Adam Abt: Co-Founder, Broker, Big Daddy

Adam Abt, broker and co-founder of ChangingStreets.com, has been involved with real estate for 16 years.  I can clearly recall the day he came into the doctor’s office where I worked and told me about some guy “Hoyt” he knew that he was going into business with, to start a new real estate company. He was a top producer where he was working at the time and he was making more money than he ever had, but he was so excited talking about the potential of this new business and it was contagious.  Nine years later he STILL gets that excited about the business and it is still contagious. When I look back I don’t think that I ever doubted the success of the company – but I know I never thought it would grow so big, so fast.

You gotta have heart

Adam and his partners are smart guys and if you asked about the success of their company they would talk about stats and production and methods and websites, rock star agents, and so on. As a one time outsider turned insider, having once looked in and is now projecting out – honest to goodness I believe  it’s the heart of these guys that kept the doors open as a struggling young company and continues to see it grow.

It’s kind of old hat now, the amount of generosity and sincerity that floats around here, but I remember in my first several months here I was many times blown away by the battles Adam fought for his clients. (and agents!) If his client was not treated properly and fairly by someone else involved in the transaction, he went to bat for them. When the City of Mt. Morris would not turn on the water so that the mandatory pre-sale home inspection could be performed, he went above heads and talked to the media to get the red tape cut. When one of us agents is having trouble with a file because someone involved in the transaction isn’t playing fair, we give it to Adam who takes on the fight as his own and makes things right.

Man overboard

Adam really does go over and above for his agents and his clients. It’s one thing to sit and plan how to best handle a situation and to do the right thing. But it’s how a person acts on instinct that gives a glimpse into their intentions. So when Adam’s pregnant client tripped and was on her way to falling in the swimming pool during a house showing, and he dove to nudge her to safety while falling in the pool himself… in December - “It was her or me” he said – we weren’t surprised. Even though we told him we were.  :)

Down to bidness

For all the schmoozing I’m doing here, and the fun to be had at his expense, at the end of the day, Adam is the boss and he has a business to run – a lot of people are counting on him to make sure they get their houses sold and buy their dream homes. He takes this very seriously as he continues to study the market and its current fickle ways.  He can’t believe how much things have changed since his early days of buying investment property, which sparked his interest in selling real estate – to his current days of owning his own company, sitting on committees, and assisting with the company HUD account. He calls the current market 100% different than it ever was, and says

“Nothing is the same as it even was a few years ago. The biggest challenges are the ever changing foreclosure/REO market, and the daily changes to the buying and negotiating process. I’ve always considered myself somewhat of an an expert but it’s difficult to make that claim now when there is the chance that the sound advice I feel I am giving today won’t be relevant tomorrow.”

Adam describes the  Genesee County real estate market as “still unstable & unpredictable” but cannot stress enough the opportunities for getting great homes at a fraction of the price of a few years ago. He adds,

“Anyone who buys a house now will be set in a few years when the rebounding of property values really begins.”

Managing a sales team, working with HUD, creating stained glass art, kayaking and spending time with his family (Did I mention he and his wife have TWINS!?) sure keep Adam busy and on his toes. But you know what he can’t seem to do without? Working with buyers and sellers. It was his first love in this crazy business and he’s looking forward to your call when it’s time to take that step into buying/selling your home. 810.955.1087.