Harold Bagwell
CIPS, e-Pro, TRC
30 Under 30

Harold Bagwell is a man of the world. At 29, he is one of the state's most successful realtors. He is the only agent in Arkansas to hold the prestigious Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation and was recently named to the list of REALTOR Magazine's 30 under 30.

His early success in the business can be attributed to his love of adventure and his determination to not be among the 87 percent of new agents who fail and leave the trade. When he moved to real estate after an injury during training for Special Forces with the military, he brought with him a can-do attitude with failure as no option. He has also invested in his success by taking hundreds of hours of education and achieving several profession designations.

The list of certifications he has earned is impressive for any REALTOR. To date, in addition to CIPS, he has attained the e-Pro designation for Internet marketing; Certified Home Marketing Specialist (CHMS), Certified Negotiation Specialist (CNS) and Certified Marketing Specialist (CMS). These designations signify both a commitment to continuous improvement and to the highest level of customer service for his clients. He is proud of his achievements, especially his commitment to serving the international market.

"I decided right away that I would capitalize on my love for international travel and meeting people from around the world and focus on international clientele as well as take every class I could to learn about the industry," Harold says. He also chose to stay in northeast Arkansas and focus on the communities he has known his whole life.

Harold got a taste for international life traveling and backpacking through foreign lands, including Thailand, Japan, Fiji, Vanuatu and Mexico. He learned on these trips that all around the world people are the same. They want a place of their own to put down roots and raise a family. And people all around the world want a chance to live the American dream.

When Harold talks about international properties and clientele, some folks wonder if he's talking about Arkansas. He usually gives them his infectious laugh and then explains how Arkansas is the number one state in the nation for having highest percentage of foreign ownership businesses. His international clientele hail from around the world. European and South American investors continue to focus on the state because of the low cost of living and available land and labor.

"When I committed to having a significant portion of my business be international, I dedicated myself to achieving the CIPS designation," he says, adding "It was a lot of time and effort including going out to L.A. to take the test, but the knowledge it has provided me and my customers is invaluable." He has also earned the Transnational Referral Certification (TRC) which allows Harold to easily handle both incoming and outgoing international referrals.

In his dealing with international clientele, he is constantly touting both the availability of properties in Arkansas and the benefits of ownership here, compared to smaller, less developed countries that have less stability. He works listings that include an array of homes and new construction along with available land for commercial development or hunting and fishing. On any given week, most of his closings will be for out of state or foreign buyers moving into the area.

The natural beauty of the terrain, with lakes, streams and mountains, combined with incredible affordability have created opportunities for new homebuyers, investors and retirees, a segment which Harold expects to be the fastest growing segment over the next decades. "We have phenomenal values to offer here," he adds. "When buyers, either local or out of state, take a look at what they get for the money here in northeast Arkansas, they are amazed. Retirees love the local market for its real estate prices, low crime rate and four seasons."

The fact that Harold is only 29 doesn't cross his mind much anymore. He is so busy working with customers that he only smiles when someone gives him that look he is quite used to. His knowledge of the market and the industry has impressed clients and peers alike. Harold's previous broker has seen his share of REALTORS come through the market and considers Harold to be among the finest young professionals he's worked with.

"Harold has put a lot of time and invested a great deal in his business and is on such a positive path in his career," he says. "Harold has positioned himself very well for future growth in the market and is a great asset for the industry."

His early success in the business was recognized by the editors of REALTOR Magazine in compiling their 30 Under 30 list for 2006. Harold was among more than 550 National Association of REALTORS associates nominated from across the country. His sales success, with $4 million in sales closed in 2005 and being on track to reach his goal of $7 million in 2006 inspired the judges to select him for the prestigious list. A commitment to his community, achieving this sales volume in a market with average prices of homes less than $60,000 and his involvement in professional activities solidified his position among the nation’s up and coming finest "I was thrilled to be named to the list, especially after reading about the other winners," he adds. "I was so proud to be the only person on the list from Arkansas. It helped people learn more about our great state and among market when they read about me."

In towns like Pocahontas, Ravenden, Cherokee Village, Mammoth Springs and others across the northeast corner of the state, Harold is making a name for himself. His influence is now reaching out to REALTORS Association. Harold is volunteering his time on both the legislative and convention committees for ARA. His volunteer efforts are also evident on the home front as Harold plays a leading role in developing a Habitat for Humanity chapter in Pocahontas.

"Volunteering, whether for the REALTOR'S association or a local project is a lot like education, it is an investment in yourself and the community." he adds. "Our profession has so many dynamic people and leaders and it is a pleasure to work along side of them on committees or special projects."

In his ongoing efforts to expand and diversify his business, Harold has stressed his development in other areas of the industry including land development and mortgage lending. His work with builders and developers is providing him valuable experience for a segment of his business he hopes to grow significantly. He was the number one agent in the state for mortgage production in 2004.

Success at such a young age might go to some people's heads. Harold laughs off any notions that he is anything but a country boy who loves what he's doing. He has been approached in recent months by other companies in metro location to see if he is interested in bringing his proven methods to the big city. "Why would I want to be anywhere else but here in my hometown community with friends and family nearby? We are positioned to see some incredible growth in our market in the coming years and people from all around the world are looking to bring their businesses and families here. I am looking forward to being a part of it and helping my customers realize their dreams."