Blog : Announcements

Pleasanton, CA — June 19, 2020 — NextHome is pleased to announce the newest addition to the franchise, NextHome Aegis (ee·juhs) Properties, based in Royal Oak, Michigan. The brokerage represents the 19th office location opened in Michigan for the NextHome franchise and the 484th NextHome office opened nationally.

Located about 20 minutes northwest of Detroit, NextHome Aegis Properties will serve clients across Birmingham, Royal Oak, Bloomfield Township, Northville, Novi, and the remainder of Southern Michigan. 

The brokerage is owned by veteran builder, Craig Kallen. With more than 27 years of experience as a licensed contractor, Craig offers unique expertise in all types of residential real estate. 

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Craig built custom homes alongside his father. Their company, Galaxy Builders, built and sold between 100 and 150 homes per year and focused mainly on tract homes. As America descended into the housing crisis, Craig’s father concluded Galaxy Builders, and Craig began focusing on custom luxury homes. In 2008 he started Brooklyn Custom Homes and continued creating high-end properties until 2014. 

“I understand the mechanics of a house very well,” Craig said. “When I walk into a house with a client, I’m able to tell them exactly what they want and need to know.”

In 2014, Craig obtained his real estate sales license and began working for his wife’s independent brokerage – KLK Realty. He quickly discovered how much he loved the real estate sales industry and decided he wanted to be a broker. 

“I absolutely loved that line of work,” Craig said. “It was almost better than being a builder. I really enjoy working with agents and helping them achieve their potential.”

Craig became a licensed broker in 2019 and hit his stride.

“In early 2019, I was considering opening my own independent and began searching for great logo ideas,” Craig said. “When I typed in ‘really cool real estate signs’ NextHome’s came up. It immediately caught my attention.”

During the next several months, Craig continued serving sales clients and building ideas for his new brokerage. He once again found himself searching the internet and when he typed in “best real estate franchise in the world” NextHome reappeared. Craig knew he needed to learn more. 

“When I reached out, James (Dwiggins, Chief Executive Officer of NextHome, Inc.) called me back and after that conversation, I knew NextHome was a great opportunity,” Craig said. 

The NextHome approach to real estate aligned perfectly with Craig’s goals. 

“I clicked with everyone I talked to at NextHome,” Craig said. “James understood that I wanted to be the best NextHome brokerage in Michigan, not necessarily the biggest. NextHome offered the tools I needed to focus on quality over quantity.”

Today, NextHome Aegis Properties is combining Craig’s extensive building experience with NextHome’s eye-catching marketing and unparalleled back-end support. 

The brokerage gets its name from the shield carried by Athena and Zeus in Homer’s Iliad. Drawing on the shield’s symbolism, the modern concept of doing something “under someone’s aegis” means doing something under the protection of a powerful, knowledgeable, or benevolent source. 

Clients working with NextHome Aegis Properties will have access to the guidance of an experienced builder as well as several agents who are deeply knowledgeable about their communities. 

“Being a broker, a builder, and an agent, I hope that I can lead clients down the right path that’s right for them and makes them happy – whether it be a $100,000 house or a million-dollar property,” Craig said.

In addition, agents who work with NextHome Aegis Properties have access to exceptional training and support. 

“I’m known as the guy who really talks with and gets to know my agents,” Craig said. “I connect with them throughout the day – I’m there for them. I also recognize raw talent and I’m excited to offer outstanding professionals access to both my experience and NextHome’s great training.”

When he isn’t building his brokerage, Craig is active volunteering in his community. As the pet parent of two rescue dogs, Craig has an especially soft spot for donating to the local Humane Society. 

Please join us in congratulating Craig on the opening of NextHome Aegis Properties in Royal Oak, Michigan!

Interested in being a part of the NextHome Real Estate Franchise? Contact VP of Sales Charis Moreno at Charis@NextHome.com.

Each office is an independently owned and operated business.

Luke, our beloved orange French bulldog mascot, has been with us since NextHome’s inception. Since 2014, his presence has caught the eye of real estate professionals and consumers alike as he helps people find their next home.

Like any four-legged friend who joins the family, Luke has a birthday that is celebrated each year, landing on June 15th. In 2019, NextHome set aside June 15th as “Luke Day” to celebrate Luke by participating in community service and outreach. 

NextHome offices across the country use this special day as an opportunity to step away from business and come together to serve our local areas and the people and pets that thrive there. Events range from food and school supplies drives to pet vaccine clinics and adoption events. 

Last year, NextHome’s corporate office based in Pleasanton, California used Luke’s special day to bring attention to Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) in Walnut Creek, California.

“At NextHome, we know how much joy pets can bring to our homes and hearts,” said James Dwiggins, Chief Executive Officer of NextHome, Inc. “It is so important to highlight and support the great work that animal rescues do to save pet’s lives, support pet owners, and help nurture a sense of joy in our homes.”

With it being a year later now, we’re taking a look back at our inaugural Luke Day with the story of Sally, one of the animals available for adoption that day. 

When Shooie Met Sally: A Luke Day Story 

The sniffing and sizing up in the park last summer began benignly enough, but Shooie the dachshund couldn’t have imagined where this relationship with the energetic rescue puppy was heading. Neither could Shooie’s owners, Joel and Veronica Stein. 

The dogs met at NextHome’s annual Luke Day in 2019 and the Stein family grew by four paws that day in June. 

“We don’t regret for a moment adopting Sally,” Veronica said of their German Shepard-looking rescue Sally. “She is a great addition to our life.”

At the mention of his new sister, the Stein’s five-year-old dachshund tipped her head. 

“Shooie is glad she is here too,” Veronica added with a smile. 

For the past year, Shooie and Sally have continued sizing each other up, but their love has grown. The mellow dachshund has learned to tolerate Sally’s energy and Sally has taught Shooie a thing or two about the importance of backyard squirrels. 

“They’ve learned to get along over the past year,” Veronica said. “Now when we leave with Sally, the first thing she does when she comes home is look for Shooie.”

Together, the furry friends have developed a tag-team system for barking at backyard intruders and welcoming front door visitors. Sally has taken up the role of underfoot kitchen companion while Shooie contentedly secures his spot on the couch. 

“Sally likes to stay close,” Joel said with a smile. “You could be doing something in the kitchen and she plops down two inches from your foot. She definitely likes to follow you – until something diverts her attention and she wants to go outside.”

Those outside distractions include her fascination with the cluster of squirrels who scurry along the back fence, taunting the excited puppy. 

“Those squirrels will sometimes turn around and flip their tails at her, almost as if they know what they are doing,” Veronica said. 

Sally’s love of the back-fence squirrels is only rivaled by her excitement over a good garden hose spray. 

“She loves the water,” Joel said. “When we have the garden hose out, she jumps and nips at the water and can’t get enough of that.” 

Life wasn’t always so fancy-free for Sally. As a young pup, Sally’s loving personality was sheltered and nurtured by ARF. The nonprofit organization’s core mission is the rescue of dogs and cats who have run out of time at public shelters, giving them a chance at life until a new home can be found. 

As NextHome celebrated Luke Day in 2019, several cats found forever homes, but Sally was the one and only dog available for adoption. 

“We had been talking about adopting a dog as a companion for Shooie, so when our sons called and told us that there was a dog we might really like available at Luke Day, we drove over,” Veronica recalled.  

As Shooie and Sally sniffed and scampered and played that day, Joel and Veronica knew they might have found the right addition to their family. 

“In everybody’s opinion, they were a great match,” Veronica recalled. “They were the same size, plus they weren’t all over each other and didn’t fight. It just seemed to work, so we took the chance.”

As previous rescue parents, the Steins were also impressed with ARF and it’s caring approach to adoptions. 

“We have been fortunate to adopt our animals from good rescue organizations, particularly Tony La Russa’s ARF,” Veronica said. “ARF offers training resources and contact information for veterinarians and pet insurance companies. When we adopted Sally, ARF provided a lot of educational materials and support, as well as starter food and, get this, toys! It was a pleasure working with them.”

As experienced rescue parents, the Steins will also be the first to tell you that adopting an animal isn’t easy. 

“Don’t underestimate what the challenges might be,” Joel said. 

Veronica added that new owners should always take advantage of any training opportunities and keep their expectations reasonable. 

“There is an adjustment period,” Veronica said. “Dogs just love people and they want to be your special friend. They watch you, but it takes time to make that true connection.”

One year after her adoption, Sally and the Steins are still working daily to build that connection, but not one of them would have it any other way. 

It warms our orange hearts that Sally was one of many animals adopted on Luke Day. At NextHome, our mission is to enrich lives by helping people find their next home, and we couldn’t be happier to know that animals are finding their next homes as well with the help of caring NextHomies across the country. 

For more information on Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, visit https://www.arflife.org/. 

Shifting back to the present day, it’s an understatement to say that 2020 has been a hard year for everyone. In light of the ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic that has swept the world, this year’s Luke Day celebrations have been postponed to July 15th to allow NextHomies more time to plan and prepare for a safe way to help their local communities. 

This year, NextHome’s efforts will be focused on ways to support children in the local communities across the country where NextHome offices are located. With so much change in their day-to-day lives, with much confusion as to why, we hope Luke Day 2020 will bring smiles to their faces during these uncertain times. We’re excited to see ideas like adopting a classroom, sponsoring a graduating senior, and virtual book readings come to life – with lots of orange of course. 

About NextHome, Inc.

NextHome, Inc. is an independently owned national franchisor with a focus on changing the

way consumers work with local agents and shop for real estate online. The NextHome franchise

network ended 2019 with 400+ offices and over 3,600 members across 46 states. The company

closes over 23,000 transactions annually worth over $6.2B in volume.

Pleasanton, CA — June 18, 2020 — NextHome is pleased to announce the newest addition to the franchise, NextHome Picket Fence Realty, based in Woodburn, Oregon. The brokerage represents the ninth office location opened in Oregon for the NextHome franchise and the 483rd NextHome office opened nationally.

Located halfway between Portland and Salem, NextHome Picket Fence Realty is poised to serve the needs of residential buyers and sellers across Marion, Yamhill, Polk, Linn, and Clackamas counties. 

The brokerage is owned by high-producing professional Lila Timmons. Lila began her real estate career in 2014 after 14 years in restaurant and retail management. 

“In those jobs, you learn to work effectively with a wide variety of people – whether it be the employees or customers,” Lila said. “I learned what it really meant to provide excellent customer service right away.”

Lila eventually took her customer service skills on the road, becoming a mobile notary. She worked with mostly real estate clients and their experiences prompted Lila to think about becoming a REALTOR®. 

After obtaining her license in 2014, Lila first worked for a large national franchise, then with a small boutique firm. Her skills were apparent from the start. Lila was Rookie of the Year for her brokerage in 2015, and in March she achieved the milestone of selling more than 100 houses. 

However, throughout her success, something was missing. As Lila went into her sixth year in business, she craved the flexibility to cater to her clients in her own way. Lila also recognized that the most efficient way to build success was to have the backing of a strong franchise. 

After searching online, she discovered NextHome and immediately knew she wanted to pursue a partnership. 

“NextHome took all the things that I would have done on my own and took them to a new level,” Lila said. “I loved that everything was all included, that the marketing was all automated – it is stunning that once you put a listing in all the marketing is produced for you.”

Today, Lila is setting NextHome Picket Fence Realty apart through her caring customer service and refreshing honesty. 

“A big part of being an outstanding agent is communication,” Lila said. “My clients appreciate that I am up-front and honest and will tell them the way it is. I also stay in contact with clients throughout the entire process, never leaving them wondering what exactly is going on with their transaction.”

As she grows her brokerage, Lila will be adding agents who embrace that same philosophy. 

“NextHome Picket Fence agents need to be driven professionals who will take care of customers in the best way they possibly can,” Lila said. 

When she isn’t focused on her clients and brokerage, Lila is active in serving her community. Alongside her husband Eric, Lila volunteers with the Woodburn Certified Emergency Response Team (CERT). The organization supports first responders as a trained, second-line response in the case of major natural disasters. In the community, CERT volunteers host events and help promote public safety. The group recently helped give away and install free smoke alarms and also hosted a bike safety event. 

Lila and Eric have been married for a little over a year and, when possible, they enjoy traveling together internationally. Their home life is brightened by Eric’s two children and their English bulldog Bo Jangles. 

Please join us in congratulating Lila on the opening of NextHome Picket Fence Realty in Woodburn, Oregon!

Interested in being a part of the NextHome Real Estate Franchise? Contact VP of Sales Charis Moreno at Charis@NextHome.com.

Each office is an independently owned and operated business.