Our Professional Goals
Our Philosophy
We strive for excellence and share our services and knowledge with Visitors about our unique real estate market, so they will become well informed Buyers who are empowered to make GREAT DECISIONS and become our happy Lake Neighbors.
We provide the BEST SERVICE and marketing resources possible which makes our Sellers’ properties stand out from the competition and sell in the least amount of time – for a sales price that works well for all.
Selling? Things to consider
- Possum Kingdom SPECIALIZED Marketing
Any agent can list a property for sale on the web making the internet a very congested place. Plus, did you know that Possum Kingdom Lake is NOT a searchable city on most national real estate search websites like Zillow because we do not have our own zip code? That’s right, Buyers need to intentionally search for Graford Texas or its zip code to see Possum Kingdom properties on most of these national search websites! But with PKRE® specialized marketing, geared just for Possum Kingdom Lake, your property may be found on more than 800 websites! Our company promotions on many of these national search websites are then geared to cause our clients’ properties to stand out from the crowd.
- Maximum EXPOSURE to Most Likely Buyers
Exposing your lake property to the most likely buyers is essential. Many of the best prospects are beyond the reach of other local agents advertising in the Possum Kingdom area. However, PKRE® advertising and marketing are extensive and we target the markets known to be where the buyers reside.
(Please ask for our 2020 Marketing Plan for details) - Think About ESSENTIAL Services
Long-distance agents who live more than 30 minutes from the Possum Kingdom area may be closer to many of the buyers but are often not familiar with Possum Kingdom. Providing essential service in a second-home market is very inconvenient for them because of the time required to travel back and forth for countless tasks. Digitalized lockboxes may be convenient for them but they can’t warn anyone that the property’s doors or windows may have been left unsecured or the lights and AC have been left on for weeks at a time. In huge contrast, PKRE® agents are available to help keep sellers’ properties secure and we always accompany buyers. PLUS, we assist all less familiar buyer agents during showings upon their request.
- PROFESSIONAL vs. Relational
Sellers often have family or friends in the real estate business to list their property for sale, but because of distance, real estate expertise, or advertising resources, but unfortunately, this relationship often lacks the abilities required to obtain the highest sales price in the least amount of time on the market. Those valued relationships can also be strained and even damaged when business expectations are not fulfilled.
- TRUST Has To Be Earned
PKRE® are the Trusted Local Experts. We are the ONLY Full-Service, Real Estate Brokerage who has EXCLUSIVELY and SUCCESSFULLY served the Possum Kingdom market area for almost 50 years. Our Possum Kingdom Lake expert agents have assisted several thousand prominent Texans. Our legal record is spotless, and we are proud of our reputation for putting the needs of our clients first! Read what our many clients say about us on Facebook, Google, Zillow etc..
- Teamwork Means HORSE POWER
This works for our clients’ benefit! We are the most experienced team, and we are “boots on the ground”, ready to get the job done for you in the most effective ways. On the national websites, our PKRE® Team buying power causes our clients’ properties to have a preferred placement (where available) plus our PKRE® Team consistently respond to leads in less than two minutes because of our unique PKRE® Team approach to being PK Lake’s FIRST RESPONDERS. In this technological age, placement and response time are major factors for keeping OUR clients’ properties in front of the rest.
- Our Clients' Properties COME FIRST
For many years, our website, PossumKingdom.com, has been the “GO TO” tool for folks wanting to learn all about our lake in addition to finding and buying lakefront property, or property in surrounding areas. Our company website has consistently ranked high in organic search engines like Google. The homes and land listed for sale by PKRE® are shown FIRST in every search result, a feature reserved exclusively for our clients. We send thousands of email alerts to our Possum Kingdom Lake prospective buyers on a weekly basis. We have established strong business relationships with national or global “Partners” whom we have teamed up within our pursuit of exceptional service on our clients’ behalf.
- We Have The SAFE DESTINATION
The Possum Kingdom Lake Welcome Center on Park Road 36, is the destination location for visitors seven days a week. Our PKRE® agents often become the INITIAL CONTACT for many visitors. Since we have PKRE® offices and agents on both sides of the lake, our agents can be available on short notice–which is terrific; for, not only is our lake is remote; it’s huge!
COVID-19 UPDATE: To maintain safety for our Team as well as for others we are temporarily limiting access to the Welcome Center lobby but we are making appointments to personally meet prospective Buyers who must fill out a COVID-19 Questionnaire to determine any health risk. Then during showings we provide face masks and remind prospective Buyers not to touch anything inside.
Buying? Make a great decision
- Why Do You Want To Buy?
Are you ready to get out of the City? Are you tired of paying short term vacation rentals? Have you outgrown your current lake home? Are you looking for an investment portfolio? Are you looking for an income rental property? Would you rather own in a different lake area? Having a clear sense of your reasons for buying will help you choose the right property.
- The Risks of Buying at Possum Kingdom
Property ownership is an excellent investment; whether you are looking for your dream lake home, a rental income property, or to expand your investment portfolio. Owning real estate is one of the least risky ways to build equity or to obtain a greater return on your initial investment.
- Choosing A Buyer's Agent
Buying a property requires making many important financial decisions, understanding complex issues, and completing a lot of paperwork. It helps to have an expert in your corner when undertaking such a large purchase. Our PKRE® can guide you through this process, and also provide you with access to property listings many times before they hit the general market.
Here are some factors to consider when choosing your real estate professional:
- Look for a full-time agent in the POSSUM KINGDOM LAKE AREA– one who has experience completing transactions similar to yours.
- Interview a few agents: Are they familiar with the area in which you are interested?
- Ask how much time the agent will have for you and if they are available at night and on weekends.
- Does the agent return your calls promptly? Time is money when attempting to buy a property.
- Ask for a list of properties they have sold or a list of references.
- Choose an agent who listens attentively to your needs and concerns. Pick an agent, with whom you feel comfortable.
Time To Go Shopping! Once those preparations are out of the way, it is time to find the right property for you.
- Take Full Advantage of an Agent's Knowledge
Get to know the lake neighborhoods or subdivisions, which interest you. Your local expert agent should be well informed enough to explain the different restrictions and “personality” of each lake neighborhood. Several communities are gated and access is restricted for security purposes so allow your agent to drive you around to get a feel for what it would be like to own a property in the different areas. Your local expert should also send you information on new listings in the different communities.
- The Smart Way to Narrow Your Search
Save time and stay safe. Select a few properties that interest you the most and contact a PKRE® Agent to send you Virtual Tours to visit them online. Ask your real estate agent about the potential long term resale value of the properties you are considering. After narrowing down the choices even further schedule an appointment to come see only your favorites.
- Time to Buy
Once you have picked out the property you want to purchase, we are here to help you make an offer that the Seller will accept. A good Agent will investigate the potential costs and expenses associated with the new property. Our goal is to help you draft your offer in a way that gives you the advantage over another offer.
- Escrow Inspections and Appraisals
The Initial Agreement and Deposit. An effective agreement is a legal arrangement between a potential Purchaser and the property’s Seller. Some important tips to keep in mind to streamline the process:
- Keep written records of everything. For the sake of clarity, it will be extremely useful to never make verbal agreements especially counter-offers. PKRE® Agents always transcribe your offer into writing and through easy electronic signatures by email make it easy for both parties. We will assist you in drafting all the paperwork for your purchase and make sure that you have copies of everything.
- Stick to the schedule. Now that you have chosen your offer, you and the Seller will be given a timeline to mark every stage in the process of closing the real estate contract. Meeting the requirements on time ensures a smoother flow of negotiations so that each party involved is not in breach of their agreements. During the process, we will keep you constantly updated, so you will always be prepared for the next step.
- A Title Company will be selected as a closing agent. The closing agent will hold the deposit in escrow and will research the complete recorded history of the property to ensure that the title is free and clear of encumbrances by the date of closing and that all new encumbrances are properly added to the title.
- How to Hold Title. You may wish to consult an attorney or tax advisor on the best way to hold the title. Different methods of holding title have different legal, estate, and tax implications, especially when selling or upon the death of the titleholder.
- Inspections
Once your offer is accepted by the Seller, you will need to have a licensed Property Inspector inspect the property within the time frame that was agreed upon in the effective contract to purchase. You may elect to have different Inspectors inspect the property if you wish to obtain professional opinions from Inspectors who specialize in a specific area (eg. roof, HVAC, structure). PKRE® has a list of reputable Inspectors which have assisted previous Clients. Our goal is to discover any condition of the property which was previously unknown. Depending on the outcome of these inspections, one of two things may happen:
- Either each milestone is successfully closed and the contingencies will be removed, bringing you one step closer to the close, or
- The Buyer, after reviewing the property and the papers, requests a renegotiation of the terms of the contract (usually the price).
- Property Insurance
If you are obtaining a loan, you will be required by your lender to purchase a certain amount of insurance on the property. The value will depend on the lending institution and the purchase price of the property. You may be able to save hundreds of dollars a year on homeowners insurance by shopping around for insurance. You can also save money with these tips;
- Consider a higher deductible. Increasing your deductible by just a few hundred dollars can make a big difference in your premium.
- Ask your insurance agent about discounts. You may be able to get a lower premium if your home has safety features such as dead-bolt locks, smoke detectors, an alarm system, storm shutters, or fire-retardant roofing materials. Persons over 55 years of age or long-term customers may also be offered discounts.
- Insure your house NOT the land under it. After a disaster, the land is still there. If you do not subtract the value of the land when deciding how much homeowner’s insurance to buy, you will pay more than you should.
We will be happy to recommend experienced knowledgeable insurance agents for every property type.
- Final Walk-Through
Closing Day –
If you have come this far, then this means that it is almost time for congratulations, but not yet. Do not forget to tie up these loose ends:- Final Walk-Through Inspection.
- More of a formality than anything else, the final inspection takes place a day before, or the day of the closing. You will visit the property to verify that all is in working order, everything is the same as when you last viewed the property, that there are no extra items left behind, and that everything included in your purchase is still at the property. If you can not make the final inspection our PKRE® Agents can make a virtual walk-thru with you, provided there is reception in that area.
- Closing
The closing agent will furnish all parties involved with a settlement statement, which summarizes and details the financial transactions enacted in the process. You and the seller(s) will sign this statement, as well as the closing agent, certifying its accuracy. If you are obtaining financing, you will have to sign all the pertinent documentation required by the lending institution. If you are unable to attend the scheduled closing, arrangements can be made depending on the circumstances and the notice that we receive. If you are bringing funds to the transaction, you can elect to either have the funds wired electronically into the closing agent’s escrow account or bring a certified bank check to the closing in the amount specified on the settlement statement. The seller should arrange to have all property keys and any other important information for you at the closing so that you may receive these items at this time.
What Our Customers Are Saying
Maggie Burgess is an outstanding Realtor. From our long distance communication, to the very informative trip of the east and west side of PK Lake, and the knowledgeable tours of the homes we were viewing, we were so impressed with her knowledge and integrity. I would have no problem purchasing property from Maggie, either in person or via long distance. We felt that Maggie was looking out for our best interests and wanted us to be happy. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS REALTOR
Maggie Burgess was amazing!!! She is an area expert, and also a great person to be around and true joy. We came in for two weekends, and she had our visits arranged perfectly. We love our new lake house, and Maggie is invited anytime!
I have worked with Keith Hanssen for several years. He kept me informed of the status of the real estate on a regular basis and I trusted him for advice when an offer was made. I would certainly recommend Keith.
“My husband and I began a home search in Graham and we were lucky enough to be put in contact with Misty Shook. We were impressed how hard she worked at finding and arranging for the showings. We decided to build our new home instead of purchasing, however if the time comes for us to purchase, we will definitely be contacting Misty again. Thank you Misty for all your hard work. We appreciate you so much!!”
Maggie Burgess had expert knowledge of the area, was quick to assess our property goals and negotiated a successful purchase on a marquee property using creative offer strategy that beat out competing offers. When we signed the deal, Maggie was with us all the way providing measurements as we are not local, providing vendor contacts to maintain the property and helped us above and beyond the scope of a realtor. If you want to buy at Possum Kingdom, you will be a leg up if you use Maggie. She treated us like family.
Keith Hanssen did a great job of representing us in a down market for lake front property. He was easy to work with and helped us move items from the property which we had owned for 29 years. Keith Hanssen’s the man at PK Lake. He knows everyone and knows how to get anything done. He even helped us sell our boat. I couldn’t give a higher recommendation!
Vee Hanssen listed our lake place on Westside of PK and one of her teammates found us a buyer in under 60 days. That’s pretty good considering we had been trying to get it sold for two years. She used a different approach to marketing it that worked. Vee stays in touch and is now our friend.
Keith Hanssen was extremely professional and knowledgeable. He was quick to respond and always followed thru on what he said he would do. He was very pleasant to work with always available.
Maggie Burgess works extremely hard and listens to her customers. Maggie is very responsive and always on top of every detail. She even went to the tax office and fought for me. She is the best.
Keith Hanssen helped us through the home buying process with his expertise and knowledge of the local real estate market. He was patient, professional and efficient in his approach. Keith was thoughtful and worked diligently on our behalf. Will definitely use Possum Kingdom Real Estate again!
Vee Hanssen listed our place on PK but another Realtor from Dallas area was the buyer agent who knew very little about PK. Vee ended up helping that agent a lot to make the deal work. We were impressed that she would be that cooperative, She handeled all the details which included inspection and appraisal issues. Cant thank her enough. Good job gal!
Contacted Vee about selling my dad’s lake house. This was very difficult for me to do because of all the memories but since he’s been gone we did not use it. Pricing was difficult because we thought it was worth more but Vee was brutally honest and showed us what it was worth these days. Vee helped us decide what repairs were needed. Once it was ready Vee had it professionally photographed including drone shots. After it went up for sale we received email reports twice monthly showing where all It was being advertised all over the internet along with a comparison of performance to other properties. The cabin was shown often and Vee kept in touch. It sold within a few months and the process was trouble free.
John Morris is a true professional always upbeat and willing to go the extra mile. Very knowledgeable of the real estate market and years of experience shows through in every step of the process. If you are looking for any type of real estate I highly recommend John.
Today was our closing with Keith Hanssen in PK! What a wonderful experience we had from the first day he showed us around, to our closing today. He was so patient with our large family, allowing us to view our last two picks with different family members several times! He accommodated our needs before we even knew we needed his help. Keith Hanssen is a man of integrity. If you are planning on purchasing a home in the Possum Kingdom area we would recommend Keith!
Keith Hanssen did a good job of keeping me informed of the market over the years. He also made the closing easy and painless. Thank you Keith!
Great service! We had a long distance search for property on Possum Kingdom Kingdom. When we came down and looked at the lake houses personally we received top-notch service. Maggie Burgess is a great realtor for us.
Keith Hanssen at Possum Kingdom Realty was very helpful in listing and selling my lake lot at PK Lake. I would recommend Keith Hanssen and his agency to anyone looking to purchase or sell at PK Lake. Thank you Keith
As an out-of-state buyer, Maggie Burgess’s expertise was invaluable in our decision to buy the house sight unseen. Maggie went above and beyond by offering to videotape each room and give me detailed information as she walked through each room and the outside grounds with details that were not available in the listing.
We had a great experience at PK real estate office. We headed to the lake one afternoon and called several realtors in the area and asked if it would be possible to be shown around with no notice. PK real estate welcomed us immediately and told us they would find someone immediately to show us properties on the lake. The person on the phone was lovely and made us feel right at home. She connected us with Keith, who took us around in his truck and showed us several properties. He was friendly and knowledgeable, but not pushy at all. We didn’t buy anything that week but he continued to send us possibilities until we found a condo we couldn’t live without. We asked Keith to try and push for a closing date prior to July 4th and he made sure that happened. We would definitely recommend Keith and the whole PK team!
We had a great experience with Maggie Burgess. She met and exceeded our expectations. My parent’s house sold in just a few days and above asking price. We would highly recommend Maggie.