The Chong Miller Group, a real estate team, recently launched a Zillow-like mobile app focused on the Las Vegas Valley. Justin Miller, a broker-salesperson associated with Paradigm Realty, called it “important client-facing technology” that “puts unprecedented control in clients’ hands.” Miller, a Navy veteran who practiced construction-defect law in Southern California and has worked in the IT/security field, has reinvented himself several times in his professional life. “Each of these careers was rewarding, and they’ve all shared a common theme — finding ways to positively impact people’s lives,” he said.
What sets you apart from your competitors?
Education, experience and ambition. The educational requirements to enter this business are low, and most (including some successful, even some great) agents do not have much formal education. But I think it provides some real benefit. I’m able to focus across the wide-range data in an integrative manner. And the spectrum of activities necessary to complete a transaction is natural for me.
My education also allows me to treat real estate transactions dispassionately. Real estate transactions are big and infrequent events in most people’s lives. You’re talking about an asset worth multiple years’ income. You’re talking about one’s life’s savings. You’re talking about where you do (or will) live — make memories, have your family, house your other possessions. There’s rightfully a lot of emotion. I’m able to help people both honor their emotions and cut through them to make rational business decisions — because real estate is also the biggest investment people make.
My experience allows me to figure out what’s important, and integrate that into my business and into discussions with clients. And one of my pleasures is being able to translate the complexities of business and transactions — to make them understandable.
My ambition is not just for myself, but for my clients. I’m not going to let a deal fall apart if there’s any potential for success. But I’m not going to let my clients walk into bad deals just to get something accomplished.
Do you represent more buyers or sellers?
To date, mostly buyers. This year, I’ll be working hard to balance our representation more evenly.
How many transactions have you had in the past year?
We closed 10 sales transactions, and five rental transactions in our first year in business. We normally don’t handle rentals, but these were for clients who’d purchased property through us — for our clients we work to be a completely full-service team. For two of them, we even furnished their units for the rental market. Based on that success, we opened an ancillary staging business, Justin + Jason by Design.
What’s currently trending in the local market?
Homes below about $350,000 are especially hot. There is a real shortage of inventory in this sector of the market. Beyond that, insights start to narrow — non-white kitchens, three-car garages, four-bedroom homes.
What has financing been like for clients?
Money is generally available, and at very low interest rates. The qualification process can still be taxing, but I can introduce clients to some high-quality lenders — if they say yes, that means yes.
Where is the market headed in 2020 and beyond?
Las Vegas is growing by 50,000-60,000 people per year. There’s not enough new home construction, resulting in shortages, especially at the $350,000 price point and lower. There’s a lot of new rental inventory across the valley, but for those who want to buy, the story remains one of low inventory. That’s been driven by several issues. I’m projecting a stronger market in 2020 than last year.
What’s the best business advice you’ve received?
Don’t go it alone. If ignorance doesn’t kill you, it can still hurt you badly. Even the founders of Zillow, in their book “New Rules of Real Estate,” admit to the critical need to use a real estate agent. Arm yourself with the best agent you can find.
What are you passionate about outside of work?
Chocolate. That’s a story for another time, but I’ve devoted a lot of time to researching the chocolate industry and its products. I’ve also become passionate about design — interior and exterior — over the past few years.
Where’s your favorite place to explore or people watch in Las Vegas?
I love to explore the natural environment, the built environment, and the under-construction environment. It’s fascinating to watch people interact within them and with each other to shape environments to their own ends.
If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be?
Rome. It’s like a city-wide open-air museum. Or Brussels, the world’s chocolate bazaar.
What is something that people might not know about you?
I have a great geo-spatial memory, so I’m virtually never lost.