Before Robert Roper was ever a trusted real estate advisor for @properties, he made a hobby out of rehabbing houses himself. At the time, he was working as a consultant for start-up communications and financial companies, but his natural enjoyment on his rehab projects rekindled his childhood fascination with design and build. “I grew up drawing my dream floor plans of what my mansion was going to look like,” says Roper with a laugh. “You know, building my houses with LEGOs and Lincoln Logs. I’ve always been interested in houses and I really appreciate design, so I got involved with that.” Soon he became a developer, general contractor, and project manager, which cultivated skills and a network of construction contacts that proved terrific assets when he transitioned into real estate.

“It’s been very valuable because I’m able to assess my clients’ potential investment, save them lots of money, and protect the value of their home using both my real estate and design/build experience,” says Roper. “On the list side, I still have resources that I leverage, helping them get their place ready for what will maximize their resale potential. On the purchase side, I’ve worked with clients that wanted to redo the kitchen or bathroom, and I’ve been able to give them an idea of what those costs are going to be and factor that into the purchase price. I’ve helped people with 203K loans, where you have a construction loan built into your mortgage for doing improvements upon purchasing your home. It’s been a very complimentary background for success as a realtor.”

He also heads up a team at @properties called The Roper Residential Group. The group uses a “strength in numbers” approach to their clients’ interests and goals. The group dynamic makes them more efficient and nimble than any single realtor operating on their own, and they treat each listing and purchase as if it was their own investment.

As of recently, Roper’s been focusing a lot of energy on new sustainable community, slightly west of us, called Serosun Farms. “It’s a low-density sustainable community; a rural setting with a lot of amenities,” says Roper. “There are equestrian facilities, 40 acres of woodland and trails, a farmers market, and all the homes are custom-designed to minimize the impact on the land. And they’re all high performing as well as sustainable. Some buyers that we’re working with are buying them as second homes, kind of like a country retreat. Others want to live out there but have that close proximity to the city. It’s the best of both worlds.”

For more information on Robert Roper or his listings, call 773-432-0200, or email him at [email protected].