This post was last updated on July 12th, 2021 at 08:26 pm
The History of 181-Close-Now
181-Close-Now is unique in the home buying business. Our family has been helping clients sell their house fast for generations. This gives us more than just the experience to buy your house fast.
We take pride in the fact that our clients are like family. 181-Close-Now has stood the test of time in an industry where buyers come and go. This is our story. We appreciate every client who helped us become Oklahoma’s fastest way to sell a house!
We Bought Houses During The Great Depression
Charlie Mercer believed you could build a business by helping others. In 1939, at the height of The Great Depression, he opened a small office at the corner of SW 15th and Agnew. It was right in the heart of Oklahoma City. Just a few blocks from the historic Oklahoma City Stockyard’s.
Over the next decade Charlie bought houses from people that wanted to sell their house fast. He made the process simple. No repairs needed, no inspections. Just an honest and straight forward way to sell your house fast for cash.
Charlie bought houses in any condition. From people from all walks of life. He bought a lot of houses and made a lot of friends. Most importantly he made sure he helped every person he bought a house from.
Charlie was right. Helping others isn’t a great way to build a business. We believe it’s the only way! That’s why we are proud to trace our roots back to such a humble beginning.
We Didn’t Just Buy Houses We Built Them!
Eventually Charlies daughter took over where he left off. Jeweldeen and her husband, Harlen Core, had no idea they were creating a family tradition. One that would last more than four generations!
Harlen and Jewel continued to buy houses. They paid cash and they Closed fast. By 1960 the had expand into new home construction as well.
Oklahoma’s Most Experienced Homebuilders
Oklahoma City was expanding and growing fast! Demand for new houses was growing too. The more the city grew the more the need for affordable housing was obvious.
Harlen would go on to become a charter member of the Southwest Oklahoma Homebuilders Association. He was the President of the Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association. Later he would be the President of the Past Presidents of COHBA.
Harlen also served on the National Board for the National Association of Home Builders for more than thirty years.
Jewel made it all possible. She managed the business while volunteering for the church. They were involved in community outreach programs. All while also being a full time mom to a growing family.
Their family would continue to grow with their business. Eventually having a son and grandson in homebuilding. Other family members started to specialize in land development, commercial real estate and leasing.
Foreclosed Houses And The 2008 Financial Crisis
The housing market has good times and bad times. Over the year our family has seen both more than once. Surviving a crash in the housing market is no easy task.
In 2006 we could see the writing on the wall. Banks were lending money to people too easily. People we’re buying houses with Adjustable Rate Mortgages. While other’s celebrated we were worried. Too many things just didn’t make sense anymore.
That’s when we decided to go back to our roots. By buying houses fast we could help more people. Since we paid cash we didn’t need the banks. That meant no repairs, no headaches and a lot of happy clients.
We were right. The market crashed. New home sales became non-existent. Banks stopped lending and foreclosures flooded the market.
We didn’t buy a single foreclosed house. Instead we did what Charlie would have done. We donated our time and experience to help people facing foreclosure. The banks weren’t always happy but our clients were!
181-Close-Now Oklahoma’s Best Way To Sell Your House Fast
What started as a way to help people facing foreclosure eventually became 181-Close-Now. Over the past decade we’ve grown into one of Oklahoma’s’ most trusted home buyers. We’ve bought a lot of houses and made a lot of friends. That’s because we make selling your house fast and easy!
181-Close-Now is the home buyer that other home buyers call for advice. Our clients are like family. And we still do things the way Charlie did. That’s why we do a few things our competitors don’t:
- WE DON’T BACK OUR OF OUR AGREEMENTS
- YOU NEVER HAVE TO MAKE REPAIRS
- WE HANDLE ALL OF THE PAPERWORK
- AND WE CLOSE FAST!
181-Close-Now is still family owned and operated. We’re still located in Oklahoma City. And we still believe that helping people is how you build a business!
We would love for you to be a part of the 181-Close-Now story. Give us a call at 181-Close-Now or fill out our Sell My House Fast Contact Form. Call 181-Close-Now to sell your house fast. You’ll see why clients sing our praises!
Maybe we do things the old fashioned way. But we think it’s the only way to do business. We like to think Charlie would be proud.