The CKC team recently had the privilege to sit down with Joe Canales, a local realtor who we have enjoyed working with a great deal, to discuss his perspective and experience in real estate. In addition to being an incredibly knowledgeable and loyal representative for his clients, Canales is an Accredited Buyer’s Representative and an Accredited Luxury Home Specialist. He serves all of Greater San Antonio, including Boerne, Fair Oaks Ranch, Helotes, Cordillera Ranch, Comfort, Alamo Ranch, Leon Springs, Anaqua Springs Ranch, Spring Branch, Bulverde, Canyon Lake, Garden Ridge, Schertz, New Braunfels and more.
With clients ranging from family and friends to business owners, television personalities and even the president of a multinational oil and gas producer, Canales’s experience in the field is undeniably expansive. His knowledge of the local real estate market coupled with more than 10 years of financial services experience makes him an invaluable resource to his clients. The long time resident of South Texas holds a BBA degree in Management with a minor in Finance from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Q&A WITH JOE CANALES
Can you tell me a bit about your experience in real estate?
It started in 2002, when I was trying to buy my house. I didn’t have my real estate license at that time, but the realtor I was working with called me after my option period ran out when I tried to terminate my contract. As a consequence, I lost earnest money, and it left a bad taste in my mouth toward realtors altogether. Around the same period, I was going to UTSA and taking finance classes. I had a professor who suggested that we get a real estate license just in case we wanted to enter the field later, so I listened. In 2005, I realized that I wanted to become the kind of realtor that I wished I had used – one that takes care of the client and looks out for the client’s interests above his or her own.
I have found that many people are skeptical about real estate agents and often portray them as individuals who are only out for the money. I am trying to break that perception. My goal is to build relationships with people. I take care of them like I am working with my own family.
What’s the price range of most of the homes and lots that you have sold?
Lots usually range from $90- $175K and the price range of homes I have sold is between $100K and $1+ million with the average being about $325k.
What is the most important thing that you communicate to your clients when building or buying a new home?
One of the more important aspects of the client-realtor relationship is communication. It’s important for my clients to know that I need incredibly open channels of communication. I am the expert, but sometimes I have to work to extract information. Be honest and trust in my knowledge and areas of expertise.
How many clients are you currently representing?
I represent six clients currently and I average about two contracts a month. I work as an individual, not as a team, so that limits the workload, but I enjoy the work. I am usually more selective with my clients to ensure that the client personalities align with my own.
What are some of the most frequently asked questions that you have encountered?
When non-native Texans are searching for a home, a frequently asked question is if they will run out of water in the area – believe it or not. It is apparently something they hear on the news fairly often, but I let them know that we do occasionally go through water restrictions, and it is important to conserve water during the summer, but they will most definitely not run out of water.
Another question is, “Who pays for your commission?” Something that is often misunderstood is that the seller pays your realtor’s commission, so the buyer doesn’t pay anything. As the buyer of a new home, it therefore doesn’t make a lot of sense to go into such a complex transaction without an agent.
What distinguishes you from other real estate agents?
I do all of the work myself, so you can ensure that no detail will fall through the cracks. There is a certain trust that my clients have with me because of my honesty and open communication. If a client is looking for something I can’t provide, then I will let them know up front. I run my business based on that trust and provide the best service possible. I want them to have such a positive experience that they can’t help but tell their family and friends about my services.
Joe currently specializes in luxury home sales, new construction and first-time buyers. If you are looking for experience, diligence, commitment and superior local knowledge, then Joe Canales fits the bill. His approach is simple and straightforward and is focused on being 100 percent dependable, before, during and after your real estate transaction.
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