By Nathan Johnson, Broker at G Stiles Realty
I don’t think many people understand what an average day looks like as a real estate broker. We do a lot more than looking up houses and showing them to our clients. In fact, most days I spend on research, paperwork, and due diligence. A lot of people hear that term but don’t really know what it means. It’s the process of checking all the legal and logistical details tied to a property before a deal moves forward. That means calling the city to ask about zoning, checking with the county on septic records, reviewing title reports, and making sure things like road access are actually recorded and legal. It’s not the kind of work that makes for exciting TV, but it’s what protects our clients and keeps deals from falling apart halfway through.
My name is Nathan Johnson, and I am part of the family business at G Stiles Realty. I grew up around real estate. My parents, Greg and Carol Johnson, have built this company over the years into one of the most trusted brokerages in the area. Now I work alongside them, helping clients navigate everything that comes with buying or selling a property. One thing I have learned firsthand is that local experience can make or break a transaction.
Zoning is a big one. I’m regularly contacting the city or the county to find out what a property is actually approved for, whether it’s part of a land use program, and what the zoning allows. I also look into things like whether it has a septic system, where it’s located, and how old it is. These are the kinds of things that can cause problems later if no one checks. Most buyers don’t know to ask, but it’s a big part of making sure the deal goes through without surprises.
One situation that comes to mind involved a house I was helping sell in Glide. The home had been there since the 1940s. It looked like any other rural property, but there was a major issue. It had no legal access. The driveway passed through a neighboring property, and no official easement had ever been recorded. That meant, technically, the owners did not have the legal right to drive to their own house.
You might be able to use the road without a problem, but that is not good enough for lenders. When banks see that a property lacks legal access, they will not approve the loan. They need to know that the buyer has formal permission to cross another property, and that the proper documentation is filed with the county. Without that, a deal can fall apart, and quickly.
We had to come up with a solution quickly, so I reached out to the neighbors and started the legal process of setting up an easement. The entire deal was on the line, as without the easement, the bank wouldn’t sign off on the loan. It took some effort, and a lot of back and forth with the owners, but we got it done. With everyone on the same page and the correct documents filed we were able to get the close.
This is the kind of work that often goes unseen. A lot of people think real estate is just about showing houses and writing offers, but real estate professionals who know the local landscape bring a lot more to the table. We know how to spot issues early and solve them before they become problems. That includes everything from zoning and access to permits and utility records.
At G Stiles Realty, we have been doing this work for decades. We understand what it takes to move a deal from start to finish. We do not just work with buyers and sellers. We also work with cities, counties, lenders, title companies, and neighbors. We put in the extra effort to make sure every piece of the puzzle fits.
If you are buying or selling a property, especially one with rural access, shared driveways, or special zoning, make sure you are working with a broker who knows the area. These legal and logistical details are not just fine print. They are what make the difference between a clean deal and a broken contract.
At G Stiles Realty, we are here to help you get it right. We are not just your listing agents or buying agents. We are local professionals who know the rules, know the people, and know how to help you move forward with confidence.
