MONROE - What makes Joel Hedeman of Monroe successful as a real estate agent took old-fashioned virtues like hard work and honesty - and, he says, becoming a father.
Hedeman, 29, is one of the 2012 honorees in Realtor Magazine's "30 Under 30," a national program that recognizes rising young stars for their commitment and dedication to the industry. The 2012 class is featured in the May/June issue of Realtor Magazine.
Rising to the top 5 percent of about 600 applicants surprised Hedeman. "I didn't think it was going to happen," he said.
Although he had admired the winners featured in the magazine in previous years, Hedeman said he submitted his application only after being encouraged to do so by his father, Steve Hedeman, broker/owner of Hedeman Real Estate Co. in Monroe.
"I thought it was a little bit far-fetched for me," he added.
In the magazine profile, Hedeman is credited with handling almost 100 residential and 10 to 15 commercial appraisals each year, and with 46 individual real estate transactions resulting in $10.2 million in sales last year.
Hedeman attributes his success to following his father's advice on business ethics: "Working hard, being honest and giving people your word and delivering on it."
The company's culture of honesty, hard work and sincere congratulations extends to the other 12 agents, he added. "Real estate doesn't have to be cut-throat," he said. "We want this to be a pleasant place to work, where you can be more productive when coming to work."
To create the top "30 under 30" list, judges also look at sales numbers in relation to the local market's median price and general conditions.
Like many of this year's "30 Under 30," Hedeman came into the real estate business, and most of the associates joined their company, shortly before or after the housing market decline. Fortunately, the real estate market is "not that bad" in and around Monroe as in some places in the county, he said.
"Property is still moving. Our company is still growing and other companies are doing well," he added.
The area market is "in a good cycle," Hedeman said. Young adults are returning to Monroe looking for large homes to raise their families, and empty-nest parents are selling large homes, but sticking around and buying smaller homes for retirement.
Properties mortgaged for more than their appraised values have also not been a big problem in the area.
"Lenders here know who they're lending to and who their parents are, and know them as more than an application," Hedeman said.
But it's still a buyer's market, he pointed out.
"Interest rates are really low right now. Prices are stagnant; I think they are as low as they are going to go," he said. "Prices improve by people going out and buying stuff.
"Property needs to be priced appropriately - that's not something a seller wants to hear," he said. "But if you price accordingly, you intrigue buyers to come in."
Sales volume and transactions numbers count when being named a top young real estate agent in the county, but they're not the end-all and be-all.
Hedeman said he believes what made him stand out from the other applicants was being a certified general real property appraiser at such a young age and being the father of two boys.
Hedeman didn't intend to get into real estate, but instead chose to become an appraiser. Working a job to pay living expenses after college, he put in 40 unpaid hours a week for two years being trained by another certified appraiser, plus another six months at just $10 an hour at an appraisal company to gain the experience to reach the highest level of state certification to appraise all types of property. He said he called 50 appraisers before one agreed to take the time to train him.
"It's a lot of work for them, too, and, think about it - they're training their competition," he said.
Hedeman became a licensed real estate agent in 2008.
"It's interesting, because now the bulk of the business is from selling real estate, which is the last thing I got into," he said.
In a career field that offers no salary and no boss, it's easy to become lax, he said. "Staying self-motivated determines your own success," he added.
His self-motivation was quickly fueled, and is now sustained, by increasing family responsibilities.
In 2008, Hedeman, a 2001 Monroe High School graduate, married Kim Prokuski, also a 2001 Monroe graduate, and they moved from Madison back to Monroe, bought a house and started a family. Son Liam is fast approaching 3 years old while Cullen is nine months.
While Hedeman may be tops in his fields, he says family takes top spot in his life.
"I think you just have to put your wife and kids before the others," he said.
Hedeman, 29, is one of the 2012 honorees in Realtor Magazine's "30 Under 30," a national program that recognizes rising young stars for their commitment and dedication to the industry. The 2012 class is featured in the May/June issue of Realtor Magazine.
Rising to the top 5 percent of about 600 applicants surprised Hedeman. "I didn't think it was going to happen," he said.
Although he had admired the winners featured in the magazine in previous years, Hedeman said he submitted his application only after being encouraged to do so by his father, Steve Hedeman, broker/owner of Hedeman Real Estate Co. in Monroe.
"I thought it was a little bit far-fetched for me," he added.
In the magazine profile, Hedeman is credited with handling almost 100 residential and 10 to 15 commercial appraisals each year, and with 46 individual real estate transactions resulting in $10.2 million in sales last year.
Hedeman attributes his success to following his father's advice on business ethics: "Working hard, being honest and giving people your word and delivering on it."
The company's culture of honesty, hard work and sincere congratulations extends to the other 12 agents, he added. "Real estate doesn't have to be cut-throat," he said. "We want this to be a pleasant place to work, where you can be more productive when coming to work."
To create the top "30 under 30" list, judges also look at sales numbers in relation to the local market's median price and general conditions.
Like many of this year's "30 Under 30," Hedeman came into the real estate business, and most of the associates joined their company, shortly before or after the housing market decline. Fortunately, the real estate market is "not that bad" in and around Monroe as in some places in the county, he said.
"Property is still moving. Our company is still growing and other companies are doing well," he added.
The area market is "in a good cycle," Hedeman said. Young adults are returning to Monroe looking for large homes to raise their families, and empty-nest parents are selling large homes, but sticking around and buying smaller homes for retirement.
Properties mortgaged for more than their appraised values have also not been a big problem in the area.
"Lenders here know who they're lending to and who their parents are, and know them as more than an application," Hedeman said.
But it's still a buyer's market, he pointed out.
"Interest rates are really low right now. Prices are stagnant; I think they are as low as they are going to go," he said. "Prices improve by people going out and buying stuff.
"Property needs to be priced appropriately - that's not something a seller wants to hear," he said. "But if you price accordingly, you intrigue buyers to come in."
Sales volume and transactions numbers count when being named a top young real estate agent in the county, but they're not the end-all and be-all.
Hedeman said he believes what made him stand out from the other applicants was being a certified general real property appraiser at such a young age and being the father of two boys.
Hedeman didn't intend to get into real estate, but instead chose to become an appraiser. Working a job to pay living expenses after college, he put in 40 unpaid hours a week for two years being trained by another certified appraiser, plus another six months at just $10 an hour at an appraisal company to gain the experience to reach the highest level of state certification to appraise all types of property. He said he called 50 appraisers before one agreed to take the time to train him.
"It's a lot of work for them, too, and, think about it - they're training their competition," he said.
Hedeman became a licensed real estate agent in 2008.
"It's interesting, because now the bulk of the business is from selling real estate, which is the last thing I got into," he said.
In a career field that offers no salary and no boss, it's easy to become lax, he said. "Staying self-motivated determines your own success," he added.
His self-motivation was quickly fueled, and is now sustained, by increasing family responsibilities.
In 2008, Hedeman, a 2001 Monroe High School graduate, married Kim Prokuski, also a 2001 Monroe graduate, and they moved from Madison back to Monroe, bought a house and started a family. Son Liam is fast approaching 3 years old while Cullen is nine months.
While Hedeman may be tops in his fields, he says family takes top spot in his life.
"I think you just have to put your wife and kids before the others," he said.