Zach Fischer, Windermere Mid-Valley: From Physical Therapy to Real Estate Success

Working in real estate wasn’t always the plan for Zach Fischer.

Before becoming the principal broker and owner at Windermere Mid-Valley in West Salem, Fischer graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in human physiology. That summer, he returned home to Salem to become a physical therapist, reaching out to several clinics around town. But callbacks were slow to come.

In the meantime, Fischer said he needed a job. He was introduced by his father to Bob Knight at John L. Scott Real Estate, who was looking to hire an assistant. That experience opened his eyes to a new and rewarding career he hadn’t previously considered.

“I think a month later, I had my (real estate) license,” Fischer said. “I became an e-lead broker for John L. Scott. This was when it was rarer for brokers to have individual sites, so consumers would go to company sites to see available inventory.  So anytime there was an internet lead, I would get that.”

Building Client Relationships

To this day, Fischer said the thing he most enjoys is helping first-time homebuyers achieve their dreams of homeownership.

“It’s such a level of achievement for them when they finally purchase their first home,” he said. “To be a part of that process is extremely rewarding to me.”

Building and maintaining client relationships is paramount to success, Fischer said. He takes pride in his communication throughout the process, making sure homebuyers fully understand what they’re doing and what they’re signing at the end of the day.

At the heart of the relationship, Fischer said it’s not just about understanding “what” his clients are looking for. It’s understanding “why.”

For example, a couple might specify they want to live next to a golf course — not because they enjoy playing, but because they enjoy the views. Knowing that can help to home in on the right listings, Fischer said.

“This is a service business. Anytime a client walks away thinking about their purchase process and can smile about it, that’s a win for me,” he said. “A lot of that (satisfaction) is determined by the ‘why’ behind their ‘what.’”

Market Trends

Affordability remains a challenge in Marion and Polk counties, Fischer said. Home prices continue to rise 4% year-over-year, along with a high overall cost of living statewide.

Fischer pointed to more inventory and incentives for buyers as tools that can help homebuyers overcome these hurdles. “It’s supply and demand,” he explained. As it stands, with costs as high as they are it makes it difficult for interested buyers to even save enough money for a down payment.

That is where organizations like Mid-Valley Association of REALTORS® can help. Fischer is currently the past-president of MVAR and has seen how the group is lobbying to advance private property rights, whether it’s helping to defeat the City of Salem’s proposed payroll tax in 2023 or pushing back against efforts to ban natural gas hookups in cities like Eugene.

“To actually witness the efforts from local and state representatives and our lobbyists to go in and help in those situations has been really neat to see,” Fischer said.

When he’s not working, Fischer said he enjoys golfing, watersports, and spending time with his partner, Rori, their 5-year-old son Simon, and Goldendoodle Finley.