Niwot Real Estate becomes The Niwot Group

After nearly five decades of buying and selling property in Niwot and surrounding communities, independent realtor Pat Murphy is bringing in a new partner to help her navigate today's increasingly complex housing market. Earlier this month, Niwot Real Estate and its four agents officially joined Compass, a nationwide real estate technology company.

"With all the new tech and regulations, we were no longer doing what we love," Murphy said of the change. "I love helping people and finding people the places where they want to be. This is what we sell real estate for-the community, and what we put into the community."

It wasn't an easy decision for Murphy and her team, which includes Ann Mills, Todd Goad, and Tara Littell, but in the wake of the pandemic, the need for additional support became evident. According to Littell, as more regulations were enacted, paperwork and other administrative chores were crowding out time spent with clients and their properties.

"We were making sure everyone was compliant, and we were making sure everyone followed all of the COVID rules, and not enjoying what we were doing," she said. "Compass allows us to still be who we are. We don't have to worry about the legal paperwork or new documents that we need. Compass has amazing technology, and they have programs like bridge loans, and other assets that we don't have as a small company."

By joining Compass, the Niwot Real Estate team will have access to a network of 22,000 agents in cities across the country, as well as a state-of-the-art platform for listing and showing properties. According to company press releases, it is one of the fastest growing brokerages in the U.S., with more than $150 billion in residential transactions in 2020. The company also recently acquired its own mortgage company, and offers other consumer financial programs. Murphy's team will be part of Compass' Boulder office, but will continue to work out of its 2nd Avenue location, operating as The Niwot Group.

"It's a great thing for our clients," Littell said. "I have more backing, and I have access to more agents and more tools."

"But we still have the opportunity to be the same small group," Murphy added. "So it's the same service and the same expertise because we've been around forever."

In fact, Murphy emphasized that changes to the client-facing side of her brokerage will be minimal, and clients who loved their experience with Niwot Real Estate a decade ago can expect the same service now that they've become The Niwot Group.

"We're no longer burgundy and gray, we're black and white," Murphy said of the branding makeover. "And that's about it. We just like to provide good service and treat people fairly."

The transition to Compass comes as the local real estate market in Boulder County continues to heat up, and both Murphy and Littell acknowledged that the recent trends have kept them on their toes. Many of their listings are receiving multiple offers, Murphy said, but sellers aren't always happy when they go to buy themselves.

"There's movement around Niwot. People are moving up and down and around, and the problem is that some people decided to move out, and when they want to come back, then it's harder."

But now that the team is working with Compass, Littell said, agents will have more time to help clients on both sides of the offer make an informed decision.

For Murphy, it will also be a chance to devote more time to planning and hosting community events, something the longtime Niwot resident has sorely missed during the pandemic.

"I've got to meet so many people over the years, and watch kids grow up at community events like the Easter Egg Hunt and Great Pumpkin Party. That's what makes Niwot special. Right? It's the memories and the roots."