Hello, we are Frank & Karen Baker, a true husband & wife real estate team. We have been married for 39 years and work full time running our real estate business. Our company is dedicated to working with BUYERS delivering the highest level of customer service. We always represent our clients with the utmost honesty and integrity. We provide the most up to date information for our clients by employing the newest technology available. Most importantly, we make the home buying and selling experience enjoyable as we help our clients find the home of their dreams.
We are both natives of New York City, Karen from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and Frank from Staten Island. Although retirement in Sunset Beach, NC had long been a dream, it happened a little sooner than expected when Frank, a Lieutenant for the Fire Dept. of New York with 20 years service, and Karen, a critical care RN for more than 25 years, decided to semi-retire and move to Sunset Beach in 2003.
We both became licensed real estate brokers in the states of NC and SC in June 2006. We started working for a large Weichert Realtors franchise to take advantage of their extensive training program because we believe education is the key to success in any endeavor.
As the market changed we strengthened ourselves with as much education as possible and acquired multiple designations. In April 2010 we formed our own Real Estate Company and Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty was born.
We have attained the knowledge and experience to ensure each transaction runs smoothly from start to finish. We have a network of reputable professional service providers with whom we work and refer should the need arise. We also have a large and active referral database so that we are able to help clients, friends and family anywhere in the country find the most highly qualified real estate agents to assist with the sale or purchase of a home.
Building relationships is extremely important to us and we are proud of the fact that many of our clients come from referrals of satisfied clients.
In our spare time we are usually outdoors enjoying golf or walking on Sunset Beach and spoiling our adorable doggies, Bonita & Bella.
We also truly love visiting our daughter Tamzen and her partner Emily in Pennsylvania and our son Travis, our daughter-in-law Kristy and grandson Zachary in Massachusetts, but most of all we enjoy turning clients into new friends and neighbors.
The Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) is the highest Designation awarded to real estate professionals in the residential sales field. The CRS Designation recognizes professional accomplishments in both experience and education.
ABR - The Accredited Buyer Representative Designation is the benchmark of excellence in Buyer representation. This coveted designation is awarded to real estate practitioners who meet the specified educational and practical experience criteria. The ABR® designation is designed for real estate Buyer Agents who focus on working directly with Buyer-clients. By attaining the ABR®, you receive valuable real estate education that elevates your skills and knowledge in the eyes of home Buyers. There is also ongoing specialized information, programs, and updates that help you stay on top of the issues and trends in successfully representing Buyers.
GRI - Graduate REALTOR® Institute is the mark of a highly trained real estate professional who has made the commitment to provide a high level of professional services by securing a strong educational foundation to better serve and protect their Clients. It is nationally recognized, and is considered the nation's number one professional real estate designation. This designation may only be earned after successfully completing a rigorous educational program that requires 92 hours of live course instruction on topics ranging from marketing and servicing listed properties to real estate law. It is one of the most comprehensive training programs available to Realtors®today. GRI is recognized nationwide as the standard for real estate professionalism. A GRI has superior knowledge of real estate marketing, and has acquired skills that will set them apart from other REALTORS®.
SFR - Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource is a new Designation that is available through the National Association of Realtors®. Unfortunately, it is a sad fact of life that short sales and foreclosures comprise a large amount of today's standard real estate transactions. These deals are not at all like the traditional transaction with which we were so familiar. It is important that the Realtor® knows how to help Sellers understand the complexities and repercussions of a short sale. It also takes special knowledge to help a Buyer pursue these opportunities knowledgeably. These are not just good skills to have in this market, they are critical to making sure that you are representing your Client professionally. Short sales (where a home is sold to a Buyer for less than what the Seller owes to the Mortgage Company) are not for the Realtor® who is faint of heart. Agents who have received the SFR Designation will have much more confidence to see the transaction through to the end, and are much more likely to have the proper tools and training to navigate the rough waters of a short sale or foreclosure for their Client.
ePRO - is a Realtor® who has been Certified by completing training endorsed by the National Association of Realtors® in the specialized area of using the internet to better assist their Clients. If you use the internet, and you are looking to buy or sell a home, it is important that you work with an ePRO. You can trust doing business with them online, knowing that you will receive the information you need, but that you won't be spammed. They respond quickly to your questions, but know enough not to send you unwanted communications. Your personal information is protected, knowing that an ePRO will guard your privacy. You will receive the most up-to-date information available from a professional who knows the intricacies of online navigation. If you are relocating, an ePRO is an absolute must. With the tools to do your research electronically, the entire buying decision can be made online with a competent ePRO who can show you houses online, can share videos, electronic contracts and signatures, email, and any number of other resources that are at your disposal to make your transaction smooth and streamlined from showing to closing.