American dream translates into success

Natalia Seefeldt speaks the right language when it comes to helping immigrants and refugees from the former Soviet Union realize the American dream.

As a Russian-speaking Realtor working for Keller Williams Realty in Spokane Valley, Seefeldt is a top-selling agent who almost exclusively serves English-as-a-second-language clients.

“Most of my clients are extremely choosy and they will look and look and look. It’s a really an important step in everyone’s lives to buy a house,” said Seefeldt, who moved to the United States from Moscow in 1999.

Yuriy Derevenchuk of World Relief in Spokane estimates that there are a total of about 20,000 Russian-speaking kids and adults living in Spokane County and more than a dozen Realtors and mortgage officers catering to them. He believes that most of the families live here for two years before buying a house.

To serve a wide variety of customers, Exit Real Estate – Jones & Associates employs five Russian-speaking Realtors along with agents who speak Vietnamese, Spanish and Portuguese.

“We have agents who serve a real broad base of the melting pot of Spokane,” said Sabrina Jones-Schroeder, broker for the company.

In addition to bridging the language barrier with homebuyers, the agents also communicate well with several Russian builders who list homes through Exit.

Speaking the same language helps Yana Zimoglyad of Prime One Mortgage Co. convey the ins and outs of credit to her clients — few of whom have ever owned a home.

“Most people who are coming here they don’t know anything about credit or how to build credit,” Zimoglyad said.

The concept is foreign to this group, Zimoglyad said, because in the former Soviet Union, transactions were handled in cash. Most people lived in government-owned apartments while trying to save enough money for a house.

The improved communication with Realtors and loan officers enables this thrifty group to barter, something that’s culturally engrained but also smart when it comes to home buying.

Getting the best value for their money is particularly important, Seefeldt said, because many work in low-paying jobs and lead modest lives to afford a home. One client put in long hours during the day loading lumber and worked nights at McDonald’s to afford a down payment, she said.

“When they get jobs they will save every penny. They don’t go to the restaurants, they don’t go to the movies,” Seefeldt said.

They also face challenges in needing bigger homes to accommodate bigger families and like any other homebuyer they want a good deal.

“They are really demanding. They want a huge house for the least amount of money,” Seefeldt said.

Alexander Zayko, a loan officer with First Horizon Home Loans, said ironing out details for contracts is significantly easier without a language barrier.

“It’s easier for them to negotiate closing costs and interest rates,” Zayko said.

When Russian families find the right house at the right price, Seefeldt said, they are dutiful homeowners.

“They will eat bread and water, but they will pay their monthly payments, Seefeldt said. “The house is something they will never give up.”