Our Team Is On YOUR Side! As a top Realtor and Associate Broker, I do not work alone. I am the director of an ace team of real estate professionals. Together with Residential Realtors—Laurie Scheiber, Sergio Schmidt, and Chris Obering—The McGinn Real Estate Group can handle all of your real estate needs. 
Boyd McGinn - Associate Broker
Boyd has been in real estate for more than thirty years. The extensive experience he has gained in operating real estate businesses over that period of time is now available to you. Finding homes for families has been a lifetime pursuit. Drawing upon that experience Boyd has developed and perfected real estate systems which deliver the world class experience his clients have come to expect. Boyd brings his expertise and experience to bear in helping you make your home ownership dreams a reality. Boyd is also fluent in Spanish! The father of five children, he and his wife Ninon are now empty-nesters and grandparents and are enjoying it!
Laurie Scheiber - ABR Realtor Consultant
in Laurie's focus on combining real estate expertise, marketing, and a high level of client care helps her bring a unique approach to assist families with their home selection. Laurie listens to her clients, learning what is most important to them in their search. She takes the time to reserach options, making sure to use her clients' time well and wisely. Detail oriented and tenacious, she works hard and is a powerful advocate for her clients. Laurie lives in Columbia with her husband Cliff, and together they have six grown and growing children. She is active in the Howard County Chamber of Commerce and is a memeber of REBAC and the Institue for Luxury Home Marketing. Laurie's friendly and professional manner take stress out of the home buying and selling process, and lead many of her clients to refer their friends and family to her as the seek their own home dreams.
Sergio Schmidt - Residential Realtor
Sergio is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. He served as a pastor of the Seventh Day Adventist church in his native Brazil, and is truly concerned about what is best for his clients. He is no stranger to hard work, and labors tirelessly to assist his clients in finding homes that suit their needs. He and his wife Lilian are proud of their children: their daughter who is attending nursing college, and their son who is a senior in high school. Sergio understands the importance of having a good home and neighborhood for your family, and wants only the best for his clients.
Chris Obering - Residential Realtor
In this complex real estate market you want someone on your side who knows how to help you make the most practical decision about the price you will pay for your new home! In addition to his role as a real estate agent, Chris offers his experience as a real estate appraiser as an additional bonus for his clients. He worked as an appraiser for several years before deciding to join the more people-oriented side of the business of putting families in homes. Chris is warm, friendly, hard working, and loves negotiating on behalf of his clients. Chris and his wife Tracey have three wonderful children.
Ninon McGinn - Office Manager
Ninon is the glue that keeps us all together. She is our office manager and works hard to ensure that all business activities are clearly defined and properly executed. Ninon has many years of experience in working with computer and technology systems which add depth and consistency to our organization. In her spare time she provides invaluable motherly advice and counsel to her five grown children and spoils her grandson whenever possible.
Kathleen Zimmer - Transaction Coordinator
Kathleen coordinates the many details from contract acceptance to settlement. During that period, Kathleen will work to ensure all parties to the contract are kept up to date on developments and that all deadlines are met in a timely manner. Kathleen brings a wealth of experience to this process. She worked for a local title company for three years and has worked in the real estate industry for four years. Kathleen and her husband, Robert, have three young children: one girl and two boys. When she is working for you, you will really appreciate Kathleen's kind, efficient, and friendly manner.
Debbie Sell - Administrative Assistant
Debbie is one of the key reasons why 98% of our business comes from referrals. She plays an integral part in developing and implementing great systems which allow us to deliver the high level of service we promise our clients. Debbie has a strong background in computers and IT systems. She has been working in the real estate industry in one form or another since high school. Her background in business studies combined with her wonderful personality make Debbie a very important contributor to our success. Along with her husband Mike, Debbie enjoys warm weather sports, camping, and working with the youth in her church.

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Agency >Who Pays the Commission
Does it cost the homebuyer more to be represented by a buyer's agent who serves their interests exclusively? No, because the listing agent splits the sales commission, which is customarily paid by the seller of the home, with the buyer's agent. The sales commission split is usually 50-50, but the listing agent and buyer's agent will sometimes make another agreement and split the commission unequally.
There is one very unusual circumstance in which the homebuyer might pay a commission to their buyer's agent. The real estate agent might show the buyer a local "for sale by owner" (FSBO) home which the client decides to purchase. In most cases, the FSBO seller who is presented with a qualified buyer is glad to pay the buyer's agent a reduced fee of about 3 percent, or half of a normal sales commission. But the FSBO seller could stubbornly refuse to pay the buyer's agent any commission whatsoever. In that case, the buyer's agent would legitimately expect the buyer to pay the sales commission, in fair exchange for the agent finding the FSBO home and negotiating a successful transaction.
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What has a tremendous impact on the U.S. economy, comprising between $10-$15 trillion of the nation's wealth?
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Real Estate--it goes through cycles, but still has a long-term record of strong investment return. |
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