RALEIGH, N.C. — There is no doubt that the housing market in North Carolina is hot.
More than 17,000 homes sold in the Tar Heel State during June, spending an average of 22 days on the market, according to Redfin. That's down from 14 days in the previous year.
What You Need To Know
- Kat Litsas is a realtor with ExP Realty in Raleigh
- According to Redfin's June report, a home spends an average of 22 days on the market before being sold in North Carolina
- Litsas, who's been in the real estate game for 3 years, attends class weekly to stay up to date with the market
"It wasn't until I was aiding my Greek speaking father and mother-in-law with the sale of their home, and I loved it, something about it brought me joy," said Kay Litsas, a realtor with ExP Realty in Raleigh.
Before landing in real estate, Litsas and her brother owned a Durham restaurant for 11 years. After selling the restaurant, Litsas took some time off before finding her passion in real estate.
Litsas' days consist of listing appointments, touring new construction homes and attending class and coaching appointments while raising two small children. She also can be found behind the counter at her Greek restaurant Opa in the Morgan Street Food Hall.
On the third Sunday of every month, Litsas sets out around her neighborhood in Cary with her kids to collect food donations for the organization Porch.
"So, people get more familiar with me and my family and what I do. I always come from contributions and you never know how you can help the next person and in turn, they help you," Litsas said.
Balancing clients' budgets and working with limited inventory are all apart of Litsas' and other agents daily operation.
Currently, Litsas is helping her second time home buyers find their dream home.
"We have to be strategic. When do we list their house so we're not having any delays moving in," Litsas said.
While Litsas primarily operates in Wake County, she's been taking clients just outside the county lines into Angier where Dree's Homes is building a new development.
"New construction, you can get in without having that competition, which is a lot less stress," Litsas said.
But that option is not on the table for everyone, which is why Litsas says educating your clients about the market is important.
"The shift we are all experiencing and going through, there are a lot of classes we have to take to be up to date with the current market, changing your business model and educating your clients," Litsas said.
Every Tuesday, Litsas attends a class at her agency taught by Marti Hampton, who is a successful agent in the Triangle with more than 30 years experience.
"This is a business of action," Hampton told her class.
Hampton teaches her agents to work with the market they have, not the market they wish they had.
It's an around the clock job, but for Litsas, every minute is worth it.