Southwest Missouri Realty opens Springfield office

Ozark-based Southwest Missouri Realty opened a Springfield office this month in Kickapoo Corners.

Owners and broker associates Tonya Murfin-Hayes, Barry Dickemann, Frank Lorenz and Shannon Todd started the real estate firm in Ozark in January 2013, after Murney Associates, Realtors closed its office in the city. The Springfield branch opened March 9 at 3608 S. Campbell Ave.

Murfin-Hayes said plans to open a Springfield office were accelerated by a market uptick and requests from Springfield clients for a more convenient site.

“It was in our long-term goals to have a Springfield office, and the need for that was sooner rather than later,” she said. “It makes it more convenient for our agents who are already in Springfield to meet with their clients, rather than going to our Ozark office.”

Nine of the firm’s 25 agents operate out of the Springfield branch, which Murfin-Hayes said cost at least $75,000 to open. The 1,600-square-foot space is leased from Bill Beall Co. for three years at an undisclosed rate.

Southwest Missouri Realty’s 2014 sales volume exceeded $35 million. The company offers buyer and seller services for single and multifamily residential and commercial properties, as well as undeveloped land and lots.