Marking PAR’s 100th Anniversary: Past President Sandy Stevens

Editor’s note: The Pennsylvania Association of Realtors® is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. As part of our Member Profile feature, we’ll be highlighting some of the Realtors® who have served as president of the organization.

Name: Sandy Stevens
Company: Howard Hanna Realty Pioneers, Wellsboro
Years in real estate: 50 years
Local association: North Central Penn Board of Realtors®
Year served: 1992 president

Sandy Stevens and her husband Thad have the distinction of being the only Realtor® couple who have both served as president of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors®. Sandy served eight years after Thad’s presidency in 1984.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?
If I had the opportunity, I would tell my younger self to study harder and more than I did when I was that age. I would also tell myself to become more involved with my community and the people around me.

Why should agents get involved in their local, state and national associations?
When I talk to Realtors® in my area or in my district, I explain the benefits of becoming involved in our local, state and national associations of Realtors®. They’re going to be rewarded much more than the time they give, and they’ll have much more given back to them.

What advice would you give someone who was thinking about moving up through the offices at PAR?
If you’re going to become involved with the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors® by attending meetings in Harrisburg, first become involved on committees. Then consider going through the line offices to the presidency. It’s going to be the most wonderful time of your life. You’re going to experience so many things and the rewards are wonderful.

What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in the real estate market since you started?
I started in real estate in 1970. At that time, interest rates were 18-19%. We went through a time period where the savings and loans crashed and at that time, they were our biggest mortgage lenders. So, the real estate market was sort of in the basement at the time. Now, here we are with interest rates of 3%, 4% and 5% and the real estate market is wonderful. When I started in real estate, we had a one-page Agreement of Sale form. The front of the form was the entire contract and on the back of that was pre-printed verbiage with the real estate commission rates outlined. Everything we needed was just right there on that one page. Now, we have a 13- or 14-page standard Agreement of Sale. A lot has changed over that time period.

Do you think the environment or technology will have a bigger impact on real estate in the next 100 years?
I believe technology will have a bigger impact on real estate, more than the environment does, but I’m not sure. When I think of the environment, how that could change as well, there be a lot of changes. It’s going to be amazing.