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closeCyndaMar connects with clients
New business in downtown Gig Harbor focuses on community aspect
Lorna Rodriguez
of the Gateway
Cyndi Wilson and Mary Burson, co-owners of CyndaMar Real Estate and Associates, opened their business because they care about the community and want to make a difference.
The business specializes in residential, condominiums, investments and land sales and serves Pierce, Kitsap and Mason counties, Wilson said. It opened June 16.
“The reason we opened our brokerage is because we had aspirations and goals and services that we wanted to provide clients and the community that we felt we couldn’t until we opened our own brokerage,” Wilson said.
Client Gus Berry of Gig Harbor loves the feel of the office.
“I just think they’re refreshing. It’s kind of a new concept, and it’s fun,” Berry said. “Their office is just really relaxing. You don’t feel like you’re going into a stuffy real estate office.”
Wilson said one of the company’s goals is to help the community.
“We’re offering hometown support for clients that may be in hardship because of the economy,” she said.
Despite the economic downturn, Gig Harbor is faring well, Wilson said.
“It’s a little cocoon here,” she said. “We’re not trying to minimize people losing homes, but we’re not hit as hard as other parts of Washington or the rest of the nation.”
Burson said they’re not seeing as many bank foreclosures in the area.
“We’re basing it on what we see, and we have not seen, that many bank-owned or listings that are in a short-sale situation,” Burson said.
Another reason Gig Harbor is faring relatively well is because interest rates are low and property values have dropped, Burson said.
Between these two factors, Burson said this is a perfect time to buy a home.
Nevertheless, the co-owners still face challenges with the current economy.
Right now, the biggest problem is with lending institutions, Burson said. There are more restrictions, so that keeps a lot of people from purchasing property.
Another challenge facing homebuyers is the appraisal system. Burson said some changes result in homes not appraised as high as they should be.
“People are having a tough time getting financing,” Burson said. “People are very payment-conscious right now, and that’s what’s keeping a lot of the upper-end homes from selling.”
In addition to focusing on personal relationships with clients, Burson and Wilson give part of their proceeds to the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Campaign and publish a monthly newsletter, Heartbeat, that educates women about heart disease.
One fact Burson and Wilson try to emphasize is that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women.
“We’re both older women, so we want to bring awareness to those around us,” Burson said.
The newsletter is distributed through e-mail, or people can go to the store and pick up a copy, Burson said.
“We’re locally owned and operated and have a passion for what we do,” Wilson said. “We love this community and want to give back to it.”
CyndaMar is located at 8811 N. Harborview Drive, Suite B, in Gig Harbor. For more information, call 253-857-8855.