Photo by Amy Cherry St. Marys Realtor Cathie Bauer has shown commitment to both her professional career as well as to numerous community organizations throughout the years.

Bauer is currently the Broker of Record and Office Manager at Anderson and Kime Realty Services, Inc. as well as being involved with the Lions Club of St. Marys.

“I really enjoy matching the right buyer with the right house,” Bauer said. “I also enjoy advising sellers on how to prepare their house and position their price.”

Bauer noted that most Realtors are available to their clients seven days a week, whether that’s showing homes or processing paperwork.

She added that on average Realtors in the Elk County area may show anywhere between 10-20 homes a week, although Bauer’s all-time maximum record was 14 showings in one day to a single buyer.

As for a particular busy season, Bauer said the first quarter of 2010 has been very eventful. She attributes this surge to people taking advantage of the home buyers tax credit of up to $8,000 or 10 percent of a home’s purchase price prior to the April 30 expiration date.

Prior to becoming involved in the real estate industry Bauer spearheaded the St. Marys Creative Playland initiative along Jean Saleh. The co-chairs worked tediously to see the idea come to fruition as the massive wooden play structure has been a key attraction at Memorial Park over the past 20 years.

In addition Bauer volunteered for numerous projects with the American Cancer Society of Elk and Cameron County for 30 years. During that time she acted as emcee for several of the organization’s telethons and was actively involved in leadership, service and education efforts.

Professionally Bauer is the current President of the Elk Cameron Board of Realtors and is the Director of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors. She is also a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors (PAR).

Her efforts in the real estate industry have not gone unnoticed as Bauer received the ERA Rookie of the Year Award in 1993 and is a PAR Lifetime Membership Award.

Bauer is a St. Marys native having graduated from Elk County Christian High School in 1970. She is the daughter of the Doris and the late John Stockman. Cathie and her husband Jim have three adult children Adam and his wife Jackie (Levenduski), Grace and Anna Marie.

Bauer chose to enter the real estate industry when her youngest daughter entered kindergarten. She noted that many people are attracted to the real estate profession because they can make their own hours to some extent, scheduling their work around their children’s activities, doctor appointments and such.

In order to become a Realtor, a person must complete 60 hours of training for their initial license as well as passing the Pennsylvania licensing test. All PA licensed Realtors must complete 14 hours of continuing education every two years.

“By virtue of those memberships you hold yourself to a high ethical standard of practice,” Bauer noted.

According to public records utilized by area Realtors there have been 39 homes sold in St. Marys, 21 in Ridgway, nine in Johnsonburg and three in Kersey, all since January 2010.

In 2009 the Elk County area saw several bank owned properties being sold by foreclosures or short sales. One of the reasons for this trend is attributed to buyers who chose an adjustable rate mortgage and were unable to make the payments due to the increase in interest rates.

“The good thing about the Elk County area is that it historically lands on its feet, in the real estate industry, following tough economic times,” Bauer said.

Additionally most builders in the area build custom homes one at a time to suit buyers specific needs, rather than construct numerous spec homes or overbuilding, a problem encountered in other areas of the country.

In order to aid sellers Bauer passes along vital information to assist in selling their home more quickly. Sellers are encouraged to de-clutter by putting away personal items; opening doors and windows to allow as much light as possible inside the home; paying special attention to kitchens and bathrooms, the two most important rooms in a home; applying a fresh coat of paint to freshen up a home and maintain yard work by trimming overgrown bushes, shrubbery or trees.

The average modest home size in St. Marys is approximately 1,200 square feet. There are a vast amount of homes that were built in the early 1900s as well. According to Bauer a majority of homes in downtown St. Marys, as well as a few farm houses, were constructed at the turn of the century. The outlying areas of St. Marys is where newer construction homes are located.