Since 2011, Gaye Matthews has been helping people find the home that is right for them in the Pearl River County area.
She’s currently a Realtor with Valente Real Estate, but said she started her career in property sales with Professional Realty after working in the banking industry for 15 years. Before joining the crew at her current place of employment in 2017, she worked in the insurance industry under Nationwide Insurance for about three years.
Her diverse background covers several aspects of buying a house, which means she has first hand knowledge that can help customers navigate the process of buying a new home, rental property or a piece of commercial property. She can also help a current homeowner sell their property.
She said she made the transition into real estate because she likes helping people and it gives her an opportunity to meet new people and hear the story of what brought them to Pearl River County.
For first time home buyers, she recommends finding a good lender before any other step. A good lender will help the prospective new homeowner understand the difference between loan products and get the best interest rate. Additionally, new homeowners will want to know their current credit score and establish a budget before shopping for a house.
In her time as a Realtor, she said that home sales have been steady. She knows of several Realtors in the area, including herself, who have sold $4 million in property annually. Some Realtors have sold as much as $14 million in property in a year.
And with Stennis Space Center and Pearl River Community College close by, she feels that the availability of jobs and education will mean graduating seniors won’t have to move away from their hometown, and instead establish a life here.
“You don’t have to move off to find a good job…,” Matthews said.
She can also help the budding entrepreneur find their first rental property that can become a source of income with some renovation work.
In her time as a Realtor, she’s noticed the popularity of the Internet has changed the way people buy homes.
Where in the past every buyer would have to see a home in person before closing, she recently sold a home to a man from California entirely through the Internet, meaning his first time seeing the home with his own eyes was when he moved in.
That technology can allow a prospective home buyer take a virtual tour of a home, and make the closing process easier and faster.
Matthews can be reached by calling 601-590-2659.