The office is located at 247 Third Avenue South upstairs above MOS in Jacksonville Beach.
WHO IS THE BROKER?
Lori Crunden.
WHAT DOES SHE DO?
“I am responsible for everyone’s actions. If they have any questions, I’m kind of like the consultant to guide them so that they are in compliance and make sure everything is done correctly.”
HOW DID THE OFFICE COME TO FRUITION?
Mike McGuire, the previous owner of Second Hand Rose, asked Crunden, who was working part-time with Magnolia Properties, to get her broker’s license so she could open an office with him at the beach. The idea for the office was entirely McGuire’s and he wanted Crunden to open it for him and run it. She went back to school and got her broker’s license. She was also licensed as a mortgage broker since 1988, so they decided to do both.
WHAT’S ‘MOS?’
It’s a plants and pots store owned by Mike’s wife, Lourdes. “The MOS stands for ‘My Own Store,’ she said. “I always wanted a store of my own, so I came up with that (acronym.)”
WHEN DID THE REAL ESTATE OFFICE OPEN?
The office opened in January as Island Realty & Mortgage. After some careful analysis, they decided to separate the two entities and create Island Realty Group and Island Home Lending in separate locations.
“It was just too confusing,” said Crunden. “Some of the mortgage brokers here are calling on Realtors to try to get them to send them their buyers to them to do their mortgage. If they say send them to Island Realty & Mortgage, the Realtors are going to say, ‘Hey, wait a minute! Don’t you have your own Realtors or think that they may sway their buyers to go with our Realtors instead.”
WHERE WILL THE MORTGAGE COMPANY BE LOCATED?
There will be about 10 mortgage brokers located at 233 6th Ave. North in Jacksonville Beach.
WHAT DOES THE OFFICE SPECIALIZE IN?
Right now all their inventory is at the beach, but they are not limited to selling and listing in that area.
WHO’S IN THE OFFICE?
Lori Crunden is the broker. Mike McGuire, Donna Luning, Brian Phillips, Jerry Doherty, Amy McNulty, Bonnie Weigand and Joe Jumber are the agents.
WALK-IN TRAFFIC?
Since the store, MOS, is located below them they seem to get a lot of walk-in traffic from out of town visitors to Jacksonville Beach. “I had a man from out-of-town that was looking in Florida, but didn’t know where he wanted to live, but he knew he wanted oceanfront. So, we took him to St. Augustine Beach and Fernandina Beach looking for a home.”
ISLAND THEME?
When you enter their office, there are comfortable chairs and an open airy feeling that immediately makes you feel at ease. They have palm trees and beachy decorations throughout the office, bringing the feel of the islands to the customer. “The building is so beachy and island looking anyway, so we decorated the office to get the whole theme of the islands. Everyone that walks in here says they could just live here. It’s so homey, warm and inviting. It’s very unconventional.”
HOW DOES EVERYONE WORK TOGETHER?
Crunden’s associates are all from the beaches area and they have all known each other since high school. “I have known almost everyone working here pretty much all of my life. We all grew up together and everyone is so willing to help me with the business.”
WHAT MAKES YOUR OFFICE STAND OUT FROM THE REST?
This office has an 80/20 percent split with its Realtors. If a Realtor brings on another Realtor, they get 10 percent of the 20 percent meant to go to the broker. “We want to get people to come here to stay and give them an incentive that way.”
DOES YOUR OFFICE PROVIDE TRAINING?
Not really, but Crunden will guide new agents and help them, but they do not have a formal training program for new agents.
ARE YOU PLANNING ON GROWNG THE OFFICE?
“Yes, we plan to grow. We plan to go to at least 50 agents by the end of the year. They all will work out of their home, but use this office to meet with clients.”
— by Michele Newbern Gillis