Crain's Detroit Business
October 20, 1986
Brothers heed the call to sell churches
Mike Messier has an unorthodox
job. He sells churches.
A sales agent for Real Estate One Inc. in Southfield, Messier
has found that selling holy lands is more akin to selling commercial than
residential real estate.
"A church is an ecclesiastical corporation, and that's
how we treat it," he said. "The sale is a very business-oriented
situation."
Messier, 29, and his brother Kevin, 27, are among a select
few who specialize in church sales. They estimate that only 10 to 12 churches in
the tri-county area are listed with other brokers.
Kevin joined Real Estate One a year ago to ease the workload.
Together, they have a portfolio of 32 churches ranging from $19,900 to $2.5
million.
Mike Messier said not many people pursue his line of work
because it is difficult to understand and more time consuming than other types
of real estate sales.
"You are selling to hundreds of people, and that
involves more time, " Messier said.
The pastor, congregation president, church members, and
sometimes a state or national organization must approve the sale.
A church stays on the market for an average of 180 days,
while houses are selling "easily" within 60 days, and office space
leases in about 90 days, Messier said.
"The commissions we charge are based on commercial real
estate rates, which differ somewhat and are higher than residential," he
said. Commissions are from 7 to 10 percent or are
negotiated. Last year, Messier's sales were $8.6
million, which included the sale of a school for $1.7 million. This year he
expects his sales to reach $6.5 million.
Over the past 15 years, Messier estimates he has sold 500 to
600 churches, with the help of his brother and his father, who started him in
the business.
To market their churches, the Messiers mail brochures twice a
year to 4,200 churches in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties.
Recently, they have begun filming 15-minute videos of their larger properties
for use in sales pitches.
The church market is hot now, especially in Macomb County, on
the northwest side of Detroit, and in south central Oakland County, Messier
said.
Even in selling God's homes, location remains the most
important consideration in resale, Messier says.
Crain's Detroit Business - October 20, 1986
REPRINT - MARCH 11, 2005
