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View All ListingsWith Derek, I learned the value of a realtor who knows more than just the laws and rules of buying a home. His knowledge and advocacy are the reason we got our house. What really stood out was his persistence: even though our initial offer wasn't the highest, he continued to follow up with the selling agent and kept our interests in the conversation, and ultimately we won the deal. He was also honest with us about home value and a ceiling bid, rather than just pushing us to spend more. As out-of-state buyers, his communication and response time were excellent aEUR" he sent us videos of homes where our interest was high and spent a full day showing houses in person when we were able to visit in town. If you want a realtor who brings real judgment and genuinely works for you, especially as an out-of-state buyer, Derek is highly recommended.
Derek helped us to sell our house fast. He got right to work with staging and photos to put our house on the market in a matter of days. We went under contract in 5 days, the process could not have gone any smoother as he went above and beyond to come through in the clutch! Thanks again Derek for all your professional assistance as was much appreciated!
Derek is professional, knowledgeable and great to work with. He made the process of selling our home such a smooth experience. We used him for both buying and selling of our home. He did a fantastic job both times helping us navigate through the process. Highly recommend!!
Buying my first home felt overwhelming at first, but Derek Leif and his entire team made the experience smooth, stress-free, and enjoyable from start to finish. Derek truly goes above and beyond for his clients. He was always available to answer my calls and texts promptly, no matter how big or small my questions were, and he consistently took the time to explain every step of the process. His professionalism, knowledge, and dedication gave me confidence throughout the entire home-buying journey. I never felt pressured, and I always felt like my best interests were his top priority. Thanks to Derek and his team, my first home-buying experience exceeded my expectations, and I couldnt be more satisfied with the outcome. If youre looking for a realtor who is responsive, knowledgeable, and genuinely committed to providing exceptional service, I highly recommend Derek Leif and his team. I would absolutely work with them again and recommend them to anyone looking to buy or sell a home.
In a market that felt like a hard sell, Derek went over and beyond. He set realistic expectations, walked us through the whole process, was accessible when it mattered, and just made the selling process the smoothest weve experienced. Highly recommend.
There is a reason why we used Derek a second time (this time to sell a house). Initially when we moved to the springs area we received his name via referral. We were very lucky to get him. The amount of time he took to help us purchase (sight unseen & during Covid) was surprising. We just hadnt had this this great of an experience with realtors previously. He was the same when we sold the house. Just really good. I will (and have referred him). He is excellent, knows seemingly everything, and has a great bedside manner. Thank you again- if we ever come again, we will give you a call.
Derek was amazing to work with throughout the process of selling our home. From start to finish, he was knowledgeable, professional, and always quick to respond to any questions we had. He guided us through every step, provided great advice, and made what could have been a stressful experience feel much more manageable. His communication, attention to detail, and dedication gave us confidence throughout the entire process. We truly felt like he had our best interests in mind every step of the way.
Derek helped me find a home while relocating to Colorado Springs from a couple of hours away, and I truly cannot recommend him enough. Long-distance house hunting can be incredibly stressful, but Derek made the process feel easy and manageable. Instead of me having to drive down for every potential house, he would visit properties and send incredibly detailed videos to help me decide whether a trip was worth it. He is meticulous and noticed every detail, giving honest, thoughtful feedback that made me feel confident in my decisions even from a distance. What really stood out is that Derek is just as wonderful in person. He helped me see things I was missing, both potential concerns with homes as well as positives I may have overlooked. He is patient, knowledgeable, and direct in a way that I genuinely appreciated. I always felt like he was giving me honest guidance, not just trying to make a sale, which made it easy to trust him throughout the process. Derek also went truly above and beyond to help me meet a tight timeline to vacate my previous home. He worked hard to make the sale happen, especially during inspection negotiations and final contract negotiations, and I always felt like he had my best interests at heart. One of Dereks greatest strengths is that he really listens. He quickly understood my likes, dislikes, priorities, and even the feel of what I was looking for, tailoring recommendations so well that it felt like he genuinely got me and what mattered most to me in a home. Buying a house, especially during a relocation, can feel overwhelming, but having Derek in my corner made all the difference. If you want someone you can trust, who truly listens, advocates for you, and goes above and beyond, Derek is your guy.
Derek went above and beyond to help me with the purchase, and years later the sale of my home. Hes creative with solutions and fair to make sure the deal closes. I would choose no other than Derek for all my home buyer needs!
Working with Derek to buy our first home was a fantastic experience! As nervous first-time home buyers with many questions, we appreciated how smooth, transparent, and stress-free he made the entire process. Dereks timeliness was unmatched. He arrived early to showings, responded to messages instantly, and always kept us updated. Thanks to his proactive organization, we navigated the paperwork flawlessly and closed exactly on time with no delays. Beyond his skills, Derek is genuinely kind, patient, and a great advocate for his clients. We love our new home and highly recommend him to anyone wanting a reliable realtor who delivers amazing results!
Derek is the goat, sold my 2 other buddies their house and then went with him for mine. If you want a house, this is your guy and best negotiator. Super wasy, simple and very honest. Hard worker and very quick.
Derek made a tedious process so smooth and very successful. He was able to answer all questions and was ready to make adjustments when something came up. 11/10 Recommend
We thought the reviews were exaggerated but they are not! Derek truly is amazingly detailed, hardworking, kind, easy to work with, and everything you could want in a realtor, a person, and friend. When he says hes going to stop by a house and make a video of a walk through aEURoetodayaEUR?, he does it that day and points out all the details. He helped us pick and get on contract with the perfect house while we were out of state and hadnt even seen it in person yet. He communicated the ENTIRE way through the process and even helped us move heavy furniture into our two story house afterwards. He was the biggest blessing and a huge answer to prayer! This is the type of realtor that everyone should have and be!
Derek is a fantastic realtor, he made our first time selling a house feel supported and informed. He was always there with answers or suggestions to our questions of which we had many. Derek not only got the house under contract but helped navigate inspection concerns and more with his insight and connections. As someone who is a worrier by nature having Derek as our parter in this process was the only thing that helped make the complications not become overwhelming. We were navigating moving states and I could not imagine conquering this without his help. I will forever recommend him to anyone in need of a realtor.
I couldnt be more grateful to have had Derek Leif as our realtor. My husband and I were purchasing our home from out of state, and while he handled most of the logistics, Derek always made sure I felt just as involved. He sent us walkthrough videos of every propertyaEUR"walking us through each room, noting important details, and sharing his observations like we were there with him. It was so reassuring to see each home from his honest, boots-on-the-ground perspective. Derek also responded quickly to my questions and followed up on any specific features I asked about. No question was too small, and he always made me feel like my input mattered. And on top of that, he worked behind the scenes to ensure the seller met every agreed-upon obligationaEUR"which made a huge difference once we moved in. Derek is caring, attentive, and someone you absolutely want in your corner.
Derek was the best realtor ever!! He helped us find the house of our dreams and helped through every step of the way. He responded quickly to any questions we had and went above and beyond to make sure the whole buying and move in process went smoothly. Best realtor by far!! We're incredibly grateful for his knowledge,expertise,and genuine care!
This was my first time buying a house. I am military and my wife and I were buying from out of state. I visited for one week, one month prior to moving to CO Springs. I couldn't have asked for a better realtor and experience trying to find a home. We looked at a lot of houses in a short period of time and Derek was willing to look at as many as it took until I found something I liked. The only two houses that I was willing to put an offer on were houses he picked out. My wife and I picked quite a few houses to look at from Zillow or other apps, but it became apparent that Derek was better at finding a good house after listening to our wants/needs. He is an extremely personable, professional, and knowledgeable realtor...highly recommend!
Derek was an absolute pleasure to have as our realtor. He was able to help me successfully sell my house for a really good price. Then was so patient and knowledgeable with helping us find our new home. Once we found our new home he helped my parents sell their home and was very good at making sure all the anxieties that come with leaving a home the had built for them 20 years ago was a smooth and stress free. I would recommend him a thousand times over.
Derek is so helpful. I highly recommend. Hes amazing , easy to talk to and reliable. He was my realtor when I brought my house and when I sold my house.
Derek did an amazing job helping me and my other half buy our first home! He guided us every step of the way & always advocated for us. We are so grateful to him and his team for everything theyve done to help us find our perfect home.
Working with Derek was a great! He helped us buy and sell our homes and was there to answer all of our questions while also providing guidance. Hes prompt, professional, patient, and really knowledgeable about the real estate market. We knew we were in good hands and trusted him whole-heartedly to help us through our home buying and selling process. He represents his real estate firm wellaEUR"we definitely recommend working with Derek and The Johnson team!
As a disabled veteran using a VA loan, buying a home that needed a lot of repairs was challenging. Derek, my realtor, went above and beyond to get the sellers to cover all the repairs. He was professional, persistent, and truly had my best interests at heart. Thanks to him, I now have a home thats move-in ready and comfortable. Highly recommend!
Derek Leif was an exceptional realtor who made the process of purchasing our home in Colorado Springs with a VA loan seamless and stress-free. The VA loan requirements and the necessary repairs added complexity to the appraisal and closing process, but Derek's expertise and dedication were evident every step of the way. From the start, Derek demonstrated a deep understanding of the VA loan process and the specific conditions it entails. He went above and beyond to ensure that all necessary repairs were addressed promptly and that the property met the strict appraisal standards. His excellent communication skills kept us informed throughout the process, and he was always available to answer questions, no matter how small. Derek's professionalism and negotiation skills were critical in working with the seller to ensure repairs were completed to meet VA standards. He also coordinated seamlessly with the appraisers and inspectors, ensuring that no detail was overlooked. His proactive approach saved us time, money, and unnecessary stress. We are incredibly grateful for Dereks dedication, knowledge, and attention to detail. Hes so committed he even coordinated through the holidays while on his own vacation to ensure we could close before our interest rate lock expired. If youre looking for a realtor who will truly advocate for you and guide you through even the most complex real estate transactions, we wholeheartedly recommend Derek Leif.
We were relocating to Colorado Springs so we were thankful to have Derek represent us. Before we arrived he sent listings from multiple areas of interest and even video taped his tours of the homes so we could make appropriate decisions regarding the properties. He is very flexible, made sure he was available for us, and had excellent communication. We would definitely recommend Derek as a Realtor!
Derek was great to work with from the start of househunting to the final inspection and closing. He was patient with our family's transition from military to civilian job/life and was very flexible and responsive when it came to scheduling. Derek was able to hone in on our preferences, even ones that were left unspoken, and offer his first-hand experiences and advice on owning an older/fixer-upper home. His handiness in home repairs was invaluable as he picked out certain red flags in homes, and was present and helpful at our inspection, and gave input on starting our "honey do" list. Working with Derek made the homebuying process fun, stress-free, and enjoyable - we will definitely be recommending him to friends and family looking to buy or sell in the future.
Derek was amazing from beginning to end. I could not have made it through this without him! He was supportive ,knowledgeable, and went above and beyond to get my home sold. He truly cares about his clients and helping make people's dreams come true whether they are buying or selling a home. I have a recommend Derek to anyone who wants to work with a real estate agent that is honest hard-working and is there for you every step of the way!
We had a great home buying experience with Derek. We were new to COS and didn't know a lot about the different neighborhoods or home specifics in the area. Derek had a lot of useful local knowledge and was very helpful in our home search. He gave us his honest opinion when we were touring homes and didn't think twice about climbing into any crawlspace to check out the quality of the structure. He helped us find a home that was in our budget and the size we were looking for. There were a few issues found during inspection that Derek quickly took action to have the seller resolve. We had a smooth closing and couldn't be happier with the entire process. Derek was quick to respond to any questions we had and kept us up-to-date on everything. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking to buy or sell a home in the area.
Derek was wonderful to work with. His knowledge and willingness to share is exceptional. He has a way of explaining things that is easily understood. He also offered me several connections; lender, home owner insurance, construction worker. Always had my back and guided me in the right direction. When things got difficult he was there to support me, and get over every hurtle we encountered. Derek goes above and beyond for his clients, we even hiked thru 4 feet of snow once to see a property. His dedication and sense of humor I found most welcoming. Since closing he has continued to help; I truly appreciate and admire him not only as my agent but a wonderful person!
Derek was an excellent communicator and provided transparency throughout the home selling process. He has local knowledge, expertise and knows what needs to be done in order to get buyers interested in a home. Of note, he is also extremely handy and willing to go the extra mile for his clients; he climbed on the roof and did a number of painting and handyman repairs himself that ultimately saved time and money in order to ensure closing dates were met. He was also available and would spend as much time as needed in order to talk through issues and provide unvarnished, objective assessments whenever needed. I would highly recommend working with Derek and the Johnson Team in Colorado Springs.
Derek was wonderful to work with! He sent personalized recommendations every day, and tweaked them when I saw houses and noticed what I did or did not like about them. He always pointed out issues or things to consider as we looked at different houses. And when I found my new home, he walked me through the entire process from the offer to the house keys at signing. I wholeheartedly recommend Derek Leif if you are looking to buy in Colorado Springs or the surrounding towns!
I highly recommend Derek Leif. He is extremely knowledgeable about every aspect of home buying and selling, well connected, easy to work with, responsive, and professional. He represented us as both a buyer and seller. He especially shined in his role of selling our old home in the Briargate area, where he made sound recommendations for cost effective improvements and upgrades that significantly increased the selling price of our home at minimal cost to us. He has a great network of handymen, painters, roofers, plumbers, carpet installers, etc., that all performed high quality work for very reasonable prices. Derek was proactive throughout the buying and selling processes and stayed on top of every detail. I wholeheartedly recommend Derek to anybody looking to buy or sell a home.
Derek was extremely patient with all of my questions and helped me navigate the necessary things that needed done for this property. He helped order the proper inspection and made sure those items were taken care of. He explained the paperwork thoroughly. He was also so friendly and professional.
Derek impressed us the day we interviewed five realtors to assist us in selling my moms house because of his energy, because he was the one most willing to help us sell as-is, and because, since we lived out of town, he would not put this sale on the back burner. Our faith in him proved to be well deserved. The Saturday prior to listing, he enhanced the houses curb appeal by trimming trees with his chain saw and mowing the front yard on his own time. When we accepted a contract from a buyer who was working with one of his teammates, he informed us that he had to work as a transaction broker. In this role, he was extremely responsive in keeping us up to date with the inspection and financing deadlines. As the closing date drew near, there were some concerns about whether the buyer was going to close or not. Derek kept us informed and helped us create Plan B just in case. It proved to be necessary. The first buyer breached the contract and lost their earnest money. Derek mowed the front yard again and started showings the next day. He had already contacted people who had made offers previously and two of them made new offers. Two new buyers also made offers and this time things went through fine. He continued working with us and the buyers to honor the as-is requirement in the contract and we ended up getting an offer that exceeded the original by $3,500. We believe Dereks energy and time commitment helped us get a much better deal than we could have on our own. We believe that you could not find a better agent to represent you as you look to sell or buy a home.
The purchase of our new home? On a whim, we called Derek one afternoon to show us a house. It was popular as other buyers were coming and going during our showing. Although the price was out of reach from what we thought we could afford, Derek assured us our old house could be sold for 80-90% of what the new house cost. We put a non-contingent offer on this unique and amazing property, and it was accepted. It was a leap of faith and trust in Derek. He did not disappoint. We were not ready - Emotionally, Financially, or Experientially. Derek stood by us. He was our steadfast agent during the buying of our new property. He found us a remarkable mortgage agent (Mike Harms of Bay Equity), negotiated favorable concessions after inspection, and gave confidence throughout the buying process. All in all ? we got a great deal. We live on the edge of paradise. It is truly a dream home. But then, we owned two homes and two mortgages, and if we didn?t sell the old home, financial consequences would be severe. Derek responded with amazing speed and professionalism. The sale of old customer? There were headwinds. Interest rates were at 30-year highs. The summer selling season was coming to an end. The economy was teetering. Real Estate news wasn?t great. A similar house up the street was offered for $35k less that what we were asking. But this is where Derek shined. He created a plan of action. He gave us a punch list of things we could do to help improve the marketability of the house. He helped us get these things done. He helped empty the old house. Derek arranged for staging ? a transformation that really made the house pop. Derek teased the house to fellow agents. By the time the listing hit the market, two weeks after we closed on Ruststone, there was a buzz and demand. Derek hosted two openhouses, Friday and Saturday. The traffic through the house was strong. Derek spoke to each prospective buyer. In the end, we took the best contract from a buyer who visited the house several times. The buyer presented a full-price offer with a short close window. Optimism abounded and we felt we could breathe again. The process from contract to closing was smooth because of Derek. The buyers were earnest and focused on safety issues during inspection. We wanted the buyers to be as ecstatic with their new house as we are with our new house. Derek gave us the direction and leadership the deal needed to close. Then, in a blink of an eye, one month after closing on the new house we signed the documents that closed the 29-year run of living in the old house. The equity was transferred from the old to the new. Now, for a small price, we live and love in a dream house, on a mountainside. Thank you, Derek, for making this happen. There is no way any other agent could have negotiated the transactions with the deft skill and empathy that you did. You improved our lives, and we are forever indebted to you.
We viewed quite few homes, and Derek?s honest insight helped us find the perfect house for us. He knew what we were looking for and ensured us that he would find exactly what we wanted. Our closing process was not perfect due to some delays with the seller, but Derek handled everything throughout the entire process and ended up getting us more than we had planned for. If you are looking for a realtor that actually listens to your concerns and takes action to get you what you are looking for, Derek is the perfect fit for you. We would recommend Derek to anyone looking to purchase a home.
We were selling a home in Colorado Springs and we were doing it remotely from AZ. Derek was awesome every step of the way. Little things that normally may not be a big deal when your local can become expensive problems without good local realtor. Derek repaired small items around the house needed for closing and he arranged for all subcontractors we needed for inspections, roofing warranty etc. I cannot say enough positive about our experience with him. He?s also a genuinely nice, honest guy which was refreshing
Derek did an excellent job listing and selling our home. We are in the military and we were able to list and sell a home that we used as a rental property for several years after PCSing away from Fort Carson. Overall fantastic experience selling from long distance with Derek going above and beyond to make sure the home was ready for sale and marketing it perfectly for a quick sale at a great price. He was extremely helpful in navigating the offer process with multiple buyers in play. Would highly recommend him for anyone needing an attentive, skilled agent in the area.
I have bought and sold many homes over my lifetime, I can honestly say Derek has been one of the best realtors I have ever worked with. He went above and beyond to make sure the entire process went smoothly and we received the best price possible. He responds quickly to all questions. We had already moved out of the area so when some repairs were needed he made sure the repairs were done correctly and even did some of the repairs himself. Highly recommend Derek for selling or buying a home .
Derek was fantastic to work with. He went out of his way to get my house sold. I wasnt able to make a few fixes before leaving the state and he offered to finish them and did a great job. He was very responsive and very knowledgeable. My parents have worked with numerous realtors throughout the years and he was their favorite. I replaced my first realtor with Derek and the difference was literally night and day! If you work with Derek, you will not be disappointed!
Derek has amazing communication skills which benefit the seller in the sale of a home. He is always easy to contact and responds promptly to any question. He is extremely knowledgeable about the real estate market in Colorado Springs and works well with his clients whom he treats more like friends. He is willing to go above and beyond in order to please his clients and get the job done in a professional manner! His commitment to his clients is unsurpassed. Derek would be my #1 choice in choosing a realtor!
Derek is the 4th realtor I?ve worked with, and he is hands down the best. He is so willing to be helpful and work with you. He is responsive, honest, and will work with anything you need. Highly recommend him to anyone looking for a home!
Derek is Superman! That is what you expect to hear/read when you see a Five Star across the board review, right? So you think If he only gets 5 stars, then maybe the reviews are coerced? Well, Im here to tell you, they are not coerced at all! He really is that good. If I could give this man a 6th Star, I would. A family member recommened him personally, so we gave him a call. We let him know what we wanted, he found some options, and showed us around town, and we found our house on the 3rd try on the 1st day of looking. The whole time, Derek kept it real. He didnt treat us like clients at all, just like good friends that he was helping out. If something was off about the neighborhood or home, he let us know right up front. This house fits your criteria... but the neighborhood is sketchy. I have a similar house closer to your work. Turns out, he was spot on, and we loved it. All the follow on after putting in an offer was super easy. He sent us very detailed, very easy to follow emails for what needed signed, and why it needed to be signed. He worked out all the closing demands for us and did all the negotiating. It really was great. After the purchase, youd think a realtor would vanish into the mist, right? He did his part, you bought the house, now you are on you own! Nope, not all. He kept in touch, dropped off a nice housewarming gift, and even included us in holiday greetings. Derek isnt just a great realtor, hes a good man and a great friend. Anyone looking for a home in the Springs would be hard pressed to find better than him.
Derek was an amazing realtor who help me and my family buy and sell our house. He went above and beyond with everything. If I ever move back to Colorado he will be one of the first people I call.
Derek Leif is THE agent to work with in Colorado Springs. He has helped me both buy and sell the Springs. When I first bought in the Springs, homes were flying off the market in hours. He helped me find and secure the home that I thought I would never get. If you need help in financing, he can always point you in the right direction. His knowledge and professionalism in the market is outstanding. He is always ahead in the game, and can help you in an instant with any questions or concerns. You will always feel you are his main concern throughout the process. In selling my house, it was a tough market with the current mortgage rates doubling in one year. Derek assured me that I had no worries and we could do this together. Every issue a potential buyer had, he was on top of that. He has no problem from going on top of the roof to crawling under the crawlspace. He has contacts for any home repair you might need that are prompt and affordable. The closing process was smooth and without worry. You will always get the best deal if you are selling or buying. You can trust in Derek Leif!!!
Look no further? Derek Leif is the man when it comes to buying a house in Colorado Springs. Thanks to Derek, we were able to buy our dream house and close/ move in within 60 days of our first communication. This was no easy task considering we were first time home buyers (read completely ignorant about the home buying process) looking at purchasing a house while enroute from overseas. We told Derek our wants/ needs and that we were interested in utilizing the VA Home Loan. In order to accommodate us buying remotely, Derek was willing to communicate via WhatsApp and take videos of homes. To say that I am ?particular? is an understatement. I probably asked Derek to show me over a dozen homes, but he never let it phase him. Derek was extremely professional, friendly, patient, understanding? everything you could hope for in a real estate agent. Two months, three offers, and over 5,000 miles later? we have successfully transitioned from Germany to the Springs! Derek was recommended to us by a family friend, and we will continue to recommend him to all of our friends and family looking to buy in this area.
Derek is awesome when house hunting or selling. Always super helpful and responsive to the client. Derek is patient with finding a place for you to call home. We looked at a lot of houses before finding one and Derek never pushed anything.
This guy is incredible. Not only was he able to find me a house I love in a really tough market, but he was able to do so within just a few weeks! Every house we toured there were things that he was looking out for and potential issues that he pointed out. His knowledge of the buying and selling process made this the easiest home buying process I have ever had. Not only was he professional, but relaxed and easy to talk to. He inspired absolute trust that I was making the right decision on the house that I wanted. If you want results Derek is your Real Estate Professional!
Derek was recommended to us by a close friend who lives in Colorado Springs. We worked with Derek, from Portland, OR, as he helped us purchase a home in Colorado Springs. (We lived in Portland but were planning to move to Colorado Springs). Derek was very knowledgeable about the areas of town and was very helpful in answering questions we had about homes. He provided us with video tours of potential homes, which he uploaded to YouTube for us to view on our own time. He assisted us greatly throughout the entire process. After closing on our home purchase, he continued to be helpful in connecting us with contractors and answering questions we had. Highly recommended.
We arrived in Colorado Springs somewhat uncertain of what we wanted in our future home. Derek was very intuitive as we looked at multiple properties from condos, to spacious houses, and buildable lots. His patience and expertise found us the perfect home. He made what could have been a very stressful process an enjoyable one.
Derek is AWESOME! Ive purchased two houses and sold one through him. I would highly recommend him to anyone wanting to buy/sell a home. He helped me with everything I needed and stayed on top of all information I needed. He is very attentive of his clients. Always easy to contact and responds promptly.
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