Guru John Creamer with Century 21 Sheetz

Rick Ripma: 0:00

Welcome to Indy's Real Estate Gurus. I'm Rick Ripma, your hard working mortgage guy and I've been in real estate and mortgages for over 34 years, I've helped over 5300 folks finance their homes, my team and I believe in custom tailored loans, not the one size fits all approach. We believe there is the right mortgage for you and we believe we are the team to deliver it.

Ian Arnold: 0:17

And I'm Ian Arnold part Rick's hard working mortgage team. I've been in the financial industry for 15 years, helping customers get the best possible credit score so you can get the best rates. I have a passion helping you secure your overall real estate dreams. And if you're anything like me, pay your home off even faster.

Rick Ripma: 0:32

And if you have any questions on Indiana real estate or mortgages, please go to HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com That's HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com You can look in an eye up there, you can contact us or you can see a variety of videos. Or you can give us a call at 31767 No, that's not my number. I keep wanting to give the wrong number 31767 It is the right number 31767 to 9030. I got too dang many numbers 31767 to 1938. So that was bad. And today we have a great real estate agent on he's been phenomenal producer and a great guy. And you've been in the business a little while John

John Creamer: 1:13

since 1986. Yeah, so that's a little bit yeah. I stopped counting.

Rick Ripma: 1:19

And and John creamer

John Creamer: 1:22

is Kramer Kramer spelled creamer. So okay. It's like creamer but it's actually pronounced Kramer. Okay, perfect.

Rick Ripma: 1:28

And you're with Century 21 sheets. Yep. All right. And if somebody wanted to get a hold of you, what is the best way to get a hold of you? If you have any real estate needs

John Creamer: 1:36

call or text? 317-250-5646? That's 317250 J OHN?

Rick Ripma: 1:44

Oh, is that how you did that? Yes. That J Oh, 5646564. Yeah, now you're lucky to get a number.

John Creamer: 1:54

317 Yeah, right. Yeah, no,

Rick Ripma: 1:56

that means we've been around a while we know and seven getting that way. So before real estate. If you can remember back back before real estate, you're like me, it's kind of hard to remember back that far. But what Where'd you grow up? What did you do? Where'd you go to school.

John Creamer: 2:09

I'm actually from northern Ohio. Not very far from Cedar Point, if you've ever been to the amusement park, and I went to John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, and then I came here to Indianapolis and actually had too much fun at a wedding and wound up staying. By choice I got left behind. So it's a really funny story. But I when I first moved to Indianapolis, I was in the insurance business for about six months, and didn't like that. So I got into the real estate business in 1986, a year after I graduated from John Carroll.

Rick Ripma: 2:40

You can't tease us like that. So can you tell us that really funny story of how you stayed in India and

John Creamer: 2:46

like my cousin was getting married. And my cousin was also a very good friend of mine. And so I was very active in the wedding and knew everybody that was in the wedding and decided to spend the night at the holiday home back in the day. Oh, yeah. And we wound up swimming late at night and spent the night at the Holiday Inn. And when I got back to my grandmother's house, the family was gone thinking I had my car here. Well, my car was in Cleveland, Ohio, because I had gone down to see Huey Lewis in the news down in Cincinnati with a bunch of friends. And then I got a ride with one of the delivery drivers from Cincinnati to Indianapolis. And my family didn't realize I didn't have a car here. So I actually did get left behind. And I had graduated in May and had worked for the alumni office at John Carroll University. And so I thought, well, while I'm here, I might as well look for a job. And I wound up getting a job selling insurance and I took a Greyhound bus back to Cleveland packed up my stuff and moved here. That was 37 years ago. So the movie Home Alone was almost based off of you. Yes, exactly. I gave the original idea. He was a tattle. Yeah,

Ian Arnold: 3:55

they changed something. Yeah.

Rick Ripma: 3:58

So you did that. Now you're an insurance? What? What? How'd you end up going over into real estate?

John Creamer: 4:06

My most of my family was in the retail car business. And I actually was not enough just to not enjoy the it was a very c minus health insurance policy that I was selling at the time. And it was sold all over the state of Indiana. And so I was I was back traveling, some people trying to upsell them on insurance. And it just wasn't my cup of tea. So I went in and talked to my uncle about selling cars. And he said, Well, you know, we've been in the business for two generations, and we're going to be here. Is there something else you'd like to do first while you're still 22 years old? And I said, Well, you know, I've always thought about real estate. And he said, Well, I would really encourage you to go get your real estate license and see if that's something you would enjoy doing as a career and that believe it or not led to me. He said that it will always be here in the car business if it doesn't work out. 37 years later, it worked out Pretty well, we still haven't gotten to the carpus. I used to

Rick Ripma: 5:04

22 It's hard to remember when I was 22 Doesn't seem like a whole nother life ago.

John Creamer: 5:09

Yes, it does. Yes. I can remember telling my father that. I said, you know, one of my problems is everybody thinks I'm too young to sell real estate in my father looked at me and said that problem will go away. He was right. He was right.

Rick Ripma: 5:23

Yeah. Do they look at us now and say we're too old?

John Creamer: 5:26

Well, that's when I in 1988. I started using a realtor since 1986. And I've been using it ever since.

Rick Ripma: 5:34

Yeah, that's fantastic. So So you got into real estate. And I know that it's it's a difficult career to get going in. So do you remember how what did you do? How did you get going way back then to get your business off the ground and to become what you have today?

John Creamer: 5:52

Well, I wasn't from Indianapolis, although I did have. My mother's family was from Indianapolis. So I did have some family members here. Thank God, family and friends have been my best source of business. Throughout my entire career. I started working for a company called the Margaret Evans company. And believe it or not, Margaret Evans was one of the first woman brokers in the state of Indiana, she had since passed away, her company was still in existence. But I think I was the only one in the office under the age of 60. When I went to work there, and one of the ladies, one of the realtors in the office, her name was Marlene Weiser introduced me to the business. And so it really was a unique opportunity. The office was in Broad Ripple. And a lot of the business that they were getting, they didn't want to hold open houses, because they were they were too old and tired. And but they had lots of listings. And they were constantly listing homes cheaper than what they were worth. So it was an ideal situation for me to get in there and bring some of my young friends and, and I really started selling homes and broader pool. And that's the way it happened. So I was I was probably the only one back in those days, they'd have floor duty, where you'd answer the phone during certain hours today. And I could go in, they closed the office at 430. So I went in at 430 and shut the answering machine off and I'd answer the phone until six or seven. And believe it or not, an awful lot of people would call on the way home. And those days you didn't call from your car phone, you know, you might see a home for sale. And you'd write down the phone number and you'd call when you got home. So in you know if somebody was there to answer the phone, you got to call. So you know, it's so

Rick Ripma: 7:37

interesting, because what you did is you worked, right? That's really what you said I work when I was in the car business. We closed early on Thursday, or on Tuesday nights and Friday nights. And we closed at six and you know lots of people like to go shopping for cars when the when the dealerships closed. Right, right, we would hang out when we were closed, doors locked everything. You couldn't really do anything. So they if somebody's out there, I'd be I go act like I'm walking to my car, run into him. Right? Start talking to him. And they inevitably came back the next day and bought a car and they always said you never put any pressure on us. We really appreciated that everybody else was pressuring us. It's like, we were close or what?

John Creamer: 8:23

Yeah, yeah.

Rick Ripma: 8:24

works when you are smart. And you picked out. It's amazing. You picked out a real estate office that was all women and older. And they probably it

John Creamer: 8:36

wasn't by choice. You didn't do that on purpose. It didn't do that on purpose now,

Rick Ripma: 8:41

because I'm sure they took you under their wing too. That's the nice thing when you're 22 years old. And they women tend to take a young guy under their wing and really want to help them out and then set them up with girls and all I mean, they just

John Creamer: 8:54

they just Yes, that was definitely true. Yeah.

Rick Ripma: 8:58

He seems upset about it.

John Creamer: 9:01

Was that it was that believe me? I didn't date anyone in the office, that's for sure.

Ian Arnold: 9:06

What do you we're going out here, right?

John Creamer: 9:10

Yeah, we're a couple mortgage reps though. But anyways.

Ian Arnold: 9:15

So I do have to ask since you've been in the industry a while what have you noticed? What big differences have you noticed change between when you first started and

John Creamer: 9:25

now the speed of the transaction? Without question? You know, I used to take i We I jokingly say this because it was only really my first year in the business that we would drive around and pick up keys. And you'd go to the office it had to house listed pick up the key show the house. And if if your buyer liked the house, you wouldn't return the key. You know, you'd keep it to the next morning and say, Well, I thought the office was closed and then nobody else could show the home until you return the key. So then then graves and Tucker came out with a lockbox and everybody else quickly followed, and the first ones were at the top of the door. And the law was back in those days that you could not discuss a real estate transaction over the telephone. So if you wrote an offer on a home, I couldn't call Rick and say, Rick, I wrote an offer on your home on rasslin. For $63,000. I'm gonna drop it off at your house, you had to drop the offer off before telling Rick what the price was, or any of the conditions of the offer. And if Rick wanted to counter that offer, he'd have to drive to your house to deliver the counteroffer. So we all had to mailboxes, US Mail and realtor mail, because you had to have a way for people to get that counteroffer back to you. So the fax machine was a wonderful invention in 1989, or 90 when we when, when the Indiana General Assembly said it was okay to deliver an offer by fax. But we had to wait for that that took a while Indiana wasn't the first one to do that. So for sure, it was a speed of the transaction. And today, you know, you can have you can receive, you can say highest and best buy five o'clock, and at 455 have zero offers in at five o'clock have eight because everybody's sending them to you at the last minute.

Rick Ripma: 11:10

It's so funny because we think of technology now. And everybody thinks of it in computers and all that. That was the latest technology back in the late 80s, early 90s fax machines,

John Creamer: 11:21

right? That's exactly right. Yeah, and not, not all offices had it. As a matter of fact, I am I went with mint, century 21 sheets in 1988. So two years after being in the business, and MC didn't have a fax machine, we had to go over and use the title companies fax machine. Next door well mix. I think he was cautiously I you know, in to be honest with you, MC was a great broker. I had two other brokers in between going to MC bought century 21 at the crossing where I was when we went back. But MC like seeing the realtor. He liked people delivering the offer to his office and sitting down and talking to that realtor about the terms of that offer who was a buyer? What were they looking for? And he did an awful lot of new construction. So I really learned a lot from him in that there was a lot of advantages in seeing that realtor and delivering that offer in person. He was very,

Rick Ripma: 12:20

he is very personable he is absolutely yes. I've met him many times. And he's I mean, he's a really, really genuinely nice person.

John Creamer: 12:29

Yes. And he's a really good broker. Yeah, he counts his pennies, be the obviously part of the success. But he does, he does have a very good company. So

Rick Ripma: 12:40

it's not always how much you make. It's what you keep, right? Not at all. Yeah, right. That's important. So you got going, you got into real estate, you're doing phenomenally well. What would you say Kurt? You know, now or maybe before? What What are your superpower or superpowers?

John Creamer: 12:59

I don't none really, I'd say my biggest superpower is luck. Seriously, I do I do have after being in the business a long time. And also having been when I was in college, I lived in a home that was being remodeled. And I really enjoyed the construction side. So I've always really enjoyed studying the home itself as whether that be the chimney or the foundation or the you know, and so I've enjoyed representing the buyer there is a little nervous about the condition of the home. And I do live in Meridian Kessler, where the homes are older and an awful lot of my business is older homes. And I think that's one of the traits that I really enjoy the history of the home, but also the comforting buyers in the fact that the homes not going to fall apart. Okay, so

Rick Ripma: 13:49

So you have a variety. I mean, I'll tell you what I think your superpowers are. Number one, you're very personable you obviously get along. I'm guessing with almost everybody, you just are able to talk to people.

John Creamer: 14:01

I do enjoy talking to people guilty as charged. And you

Rick Ripma: 14:06

and you're a hard worker, you already told us that. Yeah, I enjoy working and isn't that a big? To me, that's a superpower. Obviously, I think highly of that my tagline is your hard work mortgage guy. Okay, so I think I hard work is important. And it's partly because I see so many people who don't want work hard.

John Creamer: 14:23

Right, right. are looking for the easy way out. They're

Rick Ripma: 14:25

looking for the easy way. Right. And it's it's not there is no easy way you got to work. And that's something that it's just not everybody will work so I think that's a big superpower.

John Creamer: 14:36

Well, thank you, Rick. I and you know, just you telling the story of hanging around on the car lot after it relieves you know, yeah, if you drive by any car lot on Sunday, you see all these people and you only see the business cards underneath it. Yeah, windshield.

Rick Ripma: 14:47

Yeah, that's not like you'd be in there. I know. Oh, and you can talk to him. It changes things. Oh, absolutely. Yeah, right. But you can't sell a car on

John Creamer: 14:57

Sunday. I made most of my money on Oh open houses on Sunday. Yeah, yeah, I have I have in my career I've sold 13 on Sunday afternoon. Wow, that's awesome. Yeah, I have a lot of friends that have never sold one.

Rick Ripma: 15:09

So what do you see? Such since the open house, you're obviously really good at open houses? What do you see the value of the open house? And then how do you prepare for your open houses?

John Creamer: 15:20

Well, I think I think preparing for an open house is understanding what the competition is some things about the home that people might be interested in, in having kind of a storyline for people that come into the home I, I think you got to greet everybody that comes in the home the same way. And I always greet them by introducing myself. And nine times out of 10. They give me their name, I might forget it within the 60 seconds that we're talking to each other. But they they did offer up their name. And it's not a bad thing to say, God, I forgot your name. What was your name again, especially if there's more than one person in the home. And the other thing is to ask them if they know the neighborhood, because the nosy neighbor who I love talking with because they're the experts will tell Oh, yeah, we live in the house across the street. We know that neighborhood really well. And other people will say no, not really, I was just driving through and saw this house and kind of wanted to see it, which gives you the open door to tell them about the neighborhood.

Rick Ripma: 16:14

Especially if you talk to the nosy neighbor who just told you everything that's so great about the exact right, you could third party story is perfect.

John Creamer: 16:23

Or you asked the nosy neighbor if they had posted a flyer at their office, or if they have a place that or if they know anybody that would like to be in their neighborhood that I could contact nosy neighbors are great, are great candidates and open houses because obviously they liked the neighborhood. And if they don't, then they're getting ready to sell. And that's even better. Another listing,

Rick Ripma: 16:42

but they're phenomenal, like you said, because they give you so much information on the neighborhood. They why not pick your own neighbor? Right, right people you like? It's a great thing to do. Yeah.

Ian Arnold: 16:53

But so if somebody wants you to talk to their nosy neighbors, when you're listing their home, how would they get in touch with you?

John Creamer: 16:59

If somebody wants me to talk to their nosy neighbor? You know, I'd ask them if they have a neighborhood directory or if they know the neighbors phone number. Today's world, they typically have text messages. And I do ask them if I can invite the neighbors to the open house. You know, with a personal invitation invitation always says, Hey, do you know anybody that likes to live in the neighborhood? Or do you have anybody like to have as your neighbor? You know, send them over? I'll be there from one to three on Sunday ask? Yes, I'd be I'd plead guilty for the fact that I haven't done a lot of that in the last 18 months, because we just haven't had the houses, right. I mean, the inventories, especially your good inventory is moving too fast. Yeah, but I'm talking back historically. And

Rick Ripma: 17:43

I'm saying because I think people I hit you, you know better than I do. How many people will say I don't want to bother somebody I don't want to ask, you just ask people are more than happy to help. Oh, they love it. Yes, they love it. And that's what you're saying. So if if somebody is looking to list their house or buy a house, what's the best way to get ahold of you?

John Creamer: 18:03

My phone number 317-250-5646. We also we also have a team. There's four of us on the team. My wife is one of them. And we go by Kramer, Elson O'Brien and so you can go to Kramer, Elson O'Brien dot com. And that again is CR EA M er Kramer is the only one I have to spell. Rick Elsens my partner and has been for 26 years. He was a he was a junior in college when he started working with me as my assistant and that lasted about maybe nine months before he was selling as much as I was and as ever since sold. And Eileen O'Brien is actually my cousin, and very good friend and she has been with us for 15 years. And my wife Molly got in the business five years ago. Wow.

Rick Ripma: 18:53

She got a great team and lots of experience. Yes. And you've got it's amazing. He started he started as a as a junior in college. Yes. And then became

John Creamer: 19:03

salesman salesman, if there ever was a salesman. Yeah, yeah, you

Rick Ripma: 19:06

have a good eye for talent. Obviously.

John Creamer: 19:09

I got lucky.

Rick Ripma: 19:11

Yeah. I guess I used to have a guy used to tell me I'd rather be lucky than good.

John Creamer: 19:17

I agree with that.

Rick Ripma: 19:19

And if you would like to get a hold of Ian or I go to HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com That's HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com Or you can call 317-672-1938 That's 317-672-9038 I still thought I did it wrong.

Ian Arnold: 19:34

We've only done this like twice I know

Rick Ripma: 19:37

once or twice Thank you for listening to indies real estate gurus the gurus we interview share valuable insights they reveal their strengths, personalities and how that work for you. Well we hardworking mortgage guys secure your best mortgage real estate gurus work hard to. They listen, and I can't even read they avoid problems the amateurs don't see They listen. They find out unrealized opportunities if you're buying or selling a home, keep listening and definitely call one of India's real estate gurus.

Ian Arnold: 20:07

All right, John, we're gonna take a sidestep for away from real estate. Let's have a little fun. Let's learn about you. So oh no, if I got to take away your phone, and you cannot work, I don't care if your rest of your team can work, they're good. But where we we catch you doing for fun?

John Creamer: 20:21

Probably on a boat. If it's summertime. I enjoy boating quite a bit when I have free time. That's what I like to do.

Ian Arnold: 20:33

And where's your favorite place to take the boat?

John Creamer: 20:36

So little spoiled. My wife's family has a place on Lake James up in Angola, Indiana. In there. We, my brother and aunt and I have a pontoon boat. And I'm part owner of a condo on Lake Erie. And there we have a speedboat at the condo that's right at Cedar Point, which is really fun. But it's four and a half hours away. So don't get there as often. Times a little closer, it is closer. And it's my favorite because it's very relaxing. Lake Erie can be like the ocean sometimes. And you can't necessarily drink a beer when you're boating on Lake Erie because you got to really pay attention. But it's not crowded. I mean, you're lucky to see another boat but you got to pay attention to the weather in the waves.

Rick Ripma: 21:17

What's a reasonably big lake? It is.

John Creamer: 21:19

It is very shallow. So it kicked up in in really in 15 minutes it Oh, really? Oh, yeah. So with no notice. So you kind of always want to know where you're going to be in 15 minutes if it starts kicking up. So you watch the weather, I'm guessing not as often as I should. That's why he stays on.

Rick Ripma: 21:39

Yeah, I'll wait. Yeah, I would do

John Creamer: 21:41

this fall Lake is really nice. It's very relaxing. Yeah.

Rick Ripma: 21:44

Well, you know, it's funny as a young as a younger person, I always wanted the speed boat and all that. And everybody had speed boats. I thought that was great. Today. pontoon boat is the best boat out there and my book already. And you can it's it's it's laid back. It's easy. But I'm guessing it would be kind of hard on Lake

John Creamer: 22:03

Erie. Yeah, you couldn't have a pontoon boat on Lake. Yeah,

Rick Ripma: 22:05

that's what I did not know much about it. But yeah,

John Creamer: 22:09

it's a lot more like like Michigan, and it's very Clifty. So it's not like, unlike James, you can you know, wave to the people on shore and on the dock and swimming off the dock. And unlike you're not so much.

Ian Arnold: 22:21

So know that you've transitioned and you've done very well. So what do you think that your biggest reason for success? Because we see so many agents fall off? Us? What is it like 90% in the first five year fail? So what's made you think you've succeeded? So well?

John Creamer: 22:41

Well, I obviously there's several factors. And I'm gonna go back to luck, I'm gonna say family and friends, faithful family and friends that were very loyal. And say that, you know, in bad times when, when the going got very rough, and it did get very rough in 2007. You know, you just have to look at the future and try and figure out the best way to cut back so that you don't go broke. And the best way to make a buck on the side. So I think that I think those two in one of the best things I've done is head to great brokers, you know, they have always learned new avenues of making money in this business, because there's so many different ways to slice the pie. You know, from MC who really specialized in new construction, which I absolutely love holding open back in the day, when there was a lot of that to the investment side, which is always there, even when the markets down. And if you if you if you can change your attitude to watch the to steer clear of the market itself. I think that really helps. So

Ian Arnold: 23:52

So let me ask you this question. So everybody right now stresses over the interest rates, which we tell people not to. So within your 35 years, roughly, of being real estate agent, how have you seen interest rates change? And what's it like when you first got into now and should people be stressing over this?

John Creamer: 24:15

First of all, no, I mean, it is it is frustrating because the home cost more than it used to. Because if you unless you have cash to buy a home, there's no question that your mortgage payment is substantially more than the fact is that if you're looking for a home, and that's going to be the place is a little different than a car because you're going to keep it longer probably it's going to be the place you show up after work might be the place to raise your family might be the place to retire. But if if it's a place you really enjoy, you need to make the sacrifice when interest rates are a little bit higher, knowing that hopefully someday you get that paid off and not worry about interest rates or refinance if in the short term if the rates come down when I first got in the business, which was March From 1986 interest rates had fallen below 12%, for the first time in three years in the market was absolutely crazy. And I did have younger buyers, you couldn't even this is funny too, because Brad Osborne who was is still to this day, a very good friend of mine. Brad had a home listed on Indianola. Never forget it. And I had a buyer. We had missed out on two homes. And she was in her early 60s. And she was a secretary at the dealership. And I was, we came out of the house in there at five agents writing offers on the hood of their car. Because in these days, you had to right hand write the offer, and you had your carbon paper in between. Now I'm really dating myself. Again, I was 22 when I did this. So in, you know, Brad was this, they're accepting offers. So I waited and waited until he got ready to lock up the house. It was a Friday afternoon, and he was holding the house open for an hour. So everybody could go through the house. So I waited till Brad left. And I said, Well, Brad, I just wanted to state my case. So I introduced myself to Brad to this day, he hasn't forgotten that we joke about it all the time. I did not get my offer accepted, because we weren't. We weren't even in the ballgame. But at least I did get a chance to talk to Brad and pitch my buyer.

Rick Ripma: 26:23

Well, you That's amazing, though, you. We think that our market today is very unique. Right, right. But you're talking about a market that sounds very, very similar to what we're going through today.

John Creamer: 26:38

Yes, in a lot of ways. So the difference was technology was slower. So it might take us a whole day to find out that houses on the market because we had those teletype machines. The The other thing is that now I lost my train. But the market was that way before? Yeah, it has been it has been that good and that bad. All within five years. In, you know, 2002 was one of my most successful years in 2007 was absolutely disastrous. So market changes and market market changes. So if you're in the most important thing, though, is if you're in a home you love. Wonderful, if you're looking to buy a home, anytime is a good time if the right home is on the market. Yes. So in, in sometimes you have to make that sacrifice and take that risk to buy the home that you really want. Yeah.

Rick Ripma: 27:36

So you when you started in real estate, I know rent rates, or you know, houses are more expensive. So what was a house costing? What? What was it? What was just as a guest and average price of a home back in 1986? Well, my average sale price was about 68,000. And what is it today? 300,000. So that's a pretty good increase. Yes, and and add value. So not those people who bought it for 69,000. If it's not worth, if it's not worth 300, they did pretty well if they kept it that long. Yes. Right. And, and so it's, it's not just that, yeah, the prices go up and the payment, your payment may be higher, incomes are higher. So there are a lot of reasons for it. But it's that it's that value that you get from the appreciation that just makes owning real estate, such a wealth builder,

John Creamer: 28:27

right, exactly. I purchased my first double in 1986. With a partner, I didn't have enough money for the down payment. And our interest rate was 12%. We were so thrilled to get a 12% mortgage. Now that double was on College Avenue, and it was 67,000. And it was listed for 65,000 We paid 67,000 for it need new roof, it needed everything. And it turned out to be a tremendous investment. But I've always been a big pusher of doubles. Because that way if you don't have if you don't have the resources to buy the home, you get to use your mortgage guys give us a break on the income we receive on the other side, which enables us to be more qualified to purchase the home and you don't have to put as much down and you don't have to marry a right if you're living in as your home. It's it's a great investment. And I sold I have sold over 100 doubles in my career. And I still to this day think they're one of the best investments out there. You just can't find them.

Rick Ripma: 29:28

So what would you guess that that double would sell for today? You bought it for 60

John Creamer: 29:32

I bought it for 67 I sold it for 193 and today it's probably worth 325 350 Yeah,

Rick Ripma: 29:43

I just I think it helps for people kind of get an idea. I remember when I started with the asteroids company selling houses. The first community I was in is right over here. And it was it. The sign out front said from the 90 nines, right? Yeah, right 90 Nice and That was back in 1990 91. Interest rates in 91, or maybe 92, they dropped under 10%. Everybody threw a huge party they would know. I mean, I remember because we never thought we'd see under 10%. Again, never, ever, ever. And and so those same houses today that were selling that 10% interest rate, and they were they were only 100,000, most, the average really was started about 130 and went to about 190. Those same homes are probably three to $500,000. Today. Right, exactly. I mean, it's, it is amazing. It's just, it's just such a wealth builder. It's just incredible.

John Creamer: 30:42

And I don't think people I don't think Americans understand how great we have it with the mortgage industry that we have, in the amount of downpayment that we put down in the fact that we have a fixed rate mortgage for 30 years. I mean, most countries would just think that's impossible. How does it How does a bank promise you to loan you money for a fixed rate for 30 years? Well, they don't we have a bandhan ministry that takes care of that, which is really, I mean, the more you study it, the more interesting it really is. Yes, yes. Yeah.

Rick Ripma: 31:11

So would you say there was something you're just incredibly proud of within your business?

John Creamer: 31:17

Well, first of all, the team, because Rick and I have, have really had not only had an awful lot of fun, but been partners for a long time. And he's 10 years younger than I am. So in that helped a young buck. And I also, I also started a management company that was very successful in the bad years. That was, I was a silent partner in it, but I kind of manufactured it. And we did very well by people that couldn't sell homes and leasing those homes out, okay. And almost 100% of those people made a lot of money when the market came back. And but I would say the investments that I've made I own. Now, five doubles at one time I own 13. All five of those I've owned for over 20 years, wow. In there in three times, I purchased the most expensive double, twice in the state of Indiana and once in my horse area. So I took a big risk, because everybody says, well, realtors get a good deal on real estate, I never got a good deal. I did buy a good piece of real estate. And I still have

Rick Ripma: 32:25

you saved the good deals for your customers.

Ian Arnold: 32:27

Right, exactly. So if somebody's wanting to get in touch with you possibly about doing an investment property for double or something like that, because what you have and all that knowledge. I mean, if I'm interested, I'm picking your brain left and right, so how would they get in touch with you?

John Creamer: 32:43

The best way is my telephone number 317-250-5646 also 317250 JO H N. Or my email address is JT see that realtor@gmail.com Again, that's my initials. John Thomas Kramer JATC realtor@gmail.com.

Rick Ripma: 33:07

And to get a hold of ena I go to HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com That's HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com. We'll see if I get the number right 31767 to 1938. That's 31767 to 1938.

Ian Arnold: 33:18

All right, and now we'll get into the question of the week. And the question of the week is sponsored by Hey, Rick and I the hard working mortgage guys, where we believe in helping and supporting you and your realtor by sending constant updates to the loan process. We don't like living in a black hole so we don't allow you to do it. But I don't want you to live in a black hole, John. So now I have another question for you. So what was your first car

John Creamer: 33:39

1965 Cadillac hearse I purchased when I was in high school from a town that had used it as an ambulance and hers. So they take the her signs out of it and put a light on tap one with an ambulance. And I got it for $600 and we used to destroy parking lots. And we had a great big striper. You know after you sealcoat a parking lot, you got to go in and stripe it and one of my friend's father was in the striped roads. So he let us use the equipment on weekends. But we didn't. There wasn't a car big enough to put it in, but it fit in the hearse. And we had an awful lot of fun with that Cadillac hearse.

Ian Arnold: 34:17

I do have to say we've done over 100 shows. You're the first one to say your first car was a hearse. I don't know what I would do if my son pulled up in our hearse in my driveway. But I'd be excited that you bought his own car. I don't know how I feel about that just sit in my parking lot every day. Well,

Rick Ripma: 34:35

yes, only eight. That is true. But you know that is it's interesting. A hearse. But do you see how excited he

John Creamer: 34:45

was? I wish I had it. We had so much fun with it because it's in mint condition. But the state of Ohio said you can't use a car as an ambulance when it's over 25 years old. So they had to sell the car so he sold it at auction and nobody showed up. So like had it for$300, the leather seats were in mint condition. And it had rear air conditioning to keep the flowers cool when it had a casket in it, which worked great to keep beer cold when you're going to the drive in theater, and you could get 20 people on this car.

Rick Ripma: 35:17

Sounds like he had some fun and yes, that's all Yeah,

Ian Arnold: 35:20

hey, that makes a great because he did weddings, he did videos, he said I'd be a great car to be taken there. Like with cold beers. Hey, just reminder, you're not going to end up in this.

Rick Ripma: 35:34

So what are some of the you know, there's there's people out there both looking to get into real estate, but also people who are looking to buy or sell a home. And they have misconceptions about what a real estate agent actually does? And what it why why there's value in what you do, which there is tremendous value. So what are some of those misconceptions?

John Creamer: 35:55

Well, I think the misconception is, is that all we do is show up and write the offer. Because people today do I mean, especially on the buyer side, I mean, people do look for their own homes, they got on zillow.com or realtor.com, or century 20 one.com. And do a lot of searching. And a lot of people are very familiar with the market. So their neighbor calls them and says, hey, the house next door is coming up for sale. But the real work comes in finding that right mortgage, and guiding them through that the person is going to do the mortgage in writing that offer, doing the inspections, getting them through the legal work that takes place, and also making them feel comfortable about the decision that they want to make. And I think we as realtors, if there's anything we do. Well, those of us that are successful is the People to People business that we're in, in helping people through a very complex, complicated process and emotional, emotional, Oh, absolutely. Because it's big money, it's, it's probably the most money 90% 95% of our customers will ever see transacted across their desk. And many times just signing a note that's going to take them 30 years to pay off. So I think that's what we do. And on the listing side, it's very important that we work to get the house marketed, put the best foot forward and guiding our sellers as to what the house should look like, and what we need to get that house ready. And also the value of the home and what to expect. And then that's a moving target. I mean, I'm in the business and been in the business for years. And I'm still scratching my head at some of these prices. So changes I think

Rick Ripma: 37:40

it's harder when we've been here a while because you I remember when the houses in the West Park and in Carlos Astrid community. Were $99,000. Right. 130, basically, and now it's like, really, they're four or five 600,000? Yeah.

John Creamer: 37:55

I know. It's hard. That was a really nice project. West Park was a home run for Estridge. Yes, sure.

Rick Ripma: 38:01

It was a great project. It was a great place. It was a great place to work. So to have those Did you? Well, we appreciate it. We probably worked. He worked with at the time I totally Scott was there before me, but we don't need to talk about that. So on a on a client, how do you keep them calm through the emotional turmoil they're going through?

John Creamer: 38:25

I think I think a lot of it is understanding that it's not unusual that they have this buyer's remorse, or they have a seller's remorse, or they feel like they're being taken advantage of. I think that that's part that helping them to understand that that's just part of the process. And that getting over that is also part of the process and feeling confident that they're making the right decision and putting the information in front of them that enables them to make the right decision. And you're you know, everybody's different. And you have your engineer that wants every fact known demand. And you have the other guy that just wants to make sure that when he walks in the front door that doesn't fall through the floor. So both of those are important. Both of those are important. It's important as a realtor to understand which one you're working with, right? Because if you can, if you can anticipate the bad news, then you better get in your car and go over deliver the bad news in person. You know, they say text good news, a call with bad news. I say, call with good news, drive over and meet him with bad news. Because you can you can read their motion so much more. If some, if you got a really bad inspection report that nobody's planning on Well, you better get in your car and make arrangements to meet them in person. And I always say Tim O'Connor was a broker of mine at Century 21 of the crossing and, and Tim always said, you know, go to their office. You not only get a chance to be introduced to everybody at the office, but it's when they have time to sit down and talk to you. It's their comfort zone. So don't wait till they get home and they're dealing with the kids or they're tired from working all day. I mean, go drive, find out where they work and go to meet them at the office. And boy, that's been a valuable piece of advice. Yeah, that's

Rick Ripma: 40:06

it works very well, I I found that out by mistake. I had a customer who needed to do an application. He was the CFO of a company. I will go over today because application talk to him. He introduces me to everybody. I ended up financing about everybody in the entire company.

John Creamer: 40:22

That's a good day. Yeah.

Ian Arnold: 40:25

So let me ask you this. What do you think your most memorable deal was?

John Creamer: 40:32

Well, that was probably my purchasing my very first double. That was, so I bought my first double on Broadway. in Meridian, Kessler and I was paying $140,000 for it. The seller was a for sale by owner. And I knew that this other realtor had made an offer on this double. So I sat down with them. And I, they showed me the double. And I decided I didn't want to buy it. And the next morning, I woke up and said, I gotta have this double. So I went over, and I sat down with them. And they, they said, Well, you know, we got an offer right now that I think we're going to accept. And I said, Well, do you know what property taxes you have to pay on that offer? Knowing that they wouldn't know that? So they said, No, you know, I don't. So I said, Well, why don't you get out the offer? And let's take a look. And I'll tell you exactly what it is and not. And so they got it out. And so I saw it, the price of the offer was $135,000. So I said, Well, I tell you what, I'm going to offer you$140,000. But you got to take it right now. Because I'm not going to have you go back to her and see if she'll offer $145,000. Well, mix, she's thought as crazy to pay $140,000 for a duplex, a double. But I said you know, the average home on Broadway was $75,000. And I was buying two of them. Yeah. And I was buying two lots. So and then I couldn't get it to appraise I had a hard time with the appraisal, which was really interesting, because a friend of mine, Joe trainer, had had just was was assigned the appraisal appraiser. And he and I had just run for the board at my bore. So he goes Kramer, I'm never going to be our guy. There's nothing out there. That's over 115. And I said, Well, Joe, you gotta get this done for me. I mean, this is really, really important. Because while you

Rick Ripma: 42:25

can't do that anymore, I know,

John Creamer: 42:27

back in those days, as I say back in those days, so and Joe and I to this day are friends, but he did he used the the income approach we didn't have a problem with but he used the price per square foot of the other homes on the street. So yeah, I probably should quit telling that story.

Ian Arnold: 42:45

Before Oh, eight, that was okay. Yeah.

John Creamer: 42:48

This, this was 1992.

Rick Ripma: 42:51

back then. And I remember I have rental property back then. And I remember. It's so funny today, you got to put tons of money down and everything else there was a program that came out is like almost nothing down.

John Creamer: 43:04

Right? Oh, yeah. I remember the neck. Yes, yeah.

Ian Arnold: 43:07

So what have you seen? So you got some people that have rented the whole entire life, and they're now thinking about home ownership? What does that do for somebody financially, or even mentally?

John Creamer: 43:20

Well, I think that I think mentally is more important than financially because there's a, there's a certain level of permanency to the purchase, you know, especially if they've been in a home for several years, and they're very comfortable there. That's it's hard to give up that comfort zone. But when you start talking to them about having that comfort zone where it nobody will ever be able to change the rent, that they'll be in complete control of the operation in owning a home is easier today than it's ever been. Because there's so many services being provided. You know, it used to be a lot of people were worried about having to cut the yard. But now there's so many moving companies going up and down the street that you can get that done. So I think that's one of the things that, you know, it's a whole fact that you're going to you're going to make a commitment when you buy a home. But that commitment is going to be so enjoyable because you're gonna make that house your home over time. And the longer you're in it, the more you're going to enjoy it, hopefully.

Rick Ripma: 44:23

And the richer you're gonna get. So, if somebody is looking to get into real estate, or I think you're, you would hire somebody, I don't know if you're doing that. But if somebody even if they are looking to get into real estate, want to talk to somebody about that, or they want to buy or sell a home, what's the best way to get a hold of you?

John Creamer: 44:45

The best way to get a hold of me is 317-250-5646. And I'd love to talk to you about real estate as a career. I've helped an awful lot of people get in the business. They haven't necessarily been a part of the team. They've been clients of mine that have purchased a home and thought the business was really interesting and are doing very well. In the business, there's been others that have gotten in and moved aside. I think one thing that people on the outside don't understand is the system that we have through the Board of Realtors. It's just such a, it's, it's my uncle who again was in the car business, or he said, Boy, if I could have a system where I could sell any car made, if somebody came on my lot, boy, would I be a wealthy car salesman. And he always said, you guys don't have to carry inventory. But you can sell everything everybody else gets to list. And I think that's a real big, when when you open a storefront, and you have to buy the inventory and stock the shelves, you immediately have risk. Now obviously, if you're going to get into real estate business, you need to go out and get some listings, you need to have people believe in you, and put your name in their front yard. But until you do that, there's an opportunity for you to share with other realtors, anything that they have listed. And I think that's such a such a nomer in our industry that was not appreciated enough by the members of the realtor Association. But also, it's it's such a wonderful business because that Realtors really your partner much the way you mortgage guys are partners and helping us get through the transaction. The same is true with a fellow realtor, that's that's, you know, representing the seller if you're representing the buyer, or vice versa. So

Rick Ripma: 46:25

you really have to get along or try and it really helps to have somebody who's who will work with you know, you both to work together. And

John Creamer: 46:31

if you don't like working with people don't get in the business. Yeah,

Rick Ripma: 46:35

there's a people best is a people but it's not really a real estate business. It's a people business.

John Creamer: 46:39

It's a people business, for sure, for sure. I tell you a quick story. I was I was on the board of directors, the National Association of Realtors, right after being president on LIBOR. And we had a conference out in Las Vegas that narc convention, and they had a panel. And on that panel was the president of Google, the president of Bank of America, the President and NAR and the Oh, Zillow, the president Zillow. So the president of Zillow of Google said, Hey, all we want to do is we want to if somebody has a question about real estate, we want them to be able to come to us to answer that question. We want to be number one and answering any question on real estate. The gentleman from Bank of America says Our ultimate goal is for us to advertise and be the front end of the train, so that anybody that wants to buy a home comes to us first to get qualified. And then we work and find a realtor partner. But we want to be the front, we want to be that first telephone call. The president of Zillow said what we want is we want to capture 20% of the industry dollars by being the point of origin for everyone that is looking at real estate, so that we can then sell that lead to our realtor partners. And we feel like we have a 70% market share without ever opening a brokerage. And then the president of NAR said, the number one thing we want our members to do is to be people, people persons in for our members to be the neighbor next door, the neighbor down the street, or the person that's most concerned about the community who gets the first phone call when somebody wants to buy or sell a home. And I thought that was the best explanation I've ever heard. And that was in 2003. So that's going back a long way. I mean for us today. I mean, that's 20 years ago. So yeah, so but it is a long, but I think when you look at realtors that are successful and people that want to get into this business, that I Bernice Hillman, who was president of the Indian Association of Realtors, three years ago, she started off every speech by saying, Boy, it's a beautiful day to be a realtor. And I always stuck with me because I've always enjoyed being a realtor. And I think anybody that wants to get into business just has to realize that you got to put people first. And as long as you do, you're going to really enjoy your career and you're going to get a lot out of the business.

Rick Ripma: 49:14

Great. Oh, that's awesome. Thank you so much. And to get a hold of the inner I go to HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com That's HardWorkingMortgageGuys.com Or you can call 317-672-1938. That's 317-672-1938. And follow us for more indies real estate gurus

Ian Arnold: 49:32

and reminder. If you have any friends, family or coworkers looking to buy, sell or refinance, let us know we'd be more than happy to help you. And John, thanks for coming on the show today. It was a pleasure having you I love the stories

John Creamer: 49:43

I appreciate. Well, you can tell I have a little Irish in me.

Rick Ripma: 49:47

You can tell a story and there you have great stories. We do appreciate it. Thank you so much. Thank you.

Announcer: 49:53

Brent NMLS number 33041 Recruitment NMLS number 664589. Arnold's NMLS number is 1995469 equal housing opportunity So I'm restricting supply