The positive examples that Steve Prokop brings to his work make a vital impact on the lives of those around him.

 

Chief among them are his clients, who appreciate the lengths he goes to ensure success for them.

 

As a Broker with The Saltwater Agency, Steve prides himself on closing out the deals he does for his clients … with everyone winning.

 

Those winning ways were honed throughout Steve’s life, starting with his competitive success as a standout baseball player in high school. He was so accomplished that he went on to play college baseball at High Point University.

 

While some people have certain elements of the game they gravitate toward, Steve was a student — and lover — of all aspects of the game.

 

“I was a disciple of Pete Rose. I wanted to learn how to play every position. Learning the finer details of each position began his desire to coach and pass along his knowledge to his teammates. I remember it all … the road trips, the bad lunches, doing homework on the bus, and still getting good grades. I enjoyed the teammates and camaraderie that developed and I keep in touch with many of them today.”

 

Those who know Steve understand that he definitely has a positive voice with plenty to share. He enjoyed working as a radio DJ and Sports Editor of the college newspaper during his time in college.

Today, he serves as the public address announcer for the Brunswick Community College men’s basketball team, as well as the announcer for the Brunswick Surfin’ Turfs — a summer wood bat league for college baseball players from all over the country.

Steve grew up in Maryland. He remembers the chain of events that led him to the area after college.

 

“My parents had purchased a home site and were building their retirement home. I had just graduated from college and my mom and dad asked me to help them relocate from Maryland to North Carolina. I helped pack up everything in Maryland and moved them to North Carolina,” he remembers.

 

“After that, I did odd jobs for a couple of years and then moved to Florida to get back into baseball.”

 

While in Florida, Steve worked as a professional baseball scout and coach for seven years. He worked for the Bucky Dent Baseball School coaching players as young as 5 years of age all the way through players in the Show (Major League Baseball) and scouted for the Tampa Bay Rays organization.

 

In time, Steve’s mother started experiencing some minor health issues, so he put his baseball work on hold and moved back to North Carolina to be closer to his parents.

 

“I ended up moving in with my best friend since kindergarten for a couple of years in Wilmington, and decided to get my real estate license,” he says.

 

The true sense of care that Steve has for his clients comes from his heart.

 

“I love helping people find that lifestyle that they have dreamed about. For them it’s a dream come true to be able to retire to the North Carolina coast with better weather, less traffic, and nice people,” Steve says.

 

“I love helping people relocate knowing they will enjoy their time here. I’ve seen it with my own mom and dad (Ellen and Mike) who have been in Briarwood for 31 years. They say by having lived here in Shallotte for the last 31 years, they have extended their lives. Today they are 90 and 92 years old and still active. In fact, my dad just had a hole-in-one the other day. It’s his third one!”

 

When Steve started his real estate adventure, he worked for Blue Green developers in the Chapel Hill area. He moved back to Brunswick County working for Bill Clark Homes and then Logan Homes. He got into general real estate four years ago. Steve was in South Carolina working for Logan Homes and fell in love with a girl he had known for years. She was here in Brunswick County so it was time to move back.

 

“Working for builders and developers and moving into the general real estate side of the business has been like starting over,” Steve says.

 

“It’s fun and rewarding. I specialize in buyer representation. I choose to work with buyers mostly because having been a salesman for so many years it was time to take that experience and put it to work for the benefit of the buyer. I also enjoy setting my own schedule and taking part in all of the kids’ activities and having a lifestyle that I want. I love the ability to be able to do what I want and need to do with my family as my first priority.”

 

Away from work, he cherishes time with his fiancé, Tara, and her two kids, Ethan and Erin. In his free time, he also enjoys watching baseball, playing golf, spending time at the beach and reading a good book. When it comes to giving back, Steve really enjoys his involvement in supporting the growth of the Brunswick Surfin’ Turfs team and the BCC basketball team.

 

Steve grew up in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and completed his high school years there. Fast forward to today, he feels a lot of gratitude for his North Carolina home.

 

“It has been an awesome experience these past 21 years. I love living in this area. I’m the 5th of 6 kids and I only have one sister who still lives in Maryland and she will be retiring here soon. In fact, four out of the six children from my family are here in North Carolina now,” Steve says with a smile.

 

“Another big part that I enjoy is the teamwork we have here at The Saltwater Agency with our owner and Broker In Charge, Seth Barbee. I have the highest respect for him, his work ethic, and morals.”

 

As Steve continues to build for the future, he enjoys the growth he sees that comes directly from the relationships he fosters, including the relationships he has with builders such as Coleman Fine Homes and Riptide Builders.

 

It all comes back to the respect and care he shows to those he serves.

 

“I take their interests very seriously. I treat every client as family. I know this is the largest transaction and investment that a person will make. It’s their lifestyle that I am most concerned about more than anything else,” Steve emphasizes.

 

“I tell them the good, the bad, and the ugly and I don’t ask them to buy anything. They have to ask me to assist them and then I will help them through the process. I’m not a salesman… I’m a representative of their interests.”