The Delaware River is not an especially large or powerful river, except perhaps when it comes to real estate.
While many prospective homebuyers want to look at properties in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, many real estate agents work exclusively on one side or the other. So buyers often work with two agents — one in each state.
But for the sisterly real estate team of Chris Butrym and Lisa Mullaghy of Coldwell Banker Hearthside, the river is no obstacle. While Butrym lives in Hopewell and Mullaghy in Yardley, Pennsylvania, both are licensed in both states. And working as a team, they say, gives them advantages over other agents in the area.
“Whether they’re looking in Jersey or Pennsylvania, we always meet them for the first time together, always take the client out the first time together,” Butrym said. “Then if someone is focused in Jersey, I’ll take the ball, or if they say ‘You know, I’d like to see Pa.,’ then I pass them over to Lisa.”
The sisters work as both buyers’ and sellers’ agents. Butrym said they often bounce ideas off one another about pricing or strategy, which strengthens the advice they give their clients.
“Sometimes you’re dealing with something and you’re too close to it, you need a little perspective,” Butrym said. “So I’ll say, ‘Lisa, take a look at this,’ and together we’ll figure out what’s best.”
“It’s really nice to have a partner who is also my sister — it just really works well,” Mullaghy said.
Mullaghy said they counsel clients, especially first-time homebuyers, to focus them on what’s most important to them.
“If they have young children, obviously school districts are important. They have to do some research and figure out where they want to live,” she said. “Then we’ll show them as many houses in as many areas as they need.”
Butrym said whether their clients are buyers or sellers, they advise them not to focus too much on cost.
“You really want to get to the reason why they’re buying or selling,” she said.
The agents have access to plenty of data that help them advise their clients, make sure they’re not asking too much for a home they’re selling or paying too much for one they are buying.
“We do a lot of education,” Mullaghy said. “Most sellers are not aware of what their house is really worth.”
Butrym and Mullaghy started at Coldwell Banker Hearthside three years ago. They chose Coldwell Banker precisely because it had a presence in both states.
Butrym had a science background, while Mullaghy’s was in social work, but the Phillipsburg natives had spent a decade caring for their young families. Looking to get back to work, and interested in working together, they looked for something they could do together that would work for both their schedules.
During their time out of the workforce, both had become very active as volunteers in their communities. Mullaghy served on the PTO board at Makefield Elementary, among other things, while Butrym was heavily involved in the founding of the Beartanical Garden and International Day at Bear Tavern Elementary. Butrym sees similarities between volunteering and real estate.
“To be a successful realtor, our clients’ needs have to be first and foremost, and that’s a lot like volunteering,” she said. “You work hard for people, you do the best you can do, and at the end of the day, sometimes it works out.”
Butrym is married to husband Eric, a long-time Hopewell resident. They have three children: daughters Grace, 16 and Celia, 14, and son Frankie, 13. Mullaghy is married to husband Steve. They have two daughters, Francesca, 15, and Bria, 12.
The Coldwell Banker Hearthside office is located at 100 Brandywine Boulevard, Newtown, Pennsylvania. The sisters stress that the location is in no way a disadvantage for potential clients buying or selling in New Jersey.
“Honestly, the way most agents work today is we work from home,” Butrym said. “We don’t have to go into the office to do our job well.”
To contact Chris Butrym, call (609) 902-6214 or email c.butrym@cbhearthside.com. To contact Lisa Mullaghy, call (215) 718-4048 or email l.mullaghy@cbhearthside.com.
Lisa Mullaghy and Chris Butrym of Coldwell Banker Hearthside are real estate agents who are both licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.,
