Celebrating a century of serving the Historic Northeast neighborhood, Northeast Realty is a true-to-form family-owned, hometown business.
Brothers Bill, Jim and Michael Lawless currently run the real estate business, but all five Lawless siblings have been involved at one time or another. The younger brother, John, used to be in sales, and their sister, Patricia, has helped with the books in the past.
The Lawless’ great-grandfather, Marcus Waltermire, began the business in 1909 in an office located at 107 S. Hardesty St. It then passed to his son, Paul Waltermire, and lastly to Jim in 1970.
Michael began part-time in the ’70s, and Bill joined the team in ’82.
As natives of Northeast who went to grade school at Holy Cross and high school at Rockhurst, Bill said Northeast Realty has stayed in business so long because people like doing business with locals.
Although they occasionally list and sell properties outside of the Northeast area, a majority of the realty office’s business comes from Historic Northeast, with their properties lying mostly north of Truman Road.
“Location, location, location,” Bill said. “That’s our forte. We go out of the area, but we specialize here.”
Jim added that their knowledge of the neighborhood is what sets them apart from other real estate agencies that serve the area.
Despite their long history of helping others relocate, the brothers of Northeast Realty have only made one move in the company’s 100 years. The office moved to 5400 St. John Ave. in 1978.
In light of the current state of the economy, Jim said business has not been doing too bad.
“It’s been slower than it has ever been, but it’s been steady,” he said.
Bill added that they have had a reasonable amount of return business.
“We make sure everything is done right,” he said. “Most people are satisfied, most people return.”
Toni Termini, an agent with Reece and Nichols who grew up in Northeast, said he has been through a lot with the Lawless brothers in the past 23 years he has been in the business.
“I have really enjoyed working with Jim and Bill,” Termini said. “They seem to do things the old fashioned way.”
In keeping up with current business practices, though, Northeast Realty is a member of the Kansas City Regionall Association of REALTORS and Multiple Listing Service.
While at work, the brothers try to divide up the work evenly, with the exception of Jim being the broker.
Looking to the future, Jim said he and his brothers do not yet have anyone to take over the business when they retire.
“We are looking for that person now,” he joked. |
