By Charlene Medley
Mr. Henry Raymond Swain is a personable man and it is not just because he is handsome and articulate with a million dollar smile.
Mr. Swain is a realtor by trade and describes himself as an “honest business oriented man who serves people.”
Upon first meeting Mr. Swain, he comes across as an old comfortable friend that you have known forever.
Ironically, he’s only 29 years old and looks like a high school sophomore. The juxtaposition of it all lies in the fact that while in high school, Mr. Swain discovered his interest in Real Estate.
He explained, “I thought I might flip houses or something like that. I took the Realtor’s class, but I was young and did not follow through with it.”
Then one day, while working for Coca Cola, Mr. Swain accepted a job cleaning foreclosed houses.
“The joy of working in real estate came back to me,” he admitted.
Mr. Swain is no stranger to the real estate business. “Growing up in Talladega, my family always worked as carpenters, electricians, and in construction,” he explained.
He continued, “When I got my Real Estate License, the market was in shambles. Many people thought it was not a wise decision to try to sell houses with the economy the way that it was and the numerous foreclosures.”
Mr. Swain said he barreled through and stayed the course. “My folks prayed for me. My mom, stepdad, and grandmom kept me encouraged. They support me in everything that I do,” he added.
Having been a Realtor for four years, Mr. Swain said he is happy with his career choice.
“I like helping people. I get so much joy out of people finding a home, moving into that home and getting a new, fresh start in life,” he smiled.
According to Mr. Swain, “I also like the negotiating aspect of my job. I want to get the best deal for my client. I am my clients’ servant. I am very good at what I do. I try to go above and beyond for my clients. I am honest, ethical and I want what I do to come back to me – good things”, he emphasized.
Mr. Swain continued, “I like for the home buying process to be fun. Sometimes things happen that are out of my control.”
He used a biblical analogy to describe home purchasing. “It’s like a woman giving birth. There is some pain, but after it is over and you have your beautiful baby in your arms, all the pain is forgotten.”
To make the home purchasing process smoother, Mr. Swain had a few suggestions. “Do your research and educate yourself. Know what you are getting into before you get into it. Know about your credit and work on it. Be mindful of your spending habits.”
He continued, “I work with a lot of first time home buyers. I tell them that there will be upfront costs such as home inspections. You want to have money in reserve for all costs and to purchase furniture for your new home.”
Recent homebuyer himself, Mr. Swain said from his standpoint, “It is a good thing to purchase a home for many reasons. It’s yours. It belongs to you. You feel like you have accomplished something. It gives you individuality. You can do certain things to your home that you cannot do to an apartment or if you were renting. Just pay for it. You work hard and purchasing a home is a reflection of your hard work. You want a nice place to raise your family. It’s part of the American Dream,” he added.
Mr. Swain said now that he has bought a house, he spends much of his spare time at Thrift Stores. “ I search for antique pieces to refinish. I love restoring old pieces of furniture.”
Mr. Swain said he likes to visit all of the downtown restaurants in his spare time, also.
Five years from now, Mr. Swain said he plans to continue in Real Estate. “I love the selling and working with people aspect of it. I am contemplating running my own firm with a small team of honest people to assist me in selling houses.”
If you are looking to buy or sell your home, Mr. Swain said he can be contacted at 205-705-5251 or at hrswain8259@gmail.com.
