BUCHANAN — After 21 years of working in real estate, Buchanan’s Julie Capron wanted to use her experience in the field to cultivate her own business and serve her hometown.

Acting on that dream, Capron opened Listing Leaders Michigan — a franchise of a northwest Indiana-based real estate company. The business opened at 256 E. Front St. in mid-April. A grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony took place May 15.

Since opening their doors, Listing Leaders Michigan has served residents by providing them a place where they can sell and buy homes. Properties are available across Michigan and Indiana.

Capron is the former owner of Julie’s Wear & Share, a clothing consignment store, which she operated for about a year and a half. At the end of March, Capron decided she wanted to pursue her next business venture. She closed the store and donated the remaining merchandise to flood victims in Berrien Springs.

“I think Julie’s Wear & Share was more of my baby step that [asked] if I could I even own my business?” Capron said. “This [Listing Leaders] is it.”

Capron has called Buchanan home for the past 23 years and when it came to deciding where to open her new business, she knew she wanted it to serve her hometown.

“Buchanan has that small town, hometown, tight-knit community and I just wanted to stay part of it,” Capron said.

Joining her in the business venture is her daughter, Lauren Capron, a 2017 Buchanan High School graduate. Lauren helps to manage the processing aspect of the business.  Capron also hired another full-time employee, Heather Lloyd, to help her operate the financial side of the business. Listing Leaders also has six agents, including Julie, who work with the company.   

Julie said she first became interested in the real-estate business when she was buying her first home in Buchanan. As a first-time home buyer, Julie said she found the process daunting and confusing and it motivated her to offer a different experience to those buying or selling their homes. 

“I love to educate buyers and sellers of how the process works,” Julie said. “Because a lot of what people learn is on the internet, which is not how it really works.”

Julie described her business as “agent-based” and said agents get hands on training so that they can seek to make a better experience for customers. 

“I’m looking to train agents and show them how I became successful,” Julie said. “I know the properties. I know the area and stay up to date with the market. It’s not just putting a sign in the yard. There is a lot involved.”

Her business motto seeks to emphasize these trademarks and is “changing real estate forever.” She said she aims to create a personable environment for customers that she believes will help the business to stand apart from competition. 

“We get more in tune with each person’s situation,” Capron said. “Because everybody’s situation is different.”

In the months to come, Capron is hoping to spread the word about her business and possibly open more locations.

“It’s been really nice because we are here,” Capron said. “They like seeing us downtown and [seeing] something fresh and something new.”

She invited customers to visit the business for their home buying or selling needs to see how Listing Leaders Michigan stands out.

Listing Leaders Michigan’s office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, but customers are encouraged to call at any time at (269) 405-5478 or visit listingleadersmi.com.