S. Brooke MacNee

LONG-LASTING RELATIONSHIPS FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS

By Jane K. Asher, Ph.D.

Photos by Jessica Laine Photography

S. Brooke MacNee, who has been thriving in the industry for 36 years, says that real estate is “all about the people.”

“The most rewarding part of my business is building long-term relationships,” Brooke said. “Buying and selling real estate is an emotional process as it is a family’s home where they eat, sleep, laugh, cry, grow and live their Iife together. It is potentially the most significant investment a person makes, so listening, hearing and understanding the needs and expectations of clients is an absolute necessity.”

Brooke’s compassion and desire to make meaningful connections with others extend beyond her interactions with clients, and her energy and sincerity are traits that she exudes to all the people she meets. She strives to build strong relationships with her fellow real estate professionals, as well as with lawyers, contractors, electricians and all the individuals who play crucial roles in getting a deal done from start to finish.

“Having a network of people to refer or recommend to clients, friends and family is a huge benefit and a service beyond just selling real estate,” Brooke said.

Brooke’s investment in the industry and in the people who make it all worthwhile are the bedrock of her longstanding success: She has a career volume in excess of $400 million, over $20 million of which she generated in 2019.

Brooke is the broker/owner and a real estate agent at MBA Realty Group, Inc. where she works alongside her husband and fellow broker/owner Art MacNee. MBA Realty Group is a boutique independent office with six outstanding agents — three of whom are the couple’s daughters-in-law — and a full-time assistant Krista Smith. “We are so fortunate to have Krista as part of our team,” Brooke said. “My office would be in shambles without her!”

As a broker, Brooke prioritizes the growth and success of her colleagues. “We are a small group, and although we work individually in sales, we are a team that works together for the success of the entire office,” she said. “I think it is extremely important to make a name for yourself. I want our agents to be recognized for their success in their own right. Buyers and sellers need to identify you as a real estate professional to be able to build your career.”

Growing up in Grosse Ille with her parents and five siblings, Brooke developed strength and courage from her family. She has learned to deal with situations in a straightforward manner, even in the toughest times. Her mother and father provided her with many learning experiences and had a tremendous influence on who she has become today. “My parents were very kind and generous people who taught us to stand up straight, throw our shoulders back, hold our heads high in the face of controversy and deal with situations straight on,” Brooke said.

Today, Brooke attributes her success and growth to Art, her husband of 32 years who also happens to be her first real estate sale. They work along side each other every day, with Art managing the MBA Realty Group office and working as a broker as well. Brooke credits her husband for providing her with balance and for being her “go-to guy.” “Art is a great listener and has the ability to see the big picture in the details of our operations,” she said.

Brooke and Art’s blended family includes four sons and four daughters-in-law: Art MacNee III and his wife Janel, an agent with MBA; Sean MacNee and Jenny West who reside in Montana; Courtnay Rusu and his wife Natasha Rusu, a newly licensed agent with MBA; and Zachary Rusu whose wife Roxanne Rusu is an agent with MBA. Brooke notes that her greatest personal accomplishment was raising four boys whose honesty, integrity and determination have led them to become successful in their careers and family lives.

The MacNees have six grandchildren, ranging in age from 4 months to 20 years old, and Brooke says that spending quality time with the entire family is her greatest joy. She and Art are avid boaters who travel the Great Lakes whenever the opportunity presents itself. For winter getaways, they head to one of their favorite places: Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

Brooke hopes to leave her children a legacy that they can build upon as they continue to shape their own lives with their families. “I want my children to be proud of what I’ve created and proudly say ‘my mom built this business,’” Brooke said.

With over three decades of experience in the industry, Brooke has definitely built a business that she and her family can be proud of, and she’s done so through hard work, determination, flexibility, communication, and consistent personal and business marketing. She encourages up-and-coming agents to embrace these crucial skills. “You need to put together a system that works for you, combined with good listening skills, patience and great organization,” she said. “As an agent, you need to complete your most difficult tasks in the morning; then your day will be much smoother.”

More importantly, Brooke advises novices to earnestly build solid, long-lasting relationships with their clients and fellow real estate professionals. As Brooke has demonstrated, the best way to enjoy success and longevity in this industry — and to sustain a rewarding career in real estate — is one relationship at a time.

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