I help them see the value of investing in themselves and building equity.
Charvez Miles
Real estate in Detroit has seen many changes over the last 15 years. Due to bankruptcy, political discrepancies, modifications to specific areas in the city, and the pandemic, many people struggle to maintain a place to call home.
With pandemic-era protections expiring, eviction filings in Detroit rose from historic lows to 75% of the pre-pandemic rate as of June. At the current filing rate, 21% of Detroit renters—61,000 tenants—will face the threat of eviction this year. - Poverty Solutions U of M
Ultimately I help give people a place to call home!
Charvez Miles
To prevent evictions, the researchers recommended enforcing Detroit's rental ordinance, reducing no-cause evictions by passing "just cause" and "right to renew" laws that better protect tenants against arbitrary or retaliatory evictions, banning evictions during the winter and the school year for households with children. - Michigan Property Solutions
THE MEET UP
I met with Charvez Miles, a Broker, and owner of CMiles Realty. His responsibilities include management, training, and motivating his agents. He also helps new and potential homeowners looking to sell or purchase with the home-buying process.
Charvez was born and raised in Detroit, so he has seen the changes firsthand. Not only has he seen the changes, but he understands the importance of home ownership. He helps his clients navigate buying and selling their properties.
I remember telling my grandmother at 9 or 10 that I wanted to own a strip mall!
Charvez Miles
"It's like I knew the power of owning property at a young age. From there, it was always on my mind and came up frequently in conversations as I tried to find my way in." At 21 years of age, Charvez became a landlord through the assistance of a family friend, and he hasn't looked back since.
I got a chance to watch Charvez in action as he went through the process of preparing a home for sale. He met with the current homeowner, reviewed the house, took photos, and evaluated the potential selling price.
"My greatest joy in the business comes in 2 parts:
1. Watching a person overcome adversity, anxiety, and anticipation and become a 1st-time homeowner! Knowing they took the first step to financial stability and generational wealth never gets old!
2. Helping existing homeowners to capitalize on their largest, most valuable investment and use the funds to move on to send their children to college, purchase their homes, or move on to the next step of their lives is very rewarding!
I like to say that I've made hundreds of thousandaires! Putting checks for hundreds of thousands of dollars in my client's hands all from the power of real estate."
Residential property values in the city climbed an average of 31% last year, marking the fifth straight year of growth, based on a review of the previous two years of housing market sales. In comparison, Detroit's values rose 8% per neighborhood from 2020 to 2021. - Detroit News
What is your title and the responsibilities of your job?
Broker/Owner Manage, train, and motivate our agents. Provide Seller Consultation, market analysis, and marketing strategies for new and potential homeowners looking to sell. Buyer Consultation and homebuying education for new and potential clients looking to purchase and assisting with the home-buying process
How do you serve the city of Detroit?
I help people transition from tenant to homeowner! I offer free homebuyer Education courses and consultation on the homebuying process. I help them see the value of investing in themselves and building equity in their properties instead of paying their landlord's mortgage. And ultimately, I help give people a place to call home! Now and for generations to come!
Can you describe the day-to-day there?
The day starts by checking emails and replying to website inquiries. Then social media marketing and updates 3rd update the team on company activity(new listings, sales, motivation, etc.). Check activity and feedback on current listings. Finally, check on new listings for buyers, set showing appointments
Why did you choose to go into the real estate? ( your back story)
I'm not sure why, but ever since I was a kid I've been in love with real estate. I remember telling my grandmother at 9 or 10 that I wanted to own a strip mall! It's like I knew the power of owning property at a young age. From there, it was always on my mind and came up frequently in conversations as I tried to find my way in. Eventually, a family friend offered me the opportunity to take over her rental property after her husband died. I jumped at the opportunity and became a landlord at 21 before I had my own home and never looked back! I ended up owning three properties before I was 25: a 2-family flat, a single-family rental, and my own home. Later due to a few unfavorable investments, economic changes, and family hardships, I ended up losing the properties. I lay dormant for three years, looking for a way back in, and in 2008, in the heart of the recession, I got my sales persons license. I worked unceasingly as an agent for seven years, setting records and exceeding personal goals until ultimately starting my own company in 2016. We are now a company of 13 agents, listing and selling homes in and around Detroit!
At the end of the day, what puts a smile on your face?
My greatest joy in the business comes in 2 parts: 1. Watching a person overcome adversity, anxiety, and anticipation and become a 1st-time homeowner! Knowing they took the first step to financial stability and generational wealth never gets old! 2. Helping existing homeowners to capitalize on their largest, most valuable investment and use the funds to move on to send their children to college, purchase their two homes, or move on to the next step of their lives is very rewarding! I like to say that I've made hundreds of thousandaires! Putting checks for hundreds of thousands of dollars in my client's hands all from the power of real estate
Any funny or challenging stories with clients that you could share?
Too many! In the heart of the recession, I was able to assist my mother and father purchase homes for cash at ridiculously low prices that have now tripled in value, giving both the opportunity to enjoy retirement without the burden of a mortgage payment
