Stephen Ames

Stephen Ames, Managing Broker, CRS, SRES, CSSN, CBRS, CSMS

Award-Winning Service since 1974 - Greater Puget Sound Region and Beyond!

Managing Broker’s License: 1979

Syndications/Limited Partnerships 1980's

1031 Exchange Certified Agent

NAR Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)

NAR Certified Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES)

NAR Certified Certified Short Sale Negotiator (CSSN)

CB Previews Property Specialist / International ELITE Top 1%

Prudential Chairman's Circle Company-Wide Top Agent

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate Top Producer

John L. Scott Top Producer, President's Elite & Gold

Managing Broker. To qualify to be a Managing Broker, you must first prove two years of full-time activity in the field of Real Estate sales. You must also pass a comprehensive exam after completing a minimum of 200 additional clock hours, plus meet renewal requirements of substantive study and training every two years. Only about 20% of all Agents have a Managing Broker’s status in Washington State. You are not allowed to be a Branch Manager or the Designated Broker of a real estate company without it. In the early 80's Stephen owned and operated STACO Properties, Inc as President, CEO and Designated Broker well as President of Pacific Growers International (PGI, Inc). He also served as Branch Manager for Armstrong Homes of Redmond, WA, and for All-American Homes- Redondo - of Kent, WA, in the late 70's and late 80's/early 90's, respectively. Additionally, Stephen has served as sales manager and sales trainer for All-American Homes over his 32-year tenure with the company which today is known as Berkshire Hathaway HomesServices Northwest Real Estate after previous transitions to Coldwell Banker/All-American and Prudential NW Real Estate along thee way. He was ranked in the top 5 in the company every year and, despite the company's name changes, he was the Company-Wide Top Producer for 12 years running, Stephen joined John L. Scott in December of 2018.

Syndications/Limited Partnerships. During the early to mid 80's, Stephen was active in the creation and management of limited partnerships and syndications from apartment houses to orchards and office complexes. At the time, these were tax-favored split programs that afforded investors a high rate of return either by tax relief or fixed income.

1031 Exchange Certification. In 1981, Stephen became certified in "tax-free" exchanging, and recertified in 1996. The exchange process has allowed many of his clients to defer taxes on the sale. This provides a means of re-purchasing "like property" by using a facilitator who holds the proceeds of sale and moves that money in whole or in part into the next transaction. This process avoids some or all of the capital gains taxes, keeping the basis moving forward, pursuant to more profitability in another property. Recipients of this certification have attended and passed the required courses approved by the State and the NAR for assisting in the process of tax-deferred exchanges. Studies include extensive qualitative and quantitative analysis. Adjusted cost basis, cost recovery, boot, "equal or greater than" basis evaluation and facilitation are among the related elements of qualified exchanges, whether they be full, partial, or Starker.

NAR Certified Residential Specialist (CRS). This certification is issued by the National Association of Realtors. It has only been awarded to small percentage of all Realtors^® in the nation. One must meet extensive hourly requirements, pass exams and have a proven full-time, high level of sales production in order to qualify to receive the award. Continuing education requirements make this a challenging certification to keep.

Realtor^®member since 1974.

- National Association of Realtors^®

- Washington Association of Realtors^®

- Seattle-King County Association of Realtors^®

- TPCAR Tacoma-Pierce County County Association of Realtors^®

SRES, Senior Real Estate Specialist. This prestigious NAR certification, awarded to Stephen in 2009, is awarded to assist the elder community with their real estate issues, specializing in the negotiations and protection for and of seniors. Much of the training and certification process deals with sensitivity to the needs of the elderly, and how to make sure they have good representation in all aspects of their real estate decisions and transitions - often the most difficult to make. Stephen surrounds these situations with additional expertise afforded by CPA's, financial planners and elder law attorneys while dealing with trust estates and the contraction phase of elder life, the most challenging for many facing it as a "have to" adjustment, not always getting to choose it.

CSSN, Certified Short Sale Negotiator. This specialty has become essential in dealing with the economic downturn of the last several years, particularly in the area of distress. Distressed Sellers are among the majority these days, while in decades past they have been in the minority of Sellers. This was awarded in 2010. Dealing with the short sale and/or bankruptcy aspect of real estate is not only tricky, but requires expertise in dealing with banks, attorneys, trustees and family members, often simultaneously.

CBRS, Certified Buyer Representation Specialist. This is a John L Scott exclusive designation awarded to select, proven, highly trained agents/brokers. The John L. Scott Certified Buyer Representation Specialist® designation is awarded to authorized agents as their declaration providing 100% Buyer Representation at the highest level of service.

CSMS, Certified Seller Marketing Specialist. This is a John L Scott exclusive designation awarded to select, proven, highly trained agents/brokers. The John L. Scott Certified Seller Marketing Specialist® designation is awarded to authorized agents as their declaration that they are providing 100% Seller Representation at the highest level of service for their seller clients.

CB Previews Property Specialist / International ELITE Top 1%. While the company was under Coldwell Banker's banner, Stephen was certified as a Previews Property Specialist, to effectively market properties in the upper echelon of price of their local markets. He was also ranked the top agent in the company and in the top 1% of CB's world-wide network of agents for number of sales (total units) and/or highest gross commission income.

Chairmen’s Circle Office Top Agent. After the company transitioned from CB to Prudential, awards were given their member offices based upon achievement levels in several categories. Chairman’s Circle status is only given to the top level in the category of Gross Commission Income (GCI) generated. Prudential Northwest realty, a franchise affiliate member of Prudential, is ranked in the top 5% of all of Prudential's offices. Ranked Me The Top Agent in the Company.

Prudential Chairmen's Circle GOLD Agent. Prudential awards its individual member Agents as to various categories of achievement. This level is the 3rd highest level an individual member Agent can achieve. This annual award is given to Agents for their standing among the highest individual level of production out of Prudential's global members. Ranked Me Stephen as the Top Agent in the Company.

Berkshire Hathaway Top Producer. Since the company was last taken over by Berkshire in 2014, Stephen has maintained a top producer rating in the regional ranking of the new multi-state organization boasting some 21 offices and about 500 agents in the local Washington-Oregon region.

John L. Scott Top Producer. 2018 - 2021 Top tier sales company-wide production representing the top 10% in the company out of over 51 area-wide offices. John L. Scott is a nationally recognized leading-edge company serving Oregon, Idaho and Washington.