Founded on the strength of family and passion for real estate, Buyers Source Realty is a unique resource for home buyers. Chip McGraw, along with his father Ron McGraw teamed up to create a buyer’s agent service, and their mission statement is to put every home buyer at ease. After hearing a host of stories from friends and family about the complications and disappointments faced while purchasing a home, Ron and Chip realized they possessed the perfect blend of expertise to open an exclusive buyer’s agent business. Ron’s experience in real estate coupled with Chip’s business and marketing expertise create the perfect platform of knowledge to help real estate buyers navigate the process.
The real estate spirit of Chip McGraw’s family extends back five generations. Chip says, “My family instilled a love of real estate in me at an early age. My maternal great great grandfather came to FL as a real estate investor and developer and settled in Northeast Florida in the 1890’s on the west side of the St. Johns River in an area known as Ortega. My dad was involved in commercial and agricultural lending, and he often took us on visits to sites his bank was financing.”
Even though Ron McGraw was born in Ohio, his early arrival in Florida at age 19 qualifies him as a true local. Ron came to Ocala as a young naval recruit stationed at the Navy bombing range in the Ocala National Forest. After his service, Ron went on to graduate from the University of Florida and eventually gravitated to Real Estate Brokerage after retiring from a successful career in commercial real estate lending. His 45 years of experience in the field enables him to guide homebuyers effortlessly through all phases of the process.
Growing up in Ocala, Chip McGraw had plenty of opportunities to enjoy the history and culture of St. Augustine. He spent summers on St. Augustine Beach surfing and enjoying the salt life. After attending the Bolles School in Jacksonville, he had no trouble deciding on Flagler College to further his studies. Upon completion of his degree, Chip embarked on a long-held dream and moved to Costa Rica to blend his loves of surfing and business. While in Costa Rica, Chip was the owner/broker of a Coldwell Banker Franchise and worked on a dozen real estate development projects in the region. In addition to a plethora of other ventures, Chip also is the founder of LATAM Aid Foundation. This non-profit is committed to helping build sustainable housing and providing clean drinking water throughout Latin America. Throughout his travels and adventures, Chip’s heart remained tied to St. Augustine. He says, “My wife and I purchased our first home in Vilano Beach in 2003. When my wife was pregnant with our fourth child in 2012, we returned to St. Augustine to the place that had always felt like home.”
The final piece of the dynamic team of three is Laura Ulmer, another Flagler alumna. Laura began working in the real estate industry in 2004. Representing buyers looking for new residential developments is Laura’s expertise.
You can count on this team to be your dedicated representative and to guide you through all aspects of your purchase. With their expertise, you will find your dream home, and they will negotiate on your behalf, advise you on legal contracts, as well as offer you credible resource recommendations. Put your mind at ease and contact Buyers Source Realty before your next real estate purchase.
Learn more about Buyers Source Realty by calling 904-217-3274 or visiting www.buyerssourcerealty.com. Photography by Brian Miller.