Whelan Properties

I can’t say enough good things about Laurie Cohen & Sue Bertell. They are a dynamic duo, helping with both the real estate side of things as well as the loan. They were easy to work with, easy to communicate with and happy to always answered my never ending questions. They are also fun. Real Estate and mortgages are stressful and not the most fun. But, they walked us through the process and make it as easy as possible. I especially like that they were always quick to respond to emails/​calls/​text. To top it all off, we got a significant credit towards closing costs. We are now enjoying our new house and loving every second of it. I highly recommend them!

I bought my first home through Whelan Properties and had a great experience. They were incredibly experienced and helpful, never more than a call or text away. They add a personal touch to the home buying process and I would highly recommend them to anybody in the market. They are very honest and don’t try to persuade you into buying something that you’re not 100% on. They work for their clients and I have nothing but positive things to say about the Whelan Properties team.

I wanted my 200^th review to be for something special, and I can’t think of anything more special than the business that helped me purchase my first home this year…
I realize that Unilocal hasn’t reached the level of success with real estate and home improvement as it has with other businesses… but I have confidence of that day coming eventually. All I know is it is that it’s another service that I — and I’m sure others — would prefer not to pick blindly. so I offer my sincerity to you.
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Neil Whelan, the owner of the company and my agent for the process, is quite possibly one of the nicest guys in the world. With extensive knowledge of real estate and home improvement, he was someone I knew I could trust, confide in, and depend on for all aspects of the process. He’s upfront and honest, and definitely not the type of agent trying to push you into a deal to get commission. In fact, I would say his real estate style is very avante garde in general… but that is juxtaposed with outstanding professionalism and reliability. He has a VERY good sense of what it will take to get an offer accepted (was pretty spot on when I checked sale prices on places I had looked at) and uses persistence to make sure your voice is heard.
Everyone looking to purchase a house has different needs, and not all agents work for everyone. So here is the info for you to make that decision:
— Rebate: Get a commission rebate on the close of the deal to buy points for your loan and/​or cover most (or possibly all) closing costs.
— Control of viewings: This isn’t an agent that «shows you places you may like.» So if you need that, he’s not your guy. But with all the means of searching through MLS listings on the computer nowadays, most people do the looking on their own anyway. DYI searching yields rebate $- and I think that incentive makes it worth it! Plus I don’t know about you but I’m in front of a computer all day anyway…
— No sugar coating: He doesn’t try to make crap look like gold but when he sees potential in a place he will let you know… but also whether or not it would be expensive to improve (very construction savvy and experienced). As an SD native he has a great deal of knowledge about many SD areas and value/​potential for value. Moral of the story is that he is there to advise but the decision is all you and he won’t try to influence you
— Have their own loan business: There are a lot of choices in getting a loan, but it’s nice to have one company handling everything. Their mortgage consultant Laurie Cohen is a rock star in getting get low rates (she really have a gift for knowing when to lock in) and making sure all the pieces are in place to get your loan in a timely manner.
Neil is also a firefighter (they work 24 hr shifts spread throughout the month) but that doesn’t prevent him from being any less responsive or dedicated than anyone else. My favorite joke was when he texted me that he was responding to me with one hand and giving CPR with the other. He’s a funny guy.
So anyway… there are tons of choices out there but it’s always nice to get a referral. Neil and his company worked out great for me and I’ve enjoyed the relationship I built with him over the year. Even though our business is completed, I consider him a lifelong friend.
Worth considering if his style works for you! And happy house hunting!