Jason, said the family owned company has taken steps to streamline the process and make applying for a mortgage much easier and less intimidating.

“We saw how intimidating loan services could be, so we wanted to create a more casual atmosphere,” Gagnon said. “Our relaxed mood helps clients feel comfortable asking questions, bringing their kids along to meetings and popping by even just to say hi. Northstar has a community mentality.”

She said that Northstar is passionate about helping families and is dedicated to investing the time needed for a smooth and stress-free process.

“You will never be just another number after stepping foot through our doors,” Gagnon said.

“One of the best things about what we do is helping people purchase homes, especially first-time buyers. Seeing their excitement as they get keys to a new chapter is priceless” Gagnon said. “We pride ourselves in delivering superior and personal customer service.”

She said Northstar’s priority is to walk applicants through the entire process.

“We’ll handle the loan transaction from start to finish to ensure you feel comfortable with your investment,” Gagnon said. “In the last year, loan application technology has become very advanced. As a company we have embraced and learned new systems to stay up to date. You can now complete the process electronically from start to finish from your couch at home if that’s what is convenient for your family.”

In Windham, Northstar Mortgage Group can be found at its new location, 625 Roosevelt Trail.

“It’s a convenient new space and has the causal environment we want to provide for our community,” Gagnon said.

Northstar Mortgage Group offers Conventional, FHA, USDA/Rural Housing, VA, Reverse Mortgages and Turnkey Construction Loans. Due to record low interest rates, Gagnon said she is encouraging everyone to explore how much they could save by acting soon whether that be buying or refinancing.

Northstar has a secure, online web application that takes about five minutes to fill out which Northstar brokers will review within 24 hours. The loan officers can meet applicants at the office, via zoom and even after work or on weekends. Best of all, the company is known for getting the loan done on time or ahead of schedule.

According to Gagnon, Northstar Mortgage can offer the best pricing in the industry due to being a broker model. They have more loan options and flexibility than a traditional bank.

“Our reviews on Facebook and Google show the love we have for our community and our passion for a smooth process,” she said. “Buying a home is an incredibly memorable milestone; we work hard to make it casual, stress-free and as exciting as possible. We’ve proudly walked countless happy clients through the process of homebuying and refinancing and we’d love the opportunity to help you too.”

For more information about Northstar Mortgage Group, call 207-893-8499 or visit their website at www.northstarmortgage.net or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/northstarmortgage <casual, stress-free, and exciting as possible. You can expect the same dedication to community and family at our second location in Auburn.