Dennis Page started his career in 1985 as an engineer who sold real estate on the weekends and off hours. He invested in a few multi-family homes as income properties, and soon started working on developing homes as well.
“At one point, I just made the decision to go full time into real estate and do development, and it just became more and more of my life,” Page said. “It was just one of those things that matched. You know, you just find something in life that you like, and it was just one of those things I was drawn to instantly.”
Page joined the RE/MAX Professionals office in Westford in 1991, and two years later opened RE/MAX Prestige in Tyngsboro. In 1999 he sold the business, but has stayed on as an associate broker. He’s currently selling units at two developments he’s helped bring to fruition: Hawk Ridge at Westford, with 24 detached condos, and The Village at Merrimac Landing in Tyngsboro, with 104 single-family townhouses.
He has served as president of the Northeast Association of Realtors (NEAR), and in April won that association’s Realtor of the Year award.
You owned RE/MAX Prestige until 1999. Why did you sell the business?
I was trying to do sales, do some development and run an office, and they were three separate full-time jobs. The office managing just wasn’t something that was appealing to me, so I sold it to a couple here in the office, and I just stayed on as an associate broker. It’s worked out well in the end for all of us.
You work hand-in-hand with builders to develop properties, and then list the units and sell them. Does the RE/MAX model tie in well with developing?
It does. One of the advantages for me in doing developing and having my own listings is that I’ve constantly got a source of good, well-priced listings, so it’s really advantageous for me. If you look at the economics of a conventional agent versus being a RE/MAX agent, if you’re doing more than two transactions a month, you’re really getting shortchanged if you’re in a conventional system.
Are the majority of your sales properties that you’ve helped develop?
It’s probably about 50/50. I do a lot of resale business. Actually, a lot of the construction ties in. You find someone who wants to buy a new home, and they’ve got a home to sell. I have assistants who work with buyers, but I do mostly listings.
You recently won NEAR’s Realtor of the Year. How did that come about?
It’s very interesting that being into this business a lot of years, you kind of feel an obligation in being involved with the association. I’ve taken advantage of a lot of their [resources] without giving back.
So five years ago I joined the association as vice president and a board member. It turned out to be quite valuable. Basically [the award] is given to someone who has given back to the association. It’s been a rewarding experience, and I’ve met a lot of good people.
Page’s Five Favorite Places:
Ogunquit, Maine – It’s classic seaside New England.
Naples, Fla. – For the winter weather escape.
Bretton Woods, N.H. – For the skiing in the mountains.
Napa, Calif. – For the red wine.
Maui, Hawaii – It’s paradise.
