Home Team Realty opens doors in Berkeley Springs

The ribbon was cut for the new office of Home Team Realty at a ceremony two weeks ago.

Mayor Susan Webster did the honors with the company's owner and staff standing by. Morgan County Commission president Glen Stotler, Delegate Daryl Cowles and Attorney Charles Trump were on hand for the ceremony.

Home Team Realty began business in September 2005 and has offices in Martinsburg and Bunker Hill in addition to the new location in Berkeley Springs.

Owner Andrew Johnson, 27, is a native of Martinsburg, but got his start in real estate in Flagstaff, Ariz., after serving four years in the U.S. Navy.

After a year in Flagstaff, he moved back home to Martinsburg and started his own company. Two of his first real estate agents had served with Johnson on the same ship during a tour of duty in Japan.

Currently, Home Team Realty has 51 employees and 47 of those employees are real estate agents. The company generally carries 180 to 200 listings of commercial and residential real estate.

"I don't want anyone to misunderstand the word team in our name," Johnson said. "Our agents work as individuals and not as part of any other agent's team. Team comes into play because we all help each other."

Johnson said sales have increased each month since he opened the business. Future plans include opening a fourth office in West Virginia shortly. "I plan to have six offices by the end of the year," he said.

Asked how he felt the real estate market is doing in general, Johnson said, "Business is steady and the market is relatively stable. Buyers are getting really good prices right now."

     

Historic setting

The office is located in a house at 288 South Washington Street that was built in 1913 and was once owned by Lewis Buzzerd, a former editor of The Morgan Messenger.

Real estate agent Gina Wood and her husband Ronnie bought the house as a project and have been renovating it over the past year.

"We always wanted to do something like this," Wood said about restoring the old home.

Wood, a native of Berkeley Springs, worked for Home Team Realty and when Johnson decided to open an office here, the house seemed to be the best fit.

"I feel I have an edge because I have lived in Berkeley Springs all my life. In the short time the office has been open, we already have 12 listings," Wood said.

For more information about Home Team Realty, call 304-258-0345.