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Incoming president brings a 'downtown' perspective to her new role

By Cindy Hodnett
HomePlace Writer

It's a little cold on the rooftop of the Piedmont Leaf Lofts, but the view is worth it. Buffered by some of Winston-Salem's most iconic structures, the Leaf Lofts have been renovated into the type of residential building many people longed for during the early days of downtown revitalization, and 2008 Winston-Salem Regional Association of Realtors' President Julie Poplin says the view is just one of the things she enjoys as a resident.

"Once our kids were out on their own, it was the perfect time for us to do this," Poplin said as she conducted an impromptu tour of her loft. "We're just slightly removed from the busy center of downtown, but we can really 'feel the pulse' of Winston-Salem by living here. ... There is a vibrant neighborhood downtown, and it's not just in the West End or West Salem. This area is a good bridge between all of the others."

Downtown Winston-Salem has been the focus of many development projects in recent years, and as an increasing numbers of buyers are lured by the appeal of restaurants, coffee shops and entertainment within easy walking distance of home, many real-estate agents find themselves taking a second look at downtown housing. As Poplin prepares to head up the work of the association, she is planning to share her experiences as a downtown resident while also working with WSRAR members to build on the strength of a thriving professional organization.

"I was licensed eight years ago, and in that time, I have never witnessed a normal market," Poplin said. "This market has always been so phenomenal, and now that we're experiencing a 'normal' market, I think it is important to remember that there is still a night-and-day difference between the Triad and other markets like California and New York City. People read the national news and panic, but there has never been a better time to buy real estate than now."

Poplin grew up on a Pee Dee River island near Rockingham. She learned about the value of "location, location, location" when her family demolished a crumbling old house on the river and recycled the brick, heart-pine floors and numerous architectural features to build the house in which her parents still live. Poplin said she still "enjoys going home to the river," and added that she had her first glimpse at real-estate success when marketing her own home many years later.

"My husband and I met while I was attending Appalachian," Poplin said. "We married, moved to the Mooresville/Lake Norman area and started our family. We purchased an 1,100-square-foot brick ranch in 1980, and six years later, I marketed the house and sold it in less than a week. I repeated the process when we left Asheville and moved to Winston-Salem in 1989. These events were key to my interest in real estate, but that was secondary to raising our family."

After working in the education field for several years, Poplin joined Graham & Boles Properties in 1999. She said that the company provided the perfect environment for a rookie, and that she "soaked up as much knowledge" as possible. Today, she works with the Stratford Road office of Allen Tate Realtors and is looking forward to using her professional and personal background to benefit the Association of Realtors as well as the community.

"[A successful Realtor is] one who isn't afraid to work hard and takes seriously the commitment to protect and serve their client's best interests - one who is able to adjust to and embrace change and still maintain a balanced life," Poplin said. "A successful Realtor is a positive influence in all that they encounter and follows the principle of the Golden Rule when dealing with both clients and fellow Realtors.

"I want to help inform and educate our members so that they are able to not only survive, but thrive during any market adjustments," she continued. "I want to help our association recognize the leadership potential of some of our newer members and foster a working relationship with our sister associations in Greensboro and High Point so that we might be ready to address some of the regional issues in our industry."

Poplin would also like to encourage continued membership growth in the association and build on the partnerships the organization has formed with Habitat for Humanity, the Children's Center for the Physically Disabled and SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now). She wants the general public to understand that the association plays an important role in the local housing environment, and she is proud of WSRAR's diverse membership.

"Our diverse group provides a positive impact on our local economy," Poplin said. "There is power in numbers, and our organization brings together 'individuals who provide professional services in the transfer, use, enjoyment and ownership of real property.' Our affiliate members keep us informed about the changes in their fields, so we truly are the best resource for anyone considering buying or selling real estate."

And even with national gloom-and-doom headlines, Poplin believes that the local market will continue to be a positive one on the real-estate landscape.

"I am as bad as the next person when it comes to reading the headlines or being overwhelmed with information overload," she said. "With all the talk of 'booms and bursting bubbles,' people need to remember to put things in perspective. Even if you can't grasp the fact that real-estate markets are local, nationally, 2007 will still be considered the fifth-best housing year on record. With rates remaining low, it's a great time to buy a house."

For more information on the Winston-Salem Regional Association of Realtors, call 336-768-5560.