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If you're considering moving to the Southern United States or selling your home and relocating, you may have heard of Mark Spain Real Estate. This real estate brokerage company, headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, leads the market with over 10,000 homes bought and sold in 2022. Mark Spain has invested significantly in advertising, making his brand the most popular nationwide.
But should you work with Mark Spain Real Estate as your brokerage company? What are the advantages and limitations of selling your home to this company? Let's learn more about how the company operates and read reviews of Mark Spain Real Estate to see what previous customers have to say.
About Mark Spain Real Estate
Mark Spain is a second-generation real estate broker in Atlanta, Georgia. He joined Keller Williams in 2011 after 15 years of success in the real estate industry. He founded the Mark Spain team and, within five years, helped over 3,500 families complete home transactions.
In 2016, Mark Spain left Keller Williams and established his own brokerage company: Mark Spain Real Estate. In their first year as a team, they sold over 1,800 homes. The company's strong performance led to the opening of additional offices and eventual expansion into neighboring states.
In 2021, Mark Spain's company sold over $3.3 billion in residential real estate and helped over 10,300 customers buy or sell homes. To date, the company has achieved over $12.5 billion in lifetime sales volume and has worked with over 50,000 customers.
Mark Spain assists customers with most aspects of the real estate buying and selling process. You can sell your home using the traditional method or take advantage of Spain's Guaranteed Offer program. You can contact a designated agent working with Spain to purchase a home in your desired area. You can also reach out if you're in need of finding a rental home because you're not yet ready to buy.
By operating as a full-service brokerage company, Mark Spain Real Estate can continue expanding into new markets based on customer demand. The agents within this organization can act as direct cash buyers or operate conventionally on the fair market.
Where Does Mark Spain Real Estate Operate?
Mark Spain Real Estate is not a nationwide brokerage company. Instead, they focus their services in select markets in the Southeastern United States. As of April 2023, these markets include:
- Alabama: Birmingham
- Georgia: Alpharetta, Atlanta, Athens, Buford, Marietta, and Stockbridge
- Florida: Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa
- North Carolina: Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh
- South Carolina: Greenville
- Tennessee: Chattanooga, Nashville
- Texas: Fort Worth, Dallas
Since Mark Spain Realty is comprised of a network of real estate agents, if you live near one of these cities but not directly within it, there may still be some flexibility. For example, if you live in the suburbs of Atlanta (such as Kennesaw or Roswell), a member of the Mark Spain team may be able to assist you. However, if you live far outside their operational area (e.g., Miami for Florida residents), they may not be able to help you.
Before starting to work with a Mark Spain real estate agent, check if they serve your area. If not, you may need to contact another brokerage company operating closer to you.
The Guaranteed Offer Program
If you want to sell your home quickly, Mark Spain Real Estate can provide an immediate cash offer through their Guaranteed Offer program. To qualify for this option, your home must meet specific requirements regarding year built, value, condition, and location. After submitting a request to sell your home through the Guaranteed Offer program, Mark Spain's team will confirm if your home meets these criteria. If it does, they will provide an initial offer within approximately 24 hours. A local representative will assess the condition of your home and adjust the offer if necessary. If you accept their final offer, you can complete the transaction within 21 days.
The offer may be adjusted if your home requires specific repairs or has attractive value-added improvements for buyers. It is crucial that a local representative views your home firsthand to have a better understanding of its condition. This process is similar to how some other cash-buying companies operate. However, it differs from some iBuyers who make online offers without ever setting foot on your property.
Is Mark Spain a Cash Home Buying Company?
Many sellers associate Mark Spain with cash home buying companies because of the Guaranteed Offer program. While this program is similar to cash home buyers, it is not the sole focus of Mark Spain Realty. The real estate agents and other employees within this organization also provide real estate services to list and sell your home. You can also reach out to an agent to help you find a home to purchase.
There are benefits to using Mark Spain Real Estate's cash-buying option. You can sell your home quickly, and you can transition on your own schedule. However, there are also downsides to using this option.
Firstly, you may not receive full market value for your home. The Mark Spain team may offer a lower price compared to the fair market value. They will then proceed with necessary repairs, renovate your home, and sell it at a higher price. This is similar to the process of flipping properties, where real estate investors buy homes at a lower price and sell them at a higher price for a quick profit.
If you live in a hot market area and are confident that you can sell your home quickly, you may want to work with a Mark Spain real estate agent. However, if you need to sell your home within a few days, the Guaranteed Offer program may be the optimal choice for your needs. As long as you are willing to sacrifice potential earnings from selling your home, the Guaranteed Offer option is a reasonable choice.
How Does Mark Spain Real Estate Help Buyers?
Mark Spain Real Estate has a listing of homes on their website for buyers to browse through. You can narrow down your search using common criteria such as location, price, square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, etc.
When you find a home you like on the website, you can submit your inquiries to the designated agent or schedule a direct visit from the listing. You can also share the listing with friends, family, or your own real estate agent.
If you haven't worked with a real estate agent before, you can find a Mark Spain real estate agent through the company's website. Simply provide your contact information, and a local agent will reach out to you.
Because Mark Spain Real Estate is not primarily a "cash home buying" company, many agents within this organization are willing to work with homebuyers. The homes listed on the website may not necessarily be owned by the Mark Spain team. Just like any other brokerage company, these are properties that homeowners are trying to sell through real estate agents working with Mark Spain.
The agents working with Mark Spain typically represent buyers and investors looking in the mid-price range. While there may be some high-end properties, Mark Spain is not a luxury brokerage company. They are focused on increasing annual transaction volume and achieve that by representing homeowners and buyers in the lower and mid-market segments.
Mark Spain Real Estate Reviews: What You Need to Know
Before signing a contract with a local real estate agent, look for reviews of Mark Spain Real Estate and see what other customers have to say. You can gain insights into working with specific agents representing the company.
- Facebook: 4.7 stars out of 5 with 940 reviews.
- Birdeye: 4.4 stars out of 5 with 1,111 reviews.
- Better Business Bureau: 3.46 stars out of 5 with 94 reviews. There have been nine complaints in the past three years. The company has an A+ rating but is not accredited.
- Glassdoor: 4 stars out of 5 with 220 reviews. Almost 75% of employees would recommend the company to a friend, and 83% of employees approve of the CEO.
Most positive reviews about Mark Spain Real Estate focus on interactions with specific agents, praising their professionalism and dedication. The reviews also mention continuous communication that helps customers stay informed throughout the process.
Negative reviews about Mark Spain Real Estate also mention specific agents but also touch on the Guaranteed Offer program. Many reviewers feel that the offers were too low and opted out of the transaction.
One challenge when searching for Mark Spain Real Estate reviews is that most opinions focus on specific agents unless discussing the Guaranteed Offer program. One agent does not represent all. Just because one customer had a negative experience with an unreliable agent in Texas does not mean you will have a bad experience in Georgia.
Look for reviews of specific Mark Spain real estate agents in your area if you are considering working with the company. This will give you a better understanding of what your own experience might be like.
Finding a Real Estate Agent with UpNest
Unless you want to take advantage of the Guaranteed Offer program, you may end up working with a real estate agent representing Mark Spain Real Estate - just like any other brokerage company. While brokerages train and support their agents, each agent is unique. You may not know if an agent is suitable until you meet them in person.
Rather than searching for a specific brokerage company, look for a high-performing real estate agent willing to help you.
UpNest, owned by Realtor.com, uses a specialized agent-matching system that provides customers with 3-5 separate proposals. Our vetted network often offers competitive commission rates, lower than average for UpNest customers. There may even be cash back for buyers. This means you can save money while hiring a quality agent.
There is no obligation to sign with any of the agents in our network, but when you can potentially save thousands of dollars on commissions, why not give UpNest a try today and take the first step in buying or selling a home?
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where does Mark Spain Real Estate operate? Mark Spain Real Estate operates primarily in markets in the Southeastern United States, such as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Specific details about cities and regions can be found on the company's website.
2. How can I utilize Mark Spain Real Estate's Guaranteed Offer program? To use the Guaranteed Offer program, your home must meet specific requirements regarding year built, value, condition, and location. After submitting a request, the company will confirm if your home qualifies and provide an initial offer within approximately 24 hours. If you accept the final offer, you can complete the transaction within 21 days.
3. Can I find a Mark Spain real estate agent to help me buy a home? Yes, you can find a Mark Spain real estate agent to assist you in buying a home. On the company's website, you can search for agents in your desired area and get in touch with them for more information.
4. Where can I find reviews of Mark Spain Real Estate? You can find reviews of Mark Spain Real Estate on platforms such as Facebook, Birdeye, Better Business Bureau, and Glassdoor. These reviews provide insights into previous customers' experiences working with the company.
5. Can I save money by working with a Mark Spain real estate agent? Yes, by using UpNest's services, you can receive proposals from Mark Spain real estate agents and other agents with competitive commission rates, potentially saving you money. UpNest provides a vetted agent-matching system that can offer value to customers.