10 Questions With Brad Wilson, Realtor and Real Estate Investor

Hardworking, creative and results-driven are just a few words to describe real estate salesperson Brad Wilson of Winkler Real Estate. With 25 years of experience on Wall Street as well as local expertise of the South Shore of Long Island, Wilson possesses both commercial edge and a residential advantage.

In addition to his profession as a real estate agent, Wilson is also the the founder of a real estate investment company, Jones Hollow Management Co., where he purchases homes and flips them. From the newest technologies and developments in the industry to advice for first-time buyers, Wilson shares all of his real estate expertise in this exclusive Patch one-on-one:

Patch: Tell us about your real-estate beginnings. What’s the Brad Wilson story?

Wilson: Prior to Real Estate, I spent 25 years on Wall Street where I held various positions with investment banks, research and trading firms. But even then, my true passion was real estate. Even while working in finance, I was flipping houses and developing subdivisions upstate New York. After commuting into New York City for twenty-five years, I decided to leave Wall Street and focus on real estate full time. That’s when I joined Winkler Real Estate where I now focus on both residential and commercial real estate.

Patch: How do you maintain your competitive edge in the real-estate market?

Wilson: For starters, it’s important to stay on top of the local real estate market and trends. And I firmly believe, just as in any service industry, the key to being successful, is maintaining a high level of professionalism. I conduct my business with honesty, fairness and integrity while delivering only the highest quality of service.

Real estate is time sensitive and buying or selling a property can be stressful. I make it a point to always be reachable, stay in constant contact, stay on top of the situation, highlighting new properties as they come to market, and keeping you informed where you stand with your current buying or selling situation so you can move on quickly to another property or potential buyer.

Patch: Describe your proudest or otherwise most memorable experience since entering the field.

Wilson: I’m going to leave out names to protect the guilty but one of my very first leads came in the form of a referral from a friend. I called the prospective client. It was a local woman in her early fifties, who told me she wanted to sell her house and move on with the next chapter of her life.

When I showed up to secure the listing, she sat me at the kitchen table with her husband. What happened next was unbelievable. Apparently, she thought this was the right time to tell her husband that she wanted a divorce and decided they should sell the house. She actually dropped that bomb on him in front of a total stranger. Needless to say, things got really emotional and heated. After a long 15 minutes, I advised them to give me a call after they’ve worked the details out and slipped out the door.

Patch: How has the real-estate industry transformed throughout the years, and how do you stay ahead of new developments?

Wilson: Technology along with companies like Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com have really transformed the industry and the way people approach the real estate market. Buyers and sellers are now able to access detailed property records on their smartphones within minutes.

A big misconception amongst the consumer is that this technology is hurting real estate agents. This couldn’t be any further from the truth. These platforms really save us lots of time and free us up to focus on negotiating, setting the price, and really allow us to better serve as a community and local resource, secure financing, and of course – getting the deal done. Incidentally, over 95 percent of all real estate transactions still utilize real estate agents.

Patch: What are the more common mistakes that first-time buyers make?

Wilson: Don’t bite off more than you can chew so that you don’t get yourself in trouble down the road. The golden rule in determining how much home you can afford is that your monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 28 percent of your gross monthly income (your income before taxes are taken out). Your debt-to-income ratio should also be considered.

Patch: What is the draw to the West Islip area?

Wilson: Well for starters, the convenient location – we’re a quick train ride from NYC and just 45 miles west of the Hamptons. West Islip and its surrounding South Shore towns offer beautiful beaches and are home to great restaurants, shopping malls, outlets and boutiques.

During the summer, my favorite time of year, locals enjoy boating and fishing on the Great South Bay, with easy access to the Atlantic Ocean. We’ve also got great golf courses, parks and access to beaches such as Robert Moses, Jones Beach and we’re just a short ferry ride across the Bay to world-renowned Fire Island. It’s one of those areas where people tend to stick around, and the kids come back to.

Patch: Are there any major disadvantages to living on the South Shore of Long Island?

Wilson: Yes, once you live here, you can never be happy living anywhere else.

Patch: Tell us about your areas of expertise.

Wilson:

Commercial Edge: I have been able to incorporate my Wall Street experience and analytical approach into identifying opportunities for clients in commercial real estate. Finding the right location is just half the battle. I’ll work with you to fully understand the process and perform the necessary due diligence which is crucial to your success. I’ll help you explore pros and cons, taking into consideration allowable uses with local zoning laws, expansion potential, develop forecasts, and secure financing. I’m highly confident that I can offer you knowledge and tools most other agents can’t.

Residential Advantage: As local expert and longtime South Shore resident, I offer all the traditional services that one associates with real estate, but I am also in a unique position to offer something unique to my clients. In addition to being a realtor, I am also the founder of a real estate investment company, Jones Hollow Management Co. If you’re a motivated seller, whether your facing foreclosure, divorce, downsizing, or whatever you’re dealing with, Jones Hollow is ready to give you an all cash offer in as little as 24 hours. In theory, if for some reason your property doesn’t sell – I’ll buy it from you. I don’t think you’ll find too many realtors who can do that for you.

Patch: What are the benefits of working with a real-estate agent?

Wilson: There is no substitute for community knowledge. A good local real estate agent will know more about neighborhoods than anyone could possibly discover on their own. This includes information about active and sold properties, prices, etc.

Buying or selling a property is no easy task and real estate professionals are intimately familiar with the process. They are experienced in what it takes to market a home, how to successfully negotiate a purchase or sale, and we understand financing better than most.

Most importantly this is our full-time occupation, allowing you to live your life while we handle all of the tedious details. And unlike every other profession you’ve ever dealt with, the service you’re getting from your real estate agent is for free until you get the result you want.

Patch: How can Patch readers contact you to learn more about listings and other market options in the West Islip area?

Wilson: Give me a call at 646-670-8800, email me or visit my website and let’s get started!

Image Credit: Brad Wilson Real Estate

This Patch article is sponsored by Brad Wilson Real Estate.