REAL ESTATES

WHEN WE ARE YOUNG AND IMAGINE our futures, there are certain milestones that many of us hope to reach — getting a drivers license, obtaining a bachelor’s degree, falling in love, or starting a family. Arguably however, none embodies the quintessential ‘American dream’ quite like home ownership. 

Few moments can compare to placing the new key in your own front door, stepping over the threshold for the first time and walking into your very own home. For Steve Roney, owner and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties, helping people fulfill this dream has been his life-long passion. “I know how special it is to own a home and raise a family in it,” Roney explained. 

With more than 30 locations throughout the state, from Logan to Kanab, Roney’s family-owned business has roughly 500 agents, 60 employees, and is the top ranked independently owned Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices franchise in the country. 

Roney was approached to purchase the group during the height of the recession, and many warned that it may not be the best time to start a risky venture. But Roney felt differently. “I knew that the real estate business is cyclical and there are going to be peaks and valleys. Residential real estate has reliably shown appreciation over the years. Owning real estate is a wonderful investment and this is particularly true in Utah, as the state is vibrant and healthy.” 

Trusting his instincts, Roney took over the franchise in November of 2009. Today, 15 years later, Utah Properties is the largest real estate brokerage in Utah. 

Along with his instincts, Roney brought a lifetime of experience and knowledge into his Utah venture. “I have always been fascinated by real estate and have been in the industry for my entire career,” he said. 

Starting with his early days as a business student at Berkeley, he worked for a relocation company, helping executives and their families sell their old homes and find new homes as they transferred from one part of the country to another. Later he became a senior executive of First American Corporation and was the architect behind acquiring and consolidating the largest single Multiple Listing Service (MLS) in the country. 

By the time he came upon the then Prudential, now Berkshire Hathaway company, Roney was “struggling through a retirement attempt” in Newport Beach. “I was very bored and ready for something new,” he recalls. A chance to return to the working world felt like a new beginning. 

Fortunately, Roney and his wife of 52 years, Karen, were already fans of Utah, as they had a second home in Deer Valley and vacationed there for years. “We already knew the area, and I had a real estate background and I loved living in Utah. It was the perfect opportunity.” 

In addition, Roney explained, “I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and I wanted to acquire a company that I could hand off to my kids someday,” he 

chuckled. “That is, if they wanted it, of course.” 

Fortunately for Roney, all three of his sons inherited his enterprising nature and are all part of the business. Tom joined his father from the onset and Steve Jr. joined him a number of years later. Today, they are involved with running all parts of the business. Jimmy recently joined the company and is learning the ropes. Roney’s daughter-in-law, Jamie, is also part of the executive team in her role as Chief Marketing Officer. 

When describing what it’s like to own and operate a family business, Roney humorously explained it this way: “Do you remember the original Pink Panther movies with Peter Sellers? You know how the manservant, Cato, would randomly fall out of the ceiling or out of a closet and attack the Inspector? Well, that is what I compare each day of work to. Cato is coming from somewhere. It’s not at all a routine business. It’s never the same and you have to be on your toes and be nimble. Each day is a surprise and I am energized by that. It’s just fun.” 

This lively and energetic attitude has led to a very innovative business model. “I believe in a full-service real estate company, not just a brokerage. When you buy or sell a home you not only need an agent, you also need title and settlement services. Additionally, most buyers need to obtain a mortgage, and they deserve to have options,” he emphasizes. “Offering a complete home service advantage to clients is important, so we expanded our core services to include title and escrow services and we recently launched our own mortgage company that works with over 100 different lenders to offer the best product options available.” 

With its expansive footprint and years of experience, Utah Properties is also known for its responsible development knowledge, providing many developers and their lenders with advisory services during land acquisition, entitlement, design and construction, and marketing and sales phases.    

Additionally, the dynamic culture promotes an atmosphere of giving and philanthropy, which can be felt throughout their management team and each of its locations around the state of Utah. Roney says that “Many of Utah Properties’ agents are involved in community engagement organizations. This includes everything from volunteering with the Utah Food Bank, donating time and funds to Habitat for Humanity, and coordinating events with the National Ability Center, to name a few.” Roney currently sits as a trustee on the boards of Park City's Intermountain Hospital and The Egyptian Theatre. 

As he explains, "One of our company's strongest attributes is its commitment to community engagement, empathy towards others, and collective progress." 

As Roney always says, "Real estate is a relationship business, and I love it."