Angela Desch
Coldwell Banker

Angela Desch found herself jobless in the wake of Sept. 11, after she and her husband had just faced a lackluster home-buying experience with an inexperienced Realtor. The two closely occurring events inspired her to try real estate. "I thought I'd be good at it," she recalls. "As a good salesperson with great customer service, I liked the idea of helping people." Two decades later, she's the broker sales manager at Coldwell Banker Argus Real Estate, an award-winning Realtor, a property matchmaker and a well-regarded expert in luxury Shore properties. She's had a hand in more than 3,000 property transactions, placing her among the top 1% of U.S. Realtors. But what really sets Desch apart is her authenticity and love for the region she calls home: "People relate to me because I'm experienced and genuine. When you sell what you love, people get excited with you." House & Home recently chatted with the frequent Circle of Excellence winner and Atlantic City & County Board of Realtors president about COVID's impact, professional relationships and what makes a good Realtor.

What does it take to be successful in luxury coastal real estate?
Experience and knowledge. Confidentiality and sensitivity. Being a great negotiator and problem-solver. Knowing how to read people and earning their trust. You have to understand clients' family dynamics and work with their financial advisors, accountants and attorneys; if they're famous, you could be working with their managers. You have to be a good listener to see the whole picture.

How are second homes different from primary homes?
With a primary home, it's about schools, how the family will grow, why they're moving. For secondary or luxury homes, it's why are they buying, how will they use it? Is it something they'll rent out? Are they a blended or multigenerational family? Who's going to be there, what do they need? Do they want something close to the beach, or something more affordable?

How has COVID changed things? What was its impact on Shore real estate?
It was a change in lifestyle, including a lack of travel. Some people pooled that money to buy a Shore home: They realized we only live once and they want to walk on the beach at lunchtime now that they can work from home. With the primary market, people were putting holds on their loans and getting forbearance. We thought there would be a huge foreclosure rate but we're actually seeing banks work with people. It's interesting how COVID wound up helping everyone be a little more sensitive. With the demand and lack of supply, it's been frustrating. [Buyers] held so much power for so long that they think they're overpaying when prices were depressed prior to COVID—they're not overpaying, prices are catching up. Yes, they're removing their contingencies, home inspection, mortgage contingency, or selling another property first; however, when their agent's looking out for them, it helps. That's where relationships and experience come in.

Why are relationships so important?
The big one is trust. When you're showing any property, knowing the other agent and having a relationship of respect with them means a better experience for your client. Then you have to consider things like zoning and tax assessments. ... When you have good relationships with all kinds of people—city officials, lenders, title companies, home inspectors, exterminators—it helps. I've been lucky enough to share what I've learned. ... It's important to me that new agents, or even established agents, have a resource for asking questions. Most of the time, I know the answer. Sometimes I don't—but I know how to get it! With clients, it's an intimate relationship: It can be a bit of a roller coaster with the highs and lows. You know what's happening in their lives, so there's extreme confidentiality and a high level of respect.

How does your love for and familiarity with the Shore benefit your clients?
When you're selling what you love, people are drawn to that. I'm in love with Margate, Ventnor, Longport, Atlantic City—they have so much to offer! What I've given my children by having them grow up here ... it's wonderful living at the Shore. It's a phenomenal place to live and raise a family.

What should people look for in a Realtor?
Someone with your best interests at heart, who's going to tell you the good, the bad and the ugly, who's going to fight for you like they'd fight for their family. Hire someone who is professional and tenacious and asks the right questions. Hire a Realtor who knows how you can keep the most money in your pocket when you buy and sell, who can get you the best price either way. Realtors sometimes have a bad reputation and I am here to prove that we are not all like that.

Call Angela today for your real estate needs.

Serving the Jersey Shore | (609) 457-0410
MargateShore.com | VentnorShore.com | LongportShore.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 22, Issue 3 (Spring 2022). 
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