“Your move is my mission”

 Buying a home? I will help you find the home of your dreams by taking the time to listen and understand your needs and desires. Once I know what you want, I will work tirelessly to find the right home for you, because no one should have to compromise when it comes to such a huge purchase.  I will also provide you all the information you need to make a good choice and to strengthen your negotiating position. I will be there to help you negotiate the price on your home and to negotiate the various obstacles that can arise before closing. We have many neighborhoods to choose from in all price ranges (Bradley Branch, Creekside Village, Oakley, Biltmore Forest, the Ramble, the Cliffs, Forest Lake, Lake Forest, Lakeview, Leicester, Fairview).

 

Selling your home? My expertise in the Asheville area and Brevard real estate market will help ensure that you get the best price for your property. My finely-tuned marketing program will make sure the right people see your home.  Putting up a sign and listing your home in the computer is just the first step. I will market your home to other agents through flyers and a "broker open".  If you can get other agents in your home, it increases the odds that they will bring a buyer. Your home will also be featured on this website and on www.realtor.com - the top real estate website.  Your home will even have its own website.  Communication is very important and I will provide you with a weekly status report on the market. I will be with you every step of the way in the process.

 

 

 Hi and thank you for visiting my website. I know that buying or selling a home is one of the most important things you will ever do, and I want to help make that experience as smooth and successful as possible.  I do know a thing or two about major moves.  As a military child and as an adult, I have survived 27 major moves…interstate, intrastate, and international. Some of my belongings have not been as fortunate. Before starting my real estate career I bought and sold 7 homes in 5 states (including 2 new homes, and 3 older homes which I renovated).  I do understand the concerns of buyers and sellers, the pressures that both experience, and what they expect from their

Realtor®

 

As a former educator, I am a firm believer in continuous learning and have furthered my real estate knowledge and skills by attaining various designations:

 

  GRI - Graduate Realtor Institute, held by only 18% of all Realtors®

  ePRO – internet professional, held by only 2% of all Realtors®

 GREEN - National Associationof Realtors' newest designation enables me to advise you on green building and energy- efficient features. As a member of the Western North Carolina Green Building Council and a candidate for Asheville's ECO certification, I regularly take seminars to expand my knowledge on "green" building, general construction and development, and marketing tactics. 

Home from Work - I am also certified to counsel employers on how they can help their employees find affordable housing.This designation is now part of the new Affordable Housing Specialist designation which I recently obtained.  You will find information on affordable housing sprinkled through the website.

CRS Candidate - as a member of the Council of Residential Specialists, I am working towards the Certified Residential Specialist designation.  In addition to additional education, this designation requires that the candidate demonstrate success in the field.

SFR - Short Sale/Foreclosure Resource.  This designation indicates that I have received training to guide you when working with properties in foreclosure or short sale situations.

 

 

 

On a personal note, my family hails from New Orleans, LA, but I was born in Virginia. I hold B.S. and MBA degrees from the University of Alabama, and a Ph.D. in strategic management/international business from the University of South Carolina.  I taught college for several years, but also have a diverse business background…banking, telecommunications, computer consulting, shipbuilding, and government contracting. As evidence of the merger mania, none of the companies I worked for bear their original names. My occupations were also very diverse including industrial engineer on nuclear submarines, systems analyst, payroll supervisor, and finance manager. My career journey was definitely not planned.  In the process, I became known as a problem solver.

I enjoy several outdoor activities and have taught sailing in South Carolina and snow skiing in Colorado.  Here I enjoy exploring the beautiful mountains and waterfalls in the area.  I love the arts of all kinds which are found in abundance here. 

Community involvement is important to me and another factor that drew me to this area. Presently I serve on the Community Relations Committee and the Affordable Housing Committee for the Asheville Board of Realtors®, and am a member of the Asheville Chamber of Commerce, the Western North Carolina Green Building Council, and of Rotary International. I am still exploring other ways that I can contribute to the community.

I share my home with three cats or it may be more accurate to say they allow me to live with them. My sister has the human children and I am the "eternally-young maiden aunt" who teaches them to stand on their heads, dance, and to enjoy the arts.

In conclusion, I hope that you find my website to be a great source of information and visit often. Please feel free to make suggestions.  Whether you are looking for Homes for Sale, Moving Resources, or even Mortgage Information, everything you need is right here.

I will always be available for personal service by phone or email, so feel free to contact me with questions any time! You can also find me on Facebook and LinkedIn .  To leave a compliment or to view compliments on me, please click on the e-compliments logo below.

Sincerely,
Deborah Francis

 

               

 

 

 

 

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Why Choose a REALTOR® With a GRI designation?

Buying property is a complex and stressful task. In fact, it's often the biggest single investment you will make in your lifetime. At the same time, real estate transactions have become increasingly complicated.

New technology, laws, procedures and the increasing sophistication of buyers and sellers require real estate practitioners to perform at an ever-increasing level of professionalism.

So it's more important than ever that you work with an agent who has a keen understanding of the real estate business. The GRI program has helped the best and the brightest in the industry achieve that level of understanding.

GRIs are:

Nationally recognized as top performers in the real estate industry Professionally trained Knowledgeable Dedicated to bringing you quality service A GRI can make a difference When you see the letters "GRI" after an agent's name, you can count on receiving the knowledge and guidance you need to make your transaction go smoothly. In short, you can count on getting the best service available from a real estate professional. Don't you deserve the best?

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Choose a REALTOR® that is e-PRO® Certified

 The Internet has added a new dimension to the real estate world. Now you can be assured that the REALTOR^® you choose will have the knowledge and skills to put the power of the Internet behind your real estate transaction.

All REALTOR e-PRO^® Internet Professionals are REALTORS^® who completed a rigorous certification program endorsed by the prestigious NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^® (NAR).

Real estate agents and brokers who have earned REALTOR e-PRO^® Certification are Internet Professionals who have completed extensive training using the Web. REALTOR e-PRO^® Certification means the real estate professional is prepared to employ the latest techniques and services for your benefit, just like you've grown to expect from a professional.

Note:  Only 285 of Minnesota's more than 24,000 licensed REALTORS have earned the e-PRO designation!

Life can be a little easier.

Save time and irritation. Work with a REALTOR e-PRO^® Certified real estate professional who provides both buyers and sellers with high quality, timely information using the resources of the Internet.

REALTOR e-PRO^® Internet Professionals maximize your ability to leverage the enormous power of the Internet when you are buying and selling property.

Working with the best pays off.

Save money. REALTOR e-PRO^® Internet Professionals can help you take advantage of the latest Internet innovations resulting in considerable savings and speed whether you are a buyer or a seller of property.

Work with someone who is ready, willing, and very capable. Your REALTOR e-PRO^® Certified real estate professional has already proven that he or she is prepared to respond to the new market place. REALTOR e-PRO^® Internet Professionals are committed to being more responsive, understand that you are the boss, and will completely respect and guard your privacy.

Rest easy...

REALTOR e-PRO^® Internet Professionals can offer you the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have chosen to work with a REALTOR^® committed to using the Internet with skill, integrity, and professionalism.

Work with a professional who has made the extra commitment. Choose a REALTOR e-PRO^®.

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When is a Real Estate Professional a REALTOR®?

When they are a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®. The Voice for Real Estate -- the world's largest professional association.

The term REALTOR^® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

Founded in 1908, NAR has grown from its original nucleus of 120 to today's 1,000,000+ members. NAR is composed of REALTORS^® who are involved in residential and commercial real estate as brokers, salespeople, property managers, counselors and others engaged in all aspects of the real estate industry. Members belong to one or more of some 1,700 local associations/boards and 54 state and territory associations of REALTORS^®. They can join one of our many institutes, societies and councils. Additionally, NAR offers members the opportunity to be active in our real estate specialty sections. REALTORS^® are pledged to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.

Working for America's property owners, the NAR provides a facility for professional development, research and exchange of information among its members and to the public and government for the purpose of preserving the free enterprise system and the right to own real property.

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Why use an NAR Green designee: They simply going Green

No matter what your role is in the real estate transaction, an NAR Green Designee can help you distinguish fact from fiction and make educated decisions about: green materials, energy-efficient technology, green ratings, green design, green living, green incentives and more!

Whether you're going green to save the planet or just save some money, an NAR Green Designee can help you get started. For more information on how an NAR Green Designee can help you, select the situation below that best describes your own. 

I'm buying
I'm selling
I'm a builder or developer

 

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