Ken Follis: helping buyers find their dream home

Being a successful real estate professional requires understanding what each individual client is looking for, especially in today’s market. Ken Follis, a real estate expert with over 31 years in the industry, enjoys the fact that every buyer and seller is different.

“Every real estate property is unique, and every seller and buyer is unique,” said Follis. “I try to find what is best for them. For some sellers, it may not be the best time to sell, but it may be the right time for someone to buy.”

Follis calls himself a real estate consultant, and believes that it is part of his job, to be able to ease the fears of his clients while helping them from the beginning to the end of the process.

According to Follis, who specializes in Northern San Diego, Southern Riverside and Southern Orange counties, many buyers are hesitant to purchase a home in today’s real estate market because they believe that home prices will continue to drop.

“Buying a home will be cheaper than renting the home they are in, and I can show them how to do it,” said Follis. “There are several programs to help first-time buyers, including an urban development programs and zero percent down

programs for those with good credit. If you are supposed to be able to buy a home, you should be able to be financed to do so.”

With his vast experience in the real estate market, Follis stated he enjoys helping first-time buyers get into their dream home.

“It’s a hand-holding expedition,” said Follis. “I walk clients through the process, and anticipate the questions they will ask before they ask them. I try to explain the process they way I would want it explained to me.”

By being straightforward and honest in the process, Follis has developed longtime, repeat clients.

“I have been able to develop clients, some of which have done over 20 transactions with me,” stated Follis. “Buyers become investors, and as a real estate investor myself, I have sold quite a few apartment buildings.”

Because he had dual careers as both real estate professional and owner of a manufacturing business (until 2004), Follis has vast experience in negotiations and buying and selling, which benefits his clients. Follis also works hard to help ease the minds of sellers who are concerned with selling their homes in a market that might not get them as much as they would like for their home.

“If I can get my sellers past the fact that they are not getting as much for their home as they should, they can see what a fabulous deal they will get on the home they wish to purchase,” said Follis.

In order to be able to sell a home successfully, Follis understands that sellers must realize what buyers are looking for.

“It seems that current buyers want more efficient, highly-upgraded homes with less square footage,” he said. “This is not to say that there isn’t a guy who wants a 5,500-sq. ft. estate, but the bulk of buyers want more efficient homes.”

Currently, Follis is marketing a new housing development located off of Ridge Drive near Live Oak Park called The Ridge.

“It’s a gated property with fabulous views,” said Follis. “It’s very spacious with two-acre lots. Prices are between $299,000 and $399,000. In the higher market, these homes would have sold for $500,000 to $600,000.”

For those beginning to investigate a real estate purchase or sale, Follis recommends visiting his website, http://www.kenfollis.com for some ideas.

“People can concentrate on map searches, and look at specific areas,” said Follis. “They can also ask specific questions, search the general value of their homes, get pre-qualified (for a mortgage), and speak to one of the best agents around.”

Ken Follis is based out of the Willis Allen Real Estate office, located at 1595 South Mission Rd. For more information, go to

http://www.kenfollis.com, call (760) 803-6235 or email [email protected].