Best advice when looking for a home is not to panic
Published on Page 5 of the August 7, 2013 issue of Morgan Hill Life:
By Staff Report
Karen Nelsen
Intero real estate agent
Intero real estate agent Karen Nelsen never planned on selling homes. When she and her then husband purchased a South Valley house in the early 1980s, they had an unpleasant experience when their mortgage turned out significantly higher than they expected because they had negative amortization on the loan.
Nelsen promised herself that day that she would get her real estate license — and then educate herself and everyone she knew to understand how to purchase a loan without any nasty surprises. One day someone asked her to list their home, and then another person also asked for her help. Suddenly, Nelsen found herself in a career she loved.
Today, when she is not active helping people find homes for their families, she spends time with her significant other Frank Giancola — enjoying their combined Italian family of four daughters, two sons, four sons-in-laws and daughters-in-laws, and seven grandchildren.
Why do you enjoy helping people find homes in the South Valley region?
I honestly and truly love the people I help. I really take what I do seriously, and I treat people the way I would want to be treated. To find the perfect home, or to sell someone’s home to this day, almost 30 years later, still feels like it did when I sold my first home. I know how important buying and selling a home is to a family. And to have the privilege to be a part of that process is amazing and so satisfying.
What nonprofit organizations are you actively involved in?
Over the years I have been involved mostly and have donated my time to the organizations my girls were in. The Morgan Hill Swim Club was one of the first organizations I was involved with many years ago. Also, I have coached girls’ softball for Spirit of Morgan Hill and have coached soccer for Orchard Valley Soccer. I also donate through our Intero Foundation a portion of each of my escrows to local children’s shelters and underprivileged children. To see the faces on those kids and to see them light up when we hand the organizations money that we know goes directly to help them, is the greatest feeling in the world. Doing all of these has been and continues to be just a way of giving back and I am thankful for being able to do this.
What simple advice would you give people in finding a real estate agent they will enjoy working with?
I believe that clients need to find someone who really cares, someone who is knowledgeable, who looks out for their best interests, whom they can trust, and whom they click with.
The Morgan Hill real estate market is hot right now. What advice would you give people in purchasing a new home during this market?
The best advice I can give people looking to purchase is to not panic, there’s a home out there waiting just for you. I believe that. I know it’s hard to understand when everything is going crazy, but trust me, you will find something. I have always gotten my clients into homes. When it is all said and done, they tell me how happy they are to be where they are, even though they thought they wanted something else.
How would you describe your style of serving your customers?
I’m like a mom to most of my clients — young, old or in between. Really, that’s how I look at it. I’m there for them. I take care of them. I guide them through from beginning to end. And they know they can call me long after our deal is over, and I will still be there. It’s like kids growing up and getting married. They are still your kids, and always will be. They know they can call my office or my cell phone and someone is there to help them.
KAREN NELSEN
Location: 175 East Main Ave., Suite 130
Call: (408) 778-1296
E-mail: [email protected]
Visit: www.KNelsen.com
