Meet The Owner: Steve Maginnis

How It All Started

After my stint in the Navy, I moved back to the Charlotte area and took over a family retail business, and operated it for a couple of years. However, it was not my calling and I eventually closed it down. Shortly before, I purchased an old farmhouse with a barn that had been converted into three studio apartments. I operated the business in the house and lived there while renting the triplex every week. 



After closing the business, I immediately walled off every area of the old home and converted it to a weekly boarding house. I rented rooms for $80-90 weekly. I had nine rooms in the house plus the barn. About $4300 monthly income from the boarding house, and my mortgage was owner financed at $500 a month. I was hooked.

I gained a ton of personal experience renting to weekly boarders. I have some crazy stories as well. I obtained my NC license during this time and went to work at Century 21. I did all the normal sales work. I still hate cold-calling. Eventually, I found myself working mainly with like-minded investors, since I had that mentality and experience.

The Founding of FIRM

Word spread that I had a knack for dealing with investors and I became a top producer. I made a move to ReMax after about two years. Naturally, my clients asked if I knew of a manager for their rentals. Since I had the experience, I eventually started Investors Realty as a sole proprietor and began managing property. Not long after I focused primarily on this area.



I suffered a divorce during and perhaps as a result of the housing crash in 2007/2008. I ended up going to work for another large property management company in Charlotte and was there for over five years as a residential property manager. It was a good learning experience for me and I feel it only enforces my abilities to help investors meet their goals. I never closed down First Investor Realty & Management during this time, but I did not perform any management for my company other than my personal properties.

What Makes FIRM Different

I prefer to keep things small. I've learned that you cannot be a big company and offer flexible services. I like the fact that we can customize our services to meet your expectations. Yes, as I grow, I will hire one or two like-minded people, but for now, you have all my attention.

While technically born in Lexington SC, I moved to the area around 2, and have lived in nearly every surrounding community since. I'm happy to call Charlotte my home. I am quite familiar with how the markets have changed over the years and can spot those set to improve. 



I pride myself on putting together creative deals where each party feels they win. I am a Realtor and consider myself to be very moral and ethical. I believe in disclosing the worst so it will not come back to bite me later. Perhaps that is not the best technique to get the deal done, but I sleep well at night knowing I deal fairly and treat others as I expect to be treated. I try to provide affordable, flexible options to owners / Landlords. I look forward to working with you.

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