Steve Rider Takes His ‘Trade-In Program’ International

By Lara C. Chapman

Steve Rider of The Rider Elite Team may have started selling homes as an average agent in the late 1970s; but his current influence in the housing market extends far beyond traditional real estate transactions. In a recent unprecedented industry move, Steve has launched his highly successful ‘trade-in program’ throughout North America, targeting both real estate professionals and builders alike.


The program aims to merge local and national homebuilders with expert real estate agents to help customers sail through the often complicated home-buying process. “We work as local advocates for the builders and personal advisors to the buyer,” said Steve. “If I can teach 400 agents in this groundbreaking program, we’ll make a big dent in the housing market and the overall economy.”


Steve, a Keller Williams associate broker, solidified his relationship with local builders in Arizona 33 years ago by designing and developing solutions to help increase new home sales. The mutually profitable relationship propelled him into a position of industry influence; and as a result, he has now started teaching his winning strategies to sales agents, lenders, and brokers.


Steve is not new to teaching, in 1998; Steve developed a training course called ‘100 Day Foundation to Success’ for entry-level agents seeking home sales skills. Steve recently agreed to partner with a long time affiliate’s Security Title and Academy Mortgage to give them licensing rights to teach the program nationwide. Security Title has always been an industry leader, providing cutting edge training and support to agents for many years and I’m proud to have them represent my training program, Steve said.  Academy Mortgage provides the other needed component to successful training because Today’s market revolves around financing.


Jason Spears of Academy Mortgage has been the #1 Alternative lender for new home builders for the past several years. Any loan that can’t be done through the builder’s mortgage company will be done by Jason and his Team. Academy Mortgage also just opened a “state of the art” training facility that holds up to 50 agents. Focused on giving back, “Through my industry knowledge and insight, I’ve made it my mission to teach and mentor agents across the United States. I want other agents to make a good and meaningful life in real estate,” Steve said. “Teaching is my God-given talent and it’s how I give back to my industry.”


Recently, The Rider Elite Team brought on board Ray Sullivan, a 15 year sales manager with Shea Homes, to further nurture their relationship with local builders.  Ray has been an amazing influence to our business, Steve boasts. Within weeks of being on the Team, Ray was promoted to VP of the Builder Trade-In Program and agreed to help launch it  internationally. Being in New Home sales and management for so many years gives the Team that added dynamic that now makes us unstoppable, Ray said.


But teaching fellow real estate agents is only one side of the equation. Steve, along with his wife Beth, tirelessly dedicate themselves to every prospective homebuyer they meet--even when a sale seems impossible--by educating them about the local market and financing options. “I’m a local economist and a real estate professional,” he said. “It’s my job to not only inform our clients on their options, but to protect potential home buyers from making questionable real estate decisions.”


Steve personally visited 450 homes last year alone, to help discuss the options of buying a new home and selling their existing home-- 244 of which were sold; and nearly half of those were new homes. “We had a dramatic impact in our local housing market last year, If we were on the local Builders Honor Roll, we’d rank number ten with 110 new home sales” Steve said.


Clearly his strategy, although abundant in long hours and hard work, is working. Which is precisely why he is taking his proven winning approach to the international real estate community? Of course, mentoring real estate industry insiders stems from a deep-rooted desire to see homebuyers satisfied and happy. “A person’s house is their most valuable asset,” said Steve. “And I think that all got lost during this past recession. Without a doubt, real estate remains one of the best investments a person can make.”


When Steve and Beth aren’t busy negotiating with builders or advising clients, they spend time with their 9-year old son, Alexander, a competitive club soccer player. But it goes without saying that real estate is what they do and what they’re successful at. Money, however, isn’t the motivating force at The Rider Elite Team. Instead, it’s mentoring and teaching those who make the housing market flourish--agents, lenders, and homebuyers.